Motion sickness. Although I am lucky to not have had too many run-ins with it, I hate the feeling. The worst is when motion sickness hits in a car ride- or, on a roller coaster you were forced to go on *ahem*.

About one third of people are susceptible to motion sickness, and in the U.S. space program almost 50% of astronauts have experienced vertigo.

There are many techniques and tips you can use to help minimize your chances of getting motion sickness, including drinking some herbs before and after you experience motion sickness.

Note: this is from my own experience and by no means am I a doctor. Please consult with your physician or qualified health care professional if you experience severe motion sickness.

A few tips that I have found helpful:

• Stay sober – don’t start out on a car ride with a hang over. Eeee bad idea. Trust me.
• Sleep Up! Make sure you get a decent nights rest prior to taking any trips
• Reading: Not recommended as it will increase any motion sickness you might be experiencing; instead try listening to music.
• TV: Same thing as reading – try to avoid it when a passenger in a car.
• Ginger: Ginger is awesome for combating motion sickness. If you can get your hands on some ginger tea go for it, or try ginger candy.
• Peppermint: Peppermint is also strongly recommended for helping with motion sickness.

Updates:

Remember our contest is still on until Feb 28th! Just comment and you could win some matcha tea.

Finds Clinical Trials by Tufts University in Boston

 So the news was bound to make the front page: Canadians are suffering from hypertension at an unprecedented rate. Nearly one fifth of adults (or 4.6 million of us) has hypertension or high blood pressure. And similar studies have been released linking hypertension to the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later on in life. Although Canada may lead the world in treatment for hypertension there are some preventative steps that we can take to avoid going down that road altogether, or at least lessen the chances.

The February issue of The Journal of Nutrition published a study that suggests that having just three cups a day of Hibiscus tea could help to lower blood pressure formed by mild hypertension in adults.

In the clinical study 65 participants were given either 3 240ml servings of brewed hibiscus tea or a placebo.

The results?

After six weeks hibiscus tea lowered systolic blood pressure by a margin of 7-percent while also lowering diastolic blood pressure by 3-percent.

The conclusion of the study was summarized in an abstract:

“These results suggest daily consumption of hibiscus tea, in an amount readily incorporated into the diet, lowers BP in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults and may prove an effective component of the dietary changes recommended for people with these conditions”

 What Else Can We Do?

Dr. Norm Campbell, medical professor at the University of Calgary (Alberta) has a few suggestions:

“The good news is there’s a multitude of different things we can do. A healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat is very effective, as is regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight,” said Campbell.

I’ll raise a glass of hibiscus tea to that.

So it’s cold & flu season. Bleh. I’ve already survived a run in with H1N1 (aka swine flu or Hamthrax) back in October…it was a mild case but still would have preferred not to get it. And over the weekend I noticed a little *tickle* in the back of my throat. Uh-oh. Time to take some precautionary steps. I already take multi vitamins, drink lots of fluids, excercise on a constant basis but sometimes it’s inevitable. Well not this time…nope. No way. Like the great Jesse Ventura (in Predator) once said ‘I ain’t got time to bleed’.

False alarm. Must have been my constant chatting as of late. Well it gave me the opportunity to test out a mouth rinse that I came across that incorporated tea.  I dug into my vaults and retrieved this great recipe that uses chai tea. The spicy notes of the chai (cardamom, anise, ginger) really help to freshen your breath.

Chai Mouth Wash

• 2 drops clove oil
• 2 drops cinnamon oil
• 2-3 tbsp vodka
• 1 1/2 cups distilled water
• 1/2 cup brewed chai tea

Combine the clove and cinnamon oil with the vodka in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour in the water and chai, then mix well. Use about a tablespoon at a time and refridgerate the rest. Can be stored for about a week in the fridge.

More people are choosing Green tea over other types of tea because of its many health benefits.  An article published in the Toronto Star in March 2006 discusses the different products that are popping up that include green tea:

“More and more products laced with green tea extracts are popping up alongside the Starbucks frappucchino, including in chewing gum.” 

          People are not only choosing to consume green tea for its great taste, but they are realizing the health benefits of doing so as well.  For the full article visit:

http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/191456

I feel a tug at my waist, and I look down to see her pulling at the bottom of my top, happily chewing away looking up at me with expectant eyes. After I managed to take the material out of her mouth, she gently bumps her head against my thigh, begging for a scratch behind her ears. Who knew goats could be so affectionate?

I spent the evening wandering around my friends hobby farm, chasing chickens and checking out the vegetable garden she has with tomatoes, peppers, peas and tons of herbs and other good things growing.  Barn cats, as cute as can be, sprang at each other through the grass, then lazed around trying to catch the last few rays of warm sunshine.  One particularly excitable little rascal chased a duck whenever he got the chance, bounding away as soon as the duck retailiated. It was quite the sight and quite the experience.

My friend makes her own chocolate which is to die for. She creates yummy chocolate goodness from pure cacao beans and uses ingredients like goji berries and agave nectar to make the tastiest natural and healthy (yes, I said HEALTHY) chocolate I have ever had the pleasure of eating. She also makes her own marvelous cheese thanks to the shirt chomper who happily provides the goat milk to produce it.

After having a big BBQ and talking to other guests that came out for the day, I stretched out in a hammock under a shady tree and thought, “This is the life for me!”.  Since becoming educated in different types of tea and many of their healing properties, I have also further developed my knowledge of herbs, plants and other natural healing products. I like the idea of being able to live in a way that so few of us do.

Growing your own crops, caring for animals, feeding chickens and collecting eggs… Admittedly, it isn’t everyone’s dream job, but there is a lot of reward in the (very hard) work. There is a feeling of accomplishment, and of appreciation that you just can’t get from buying a carton of eggs or a frozen bag of beans at the grocery store. Buying a chocolate bar at the corner store does not even come close to comparing to the chocolate that my friend makes. Aside from the flavour, it is pleasing to know that everything in it is good for you. In a world where fast food and candy bars are taking over, it’s nice for once to know that I can eat something sweet and tasty without having to worry about what I am putting into my body.  The chocolate is the perfect pair to our Vanilla Chai Dream tea blend whether you are chasing goats around all day or unwinding after a hectic day at the office.

I love the city for many reasons… There is always something going on, and always entertainment of some sort, but for me, nothing beats the feeling I get sitting in a hammock looking at green field with a warm cup of tea in one hand and a homemade chocolate in the other.

For more info about, or to order the chocolate I mentioned above, send an email to: la_selva_girl@hotmail.com

I have recieved a lot of feedback and questions on my blog entry “Tired of Being Tired?… Help is Here” from May. Thank you all for your emails and comments.

 Of course, the main thing I recommend is a special blend of herbal tea that I have created called “Counting Sheep”. It is a blend of high quality egyptian chamomile and lavender that is a perfect combination to relax you before bed and help bring you a good night’s sleep.

Aside from the sleep tips found in “Tired of Being Tired?” there is something else that you more adventurous types may want to try…

 Many people believe  that certain stones have healing properties. These stones have been used for centuries across many cultures to improve both physical and mental well being.  Of course, you can’t just go pick up any old rock and make it cure your sleep problems – but there are certain stones that are said to have properties that aid in sleep.  The top three stones, in my opinion to help give you a peaceful nights sleep are malachite, amethyst and garnet.

Malachite

Malachite is said to be a stone of amplification. It amplifies the users mood whether positive or negative.  It also draws feeling of disharmony into it, cleansing these energies.  Some people believe that it has the abilty to draw out both physical and emotional pain from its user.  Because of these quailites the stone is believed to purifiy dreams and give the user peaceful dreams.

Amythest

Amythest is a great stone to help ease transitions and to bring tranquilty to its user.  It is a stone of protection and is said to have the abilty to turn negative energy into positive. It is frequently used to combat sleep disorders like sleep apnea, tossing and turning, and sleep walking.  The calming power of amythest combats nightmares, and in some people, gives intuitive dreams.

Garnet

Garnet has been used for centuries for healing and decoration. Some of the oldest garnet jewlery found dates back to 3000 BC.  So what did they know that so few of us know? There are two ways which garnet can help us.  Physically,  garnet is said to open up passages connecting to our hearts and improve circulation in this area which is important to sleep.  Mentally, garnet is said to help us connect our concious mind to our subconcious mind, a natural transition in the time between wakefullness and dreams.  It protects the user from nightmares (especially violent nighmares) and also sends vibrations that help the user to be creative in both wakefullness and in sleep.  It is often used for meditation purposes because it helps the user learn from their dreams and apply what they learn to their waking life.

 Tuck one of these stones into your pillow case and see how it works for you.

I spent my Canada day yesterday digging in the garden, because with the last few weeks of rain, the weeds had started to take over, and it was quite literally ‘a jungle out there’.   After a few hours of baking under the suns intense rays, I found myself a little too hot… Being as fair skinned as I am, I do not get a nice golden glow from the sun… The Irish in me lends to lots of freckles followed by a burn, which is exactly what I got.  I wasn’t careful enough with the sunscreen application, and believe me, I paid the price.  I’m still paying for it today,  however it is feeling MUCH better because I know a handy little secret about soothing burned skin.  Green tea.

The polyphenols in green tea help soothe and heal the skin more quickly than allowing a sunbrun to pan out on it’s own. It also helps to reduce skin peeling in the case of a really nasty sunburn like the one I got yesterday. 

 There are a couple of ways that you can use green tea to help ease a sunburn. The first and easiest way is to to run a bath and hang 3 or 4 green tea bags under the faucet. Let HOT water run over the tea bags so that the water becomes infused. When the water starts to run clear, add cold water to your bath. The last thing you want to do is have a hot bath when  you have a sunbrun. Make sure that the bath water is cool and this will also help to relieve the sting of the burn.  This is the best method for children with sunburns because it offers immediate all over relief.

A second way, and a good way to target specific areas is to create a green tea compress.  To do this, steep a pot of green tea and let it cool. Once cooled, poor the infusion on a washcloth or towel – try to use one that is old – because green tea will stain. Apply the cloth to the sunburned area, and allow it to sit for several minutes to cool your skin and combat the heat and stinging from the sunburn. This is especially good if you have a bad sunburn on your face, or on your shoulders where it is easy to drape a compress. 

If you REALLY want to get rid of that redness, and get extra fast relief, check out my own personal tried, tested and true bath blend, followed by the application of aloe vera gel. (Directly from the plant source is best for aloe vera, however, if you can only get your hands on the kind of after sun aloe vera that comes in a bottle, try to make the most natural choice possible)

In your bath water add:

Green Tea: Either use teabags, or pour a pot of cool tea into your bath. This will reduces inflammation and helps with radiation damage and aging.

Peppermint: Either crush and handful of fresh peppermint leaves into your bath, or add one to two drops of peppermint essential oil. This will help ease the heat of the burn because of it’s aromatic properties.

Vinegar: Add one or two cups of white vinegar to your bath water. The acetic acid in vinegar reduces skin inflammation and eases the pain of the burn.

Aloe Vera: The biologically active compounds in aloe vera help to heal the sunburn more quickly.

I used to have a very hard time getting a decent nights sleep, but I’ve tried a few things that have helped, and they might help you too.

Some of you may recognize this routine… It used to be mine too. You wake up early and you get to the gym, you get a few hundred things done during the day, and after rushing home to clean up and organize yourself for the next busy day of yet more rushing around, you burn the midnight oil… Maybe you work on a personal project you have been meaning to get to, maybe you kill time on the internet, or you sit in front of the television until your eyes get droopy and you are forced to crawl into bed. Whether you’re killing time, or doing something worthwhile, neither one is good for you if you are taking time away from necessary sleeping hours.

Tired of being tired?

A few friends have helped me out with great ideas on how to get more shut eye, and after doing some research on what sleep deprivation can do to your body and mind, I took their advice.

Some Side Affects of Sleep Deprivation:
Of course you have the obvious – dark circles under your eyes and a mood that would keep a pack of wolves away… But there are other things to be wary of too.

Sleep deprivation affects the function of your heart, your insulin levels, your body’s ability to process food, your hormone levels – especially hormones like leptin (which tells your brain when you are full) and cortisol (which is the ‘stress’ hormone). The combination of these two things alone can be deadly. When you lose sleep, your cortisol levels rise, when your cortisol levels rise, your body produces more insulin… This, with the combination of your body not being able to tell you when you are hungry anymore can increase your chances of being overweight and your development of diabetes.

That’s not all… lets add another hormone to the mix: Ghrelin. People that get less than 8 hours of sleep each night usually have higher levels of ghrelin in their bodies. This hormone increases your hunger. (Now you know why you go searching around for food, especially foods that are high in sugar and carbs when you are tired to give you a boost.)

So – For all of you mathematical people out there:

Lack of Sleep = Moody + Hungry + Overweight + Unhealthy.
It makes solving for X pretty simple doesn’t it?

X = Get some sleep for heaven’s sake

It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to know that sleep is needed, but sometimes getting a good night’s sleep is ‘easier said than done’. Below are some things that might help.

1. Develop a Routine

Try to set a routine for yourself so that you go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same each morning. Try to carry this routine throughout the weekend as well.

2. Relax before sleep

Instead of watching the television or surfing the web, do something more relaxing. Read a book, have a cup of chamomile or lavender tea, listen to music or take a hot bath. (Taking a hot bath makes is a perfect way to get into sleep-mode because as your body temperature begins to drop after getting out of the tub, it makes you feel sleepy.) We carry a specialty blend of tea that I have created called Counting Sheep, that is a PERFECT sleepy time tea.

3. Exercise

Exercise will help you sleep. Make sure if you are exercising at night however, that you are doing so at least two hours before sleeping. Although certain types of exercise can exhaust us, we can also feel energized from it. Time your exercise so that you don’t feel wired before bed.

4. Darkness

Make sure that your bedroom is dark, and quiet. If you can’t sleep in total silence because you hear every little sounds in your house, think about getting a white noise machine or a air filter that you can run on low to drown out other household sounds that may disturb your sleep.

5. Temperature

We tend to sleep better in cooler temperatures, so turn that dial down a notch or two and sleep better while saving on your heating bill at the same time.

6. Get a New Pillow

Let’s face it – if you are not comfortable, you are going to toss and turn until all hours of the night, until you finally exhaust yourself and squeeze in an hour or two of rest. It may be time to get rid of “Mr.Lumps A lot” – Your not so fluffy pillow and replace it with a new one.

7. Your Bedroom

Use your bedroom for two things. Sleep and yep – you guessed it – Hanky Panky. Get that TV out of there! Falling asleep to a television is a sure way to get a poor night’s sleep.

8. Eat Early

Try to finish eating at least two or three hours prior to bedtime. This will not only help you lose weight because your body will have a healthy ‘fasting’ period overnight, but it will also help you get a sound night’s sleep because your body will be focusing on rest instead of trying to digest a plate of pasta. Of course, don’t go to bed starving either. (If your stomach is grumbling then you will probably just lay awake thinking about how hungry you are.) If you MUST snack before bed, try to have something small, like ½ cup of yogurt or something that does not contain a lot of sugar or carbohydrates.

9. Caffeine and Alcohol

While this may seem like common sense, do not consume caffeine or alcohol before bed.

10. Sleep Posture

Sleeping on your stomach can be bad for your back, and sleeping on your back can cause snoring, especially if you are very tired or congested. Try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs. This sleep posture aligns your spine and allows you to breathe easily.

11. Don’t try too Hard

If you can’t get to sleep, and you have been tossing and turning, then get up and do something. Don’t lie in bed tossing and turning for more than 30 minutes or you will just end up watching the clock, getting more irritable because you can’t fall asleep. Get up and do something for 15 minutes, and then try to sleep again, rather than stressing yourself out about not being able to fall asleep.

12. Nap If You Need To

Naps aren’t just for old men and young babies. If you need a nap and can take one – do it! As little as 15 minutes of down time can help you your body and mind feel refreshed, revved up and ready to go again!

There have been a number of studies on the health benefits of green tea, and there are lists of advantages for its consumption… Here is another one to add to your list:

It may protect your brain cells.

Green tea has neuroprotective effects – the polyphenols in green tea protect dopamine neurons. People that have Parkinson’s disease often have decreased motor skills and cognitive dysfunction due to the insufficient creation and use of dopamine. Studies are currently being conducted on the effects of green tea polyphenols on Parkinson’s Disease, with the hope that they can be produced and used to treat Parkinson’s. Studies that have been conducted on mice and have proven positive, however, human testing needs to be done to see if the consumption or green tea could be useful to slow the progression of the disease.

For an article from Science Daily visit:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071213101406.htm
For an article from BBC visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1933596.stm
For information on PD visit:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov

If I were a crayon, I would want to be a green one. Green is my favourite colour… There is just something about it…

There are so many things that are green and great!

Mike Wazowski  from Monsters Inc, for example… He is pretty awesome, with his one big eyeball and little stick arms and legs… What’s not to love?

Of course, you also have green M&M’s and apparently there is something ‘a little bit different’ about them.

One of my favourite green pals that I have loved since my childhood is Kermit the Frog… Also, the best colour in the world – green! As he would say, “It aint easy bein’ green…”

I agree with him, it probably isn’t easy being green…unless of course, you are Green Tea.

Green Tea – Also Green. Also Great. But what makes green tea green? And what makes green tea stand out from the rest?

All teas – come from the same plant, the key difference is in the processing of the tea leaves. Green tea is made by drying the tea leaves, but not allowing them to oxidize, as is the case with black tea. This is what makes green tea, green. This processing, or lack thereof, gives green tea a lighter flavour and colour to be sure, but it also gives it something else that is vitally important… our little friends called polyphenols. The less processed the tea is, the more beneficial it is to your health, because the polyphenols remain in-tact. Polyphenols are the antioxidant compounds found in tea. The high amount of these polyphenols in green tea, is what makes green tea so great! Green tea has been consumed for years. It is an ancient “cup o’ healing”… and now that it is being put to the test in modern times, we can see why it was, and remains, such a popular beverage for one’s health.

The polyphenols in green tea have been proven to:

• Help lower cholesterol levels

• Help lower blood pressure

• Help fight certain types of cancers

• Help with certain skin conditions

• Help prevent food allergies

• Help reduce weight

• Help prevent the aging process…

The list goes on… and I will share more benefits (with evidence) in later blog entries.

There are many different types of green tea, and each has a unique flavour.

The strongest tasting green tea that I have tried is Gunpowder Green Tea. The tea leaves are usually rolled up into tight tiny balls that originally served the purpose of keeping the tea fresh when it was being exported to Europe from China.

Bancha Green Tea is your everyday green tea. It has a slightly astringent taste, being made up of mature tea leaves.

Genmaicha Green Tea has a unique nutty flavour to it because it is usually made by combining bancha

and brown rice and roasting it.

The most sweet tasting green tea that I have tried is Sencha Green Tea. It is a more delicate leafed green tea and a favourite for many people. The best example of this that we offer, is Sencha Kyoto Cherry Rose. A very yummy blend. 

Green Tea… Just one more thing that is great about the colour green.