I have made a good amount of progress on my paper but I still have a long way to go.  That being said, since my paper went from 4 pages to 8 pages yesterday, I decided to pick a commonly used herb and update that one. I chose lavender. I really don't know how I got a 100% on that herbarium because that entry SUCKED.  It took quite a bit of work to make it a really good entry and it is uploaded for those who are members. Again, if you want to join my sight, just comment on any post and I'll send you an invite.  The process is quite simple but I do wish they would make it available for people to sign themselves up on this level of page!  LOL  The children are awake and hungry.  Since today will be very busy, my personal comments will be short today.  Have a great day!

On to lavender!

Constituents: I literally can’t find the constituent I’m looking for but Ulbricht (2010) uses perillyl alcohol (POH) for cancer (p. 466). Chevallier (2016) says volatile oil (over 40 constituents, linalyl acetate, cineole, nerol, borneol) and flavonoids (p. 108). Heinerman (1996) says linalyle acetate and hydroxycoumarin (herniarin) (p. 299). Hoffman (2003) says volatile oil (linalyl acetate, linalool, lavandulyl acetate, borneol, limonene, caryophyllene); coumarins (umbelliferone, herniarin, coumarin); triterpenes (ursolic acid), flavonoids (luteolin) (p. 561).

Therapeutic Actions: Hoffman (2003) lists carminative, antispasmodic, relaxing nervine, antidepressant, rubefacient, emmenagogue and hypotensive (p. 562).  I’m making this poultice to use on burns.  Since my son likes to try to touch a stove, I think knowing how to do this would be a good thing. Demulcent is what I’m looking for but my other books that talk about burns doesn’t list therapeutic actions. Though nervine and rubefacient help here as well. Hoffman also has a long list of indications but doesn’t include burns specifically, just that it’s good for a wide range of skin issues which is very true.  One of my oil books has almost a whole page in the back to look up how to use lavender (p. 562). To back that up, Ulbricht has a whole page and a half on uses that have science to support them (p. 466-7). Chevallier (2016) says antispasmodic, relieves anxiety, antidepressant, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial (p. 108). Mills and Bone (2010) says carminative, spasmolytic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic (p. 493).

Indications: Chevallier (2016) says soothes and calms to help with sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, migraine and mild depression; soothes, indigestion, colic, gas and bloating; asthma from nerves; the oil is antiseptic and used on burns, wounds, sores, insect stings, scabies, head lice, headaches, muscle tension, tones the nervous system, and encourages sleep (p. 108). Hoffman (2003) lists headaches, particularly from stress, depression, promote sleep, nervous system tonic, exhaustion, aches and pains (p. 562).

Contraindications/Safety: None reported. This herb is actually so safe it can be used on a brand new infant.  A lot if baby lotions and bath supplies have lavender in them to calm baby or even help with skin issues.  Mills and Bone (2010) says it’s okay for use in pregnancy though most sources are more cautions on this topic.  This is an herb that isn’t used frequently so I can understand this.  They said it is okay during lactation.  It does show up in breast milk but it provides a mild carminative effect for the baby (p. 493).

I did NOT get much done yesterday.  The kids both fell asleep so I jumped in the shower to clear my head and be ready to absorb knowledge and by the time I finished my lunch when I got out, my son was awake again.  He had a very short nap. They were both up early this morning as well but I expect naps again.  They slept through the night which was a wonderful change. I, on the other hand, woke up twice to go to the bathroom...  My new filter to my water system finally got here so I'm now drinking more water to see if it helps my health. The bathroom was my friend yesterday...  LOL  We have already had breakfast. Now if I could get my son to stay out of the laundry room and my daughter out of all the rooms they are not allowed in.   I spend my days herding cats, I mean kids.  My cats are easier to herd.  LOL  I have so far, only opened the folder that contains the files I need to read but that's pretty good when I look at the clock in comparison to yesterday.  I hope to get through 3 studies today.  That's not that much to ask for. Let's see how well this goes!  The one I was reading yesterday has a ton of great information on ebola in children.  Interestingly, the number of cases in kids was remarkably low in that 2014 outbreak.  I'm off to get to work on that paper.  The sooner I make good progress, the sonner I can get back to writing about herbs!  Have a great day!

I finally got that post done so now I can focus on my ebola draft paper for Wednesday.  I'm going to have to get my cayenne paper finished that following week so I can take one of my finals while my husband is home.  I got the new catalog of classes for school so I sent in an e-mail about that final semester. My current degree also covers a graduate-level certificate of botanical safety so I'd like to hang that on the wall, too.  I'm asking about getting a graduate certificate in holistic nutrition so I'll actually complete something with that last semester as well.  It will only require 2 more classes so that last semester will be a bit easier on me than these have been, one less class. Given how crazy the kids are getting, I think that would be best.  I just need to make sure I have the supplemental materials for both classes and have her let me know how much I'll have to come out of pocket and start using that school money I get to pay that difference so I don't go into debt. If I decide to go back and get the Masters of Science degree in the topic, I'll have 5 classes left.  They have a few degrees I want but time and money are a factor.  I refuse to go into debt to get an education.  My daughter fell asleep on the couch.  My son offered her some chocolate after she fell asleep.  Such a sweet boy...  LOL 

On to the constituents of peppermint!

Menthol (Volatile oil) is an inhalant used for bronchial symptoms as well as nasal congestion. It is a carminative and gastric sedative when used internally.  Externally used, it's antipruritic, analgesic, and antiseptic.  In rare cases, it can cause reactions such as contact dermatitis (a rash) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 64).

Constituents:  Flavonoids (menthoside)

I looked this up in Ganora and she doesn't have any additional information.  This is the last day for this herb.  With my need to get that draft done, I'm pausing on herb extrapolation until I have enough of a draft to be able to spend time updating the herbariums.  I could extrapolate with what I have in there now but I'd rather have it as complete as possible.  I'll provide updates of my progress daily and I hope it won't take all 5 days.  Have a great day!

I decided to cut back Rosie a bit yesterday.  The weed are choking he out and I got some of those dealt with as well.  MUCH more to do. I stopped because I yellow jacket decided I needed to be stung. I also rearranged my daughter's room a bit while they slept. She had gone into the office and knocked over a mattress we had leaning against the wall (storage is a premium around here) and I decided a better place to store it would be under her mattress.  She loved it when she got up.  I love making her jaw drop with happiness! :)  She laid down on her bed and noted she could see her "bell" on the 2 walls no matter which way she laid.  I like it because I can make her bed easier. It means when I get that bunkbed for her, I'm going to have to figure out how to put it in  her room so I can access it better.  We shall see.  I do have an idea already.  The biggest issue is her ceiling fan would have to go.  I still haven't gotten that post done I need to do so I can focus on my ebola paper. I have gotten 2 pages read in my text book.

With that, I will leave you with the actions of peppermint that have not yet been discussed. On to peppermint!

Carminatives: relieve gas/intestinal stagnation, increase circulation (Griffin, 1997, p. 8)

Anti-microbial encompasses all microbes, not just viral or bacterial.

Constituents: Phenolic Acids (caffeic, chlorogenic and rosmarinic) and essential oils (Hoffman, 2003, p. 567). Chevallier (2016) says volatile oil (up to 1.5%, menthol (35-55%) and menthone (10-40%)); Flavonoids (luteolin, menthoside); phenolic acids and triterpenes (p. 114).

Have a great day!

A month left of this semester. I can feel that stress!  LOL  Good thing there is a class on stress at the END of the curriculum instead of the beginning...  :D  Next semester might be a bit more fun, maybe not.  We'll see.  I got a few suggestions to start off with second semester's herbs but I need herb suggestions of what was in my lab kit because a lab is part of the herbarium. I can do things off the "books" after. I didn't really select one, it was selected for me. For the post I wrote up yesterday, for today's assignment, I updated the herbarium for spearmint and cinnamon. In doing spearmint, a lot of the sources talk about both spearmint and peppermint at the same time. SO peppermint got updated and will be the next herb I discuss.  Speaking of which, I need to cut back mine and get it dehydrated before it flowers.  That will be my only cutting this year. I want it to flower and spread.  There is a LOT of work that needs to be done in the yard...  I'll get there. My daughter is looking through my books already this morning.  I have come to the sad conclusion that the trees in the front yard need to come down but I have plans for the front  yard. It will work out just fine.

Constituents: Phenolic Acids (caffeic, chlorogenic and rosmarinic) and essential oils (Hoffman, 2003, p. 567). Chevallier (2016) says volatile oil (up to 1.5%, menthol (35-55%) and menthone (10-40%)); Flavonoids (luteolin, menthoside); phenolic acids and triterpenes (p. 114).

Therapeutic Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial.  I used this herb as part of a tea when I had a cold a few weeks ago (Hoffman, 2003, p. 568). Rosmarinic acid was the most helpful constituent (from what I can gather). Chevallier (2016) says antispasmodic, stimulates sweating, anti-microbial, analgesic, and carminative.

Indications: Chevallier (2016) says Digestive problems such as increasing the flow of digestive juices/bile, nausea, relax gut muscles, colic, cramps, gas, and bowel issues. He says it helps the colon and relieves diarrhea. For pain, it can be used externally or used for headaches/migraines. The oil and the whole herb can be used for infection: The oil as an inhalant and chest rub for respiratory infections, the whole herb for digestive infections (p. 114).

Safety: Hoffman says there are no safety issues with the herb. I do know there are age limits for using the oil, however.

That's it for now.  Have a great day!

Last day of the school week and that clock just keeps on ticking!  This morning I'm updating 2 more herbarium entries for class.  I need to discuss one of them in the discussion board and I figured I'll update these 2 and figure out which I want to talk about.  My daughter slept in and has not had her breakfast yet. I have not been able to eat because they both want cuddles. I have attended one lecture and the other one starts soon.  I'm going to get the post for herbs done today so it will be early.  My instructor actually mentioned the late posts which made me happy.  We are supposed to comment on people's posts as part of our grade but yesterday was day 6 and only 3 of us had posted.  I got my comments done but they really are not leaving any room to actually discuss the topics shared. The kids seem to be in a good mood today despite not eating correctly.  My son didn't finish because my daughter wasn't there and she is not ready to eat yet.  I have a feeling her breakfast is going to go uneaten.  I have a lot to do today so I'm going to leave this here.

The list of herbs for discussion here which you can help me choose the order of are ginger, garlic, elecampane, California poppy, white willow bark, cramp bark, lavender, St. John's wort, peppermint and valerian.

I'm thinking the more common things like garlic, ginger, lavender and valerian first but any picks by your guys will help that decision.  Have a great day!

The day has started...  Breakfast is done, my son has fallen and hit his head twice and almost choked on the remnants of breakfast...  Very unlike him.  He's normally sure-footed so I'm wondering if he's really tired.  I think a nap is coming.  I still have that essay to get done. I read some material last night so I think I can get that done today which leaves tomorrow to complete something for next week.  I still need a draft of my ebola paper...  I did get that quiz done yesterday so one more thing off my plate.  I also got the high chair scrubbed down so I can store it.  I have not looked at the next list of herbs yet.  I know I have 10 to update so I think I'll put those forward tomorrow and ask what you'd like a priority on.  I'll write the remaining ones during the break between classes.  As finals approach, I'll have less time to research this stuff anyway.  I'll see how this goes.  I just realized I need to fire up the crock pot to make us some chicken for tonight!  It makes it nice and tender so children with no chewers can chew. 

On to flaxseed.

Fixed oils are soluble in dietary oils and slightly soluble in ethanol.  Examples are omega-3s, EFAs, PUFAs, DHA, and EPA which can be found in olive oil, palm, oil, hempseed oil, walnut oil, avocado oil, flax oil, almond oil and coconut oil (Ganora, 2009, p. 44, 45, 46, 47, 64, 85).

Alpha-lineic Acid (ALA) (Fixed oil): is anti-inflammatory.  This is a PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid).  The body converts about 5-10% of ALA consumed to EPA which is eicosapentaenoic acid and about 1% to DHA which is docosahexaenoic acid.  Omega-6 can suppress this (Ganora, 2009, p. 64, 85, 87, 88).

Constituents:  fiber (about 14%), sterols.

This is it for Flaxseed.  Yes, Hoffman is absent here. This herb was not in his book.  There are a few others in the nest block of herbs as well that are absent from his book but that's okay.  There cannot be a book with ALL the herbs in it.  Noone would be able to lift it.  LOL Okay, tomorrow I'll present a list of the next options as we will go from there. For now I have my son asleep, my daughter needs to follow his lead and I need something to eat before I can start that essay.  It needs to be done today.  Have a great day!

Having problems getting going today.  I finally got my son down for a nap and my daughter became needy. I got her asleep, went and got the mail and he was back up.  I got him and I some lunch and now I have a few minutes to get something done. There are only 3 constituents I have not discussed yet for flaxseed and one action so I'll look up the action in a minute, though I think it's pretty clear.  I'd like the textbook answer, though.  I got one essay done yesterday and started working on that quiz.  I hope to have the quiz done today which only leaves me 2 days to work on that other essay then the stuff for next week will be staring me in the face.  That would include the draft of that other paper...  My daughter didn't want me to read her book to her today.  She read it to me.  Every page was "bunny, bunny, bunny, butterfly..."  I'm surprised she didn't add in "flower" since she likes them so much! LOL It's a new book and she has never let me read it to her.  I hope my son will get into them at some point.  Right now books go in the mouth, in his opinion.  He has graduated from the high chair now...  I've been shoe-horning him in so I could strap him in while he eats.  I had to wash his high chair cover so it was in the wash as well as the straps and at breakfast this morning, I put him in his chair then got my chair. I went to get my food, came back and he was in my chair eating.  Yes, all but one chair is in the office so they don't use it to climb...  Looks like I need to zip-tie another chair to the table...  Fun times!  LOL

Okay, I looked up the definition.

Cathartic means to accelerate defecation while laxatives ease that process.

Constituents:  fixed oil (mostly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which turned into omega-essential fatty acid in the body - this oil is a great source for Omega-3), fiber (about 14%), sterols (p. 109).

I don't know how much I can find on the constituents but I'll look into it tomorrow.  Have a great day!

I updated the flaxseed herbarium entry today.  My son is asleep after eating his breakfast them playing hard.  harassing his sister is a tough job.  LOL She woke up at 6:30 this morning when she heard the rain from the remnants of that tropical storm and HAD to get up so she could watch it come down.  I already washed and dried my sons diapers.  I'll have to do dishes later but for now, I can get this posted and get that essay done!  I have one more essay and 1 quiz left to due for this week but I have a paper and 2 essays next week and 2 quizzes if I remember correctly so I need to get cracking!  I did something a little different on this herbarium entry, for those who have access to them.  Even though growing these plants is outside the scope of these herbariums, I added those references so when I go to write the books, I have that sourcing already figured out.  I know I'll have to go back through anyway but this will save some time later.  Looking at the data for this herb, I will need a new herb very soon. This is the LAST one for the first semester so those who have been here since the beginning will finallly see the second semester herbs broken out.  As with the first semester, I only have 10 done for 2nd and third (this) semester but this semester, the remaining herbs are started. With papers and finals, we'll see how my schedule holds up.  Obviously, I'll go over the ones I have an herbarium for first, just update them with the most recent books.  

Constituents: Lignan is a constituent that is an estrogen blocker (Ulbricht, 2010, 332). I actually mentioned this one in my paper because I think this is cool.  It helps with menopausal hot flashes and some research shows it may prevent breast cancer from forming in post-menopausal women. Chevallier (2016) says fixed oil (mostly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which turned into omega-essential fatty acid in the body - this oil is a great source for Omega-3), protein (about 26%), fiber (about 14%), mucilage (about 12%), sterols and lignans (p. 109).

Therapeutic Actions: Cathartic (laxative to simple purgative) - To aid in clearing the intestines, Flaxseed uses fibers.  I like to describe this process as the fibers acting like little scrub brushes in the intestines to unclog the system or like using a toothbrush to get that pesky seed out of your teeth. Chevallier (2016) adds demulcent, emollient, laxative, phytoestrogenic, and cancer-fighting.

Indications (Weiss and Fintelmann, 2000, 417): Chronic constipation, irritable colon, diverticulitis, topically for inflammation.  Chevallier write this is a laxative and I can attest to this as I have used it for that.  When the kids don’t give me their normal level of poo, I make pancakes with a little extra milled flaxseed.  Fixes them right up.  This herb is far more on the nutritional side than medicinal side. These seeds are also good for respiratory and urinary disorders because it soothes those tracts. The estrogenic property makes it great for menopausal women. Externally, it can be used for painful/tender boils and softening the skin (p. 109).

Safety: Processed seeds are safe but if you grow this, it must be baked at 200 degrees I think for 2 hours because they will be toxic otherwise.  This baking process destroys the toxins but leaves the healthy stuff. Chevallier (2016) says to store open containers in the refrigerator (p. 109).

I'll post the updated herbarium entry in a few minutes.  As you can see, this herb is nutrient-dense. Small does daily will actually help maintain your health.  Have a great day!

Today has been a day...  I discovered yesterday I can't delete my FB account because it will delete my messenger.  Since my family uses that to communicate, I will deactivate my account instead... Once I remember my password.  The last of my school book order arrived today.  I will be updating that page once I've posted this. My daughter's water bottle leaked all over the bed last night so I've been up since 5am. I brought them out to the recliner and they slept the rest there tough my daughter's attitude today shows me she didn't sleep well last night.  Now if I could just get her to sleep. Literally, all that has been done today is take the diapers out of the drier, put the blankets in the drier, cook and eat breakfast and lunch and get the mail.  It's now 2:30 in the afternoon.  Way too much to do. I still haven't eaten my own lunch, I've been too busy with a screaming child who can't find happiness in anything today...  Until I put on the Tinkerbell Soundtrack.  That made her happy.  LOL

There are no therapeutic actions for burdock that have not been discussed yet. I also apologize for misspelling it yesterday.  I have it fixed now.  If you haven't noticed, I do not proof-read before posting, though I know I should.

Interestingly, I've either discussed all the constituents or have them on the "watch for in new material" list. This means I will start on flaxseed tomorrow if I can get the herbarium updated today.  I can't make promises the way this day is going.  The essay I want to do today will only take about 2 hours to write, if I can find 2 hours. Maybe tomorrow will be better.  Have a great day!