Kitchen Medicine

As the new year rolls around, it’s a good time to look at what’s going well in your life and consider how to use your strengths to continue moving forward in growth.

We are coming off of several years of big T, little t trauma. Often when our mental health is affected by outside factors, we can assume it is affected by inside factors as well. There is hope that 2023 will offer a type of consistency in our lives that will allow for more self-care. It’s time to attend to the health needs we might have let slide while we were busy surviving.

As you reflect and assess, one thing to examine is nutrition. We have written extensively about the gut/ brain connection, but it’s probably time to revisit how what you eat affects your mental health.

According to Stephen Thomas, scientific research is beginning to reveal that the…

Castor Oil Pack

Background:

The castor bean (Oleum ricini), also known as Palma Christi, due to its shape and healing properties, is known principally as a cathartic (strong laxative) when taken orally. A gentler use is in the form of a pack placed over the abdomen, usually with heat applied. The oil is absorbed into the lymphatic circulation to provide a soothing, cleansing, and nutritive treatment.

Use:

The castor oil pack has many applications, and is specific in cases of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts that are non-malignant. Other conditions which respond well include: headaches, liver disorders, constipation and intestinal disorders, gallbladder inflammation or stones, conditions with poor elimination, night time urinary frequency and inflamed joints. You can use the castor oil pack specifically over the pelvic area with GENTLE heat. If you are having any pain in the pelvic area, use it without heat.

Materials Needed:

Garlic is a powerful food with natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

This garlic feet protocol can be used for many conditions like:

• Bronchitis

• Croup

• Pneumonia

• Asthma

Nettle is an amazing plant, not only is it a very versatile culinary plant but it has numerous medicinal properties.

Nettle is a Spring green and according to Western herbalist and Ayurvedic herbalism one purpose of eating bitter greens in early Spring is to help transition the body from hibernation/sedentary mode to more movement and activity mode in the Spring. Nettles is a great example of this. Keep in mind the nettle leaf and roots have different medicinal uses and in this post I'm focusing on the leaves. Nettles leaves have a high content of chlorophyll, hence the beautiful bright green leaves!! And chlorophyll is like caffeine to the cells--> it ramps up metabolism and helps wake up the body from hibernation. Nettles are packed with nutrients especially high in iron which can be hard to find in the plant kingdom and nettle leaves are surprisingly high in protein.

Win-win!