Time for Myself

I have often heard that when you have a business, "yours is the last one to get done!" Meaning that you take care of everyone else, but sometimes neglect taking care of yourself. I regret to inform you that I find this saying true for myself. For years I have suffered with dysmenorrhea and PMS, in fact this was one of the reasons I first became interested in natural medicine. Month after month I would reach for a bottle of Menstrual Cramp Relief medicine that in turn would only make me feel worse, and I knew that there had to be a better way. As I have learned about herbs I have tried a few things here and there, but never taken the time to actually go to the root of my problem and try to find a solution. This last month I promised myself I would not put it off any longer, and I am proud to say that I created a herbal formula for myself and my capsules are made! 

A picture of the beautiful herbs I used. Some of which I have growing in my backyard! 

I used herbs that are specifics to the female reproductive system. One of my favorites is the Vitex berry, not only does it help with hormone imbalances, but it is also anti-inflammatory and helps relieve pain. In fact, in her book Herbal Defense-Positioning Yourself to Triumph Over Illness and Aging, Robyn Landis says, "It may be the most effective single PMS remedy for nearly every type of symptom." I love this plant so much I planted it in my back yard this summer!

The capsules ready to be capped off! 

I then decided to make myself capsules because, to be honest, they are easy to take and these particular herbs did not seem like they would make a nice tasting tea! 

The finished product! 

With these capsules, good diet, exercise and relaxation techniques I hope that next month will be stress and pain free! I will keep you posted! 

Please email me at muir-botanicals@hotmail.com if you have any questions you would like answered on this blog! Thanks for reading!

Migraine Relief

Tell me about herbs that can be used for migraine relief.- Rhealeen Thrasher

Well, Rhealeen, the most important thing to take into consideration when addressing migraines, is what is causing them. Migraines can be triggered by a number of different factors including, food allergies, imbalanced hormone levels, stress, bright lights, weather, and spinal misalignment. To achieve lasting results, these things must be treated! A change in diet, massage, natural hormone therapy, and meditation are all great ways to start treating migraines.

There are many herbs that can be used to help with the symptoms of these headaches. Since migraines have to do with a change of blood flow to the brain, caffeine in small amounts will help by altering the amount of blood pushed though the blood vessels. One ounce of quality dark chocolate, or half a cup of coffee can be taken at the onset of a migraine, but more caffeine than that will have adverse effects and worsen the headache.

There a two other herbs that are specific for migraines, feverfew and gingko biloba.  Depending on what type of migraine a person has, determines which herb to use. If the person feels a migraine can be treated using heat, then they should use gingko biloba for treatment. On the other hand, if the migraine would do better by applying cold, then feverfew would be the correct herb for that person.

Along with these and other herbs there can be relief for migraines using "natural" means. Thanks for the question!

Reviews

Extra Strength Moisturizing Cream Review by Crazy4Fluff
"I love this cream!
I adore that the bottle is small enough that
I can take along in my purse.
It doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy like
some moisturizers do, It simply leaves
my skins silky soft."

For complete review click here:
http://crazy4fluff.blogspot.com/2011/07/muir-botanicals-review-giveaway.html


Tea for Two- Breastfeeding Tea Review by TailorMadeMamma
I am a HUGE herbal tea fan, and this tea is delicious!  It is subtle and slightly sweet without any honey or sugar.  I can't speak for the effectiveness yet but I am hoping that it will help our problems!

Baby Booty Cream Review by TailorMadeMamma
I have to start by saying that any chocolate lover will LOVE this!  It smells like CHOCOLATE!!!

The consistency is a little bit oilier then I usually prefer but it left Colton's bum feeling super soft and smooth.  And to top it off no rash!!

For complete review click here:

http://tailormademomma.blogspot.com/2011/08/wahw-spotlight-muir-botanicals.html

Bug Bite Season

"This time of year my family is always ready to jump in the lake to keep cool, but I hate seeing my kids with itchy mosquito bites! Is there anyway to treat bug bites without using harmful chemicals or antihistamines that will make us drowsy?" - Tina Bowens

Great question Tina! Nobody likes those pesty biters but luckily there are lots of ways to deal with the itch herbally.

It is best to treat bites and stings by taking something internally so that we can help our bodies defend themselves. Herbs such as Nettles and Licorice are great in this situation because they are antihistamines and help prevent allergic reactions, but will not make you drowsy. Teas or capsules made with these herbs would be optimal after getting bit, or before enjoying your water outing!

To calm the itch, herbs such as Plantain and Lavender are great to use topically. Many of us know that Lavender helps to relax the nerves which is often necessary in this situation for kiddos! It is also one of the few essential oils that can be applied directly on the skin.

Finally, chamomile can be applied to those nasty bumps to reduce inflammation and redness.

For my Buh-By Bug Bite Gel visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/78792715/buh-bye-bug-bite-gel

For questions on how to keep mosquitoes away naturally, or any other herbal concerns contact me at muir-botanicals@hotmail.com

Stretch Marks

Interested in learning how to prevent and help heal stretch marks? Check out this video for more information!

Rumblies in the Tummies

This morning a good friend of mine called and said that her two year old had a  horrible diaper rash and diarrhea with cramping for the last three days. I could hear her little boy crying in the background and was so glad that I had just what he needed in my cabinets.
While diarrhea should sometimes be allowed to run its course in order to rid the body of toxins, it should be treated if it persists more than twelve hours. My first major concern was that he had become dehydrated. I chose to make him a herbal tea using raspberry leaves which will actually help the intestines absorb fluids. For his cramps I added relaxing chamomile to his tea, and had Momma rub a soothing lavender oil on his tummy. Finally for his rash we slathered on some Baby Booty Cream (luckily, I had recently made a batch).
By the time Momma and toddler were back in the car, he was able to sit down on his booty (which he could not do earlier), and all the tears had stopped!
There is no better feeling than when he told me, "thank you" this morning. This is why I love my job!

Making Your Own Green Cleaning Products

This is a demonstration I did at our Home and Garden Show! In this video I show you how to make an All-Purpose Disinfecting Spray, a Window Cleaner and Fly Repellent, and a Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer! I hope you enjoy and learn a lot!