Tea Leaves & Time Turners

This week I really don't have much to contribute as it has been very busy for me both in my career and personally. But I wanted to share about the research I am doing and will eventually be creating blog posts for, beginning in the next few weeks. Again, this blog is more about opening a conversation and exchange of information regarding using herbs, spices, and other plants from nature to eliminate and/or reduce chemicals that seem to come with convenience of having it pre-prepared for a person on the go. So, a little bit about my research projects. One of the herbs I've been researching and experimenting with is holy basil. It is different from the kitchen variety basil you may think of when you read the word "basil." Now, basil has its own medicinal properties, but holy basil seems to have a few added more. So far from my use of it in my cooking, it pretty much can be used in place of regular kitchen basil, however, it is sweeter in taste and you will want to mak...

  i lik cat nipz. i are cat   dsf d=c howw r tinyy pawz ;posed 2 typ dsdf lik hman ? dis hard   i gos 2 naps now wif my cat nipz                          -- i are kat               1 7 fbrary 20-20 Although many associate Nepeta cataria , more commonly called catnip or catmint, with its feline fellow, it can be used for so much more than just driving our kitty kats wild. Catnip can be quite useful to humans. Surprisingly, the herb notorious for transforming cats into frantic fiends, actually can help sooth and calm humans who are suffering from anxiety and chronic pain. Although we can mix catnip into food, much like we do for cat treats, typically, catnip is consumed orally as an herbal tea. It can also be used in tinctures or smoked. According to an article by Eric Vought's in Countryside & Small Stock Journal, "The effect (when smoked) is similar to ma...

It has been at least two weeks since my last post. To be honest I have not felt much inspiration, primarily as there has been a great deal of challenges I have been facing at my job, especially that has been trying emotionally. You should know I am a school librarian at a middle school for 7th and 8th grade students, this will perhaps give you some perspective as to why I have been dealing with and helping others deal with some of the issues that I will be mentioning. From the experiences we have been surviving through at my school, over the course of just a couple of weeks mind you, I have had to cope with and help others cope with rushes of adrenaline, high blood pressure, anxiety, anger, and most recently shock and grief. Over time I may discuss a range of these areas and what you may or can try to help you through them, but as I am still working through much of the stresses that come along with these issues, I don't feel I can truly focus and discuss them objectively. What ...