Leonurus cardiaca

I truly believe this herb is aptly named for the wonderful ways that it can help women and mothers.  The chemical constituents are perfect for relaxing when under a lot of stress. It’s been used throughout time to gladden the heart and ease your fears. It’s a tonic for the heart and is known for its ability to ease heart palpitations due to stress and anxiety.  Making it a wonderful remedy for mothers, when stress is high and it’s time to take a grown up time out.   It is also great for reducing PMS, cramps during menstruation and can be taken during labor if you are overly anxious.

Motherwort should be taken at the time you need it, not over a long period of time.  One capsule or half the suggested dose on liquid tinctures is usually adequate to ease your mind and still keep you alert.  The more you take, the more the sedative component will work, so be aware that overuse will make you very sleepy.  This herb is traditionally used as safe while breastfeeding, but should not be taken while pregnant because it can cause contractions.

The taste of this herb is very bitter, so most like it in capsule or tincture form.  If you make your own capsules, pair it with powdered Cramp Bark for a great combo that will help ease afterbirth or period pains.

I have to say I’ve wanted to try this tea recipe for so long.  Every time I read the ingredients I think, “Ooooh that has to be scrumptious!”  It is indeed scrumptious my ladies.  In Rosemary’s book it is recommended as a good tea to renew vitality after birth. It’s rich in nervines and spirit lifters and tastes fabulous on ice.  After I gave birth I’m not sure I could have had too much ice water!  I’m sure I would have loved to have had this to drink.  I can imagine lounging around with a nice big glass of this iced tea, while I bask in my post birth bliss, nursing my babe.

For those of you who aren’t planning a new addition to the fam, don’t think this tea isn’t equally nourishing for you.  Anytime you’ve had a hard stressful week, pick a day to unwind and drink some nourishing teas.  We get so busy sometimes we really forget that in order to take care of others we have to practice self love.  Make yourself a whole pitcher of this tea and do some yoga, a homemade spa treatment or do a meditation.

So in the spirit of this tea, I’ve included not just a recipe but a few other things as well.  Dominee’s blog Blessing Manifesting, writes beautiful posts about self care and inspirational journaling.  I also believe that when we are really down, one of the best things we can do to lift our spirits is to write a little gratitude list.  If you don’t feel like making your own, or you would like a beautiful printable diary, Leonie Dawson made a hand drawn beauty available for free on her website.  And last but not least, the recipe for the scrumptious Joy Tea!

Joy Tea

• 2 parts Chamomile
• 3 parts Lemon Balm
• 1 part Hawthorn Berries (can add blossoms as well)
• 2 parts Hibiscus flowers
• 2 parts Rose Petals
• 1/8 part Lavender Flowers
• 1/8 part Cardamon Pods, chopped

Use four to six tablespoons of herbs per quart of water.  Add herbs to cold water and place in direct sunshine.  If winter, place in a south-facing sunny window.  Let sit for several hours or overnight.  Strain and enjoy.  This lovely, exhilarating tea is best made with fresh herbs and flowers, but may be made with dried herbs too.

I buy my herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs:

Nettle is a kind of super food/herb that can be used for a variety of reasons.  It’s a great addition to pregnancy tea (and is usually added in most formulas) because of its nutritious quality.  It’s packed with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, C and K, iron and potassium and is abundant in chlorophyll.  All of which make this herb fabulous as a tonic for fatigue and anemia. It also works the kidneys which help prevent urinary tract infections and reduces water retention.  As if that wasn’t good enough, it also contains natural histamines, which means it can be used safely for allergies during pregnancy.  Specifically the stinging hairs of the fresh nettle plant contain formic acid and histamine.  You can use dried nettle in tea and you’ll still get some relief, but if you are having a really hard time with allergies, your best bet is to grab some good quality freeze-dried nettles in capsules.  That will help ensure the little hairs are included.  Nettles can also be used with gusto after you have your baby. It’s a natural source of galactagogues which helps promote the production of breastmilk and you can take it during periods to boost your iron and help reduce bleeding if you have heavy periods.

You can find dried nettle in most pregnancy tea formulas or you can buy them in capsules or loose at a bulk herb store.  For fatigue, anemia, water retention or allergies, I suggest make a quart of nettle tea using ¼ cup of dried herb per quart of boiling water.  After it steeps for a few hours to overnight, strain it and sip throughout the day.  It should keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  Since it’s such a dark green herb, it does taste a bit like spinach.  So, if you don’t like it, I suggest trying it iced or combined with more tasty herbs like spearmint or cinnamon.

Brightest Blessings,

Sarah Sorvillo

I buy my bulk herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs:

Even though I rarely drink black tea nowadays (being an herbalist and all), I still adore the process of setting out a quart jar of herbal tea. Slowly watching the magic happen while the hot desert heat makes me a decent cup of tea.  If you’ve never tried it, you are seriously missing out.  Just grab a few of your favorite tea bags or loose leaf tea, put it in a pitcher or quart jar, fill with water, put the lid on, set it outside in the sun and go do something else for a few hours.  When you come back outside your sun tea should be done.  Just strain out the herbs and add some ice.  Now grab a favorite book and sit on the patio while the kids play in the sprinklers.

While most people (myself included) were raised on Lipton’s black tea, there are many herbal variations you can try at home.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Green Tea – I never used to like the taste of green tea until I tried it iced.  My favorite green teas are Tazo: Zen (green tea w/ lemongrass),Tazo: Lotus and Green Tea w/ Pomegranate by Organic India.
• Women’s Vitamin Tea - Packed with vitamins and minerals, it gives you a natural energy boost without the caffiene.
• Tulsi Sweet Rose – Rose is great for summer months as it’s a natural refrigerant, meaning it helps cool the body.  It’s also great for boosting your mood.  Really any great tasting tea with rose would work.
• Lemon Balm – Add a teaspoon to tablespoon per cup of water.  You don’t have to use exact measurements, just use it to taste.  If you find it’s too strong, add some cold water.  Too weak?  Add some more herbs and set it back out in the sun.
• Peppermint – Cooling, tasty, refreshing and energizing summer treat.
• Ambrosia – A tropical flavored black tea with bits of herb and dried fruit in it.  Truly divine!!!
• Garden Tea – Vitamin rich and great for afternoon tea time in the garden.  Relaxing and fragrant.
• Any of the Zinger: Fruit Herbal Teas by Celestial Seasonings – Great for any age and comes caffeine free.

So there you have it, all my go to teas to beat the summer heat.  Now go pack a picnic and don’t forget a pitcher of your favorite sun kissed tea!

Click for some great picnic ideas!!!

Brightest Blessings,

Sarah Sorvillo

Did you know that cucumbers were an anti-inflammatory? Yup, this is why cucumbers are suggested for tired or puffy eyes as a beauty treatment. They can also be used for irritated eyes during allergy season, and eaten to help the body deal with inflammation.

Many people enjoy juicing cucumbers for inflammation and this is an easy way to consume an entire cucumber without the jaw work. But I like to eat it throughout the day as a healthy, hydrating, and cooling snack. For eyes, simply slice a few rounds of cucumber and place them on the eyelids for relief. If you have little ones with itchy eyes, the juicy, chilly cucumber is a little too much for them to put on their eyelids. So I like to make a strong chamomile tea, dip a washcloth in lukewarm tea and gently pat the eyes.

If you have sensitive skin like me, the summer is a hard season to deal with.  My skin doesn’t like most sunscreens and exposure to heat gets my face flaming.  Here is a great use for cucumber.  After a long day at the park, gently clean your face with a creamy cleanser (I like Avalon Organics: Lavender Facial Cleansing Milk).  Then cut off a slice of refrigerated cucumber, peel and rub all over your poor red face.  It feels soooooo good after a hot day! Moisturize as you would normally.

Another one of my favorite ways to use cucumber is to add it to a pitcher of ice water to make some fabulous spa water.  It flavors the water slightly and adds a more cooling effect.  You can also add some other scrumptious fruit like strawberries and lemons, yum!  Perfect addition to a hot summer brunch or spa party.  Water is so incredibly important during these hot months, so if water is getting boring, try to make some spa water! My kids love it too, always trying to catch a floating berry in their glass .

Here’s a quick little video from my favorite youtube series by Bulk Herb Store.

Peppermint is a perfect herb to cool you down during these hot summer months.  This vivacious perennial can grow in just about any garden, even in a deserty place like Las Vegas.   Just make sure she has a designated space to grow, because she can take over your garden if left unattended.

Peppermint is one of the oldest known medicines dating back to ancient greece and is also a popular addition to Arabic teas.

But taste isn’t the only reason why so many love this herb.  It has an amazing amount of medicinal uses.  It sweetens the breathe, aids with digestion, nausea, flatulence and colic.  It’s anti-inflammatory properties make it great for reducing headaches and fever. The plant is naturally high in essential oils and since it’s so fragrant it makes a wonderful remedy for stuffy head colds.  There are a lot of ways you can use peppermint, from tasty teas, to foot baths, face toner, to homemade tooth paste.

I always make sure we have peppermint tea in the house, it can be made in a pinch if someone gets a cold, a stomach bug or a migraine.  I also like keeping peppermint essential oil handy to add to my homemade cleaners or added to a bath or steam during allergy season.

Fresh peppermint leaves also make a wonderful addition to your dinner table!  Take a small clipping of your peppermint plant, bruise a few leaves and place them in a large pitcher of ice water.  It’s so nice and refreshing and since it helps digestion, its great for those rich family dinners.  You could also add things like sliced lemons, raspberries or even cucumber for a truly yummy pitcher of water.

To take peppermint medicinally, simply take it as needed.  Usually one cup of peppermint tea is all that’s needed to help with an upset stomach.  I personally added peppermint to my vitamin tea when I was pregnant and nursing with both of my children and had no problems.  But excessive use of peppermint during pregnancy can cause contractions because of the high amount of essential oils in the plant.  If you are breastfeeding, large amounts of peppermint is said to reduce your milk supply, so take it sparingly.  No child under the age of two should consume peppermint because it’s simply too strong for their little tummies.  Peppermint may also worsen heartburn caused by GERD.

You can buy high quality dried Peppermint at:

Brightest Blessings,

Sarah Sorvillo

You can find this book on Amazon.com

I have to admit, I picked this book up quite some time ago, because it had some great ideas for dinner that the kids could help with. We tried one recipe for Taco Tuesday, didn’t like it, and it got shelved. I didn’t even read all the bits about why dinner is important and how to make it interesting!

Then my husband got a new shift at work.  It pays much better, but he now works from 5pm to 2am.  Which means he’s not around come supper time.  With it now being our two children and me, I started to get pretty lax when it came to sitting down for dinner.

I’m sad to say I would make dinner…eventually…sometimes making breakfast for dinner (which awesome some of the time) and even got to the point of making sandwiches for dinner.  I just didn’t feel motivated.  We weren’t going to be eating all together anyway.  I had this all or nothing attitude.  One night after I made a few sandwiches and placed them on the table for the kids, my son looked up at me and whined, “Mom! I want *real* dinner! Why don’t you make dinner anymore?”.  That’s when I realized what I had been doing.  So, feeling the mom guilt.  I opened up my pantry where I keep my cookbooks, looking for a book to help me make a menu for the week. And this book was staring right at me.

Imagine sitting down and connecting with your children every day in a cheerful, significant, and meaningful way.  Sound impossible or completely unrealistic?  It’s not.  It’s called family dinner.

~The Family Dinner, by Laurie David

Since re-reading it, I’ve found so much more value in this book.  She talks a lot about how to get kids to the dinner table and getting them involved in the whole experience.  From cooking, to fun ways to set the table and how to get meaningful discussions started with your kids. For the past four nights now, I’ve not only made dinner, but had the kids help me set the table, make the food, and clean the dishes.  I even broke out the fancy food platters and pitcher.  I am in love with it again and my children are much happier.  We had so much fun making and braiding her easy Homemade Challah bread, pg 204.  Family dinner is a great time to wind down, turn off the tv and connect with you kids.  While I’ve still only tried a few recipes in the book, the ideas alone make this book a great investment for you family.

This book helped me fall in love with family dinner again, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Brightest Blessings,

Sarah Sorvillo

I tried out this recipe a few different ways and ended up sharing it with my Well Rounded Momma ladies at the Free Workshop.  It was a great hit!  The first time I made it, I tried being clever and made it with pregnancy tea instead of water.  Nutritionally it was fantastic, but the taste was horrible!  I still think pregnancy tea is a great drink to sip during labor, but definitely not mixed with this recipe.

The other thing I learned is that when picking your calcium/magnesium tablets, go for one that isn’t coated in a food grade coating.  When you smash it, it looks like little bits of paper and the rest doesn’t dissolve very well.  I suggest trying an already powdered version, like Natural Vitality Natural Calm.

This should make about a quart of Labor-Aid.  I suggest making a large pitcher of it to put in your fridge ahead of time.  It tastes much better chilled or iced.

Labor-Aid

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

 1/3 cup honey (or to taste)

 1/4 tsp sea salt

 2 calcium/magnesium tablets, crushed

 enough water to make 4 cups

Mix everything together in a large pitcher and stick it in the fridge.  This can also be frozen in popsicle holders to make an icy treat you can suck on during labor or sporting event.

Brightest Blessings,

Sarah Sorvillo

Art by: Holly Sierra

About 7 years ago I embarked on one of the hardest journeys I would ever take. I’m talking about motherhood. I remember the dreams I had about being a mom and daydreamed with a little one in my belly. Oh the things I wanted to teach my children and the many ways I would shower them with love! Not once did I think about mountains of laundry, dishes, temper tantrums or the emotional toll it would take. Don’t get me wrong, the hugs and little smiles are worth it. But, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t challenge everything you thought you knew about yourself and how to be a good parent. I sometimes wonder how in the world I will ever keep up and keep my sanity in place? You give so much of yourself that you have to fill back up at some point. Or the wild, worn out crazy momma rears her ugly head. There are tons of books and other momma advice out there for details on how we can do it all.  Well my fellow momma goddesses, you cannot do it all.  But you can try to be the best momma you can be.  Here are a few things I do to keep my sanity that allow me to sit back and enjoy motherhood.

One moment at a time. Seriously, just take a nice deep breath, and say, “Everything is going to be alright.” Stop thinking about what you need to do during the week, focus on what you need to do right now. Running around stressing like a mad woman will not help you or your babies.

Embrace the sweet silence by waking up early and having a cup of tea on the patio. Take an evening walk with your honey. Lay in the grass and take a big deep breath.  When the children are snoring, sometimes I tip toe downstairs and listen to a meditation on my ipod.  Don’t underestimate the power of a bubble bath either.

Acknowledge there is no such thing as a perfect parent, you will make mistakes. And that is OK.

Change the way you think about housework. Think of it as an act of love. When I remember to set out my clothes or pack my son’s lunch the day before, I am blessing my family and blessing myself (allowing me to sleep in a little more in the morning). It is not an obligation. I am neither a slave or a martyr.  Now this doesn’t mean that I am constantly *blessing* my home and it’s always spotless. I clean it when I can, but spending time with my family and nourishing myself should always be my top priority.

Take your herbs. There are so many herbs out there to help you with stress. My favorites are Holy Basil, Ashwagandha and Motherwort. These herbs help your body deal with stress, anxiety and panic. A few years back we went through some pretty horrible times.  The recession was not kind to us and we are just now starting to get back on our feet.  I cannot tell you how important it was for me to take herbs.  As a stay at home mother, I was in charge of our finances, the housework, the budgeted food, the babies and keeping my husband sane while his company threatened to go under for almost a year.  If I hadn’t taken herbs, I can honestly say I would have asked for medication as a means of survival.  Thankfully, with a ton of patience, a whole lot of love, some careful budgeting and a few herbal allies, I made it through intact.

It is OK to ask for help.  Let me repeat that…It is OK to ask for help.  You are not a bad mother, if you ask a loved one to take the baby so you can nap, shower, eat, clean, breathe, or enjoy yourself.  Your children need you to be happy.  They do not need a mother who is so worn out she isn’t capable of enjoying them.

Make fun a priority! Get messy with the kids, go out dancing, make art, make love, LAUGH. The laundry will always be there waiting for you. But babies grow up fast.

Life is meant to be enjoyed! Live it!

Brightest Blessings,

Sarah Sorvillo

Who fed me from her gentle breast,

And hushed me in her arms to rest,

And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?

~Ann Taylor