In the dark, dreary months of winter, we tend to crave things that intrigue our five senses - sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. Flavorful, hearty food and drinks, warm and cozy sweaters, the pungent smell of christmas trees and candles to fill our homes. That's why items that delight the senses make especially wonderful holiday gifts - Jessica has put together a list of her favorite sensory gift ideas!
Eating with the Season: Bring Bitters to your Table
by Guido Masé RH (AHG) – Chief Herbalist, Urban Moonshine
Have you noticed that, when the seasons change, our food preferences change too? It’s a bit harder to tell now that fixed fast-food menus serve up unchanging fare, but humans have always eaten differently during the colder months. We have more meats, root vegetables, and rich dairy products than in summer when we can indulge in an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. In Vermont, hunting season is in November; squash, turnips, onions and potatoes are ready; and farmer’s market features celebratory cheeses and rich canned sauces, jams, pies and sweets. I look forward to this time: it’s more focused on the hearth; it turns us indoors as we come in from the crisp air, and we gather around the family table to spend time with folks we haven’t seen all year.
What I'm Gifting This Year: Grace
At Cambridge Naturals, we emphasize quality over commodity - bringing in only those products we really love and care about. That's true with the holiday season as well! We have so many wonderful products in the store - local, fair-trade, organic, hand-made - that make the perfect gift for a special person in your life. Whether it's your mom, brother, cousin, best friend, or significant other, there's something for everyone! Some of our staff have put together their favorite gift picks for the holiday season, starting with Grace.
Remembering Rosemary
By Steph Zabel
Herbalist, Ethnobotanist and Educator
Throughout the whole summer my potted rosemary plants soak up the warm sun, and when the days start to grow cold, I bring them indoors to make it through the winter. The sight of their dark, resinous leaves cheers me and often I’ll wind their stems into holiday wreaths. In the absence of pine or fir boughs, rosemary is a beautiful and fragrant alternative.
Like last month’s cardamom, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is another herb that tends to be more common on the dinner plate than in the medicine cabinet. Certainly it is delicious added to potatoes or roasted meats, and its use is famous in the kitchen due to its excellent digestive properties. However, beyond its practical culinary uses, there’s more to rosemary than its pungent aroma and unique flavor…
Not Just Skin Deep: Emily's Beauty Care Picks
As body care manager, it's literally my job to try the dozens of new products we consider bringing in every month, in addition to the wonderful products we already carry! There are so many that I truly love and adore, and yet I have my particular favorites - the ones I return to consistently because they make me feel beautiful, clean and confident, and ready to face the day. I'm excited to share them with you.
Cardamom: Grains of Paradise
By Steph Zabel
Herbalist, Ethnobotanist and Educator
Now that cooler days are upon us, it is time to bring out the spices! Cardamom is one of my all-time favorites and makes a grand entrance in my kitchen as soon as fall arrives. I am not alone in my love of this little green pod -- for ages cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) has been one of humankind’s most well-loved spices, used in cuisines and materia medicas around the world.
Not Just Skin Deep: Grace's Daily Routine
It can seem daunting and time-consuming to establish a well-rounded body care regimen. But caring for your skin is a very personal thing, and, as you'll read below, it certainly doesn't have to be a burden! Grace describes her effortless routine that covers all the bases and leaves her feeling (literally and figuratively) confident in her skin.
Grace says, "I'm an incredibly low-maintenance kinda gal when it comes to body care. To keep my skin happy and clean, my simple daily routine focuses on 3 steps: wash, moisturize, protect. The products I use include a face and body soap, face and body lotion, deodorant and chapstick. That's it! I probably have the most clutter-free shower and bathroom cabinet you can imagine."
Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
What I love most about this cleanser is that it can be used as both an exfoliate AND a gentle cleanser. Use 'as is' for exfoliating (which I do no more than twice a week), or rub the sugar crystals between your hands until they dissolve/melt, and it becomes a foaming cleanser. Suki's signature lemongrass scent is inspiring, and my skin always feels smooth and amazingly rejuvenated after washing with this product. Highlights: The Suki skincare line was created for ultra sensitive skin with a focus on passion, purity, potency, and real results.
Dr. Ohhira's Kampuku Beauty Bar (probiotic soap)
The skin is the largest organ in the human body, so I think it's one of the most important organs to take care of and protect. This high quality beauty bar is made with natural plant extracts and essential herbs. Most bar soaps leave my skin feeling dry, but this beauty bar actually moisturizes my skin and makes it feel soothed, hydrated and healed. Highlights: The pH-balancing blend of pre- and probiotics maintain and strengthen the skin by deterring the growth of harmful bacteria, stimulating its innate immune system and limiting the production of free radicals, leaving skin clean, hydrated and supple.
DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+
I ride my bike to and from work most days, so it's important for me to protect my face with sunscreen. Most sunscreens with zinc oxide tend to leave a white residue on the skin, but this product is feather-light and rubs in completely with little effort. I've also had trouble with sunscreens burning my eyes (even natural ones), but this one is magical- no itching or burning. Highlights: Absorbs quickly, deeply moisturizing, formulated specifically for sensitive skin.
North Coast Organics Naked Deodorant
For years the ONLY deodorants that worked to keep my body odor at bay contained aluminum (boo!). Recently I decided to try this all-natural deodorant because a few of my co-workers and a bunch of our regular customers SWEAR by it. They were right! It totally works and stands true to the company's motto: "an elite assassin of odor that you can trust". Highlights: VEGAN!, sweet packaging, simple and clean ingredients (coconut oil, carnauba wax, corn starch, baking soda).
Dr. Robin Daily Moisture Cream
I love to slather this lotion on my legs after I shave. Some lotions burn and irritate my skin after shaving, but this one is super hydrating and soothing! This gentle, fragrance-free moisture cream is ideal for sensitive or eczema-prone skin. Dr. Robin (who developed the formula) is a Pediatric Dermatologist, so she markets the formula specifically for kids, but it totally works for grown-ups, too (wink!). Highlights: It's free of parabens, phthalates, nanotechnology, unnecessary preservatives, extracts and additives.
Benevolent Bee Ultra Moisturizing Honeyed Lip Balm
I'm one of those people who can't go anywhere without bringing lip balm with me. This is my most favorite kind! The mild honey flavor is lovely, and it keeps my lips soft for hours on end, so I hardly ever have to reapply. I'm also a big sucker for local products, and this company is located just across the river in Jamaica Plain. As Mother Nature shifts into cooler and drier temps, try this awesome product for excellent lip protection! Highlights: Locally made, ultra moisturizing, simple ingredients!
Book Review: The Blood Code: Unlock the Secrets of Your Metabolism
Have you realized that you can “create a ‘GPS coordinate’ that maps how your body is currently interacting with your diet and fitness habits”?
How to Measure your Health through Standard Blood Tests
The Blood Code: Unlock the Secrets of Your Metabolism
by Richard Maurer
Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles
The analogy is apt and the author explains what each blood test – the ones we routinely get at our annual check-up – can reveal. His language is clear and comprehensible. Are you worried about blood sugar? Or blood lipids? Or thyroid function? All are covered and interconnections described.
What I find most helpful is the de-coding both of the blood lipid panel and of the dynamic glucose-insulin relationship.
Announcing Coexist Cold Brew: Drink Good, Do Good
At Cambridge Naturals, we dedicate hours - no, days - and an incredible amount of care to reviewing each and every product that comes into the store. We consider everything from the safety and efficacy of ingredients to the integrity of the company we're sourcing from. For months we've been seeking the perfect cold-brewed coffee to bring into our small grocery section to meet the growing desire of customers (and frankly, our staff!) for that delicious, non-acidic, caffeinated drink. So when we met Coexist Coffee at the Natural Product Expo East trade show, we were blown away by the combination of the superior quality of their coffee and their social impact mission.
On their website, the company explains, "Coexist Coffee is a uniting force, bringing farmers and families of different faiths together to work towards common goals and be in charge of their own development and futures. The farmers of the Cooperative spent decades in civil war, where whole tribes were almost wiped out, before realizing that to survive and develop economically they must put aside their differences and work together. Hence they formed Peace Kawomera, which means “Delicious Peace” in the local Luganda language. What’s more, we send back our profits to help fund the schools for the Cooperative’s children, so that the farmer’s children have a greater opportunity to learn and grow."
This delicious and truly world-changing cold-brewed coffee hits our shelves today, and we couldn't be more excited about it. Look for it in the refrigerated case!
Schisandra: The (Flavorful!) Berry That Does It All
By Steph Zabel
Herbalist, Ethnobotanist and Educator
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) is a somewhat obscure herbal medicine that many people have never heard of before. Although it is indeed a relative newcomer to the Western herbalist’s pharmacopeia, it has been known, used, and loved by traditional Chinese herbal practitioners for thousands of years. A native of Asia, schisandra is a woody vine that produces bright red fruits at the end of summer; these fruits are then harvested and utilized for their extensive medicinal properties.
But before we get into the historical uses of the unique schisandra berry, let’s talk about its taste…
As I write this I am chewing on several dried berries and it’s as if a thousand sour fireworks went off in my mouth. Whew! To say that this plant is extremely flavorful is an understatement! I can taste the acutely sour and bitter notes as well as a peppery pungent taste.
The Chinese call it wu wei zi or “fruit of five flavors”, noting that schisandra incorporates all of the five tastes (sour, salty, bitter, sweet and pungent). Because of this distinctive quality it was thought to be an especially important tonic medicine.
In classes I always remind my herbal students that a good way to become better acquainted with a new herb is to tune into its taste. Although we may not realize this simple fact, our taste buds can actually give us a lot of important information about a plant, i.e., how potent it is and how it could make us feel.
Schisandra is a great example of how our tongue can give us clues about a plant’s action in the body. For instance, when I taste a few dried schisandra berries I immediately feel more awake and invigorated. The intense and sour taste is incredibly stimulating to my tongue (and, for lack of a better word, is very zing-y).
It also clears away all other tastes and leaves my palate feeling cleansed. You can imagine that if this tart, little berry has such an invigorating and clearing effect on the tissues of the tongue, that it might have a very similar action on the rest of the body’s tissues and organs…
Which indeed it does, according to traditional Chinese medicine where schisandra has been an important tonic herb for centuries – used to prolong life, slow the aging process, and increase stamina and energy levels. It was also believed that when used consistently over time, schisandra berry would cause one’s physical appearance to remain youthful.
Scientific studies have validated the age-old regard for this plant, confirming that schisandra can help to reduce fatigue and also support mental concentration. Try chewing on a few dried berries or drinking the tea when you need to study for long periods of time or do focused work. The taste stimulates the mind and helps to keep your concentration steady and focused.
Schisandra is also known as an adaptogenic herb, meaning that it helps to reduce mental and physical stress, increase energy, and enhance physical performance when taken over time. Not surprisingly, these qualities make it a great herb for athletes as it helps to increase endurance.
However, even if you aren’t an athlete but want to improve your overall energy levels, schisandra can be beneficial. Even better, like many deeply colored berries, schisandra contains many protective antioxidants that help to maintain healthy cells throughout the body and reduce inflammation.
Finally, another wonderful virtue of this plant is that it supports the liver. Schisandra is a hepatoprotective (liver-protective) herb. It also exerts a gentle detoxifying action – remember how it makes your palate feel refreshed and cleansed? It has this same purifying effect for the liver, too.
How to use:
To make schisandra berry tea at home, simmer 1 to 2 tbsp. of the dried berries in 2 cups of water in a small, covered saucepan for 15 to 20 minutes. This will yield a much more medicinal and flavorful cup of tea than simply pouring boiled water over the herb.
Try using schisandra tea as an unconventional, but very effective, coffee alternative for an early morning jumpstart, or a caffeine-free energy boost in the afternoon.
As mentioned in last month’s post, schisandra blends well with other herbal fruits such as hawthorn, elderberry and rosehips. You can also try substituting schisandra berry in any tea blend that would call for hibiscus.
Schisandra is also readily available in tincture form, which is convenient when you aren’t able to make a cup of tea.
Or, just chew on a few dried berries to reap schisandra’s benefits: start with one or two and work your way up.
Steph Zabel is an herbalist and educator based in Somerville, MA who helps urban dwellers connect with the plant world. She teaches herbal classes, is available for individual consultations, and is also the founder of HERBSTALK, a community herbal conference. Learn more about her work at: www.flowerfolkherbs.com and www.herbstalk.org.
References:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037887410800216X
http://www.drugs.com/npp/schisandra.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24944771
http://www.mediherb.com.au/pdf/6056_AU.pdf
http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbclip/pdfs/011007-185.pdf
Chevallier A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants . New York, NY: DK Publishing, 1996.
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