The flu virus seems to be coming up again and again in the media and in my friends and neighbors so I thought it would be good to share some information with you regarding an herbal remedy that is well-known for flu treatment: Elderberry.  The link below takes you to an interesting article that discusses research from Israel that explores the power of this (somewhat) tasty berry.  Elderberry preparations (in the form of “Sambucol”, an elderberry tincture) were found to be effective against human, avian, and swine flu and in most cases reduced the duration of the flu by 4 days.

Elderberry Article

Marilyn Farms offers our own elderberry preparation (click here to view) which is available as a standard extract, or a great tasting glycerin syrup.  And, best of all, it’s now on sale!  The recommended dosage at onset of the flu is 1 teaspoon–1 tablespoon (5–15 ml) for children and 2 teaspoons–2 tablespoons (10–30 ml) for adults, taken twice daily.

Iowa Gardens are in full production and a group of us recently had a great opportunity to work with Annie and learn a new way to preserve produce from our gardens and local markets. While enjoying a warm summer day, surrounded by friends, we made fermented or cultured veggies and not only learned a great new way to preserve food, but also how to enhance the nutritional value of winter veggies such as cabbage and root vegetables.

Most of you are probably aware of one  popular cultured vegetable, sauerkraut.  But the art of fermenting veggies goes way beyond cabbage, enabling you to create your own colorful and delicious masterpiece.   Here are a few fun facts to consider as you prepare to make your own first batch.

• Cultured foods have been used since ancient times for their medicinal benefits.
• Captain Cook sailed with large barrels of sauerkraut which supplied his crew with vitamin C and prevented scurvy.
• When vegetables are cultured, the Lactobacillus acidophilus and other beneficial bacteria break down the sugars and cell walls in the vegetables making them much easier to digest.
• Our gut is directly connected to our immune system. When we consume cultured veggies on a regular basis, we strengthen our immunity by enhancing the flora of our gut. This beneficial flora not only fights off dangerous invaders such as microbes and pathogens, but also produces vitamins and converts nutrients into neurotransmitters such as serotonin.
• Cultured veggies are said to have hundreds of times the amount of nutrients as veggies that have not been cultured. Simply eating a few bites of something fermented with your meals will not only help you digest your meals, but will also promote good energy and health.

Okay, time to get started! Click here for the ingredients and instructions – it’s easy and fun!

I’m starting to think that sometimes weird things happen to me just for the sake of this blog.  Last week during a very busy work week, I started having an uncomfortable feeling in my right eye.  It felt almost like I had sand in my eye, but no amount of blinking or irrigating with eye drops made it better.  Eventually I had to take a break to drive home and take out my contact lenses.  It felt better for a bit, but after about an hour – and despite wearing my librarian glasses – I had to finish out my work day with one eye closed like a pirate.  It was excruciating!

When I finally came home for the evening it was too late to make an appointment with the eye doctor so I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I put together an eye wash containing purified water and a few drops of Marilyn Farms Eyebright tincture.  Usually I put that into an eyewash cup, but I’m in the middle of a move and had already packed it so I used a shot glass.  I decided to use the eyewash in the shower since the hot steam would probably be helpful.  After a few seconds in the shower I put my face up to the shot glass, opened my eye and looked around a bit, blinked a few times, and like magic the pain was gone!  And it stayed gone, which was an incredibly happy feeling.

If you’ve never used eyebright eyewashes, please be aware that you should start out with a very small amount (1 or 2 drops) diluted into an eyewash cup because it can sting.  Being the overzealous person that I am, the first time I did an eyebright eyewash several years ago I used about 15 drops and the feeling of putting my eye into that solution was comparable to how I would imagine a shark bite to feel.  If the thought of opening your eye in a liquid herb solution is unappetizing to you, take comfort in the fact that eyebright can also be taken internally the same way you would take other herbal tinctures.  In fact, eyebright herb was used along with bilberry herb prior to the invention of laser surgery to help pilots maintain perfect vision!

NOTE: Please talk to your physician before making any dietary or supplement changes.  This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.