• The Flu and You: Some Common Sense Information
• Super Spring Skin Care Sale
• Summer Herb Classes
• Herbal Foundations starts this month!
• Meadowsweet Herbs' Holistic Healing Center: What is an Herbal Consultation?

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The Flu and You: Some Common Sense Information

Flu season seems to have hit a little later this year. There are many herbs and natural remedies that are useful for the different stages of influenza. These are some of our top picks.

Preventatives:

General immune builders can be used over fairly long periods of time to support the immune system. Herbs and supplements for the prevention or onset of flu are best used at the first signs of illness or if you have been exposed to someone who is sick. Larger doses of Echinacea are best to help support the immune system to fight off an illness before it sets in. You might consider some immune tonics such as:

• Astragalus
• Reishi
• Green Defense
• Try this recipe for Immune Soup
• Vitamin D3: liquid (our preferred form), capsule, or chewable for kids
• Zinc
• Vitamin C

Essential Oil Blends:

Thieves Oil (available pre-mixed at Meadowsweet)

• Blend equal parts of the following:
• Eucalyptus radiata
• Rosemary
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Lemon

Immune Booster Oil

• 2 drops Eucalyptus radiata
• 2 drops Niaouli
• 3 drops Tea Tree
• 3 drops Ravinsara
• 4 drops Thyme linalol
• 4 drops Bergamot

Use either blend as a body oil by mixing 12 drops of the essential oil blend per 1 ounce of a fixed oil such as jojoba, almond or grape seed oil. Add 10 drops, mixed in a tablespoon of bath salts, milk or yogurt, to a soothing bath for a cold or flu. These blends can be inhaled directly through a tissue or used in an aromatherapy diffuser to "clean the air" if you are exposed to someone coughing or sneezing. For external use only.

Onset: If you know you've got a bug

Herbs can be excellent at relieving symptoms and helping the body to process and eliminate wastes. There is no substitute, however, for drinking lots of fluids and getting the rest you need! Helpful herbs include:

• Elder
• Lomatium
• Garlic
• Under The Weather
• Lemon-Aide

For the Later Stages:

In addition, you can pick and choose from herbs in the categories below based on your symptoms. If there are signs of an infection present such as fever or dark yellow or green mucus, you might try antimicrobial herbs such as:

• Oregon Grape Root
• Goldenseal (organic)
• Garlic
• Green Biotic

If there is respiratory involvement such as coughing, wheezing or sore throat, consider some herbs for the respiratory system. Eucalyptus essential oil can be inhaled as a steam. Helpful herbs that may be taken internally include

• Black Cohosh
• Licorice
• RespirEase
• Soothing Balsam Cough Syrup

Have a fever? Try this recipe:

Diaphoretic Tea

2 parts peppermint
2 parts elder flower
1 part yarrow
1 part boneset

Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the 2 tablespoons of the loose herbs and steep for 1/2 to 2 hours. Strain the herbs from the tea and add honey if desired. Drink hot as needed.

Everything we have mentioned above, we carry in our store. The tinctures are available on line at our website at meadowsweet-herbs.com. Other products such as essential oils, teas and supplements are available at our retail store by calling 406-728-0543. We are happy to ship UPS. All of the above information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or take the place of a qualified health care practitioner.

For More Information:

Cold and Flu article

Super Spring Skin Care Sale

Monday May 4 -- Saturday May 9

Get your skin ready for summer!

10% - 20% Off Some of Our Best Body Care Lines!

Little Moon Essentials
Dr. Hauschka
Aubrey Organics
Botanie Soaps
Weleda

Be sure to pick up a gift bag full of free skin care samples and register to win one of several lovely skin care gift baskets.

Summer Herb Classes

Venezuelan Medicinal Plants: A Slideshow

Join presenter Sarah Russo, a student at The Evergreen State College studying social justice, environmental studies, and medicinal plants. Sarah will give a picture slideshow documenting the time she spent in Venezuela through her course Venezuela: Building Economic and Social Justice at The Evergreen State College. Sarah will discuss Venezuelan's base knowledge of plant medicine and give an overview of the plants from her guidebook, which she created in English and Spanish. Sarah will also discuss the ability to study natural medicine through experience-based learning and to share about how to take a self-sufficient approach to your health.
Tuesday June 2nd, 7 -- 9 pm
Cost:  Free

Herb walk at Greenough Park

Join Herbalist and owner of Meadowsweet Herbs Elaine Sheff and the Montana Natural History Center for a unique collaboration.

Saturday Discovery Day: Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk with Elaine from Meadowsweet Herbs

When: Saturday June 20, 2 pm -- 4:30 pm

 Where: Meet at MNHC, 120 Hickory St. at 2 pm. Everyone will carpool over to Greenough Park.

Cost: $20 Class Fee, $15 MNHC Members

Space is limited, registration required. Please call MNHC at 327-0405 to reserve your spot.

Herbal Foundations: an In-Depth Program in Herbal Medicine

Starts this month! Only one spot left

Wednesdays May 20 -- September 9, 2009

Join us for the fourth 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.      

Meadowsweet Herbs' Holistic Healing Center

What is an Herbal Consultation?

At Meadowsweet's Holistic Healing Center we offer personal herbal consultations with Clinical Herbalist Britta Blodorn. Britta applies her knowledge of western botanical medicine to educate and facilitate people making responsible choices for their own health care and to connect people with the healing power of plants.

What is an herbal consult all about? During a typical initial consult Britta will discuss a comprehensive intake with you, looking at your acute and long-term health concerns in light of your medical history, lifestyle, current and past experiences. Understanding a person's health picture, ranging from sleep cycle, digestive function, and hormonal cycle, to stress level and response, aids the holistic practitioner to form a full picture of the client's health experience and to address the underlying causes of health problems or imbalances. Following the initial consult Britta will form an individualized program of recommendations, including botanical therapeutics, dietary and lifestyle suggestions, and other health care referral options as needed. The follow-up visits are important to the client-practitioner relationship to assess and support the changes necessary to achieve greater health in the long-term.

We welcome you to make an appointment with Clinical Herbalist Britta Blodorn to address your health concerns, acute and chronic challenges, and to maintain your natural vitality with the help of botanical medicine. 728-0543