• Spring into Natural Body Care!
• Chamomile
• HerbDay 2010 and an Urban Herb Stroll
• Herbal Foundations: an In-Depth Program in Herbal Medicine
• Spring Herb Classes

180 South 3rd Street West
Missoula, Montana

Spring into Natural Body Care!

It's springtime again! Get ready to dig through your drawers and pull out those shorts and tank tops that you couldn't even fathom wearing all winter. When did it ever get that warm? It's finally time to get your skin ready for summer -- the natural way!

Exfoliate! Lavender Almond Body Scrub

A gentle way to remove dead skin and rid the skin of impurities without being too drying.

1 cup white clay
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup dried roses
1/2 cup dried lavender
1/2 cup yogurt
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
20 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops orange essential oil

Grind up the almonds and herbs in a blender, making sure they are uniform and a little gritty. Mix with the white clay. Add the lemon juice, yogurt and essential oils. Add water as needed to get a consistency that you like. Sitting in an empty bathtub, use a circular motion, massaging the scrub into the skin from the extremities towards the torso. Sit for 10 minutes and let the mixture dry and pull out any impurities from the skin. Shower and enjoy the feeling of soft and radiant skin, naturally!

Hydrate! Moisturizing Rose Body Cream

Once you've exposed that fresh new skin, take care of it with a rich, natural moisturizer. Making your own lotion can be fun and rewarding, as well as costing much less that a store bought version. This recipe is excellent for dry, sensitive or mature skin.

1 cup grape seed oil
1/3 cup jojoba oil
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup mango butter
2 teaspoons lanolin
1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil
1 ounce beeswax
1 1/3 cups distilled water or rose or lavender hydrosol
2/3 cup aloe vera gel
30,000 UI's Vitamin E
400,000 UI's Vitamin A
30 drops rose geranium essential oil
20 drops sandalwood essential oil
10 drops rose essential oil

In a double boiler, melt the beeswax. Add all fixed (not essential) oils mango butter and lanolin and heat gently until everything is melted. Pour mixture into a glass measuring cup and let cool to room temperature. Add the essential oils to the oil mixture. Make sure water and oils are all at room temperature before blending. Place water, hydrosols and aloe gel into blender and turn it to high. Slowly drizzle the oil mixture into the blender. When the oil stops incorporating into the mixture, stop blending. Sometimes you can mix a little more oil in by hand. Put the lotion into clean jars and store in the refrigerator.

Primp! Sparkle Body Power

An amazing smelling, natural body powder with no talc in it.

1 cup kaolin white clay
2 cups arrowroot powder or cornstarch
1/4 cup powdered dry roses
1 tablespoon powdered mica (to add sparkle!)
40 drops rose geranium essential oil
10 drops sandalwood essential oil

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight glass jar. Use liberally and shimmer like a summer day.

Chamomile

There are two kinds of medicinal chamomile. Matricaria is the German or Hungarian Chamomile. Anthemis is the Roman or English chamomile. German chamomile, a native to Europe and West Asia, is an annual that grows one to two feet high. It can be grown from seed and once established will self sow. Sow early in the spring by scattering the seeds and patting them gently into the soil. The flowers will bloom continuously. German chamomile likes full sun with a moist, loamy, sandy soil and a pH between 6 and 8.5. Roman chamomile is a perennial native to Europe. It is low growing reaching up to one foot in height. It is a creeping rhizome with branched, slightly hairy, drooping stems. English chamomile can be started from seeds, cuttings or root divisions. It likes full sun and slightly acid to neutral soil with good drainage. It does not like hot dry weather.

Once flowering begins, chamomile can be harvested every ten days to two weeks. Harvest both types of chamomile flowers when they are in full bloom. Use them fresh or dry them at low temperatures. Chamomile makes a lovely tea and can also be used as a tincture.

Chamomile is high in magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, sodium and calcium. The calcium in chamomile is easily assimilated, helping to soothe the nerves. Chamomile is good for irritability, nervousness, restlessness, hypertension, insomnia, and muscle spasms and cramps. It is a nice digestive aid due to its carminative, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory and stomachic properties. It soothes diarrhea, indigestion, gas and protects against ulcers. Due to its diaphoretic properties, chamomile is good for fevers, colds and flus. Chamomile can help bring on a delayed menses and reduce menstrual cramps.

It is a wonderful skin herb. It is hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory, most likely inhibiting the release of histamine. Chamomile can be used as a poultice, salve or in a bath for burns, cuts, sore muscles, painful joints, ulcers, rashes and burns. It makes a soothing wash for toothache and swollen gums or eyes. The essential oil is anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving . It works well against funguses and candida. A hair rinse for blond hair can be made from an infusion of the flowers. Combine chamomile with mullein and calendula flowers for earache. Because of its gentle action, Chamomile is an excellent herb for children. It can be used for colic, constipation, teething and diaper rash. If one is allergic to ragweed, Chamomile may increase allergic symptoms drastically. In large doses, Roman Chamomile has been known to promote vomiting.

HerbDay 2010 and an Urban Herb Stroll

Saturday May 1, 2010, 1 pm

Join the Montana Herb Gathering and Meadowsweet Herbs in celebration of our Urban Herbs. Find out which herbs grow in your neighborhood as we take you on an herb walk through the "hood". We will also raffle off one ticket to the 10th Montana Herb Gathering happening June 25-27 (value $185). The drawing will be held at Meadowsweet Herbs on Saturday May 1 at 4:30 pm. Raffle tickets are available at Meadowsweet Herbs and Hill Botanical (Bozeman). Prices: 1-$5.00 3-$10.00 & 5-$20.00 See you there!!! Find Out More

HerbDay is a coordinated series of independently produced public educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism. HerbDay was conceived of by five nonprofit organizations with interests in herbs and herbalism (the HerbDay Coalition) to raise public awareness about the significance of herbs in our lives and the many ways herbs can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty care, and culinary enjoyment. Greater familiarity with herbs will increase informed use of herbal products and build public support for maintaining personal choice in the use of botanicals. Check it out at www.HerbDay.org

Herbal Foundations: an In-Depth Program in Herbal Medicine

Thursdays, May 13 - August 26, 2010

Join us for the fifth year of our annual in-depth herbal studies program. Make a deeper connection to the earth. Discover the healing properties of medicinal plants - a special and unique part of our world. Come on a journey with us and experience an intimate connection with healing herbs that are native to the Northern Rocky Mountains.

We will study:

• Medicinal plants easily grown in our northern climate as well as some special exotics.
• How to grow herbs and how essential oils are made.
• Using medicinal herbs for different body systems.
• The art and science of medicine making.
• How to respectfully harvest and use wild plants.

We are looking for enthusiastic students committed to a long-term class series. Join in our excitement as we explore the healing power of plants and the study of herbal medicine. For more information, or to register click here

Spring Herb Classes

Fun, Frugal and Family-Friendly : how to eat local & stay healthy

Kristen Lee-Charlson: Publisher of edible MISSOULA magazine and Hollie Greenwood, Certified Nutrition Consultant
Are rising food costs getting you down? Is your family tired of the same old meals? Could you use more energy and a jumpstart to feeling healthier? If so, come gather ideas and recipes to stretch your food budget, and create nourishing meals while supporting the local economy.
April 1st Thursday 7-9 pm
Cost:  Free

Homeopathy for Infants and Children

Adrienne Veseth: Classical Homepath
Homeopathic medicines are safe for all ages. Ease of use and quick results make homeopathy a welcome alternative for treating babies and children. Learn the basic tenets of homeopathy, discover the most common children's remedies and receive instruction on when and how to use them.
April 8th Thursday 7-9 pm
Cost:  Free

Principles of Ayurveda

Anna Donaghy: Ayurvedic Health Educator, Certified Ayurvedic Body Therapist
Ayurveda is an ancient, natural and holistic wellness system from India that literally means the "science of life". In this introductory class you will learn about Ayurveda's history, how to determine your individual mind/body constitution. We will also discuss diet and lifestyle routines to find and maintain balance in your body, mind and spirit.
April 15th Thursday 7-9 pm
Cost:  $20

Homeopathic First Aid

Adrienne Veseth: Classical Homeopath
Learn the basics of homeopathic medicine. Emphasis will be on remedies that are useful in emergency and acute situations. Homeopathic medicines are quick acting, inexpensive and lightweight, making them the perfect companion for traveling. We will explore the remedies that should be included in your first aid kit for home, car, on the hiking trail, or traveling the world.
April 22nd Thursday 7-9 pm
Cost:  Free

Registration Information

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180 South 3rd Street West  •  Missoula, MT 59801

406-728-0543

© 2010 Meadowsweet Herbs