Healing Wise

http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

January 10, 2012 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions, Weeds | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 26, 2011

Free Course ~ Nourishing Herbal Infusions

Hi I heard you on Gary Null recently, thanks for all the advice, I love to drink teas and infusions, I will look into your recipes etc....

Glad you enjoyed the interview. If you are interested in learning more about the infusions that Susun drinks daily, check out her website here:

She also offers an online course free of charge that not only discusses infusions but making tinctures, medicinal vinegars, etc. :

http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000456

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

December 26, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 23, 2011

Nourishing Herbal Infusions for Bone Health

...I have been diagnosed with Osteoporosis and my intuition is that infusions of Oatstraw, Nettle, and Red Clover, all brewed separately, will do wonders....

Thanks again and again...

Hello,

Sounds like your intuition is spot on. :)

When dealing with osteoporosis, you may also want to look into horsetail herb as well and make sure to avoid soy, unless fermented such as miso and tamari. Here is one of Susun's articles: http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-103-better_bones.htm

Although some of it is geared towards women, the article would certainly apply to men as well.

Something that I think would be beneficial for you would be Susun's free course, Nourishing Herbal Infusions. This is completely free and self-paced and is a great introduction to the infusions and other aspects of herbal healing, such as medicinal vinegars, tinctures, etc. You have PDF lessons you can download, assignments to do if you wish, an herb chart and three lectures, including one on bone health. This also has life-time access to class forum as well.

You can sign up through our bookshop at this link: http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000456

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

December 23, 2011 in bone health, Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 21, 2011

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Hi,

I love to drink large quantities of Nettles, Alfalfa and dandelion teas. I am 48 and feel I'm in good shape, I do tend to have breast cysts more in one breast. I nursed for 7 years on one breast and the one I didn't nurse on seems to be a problem. I only take Evening primrose oil along with the teas. I had been taking vitex for a few years and have recently found that I may have been taking to much (may have caused adverse reactions?). Anyways is drinking about 48 ounces of the teas a good thing or bad?

Hi,

If we are talking about the herbal infusions made with nourishing herbs, you should have no problem with drinking 48 ounces. I drink on average 2 quarts daily, so that is 64 ounces right there. I would focus on the main herbs such as nettle, red clover, oatstraw, comfrey leaf and then add in here and there others such as dandelion, alfalfa. You can read more about the infusions here: http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

You may also wish to check out Susun's free online course, Nourishing Herbal Infusions: Drink your way to Health. This goes into greater detail of not only the infusions but tinctures, medicinal vinegars, etc. - all cost effective and able to be made at home by the lay-person. The course is self-paced and has a lot of resources. You can read more about it here: http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000456

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

December 21, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 15, 2011

Ratio of Herbs to Water for Nourishing Herbal Infusions

Hi,

I have visited your site and read about stinging nettle infusions for adrenal fatigue. Based on my symptoms I believe I have it. Here is my question: How much of the cut version of the stinging nettle would I need to drink 4-5 quarts a week? I have ordered some online, but can only order them in 1-pound quantities. It sounds like I would need a lot of it, which frankly could get expensive. Any suggestions?

Hello,

The ratio is 1 ounce of herb per quart of water for the infusions. Taking a look at Mountain Rose Herbs, they currently are offering a pound of organic nettle leaf for $9.50, so roughly .59 cents per quart of infusion. This is usually less than many supplements that you find on the market, and we find it to be better absorbed by your body and superior in mineral content to capsules.

Of course, the best way is to pick nettle yourself. It grows about anywhere, so if you can find it, harvest it or start your own patch. This way you can also be guaranteed a high quality harvest.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

Hello Kim,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I thought I had read something about 8 ounces and then straining out the leaves after they have steeped a few hours. So can I use a regular tea infuser or would that not be holding enough of the herb?

Hi,

It is the 1 ounce not 8. However, you will see that one ounce of herb by weight turns out to be a rather large amount by volume as most of the time you are dealing with leaves and blossoms which weigh very little - takes a lot to make one ounce. You would never be able to put it all in a tea infuser - instead you leave the plant material loose in the jar with the water, straining out afterwards. Susun has a site that includes directions, youtube video and details on the nourishing herbs used most regularly. If you haven't seen it, I would check it out: http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

Susun also offers a free, self-paced online course that has a lot of resources on infusions along with making your own tinctures, medicinal vinegars, lectures from Susun, classroom forum, etc. Here is more info on that: http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000456

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

December 15, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 08, 2011

Using Aromatics to Flavor Infusions

Hi Susun,

Just wondering: is it necessary to do the infusions one at a time or could I do a mix of red clover, red raspberry, mint etc. Thanks...

Hello,

Susun recommends using one herb per infusion, not mixing them up. So drink a quart of red clover, then a quart of oatstraw and so forth. Aromatic herbs such as mint are not considered a nourishing herb and not used regularly other than perhaps using a pinch in your other infusions such as red clover for a bit of flavoring.

More on infusions here: http://www.nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

December 08, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 21, 2011

Capping Best When Making Infusions

HI,

My question is now can I make an overnight infusion of the chickweed and oatstraw (on different days) the way I do the nettles? I mean when I read up about it, it seems that they might need less time or so... and what is the deal with a sealed jar... I have an open coffee container (glass) with a lid and a little open space. Is that not okay to let it sit before I strain it. Wondering why it needs to be sealed.

Hello,

I make all of my infusions overnight. There is no harm in having them soak eight hours as opposed to four. Those numbers are the minimum amount of time needed, so yes, usually blossoms will not need as long as roots, but again, you're fine doing overnight. Canning jars are the best for making infusions - you want to make sure water goes up to the top of jar, leaving as little room for air as possible and the lid is on, avoiding evaporation and keeping as much of the plants constituents in the infusion rather than disappearing into the air...

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

November 21, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 20, 2011

Herbal Allies for Nerve Damage

After listening to your brilliant lecture yesterday on Osteoporosis, I am preparing to make 3 herbal infusions: Nettles, Oatstraw, and Red Clover.

I would love to make an infusion for my hands. I have what appears to be damage in both hands, first three fingers, and much like Carpal Tunnel. Is there an herb that I can use in a herbal infusion that might aid in the regeneration of nerves in my hand? If you have a name, or names, I will try it sooner than soon....Thank you and blessings...

Hello,

Oatstraw infusions for nerve pain and regeneration, nettle infusions for large amounts of needed minerals ... I would also do some comfrey leaf infusions. St. Joan's (St. John's) Wort oil and/or Solomon's Seal oil for massaging the area - you can also take the tincture of both internally as well.

Nourishing bone broths with barley and other whole grains, good organic fats, and eggs in your diet, as b12 has been shown to offer help. You may want to check out our forum at www.healingwiseforum.com. A search there should bring up a number of posts in relation to carpal tunnel.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

November 20, 2011 in Health Concerns, Herbal Allies, Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 19, 2011

Rotating Nourishing Herbal Infusions

Hello,

I have had the opportunity to listen to Susun Weed on a few radio shows aired on PRN. I then borrowed one of her books from my local library, and also plan to order a book or two. I would like to get started drinking a couple of the herbal infusions (yes I watched her YouTube videos), maybe start with Stinging Nettle & Red Clover.

My question: Based on the Susun’s radio interviews, I believe I should drink 1-2 quarts of both, Nettle & Red Clover, each week But I thought I heard her say not to drink them at the same time, should I drink 2 cups of one infusion one day, then the other infusion the next day – alternate days? Or what would you suggest?

Thanks for your time.

Hello,

No hard and fast rules except that Susun doesn't recommend mixing the herbs when you are infusing them. If you are making a quart at a time and drinking 2 cups a day, you could make a quart of the nettles, drink over two days and then do a quart of the next herb, drinking over the next two days. That way you are using them before they have a chance to go bad.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

http://www.ashtreepublishing.com/Book_Breast_Cancer_Anti-cancer-lifestyle.htm

November 19, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 29, 2011

Breast Cancer and Nutrition

Hello!

I was just referred by a girl at work. It sounds very healthy! I read your good article on breast cancer. Currently i'm on an 'eating program' to keep my breast cancer at bay, going well now for 6 years ... but
one really important thing I'm missing reading in the article ... SUGAR! My nutritionist working on her master's says that cancer LIVES in sugar, and I don't hear even my surgeon or providers telling their patients to cut down or eliminate sugar.

Even the Endocrinology doctors in the office don't much emphasize how very much eliminating sugar does definitely eliminate high blood sugars ... a friend, for one example, began my eating program -NO SUGAR - and went off her insulin after only one week! So much to learn. Well, thank you for listening.

Hello,

Many thanks for writing us about your personal story. No doubt limited amounts of white sugar is a very important part of not only preventing and working through cancer but of vibrant health in general. For many of us, we follow the guidelines of the Nourishing Traditions diet, along with avoiding white sugar, white flour, and drinking daily herbal infusions as part of maintaining good health. I don't know what articles you've read as Susun has quite a few on breast cancer and nutrition, but I'll include a few links if you wish to follow them.

So very glad that things are going well and that you have been able to work with your own body to find what it needs.

http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Nutrition.htm

October 29, 2011 in Breast Health, Nourishing Herbal Infusions, Nourishing Traditions, Nutrition, Wise Woman Q&A | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 28, 2011

Nourishing Herbal Infusions - Best Used Simply

Hi!

Recently purchased Oat Straw, Red Clover & Comfrey Leaf from Mountain Herbs for the purpose of brewing.

After a few days of drinking the "teas", my face breaks out in little pimples...(I'm 52) I stopped and waited until my face cleared up, then tried again and the same thing happened.

What might be causing this reaction?

Thank you for any suggestions you can offer.

Rather than drinking a blend, try working with one herb at a time, using the herbs in simple fashion..start with the one you are most drawn to and make and drink infusions of this one herb for at least one week…then and only then, move on to the next herb.

In this fashion you will get to know each herb and how it may benefit or disagree with you……also read this article, ok? http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Simple_Safe_Herbal_Medicine.htm

Love,

Justine

October 28, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 27, 2011

Creating Better Health the Wise Woman Way

Dear Wise Woman,

I have finaly reached the point in my life where I am realizing I am not immortal. I am in my mid thirties and want to start repairing and preparing my body for years to come. I was a typical wild girl in my hay day. Probably drank too much and smoked way to many cigarettes. I now want to cleanse and repair all the tissues and cells I damaged in my careless youth.

My very amazing soul sister friend has been following your advice and I have been very curious myself of all the knowledge you have. I guess my question is with infusions. Can you mix the dried herbs together in one quart jar? Do you have to separate them? Or is it best to infuse one herb at a time (oat
straw, nettle,and comfrey )then rotate each herbal infusion? Also, I live in south east MN and our growing season is over, can you recommend a business that mail me bulk herbs?

Thank you and can't wait to hear from you.

Hello,

Do not worry - our bodies are amazingly resilient and designed to in such a way that they work to repair themselves. Most tissues and cells from your youth have long been regenerated.

"Nourish the new cells, optimally, says the Wise Woman tradition, and the old cells and other waste will be cleared away easily. The liver is replaced, every cell of it, in six weeks. Nourish each new liver cell optimally, and the liver will clean the blood. The kidneys are replaced, every cell, in a month. Nourish each new cell optimally, let the kidneys clean the blood. The blood volume itself is replaced, every cell, in three weeks. What cleaner blood than new and optimally nourished cells?" Complete article here...

So, now you just need to nourish and support your body. The infusions are the first step and they are easy and inexpensive as well. Susun recommends using one herb at a time, rotating them from day to day... Read about the infusions at our website here: http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

You can usually find the dried herbs in the bulk section of your local health/herb store or online at sources such as Mountain Rose Herbs and Red Moon Herbs. Even better, when they are in season, harvest your own and dry for future use.

Eat whole grains, organic full-fat yogurt, raw milk, wild foods such as dandelion greens, nettles, chickweed, lamb's quarters, add seaweed to your diet... Here is more on how the Wise Woman Tradition approaches nutrition:

http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Wild_Food1.htm

http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Wild_Food2.htm

You may also wish to check out our forum at www.healingwiseforum.com

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

October 27, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions, Nourishing Traditions, Wise Woman Q&A | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 15, 2011

Susun's Thoughts on Supplements~Don't Take Them

Hi Susun

I have two questions, actually 3, the first being, my child is almost two years old and still breastfeeding as well as eating all except meat, chicken and fish... very happy and healthy however low in iron so she is now on supplements although she eats very iron rich and nutritious food.

So my question is what are your thought about iron supplements or deficiency in toddlers... Secondly, what about B-12? I am not vegetarian, but she is (she eats dairy and eggs).

Im getting mixed ideas about giving her B-12 which she might need. One doc says that if I am not vegetarian then she is not deficient. Another health practcitioner says that I should be giving her B12 definately... I'd like to return to vegetarianism... it has been suggested that while Im breastfeeding, I should not be vegetarian but almost two years have passed. Shall I continue to eat meat etc. or can I now go back to vegetarianism?

Outside of that, I have a friend whose son is 37 years old and has been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and just had most of his intestines (both) cut out so he is unable to eat fruit and veggies. He is not strong enough to begin chemotherapy yet but she wants to give him juices to regain strength and energy and help his body heal. My question to you is which juices would be appropriate for someone in his condition.

Hello,

Susun's thoughts on supplements is not to take them... Are you drinking daily infusions? Especially mineral rich nettles? Is your child drinking infusions? She certainly can be incorporating them in her diet and we feel this is much better than the use of supplements. What kind of iron rich foods is she eating? Plenty of dark green leafy veggies - including cooked dandelion greens, beets ... perhaps some blackstrap molasses or yellow dock syrup to help with iron levels.

Of course, you will have to make decisions that you are comfortable with and all I can tell you is the direction that Susun would guide you in... While we do eat mainly vegetarian with emphasis on lots of wild foods, veggies, whole grains, seaweed and fermented foods, Susun does not abstain from meat nor recommend a vegetarian diet and certainly not for young children.

From Susun: "All of life is holy and whole. I eat you and you eat me is the holy rule is this wholeness. Spiritual parenting includes understanding and tending to the special nutritional needs of infants and children. The growing brain requires cholesterol (animal fat) in order to develop properly. The young immune system needs large amounts of vitamin B12 to thrive. Both of these, as well as several dozen other nutrients required for children, are avaliable to us only as gifts from the animals."

You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.aspiremag.net/spiritual-parenting-the-spiral-of-life

At the very least, I would definitely keep incorporating animal products such as full fat yogurt, raw milk, cheese and eggs, which can often get you enough B12 ... add the yellow dock syrup, nettles infusions and molasses to help with iron.

Also for your friend, again, we would recommend infusions - so much more nutrition, vitamins and minerals than juices, especially anything bottled. http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

October 15, 2011 in Herbal Allies, Herbal Safety, Nourishing Herbal Infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 14, 2011

Herbal Allies for Adrenal Support

Hi,

I've been slowly learning that herbs can help with adrenal fatigue. I've purchased a few with the idea of mixing a bit in water and drinking but I don know how much to use or how often. Could you suggest a
book or other resource that could teach me the proper way to take these?

Thanks so much.

Hello,

As we don't know what herbs you are referencing to, we can't really give information on them. Susun relies on stinging nettle infusions for adrenal support. "Stinging nettle infusion strengthens the adrenals: relieving anxiety and building focused energy."

You can read more here: http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/Nettle.html

Using all of the infusions, rotating on a daily basis is helping in maintaining energy and good health.

Also if you have access to live nettle plants, harvesting the seed and adding them to foods helps with adrenal fatigue. Eat only whole grains: brown rice, wild rice, spelt, cornmeal, amaranth, quinoa, and edible wild seeds including lamb's quarter, nettle, and yellow dock, full fat dairy, fish and small amounts of organic meat.

You can search our forum at www.healingwiseforum.com for more suggestions.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/August09/empower.htm

October 14, 2011 in Nourishing Herbal Infusions, Wise Woman Q&A | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 09, 2011

Herbal Allies for Chronic Pain and Fatigue

Hello! I've recently purchased a couple of your books "Healing Wise, Childbearing year." and am so excited to start my journey and exploration of herbs and the ancient ways. But, I do have a somewhat serious question/s to ask...

My boyfriend of two years is addicted to opiates. He buys painkillers all the time and takes them everyday. He bought some kratom and was taking that every other day, hoping to find an 'natural alternative'. But even that isn't good for you after a period time, and he still took pain pills. Now he hardly takes the kratom. His excuses are that he has (and he was diagnosed) chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. So it's hard for me to deny him a pain free day when his body always aches.

I just want to know what I can do for him internally, to nourish his body so he can let go of the pills. He knows he has a problem and doesn't like it. So I'm hoping if I have some details on herbs or infusions or whatever it takes to heal his pain, energize himself, and get through the day without taking something terrible, that would be such a blessing. He also drinks energy drinks daily...Can you help? Thanks so much for everything!

Hello,

So very sorry to hear about your boyfriend. Serious chronic pain really wears one down and it is easy to understand how he wants to reach for the pain medication.

With everything that he has going on, you certainly need to start looking at the very basics. How is his diet? You mention energy drinks so we know that part is not so good. Is he drinking any infusions at all? If not, your first step is to get him to start. They can help to build up his energy naturally and gently, while also supplying much needed vitamins and minerals. Nettles provides lots of calcium which can help if he can't sleep at night; oatstraw soothes nerves, eases anxiety and rebuilds Like women, men benefit from all the herbs that we use for our daily infusions. You (and your boyfriend) can read up on them here: http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

A couple of articles that deal with fatigue in general and fibromyalgia:

http://www.susunweed.com/An_Article_Fatigue_AW3.htm

http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-107-fibromyalgia.htm

I would also make sure to include linden blossom infusion along with the others. It is calming and highly anti-inflammatory. Linden is made a bit differently than the other infusions: Instead of one ounce of herb, you use 1/2 oz of dried linden to a quart of water - infuse for 4 hours or overnite; strain, take left over plant material and put into a pot, cover with 2 cups of cold water, bring to boil and turn off. You will now let this infuse with lid on for 4 hours or overnite. You can then mix the two infusions together. Boiling helps in bringing out the mucilage which is so anti-inflammatory...

He may find using homeopathic remedies such as Rhus toxicodendron or arnica helpful with pain - also motherwort tincture. From Susun: "Whatever your pain--lower back pain, gas pain, tooth pain, almost any pain--motherwort can relieve it. I start with 10-20 drops, and repeat it every 15 minutes until I get relief. Women with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia respond strongly to motherwort, with pain relief evident in a few hours to a few days"

I know it says women, but motherwort works for men as well. Certainly eat nourishing foods, as little processed foods as possible, whole grains, plenty of greens, including dandelion greens, organic yogurt, fatty fish such as salmon and sardines ... make sure he sleeps in a completely darkened room. If possible, look into reiki or massage, maybe someone can be willing to trade or if you have a school nearby lots of times they have students do sessions at greatly reduced rates. If it were me, I would also look into St. Joan's (St. John's) tincture. This can help with the emotional toll all of this is taking on him.

Susun will be starting her free health hotline back up beginning on Sept 13th. These run every Tuesday from 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST at 845-246-8081 so you are most welcome to call her during those times. We also have an active forum here: www.healingwiseforum.com where you can ask others for their suggestions.

These are a few places to start at least. Certainly it is a complex condition and can seem overwhelming. Perhaps trying to focus on one situation at a time, the thing that causes the most problems and then work from there, making sure to get a strong foundation built with daily herbal infusions and a good diet.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team