Flower + Gem Essences for the Journey: The Second Trimester

Over the next few weeks we’ll be exploring Flower + Gem Essences that are particularly useful during pregnancy, labor and postpartum (to learn more about what Flower + Gem Essences are visit our previous blog post).  The great thing about Flower + Gem Essences is that they are good remedies that, by their very nature, can do no harm which makes them wonderfully safe to take during pregnancy.

Now let's look at the Second Trimester:

Woah, I am really, really pregnant.

You've made it through the First Trimester and you may just beginning to feel that you're getting a hang of this whole pregnancy thing.  Energy is up, a desire for intimacy may be returning, issues around body and size might be emerging, and nesting may have begun in earnest.  The following essences lend support in balancing the busy-ness of being pregnant and preparing with the need for rest and stillness, all while helping to strengthen your sense of agency throughout your pregnancy.

LAVENDER “I am peaceful”

The Second Trimester can be a period of renewed energy after the First Trimester and suddenly the thought of preparing for baby feels less daunting.  Take advantage of your heightened energy, but allow time for stillness, rest, and seek activities that help develop a sense of peace.  Lavender is a wonderful essence for promoting a peaceful state of being.  Lavender also helps to protect the spirit from unwanted psychic burdens of friends, family, and strangers noticing you’re pregnant and not always making the most sensitive of comments.  If you suffer from stress-induced headaches or tend to be wound-up throughout the day, Lavender might be a good remedy for you.  One of the other wonderful qualities of Lavender is its abilities to help us mellow enough so that we are able to dream better and envision the future with more clarity.

SCLERANTHUS “I choose confidently”

Scleranthus is a wonderful herb for transitory periods where you are between two points – the Second Trimester is in the middle of your pregnancy, no longer in the early stages of pregnancy, but not to the point of preparing for labor.  Here is an essence that can help clarify the path ahead and the choices you are making which are defining your upcoming labor, the birth of your child, and the change in your life and family.  Scleranthus strengthens your inner compass, which helps with becoming more decisive, but on a deeper level encourages fuller and more active participation in your unfolding life.

CITRINE “I am energized”

The bright yellow-gold stone of Citrine is your own source of all-natural celestial rocket-fuel!  A radiant burst of energy, Citrine helps to infuse us with optimism not only because we feel energized but because are brightness is being recognized – we feel better understood.  Citrine also helps us to store needed energy and maintain it throughout the day, in part because it encourages laughter which is one of the best ways to recharge tired minds, bodies, and spirits.  Citrine helps you feel the pregnancy glow and polishes off lethargy with flourish!

We carry Lavender and Citrine in our Etsy Shop.  Essences such as Scleranthus can be found from a variety of resources such as the Flower Essence Society and Bach Flower as well as local health food and natural healing stores.

Explore our full series of Flower + Gem Essences for the Pregnancy Journey:

• The First Trimester
• The Second Trimester
• The Third Trimester
• Labor + Birth
• Postpartum - coming soon!

Iced Tea, Ya'll!

iced tea time, ya'll, in the apothecary!

I was raised on family stories of not-so-law-abiding ancestors who lived fast, and in some cases, died young.  Having now lived for a short while in Austin, I’ve come to appreciate one of my ancestors, the wild west train robber and outlaw, Sam Bass.  My Uncle Sam’s death is re-enacted annually just a half-hour from our home on the 4^th of July which is a strange experience for me, but an altogether Texas way of celebrating the 4^th.  He was an interesting character, whose appearance was said to be gentler than the typical rough-and-tumble outlaw.  I imagine that if Sam were alive today we’d sit in the Apothecary’s backyard drinking iced tea and planning our next direct-action protest (I figure that I could direct his wild west energies into more social justice oriented activities and less train robbing).  So in honor of my outlaw ancestry and in an attempt to love the heat, our newest creation in the Apothecary is an iced tea.

Our Watering Hole Iced Tea Blend is lightly caffeinated and bursting with red color but promising coolness.  Our Iced Tea is slightly sweet, slightly sour and completely delicious.  A great post-workout drink and for when you’re feeling overheated, heat-cranky or wanting to lure friends and family away from their busy schedules for some sweet and easy conversation, Watering Hole Iced Tea Blend is here for you.

ROOIBOS Aspalanthus linearis: Righteous, red bush Rooibos (pronounced roy-bus) comes to us from the western region of South Africa’s Cape Region.  Rooibos is an herb rich in antioxidants and restorative properties used in the treatment of such conditions such as allergies, eczema, indigestion, headache and tension.  Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and cooling to the body.

HIBISCUS Hibiscus sabdariffa: Another name for the beautiful red Hibiscus flower is sour-sour which aptly describes its cooling flavor.  Hibiscus is especially rehydrating with its electrolyte content and is also rich in vitamins A and C as well as beta-carotene.

YERBA MATE Ilex paraguariensis: Blood cleansing, lightly caffeinated, and stimulating to the mind, Yerba Mate helps us to tolerate the hot weather that brings us to drinking iced tea in the first place!  Improve your memory, cleanse your body and stress less all while keeping it cool – nice.

JASMINE Jasminum officinale: We included fragrant white Jasmine flowers in our blend because of their harmonizing effect on the mind, body and spirit.  Dream-inducing, Jasmine helps us dwell more deeply in beauty, transforming the heat of exhaustion into the fires of passion.

Visit our S H O P to enjoy our Watering Hole Iced Tea Blend and many other fine herbal concoctions!

Apothecary!

To visit the Apothecary, take a trip of the stairs or the slow but effective elevator.

Have a cup of tea and a sit down! (Comfy chairs are soon to follow but until then you can admire our Scandinavian simplicity.)

Shelves are stocked with herbal delights - a few that haven't made it to our online shop yet!

The photos are a bit blurry, the lights a bit bright, but there were pots of tea brewing and folks knocking at the door. We'll post clearer photos on Facebook in a bit but enjoy the preview of our little space!

Thanks for stopping by!

Polish Your Cauldron + Keep Away the Cold

A lovely night for a a bit of flying.Woodcut dated 1579 in France.

The Witches be cacklin’ tonight!  As black as night with a purple glow, our Cauldron Polish Cold Care Elixir is your ally when it comes to charming away colds.  Take at the first sign of a cold or ‘flu and our Cauldron Polish’s anti-viral enchantments will prevent tricky colds and ‘flu from taking hold.  Cauldron Polish has a sweet taste with a bit of tang and just a bit of Ginger bite, making our Cold Care Elixir a delicious addition to your home wellness repertoire.

ELDER BERRY + FLOWER Sambucus nigra: The Elder Mother is a fiercely protective spirit surrounded in the mists of magic, so we employ her mighty powers of healing and protection in our cold care elixir.  Elder flowers are soothing and calming as well as being anti-inflammatory.  The berries of Elder are delicious, nutritious, immune-boosting and high in vitamin C.  Elder will not only strengthen the immune system but help to shorten recovery time from colds, stress and physical exertion.

GINGER Zingiber officinale: Ginger is especially potent in preventing colds and the ‘flu if taken at the onset of symptoms by increasing the bodies vital energy needing to fend off infection.  Warming and circulatory, Ginger will heat up your extremities and soothe aching muscles while dispelling mental fatigue.  Ginger also helps with stomach upsets, gas and cramping because it is such a darn generous rhizome.

RAW LOCAL TEXAS WILDFLOWER HONEY: Used for thousands of years as good medicine, raw Honey is a golden treasure of healing.  Full of vitamins, minerals and living enzymes, Honey is a perfect medium to carry the medicinal powers of our Cold Care Elixir.

RAW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: Alkalinizing Vinegar chock full of vitamins and minerals rounds out our Cold Care Elixir in healing qualities and taste.  Raw Apple Cider Vinegar helps to bring the body back into balance while providing essential nutrients and with its anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial powers.

Our Cauldron Polish Cold Care Elixir is currently offered in a 2 ounce size and comes in a clear, square glass bottle.   To purchase our Cauldron Polish Cold Care Elixir visit our S H O P.

Buzz! Buzz! New Tea Blend for Children and Busy Folks!

Buzz! Zoom! Zip!

There they go again! Our buzzy little bees are off on another adventure! Let’s help them land back down softly on the earth (or at least dock for some down-time) with our calming, soothing and altogether centering Buzzy Blend. We work with a lot of kids (whether as a nanny or herbalist) and appreciate the importance of children maintaining their equilibrium so they can explore the world in a mindful and joyful way. Buzzy Blend is full of delicious, nutritious and deeply calming herbs to balance buzz with bliss.

LEMON BALM Melissa officinalis: With a name referring to the bees and their love of plant (Melissa is “honey bee” in Greek), Lemon Balm is a suitable choice for the Buzzy ones our Buzzy Blend is meant for. Calming anxious and over-excited children is one of Lemon Balm’s skills. It is also useful in helping to prevent nightmares when taken before bed.

PASSIONFLOWER Passiflora incarnata: Promotes focus and helps kids to center when they are overstimulated. Very calming without being sedating.

CATNIP Nepeta cataria: Another calming herb, Catnip addresses feelings of restlessness. Also helps with upset tummies!

CHAMOMILE Matricaria recutita: For the cranky complainer who is prone to whining, Chamomile restores equilibrium (and hopefully peace!). Another herb that is soothing to the digestive system.

BEE POLLEN: A little golden powerhouse of nutrition, Bee Pollen is full of amino acids, trace minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes and more. Naturally sweet, Bee Pollen helps to fill out the flavor of our tea blend.

Find Buzzy Blend and many more of our delightful teas in our S H O P!