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Lab Notes

stephanie@sunshinestatevanilla.com (Stephanie Webb) — Sun, 23 May 2021 19:52:03 GMT

Lab Notes: Roman Chamomile

Take a peek into my daily work! Every day I am learning and examining research so I can be better at my profession. I am constantly challenged and thrive in my knowledge .The more I learn , the more I question. Join me on my journey!

In todays notes Im working with Roman Chamomile. There are different species of chamomile like German ( B lue) C hamomile and Roman C hamomile. Roman is more commonly used for teas and in aromatherapy. It grows as a ground cover with small white fragrant flowers.

Roman chamomile is steam distill ed from the flowering tips. It only has approximately a 1-1.7% yield which is why its so costly. 1% yield means that 100 kilos of plant yields approximately 1 litre of essential oil.

Roman Chamomile is referred to as “Ground Apple” for its sweet apple and pear like scent. It is one of the most well known oils for relaxation. It can calm a fussy child and encourage sleep for all ages at night. It is often used to help minimize irritability and nervousness. And its been documented to be extremely effective as a pre-operative relaxing agent. It is also very soothing to skin, its recommended for dry scaling skin and to sooth irritations topically. Its safe to use neat (directly on skin without dilution) or I would recommend 1:1 dilution for children or if you were supporting dry /sensitive skin, you would mix it with a carrier oil.

Today I am examining two different Roman Chamomile’s. One comes from a farm in Hungary and the other one in England. I am comparing their chemistry and aroma to see which one is a better fit for a formula I am working on for my client. Every plant grown in different areas of the world, have different chemistry. Also weather patterns and growing conditions also affect the chemistry. Like bug swarms can cause a stress response and raise certain chemistry in the extract. So interesting! As you can see in these two Roman Chamomile options they have different colors and VERY different aromas. The Hungarian one is higher in Alpha-Pinene as well as Isobutyl Isobutyrate. This one has a sweeter smoother aroma, it has a distinctive pear sweetness. The one from England has a sharper fresh grass and floral like aroma. Both beautiful oils! But today Im choosing the Hungarian one for this project.

Roman Chamomile has a long history of use. Mostly for anxious feelings, but it is also nicknamed “Plants Physician” because it was thought to be a plant doctor when planted near plants that needed support. Folklore says it will attract wealth and abundance in love. In the 1800’s women would bathe in chamomile to attract a lover. Im sure after that bath they smelled better than all the other ladies!

How to Make Pine Needle Tea Recipe by Stephanie Webb

stephanie@sunshinestatevanilla.com (Stephanie Webb) — Sat, 15 May 2021 21:14:44 GMT

How to make Pine Needle Tea

How to make Pine Needle Tea
In this video Im going to show you how to make your own Pine Needle Tea. America is abundant I n many types of edible pine. I would suggest that you research your local types before you get started. You could easily reach out to your local arboretum or your local county extension services to learn more about your local types. There are several toxic types so make sure you do your homework. Here in eastern North Carolina we are abundant in Loblolly and Long Leaf pines.

You can take your pine needles and steep them fresh or dry them and put them into tea bags. Fresh Pine tea tastes slightly bitter with a citrus overtone. It can be refreshing and light drink in the summer.

Materials:

-10-20 Fresh Clean Loblolly Pine Needles

-warm water

-honey or lemon juice to taste

Step 1:

Pick a bundle of pine needles

Step 2:

Clean the pine needles well in cold water

Step 3:

Steep 10 needles per cup in warm water for 20 minutes

Step 4:

Strain needles or leave them in then add your favorite honey or lemon to taste and enjoy!

Pine Needles have many health benefits, especially for the immune system. Pine needles are high in antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Older needles are higher in Vitamin C (almost 4-5x higher than oranges) and younger needles are brighter green and slightly sweeter. Always harvest away from roadways and in an area that is not being sprayed with pesticides. Enjoy getting to know your local species and try this flavorful and healthy tea!

*Most pines are safe to drink but can be confused with Cypress and Yew, as a precaution avoid while pregnant and always ask an expert when identifying plants.

If this recipe helped you, I want to encourage you to try downloading my 25 favorite resources for healthy living PDF.

If you'd like more help with healthy living and want to become a healer in your home try my Wellness Life Membership Course by clicking the button below.

How to Take Care of Seasonal Allergies Naturally

stephanie@sunshinestatevanilla.com (Stephanie Webb) — Thu, 06 May 2021 17:01:59 GMT

Learn how to support your body during Springtime with a weed!

Nettles! Stinging nettles are an amazing "food like" herb that grows wild in many areas of the country. I enjoy growing my own, just make sure when you plant them put them in a far corner of the yard or in a pot so your pets and children don't get stung by them. To use them they must be cooked or dried. You can make or purchase tea, or saute them in olive oil similar to spinach or even sprinkle the dried nettles on food like a spice! This herb is extremely nutrient dense and full of vital minerals. It is also a natural anti-histamine and works wonders for seasonal concerns. Watch my video to see how I enjoy using them in my home!

How to make your own vanilla extract

Brad@automationlinks.com (Brad Smith) — Tue, 04 May 2021 14:14:06 GMT

In this video I'm going to show you how to make your own Vanilla Extract.

As we know, vanilla extract is expensive at the grocery store, you can make it a lot cheaper at home. Some store bough brands aren't even made with real vanilla!

It's super easy, only two ingredients, and it won't take you any time at all to make. You have to wait a long time, but it is worth the wait once you've made it yourself.

You can use bourbon, rum or vodka. Vodka is my favorite spirit to use to make my vanilla extract. My favorite two brands are either Grey Goose Vodka or the organic brand Topo.

What you want to do is have your jars sanitized and ready to go. I also use my kitchen scale to weigh my beans. Let's go ahead and get started by clicking here https://www.stephaniewebbconsulting.com/

Easy Elderberry Syrup

Brad@automationlinks.com (Brad Smith) — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:50:23 GMT

Those of us that know about the health benefits of Elderberries will never go a fall season without being fully stocked with your own syrup! As we know Elderberry juice can be very pricey at the store and due to extreme weather and panic buying we seem to have shortages of the beloved berry every year. So I always enjoy making my own and sharing it with my family and neighbors to keep everyone I love healthy thru the winter. This is the recipe that I have been using for many years, I love how easy it is and I even love that bight berry stained hands! Here in NC Elderberries love our poor soil and seems to thrive the more I ignore it. So ask your local nursery if they have any in the early spring time. And most importantly, teach your children how to make and grow it.

The internet is saturated with great studies and research about the benefits of elderberries (you should do alittle digging) so I wont go into depth about EVERYTHING this amazing berry can do. Elderberries are packed full with antioxidants that can help suppress inflammation and regulate cytokines. These precious berries help your body to fight respiratory symptoms with powerful anti- viral properties. Thankfully when we are feeling down we can have something that will support our body’s capabilities to recover and shorten the length of a cold or flu. I tend to take it often thru out the winter months or while Im traveling.

My favorite brand when I'm in a pinch and can’t make my own is www.normsfarms.com

I like to purchase my dried Organic European Berries from Frontier on Amazon .

To Make Your Own

Materials:

2 cup dried Elderberries

4 cups Water (distilled)

1 cup Raw Local Honey

1 teaspoon Cinnamon or 1 drop essential oil

2 tablespoons of Fresh Grated Ginger

Step 1:

Combine dried berries, water and dried herbs in a sauce pan and bring to a boil- simmer for 45 min. Stir often to make sure berries don’t burn on the bottom of your pan.

Step 2:

Steep with heat off for 1-2 hours. Your liquid will reduce by 1/2.

Step 3:
Let cool to room temp. Strain your berries and herbs out and make sure to press the juice out with a flat wooden or metal spoon thru your strainer. I then compost the berries after I have extracted all the juice.

Step 4:

Stir in your honey and essential oils, if you chose oils vs herbs. You want to preserve the benefits of the raw honey by not heating it up. If you choose to add essential oils, add those at this time, you don’t want to loose any aromatic benefits due to heat and steam. Then pour your juice into sanitized mason jars to store.

Dose: 1/2-1 teaspoon for kids and adults per day if you start symptoms of illness increase dose to 3x a day

Sweet Orange & Geranium Deodorant

Brad@automationlinks.com (Brad Smith) — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 12:23:45 GMT

So many deodorants these days are filled with toxic chemicals, anti-perspirants and synthetic fragrances. We have to know what is in our daily routine and keep it to simple ingredients when we can. This is an easy recipe that can lesson our toxic load greatly. Its important to use safe ingredients and not apply synthetic chemicals that can be endocrine disrupters directly to the skin when we sweat and have loads of lymph nodes. This great recipe you will want to make for everyone dear to you. Its so easy to make with ingredients you can purchase at the grocery store!

Materials:

- Large Mixing bowl and spatula

- Jars (I like 2 oz jars from SKS or Amazon)

- 1/2 cup no aluminum baking soda (you can use less or none if it irritates you, just add the difference in arrow root)

- 1/2 cup arrow root powder (I use organic)

- 1/4 cup of unrefined organic coconut oil (if you like a smoother consistency you can add more coconut oil)

- 20 drops of your favorite essential oil

(I like to use an oil with antibacterial properties like lavender, cedar wood, tea tree, manuka, or geranium)

Play around and make yourself a special synergy that will double as YOUR fragrance when you wear your deodorant.

*make sure NOT to choose a photosensitizing oil during the summertime (like lemon or bergamot)

Step 1:

Combine the baking soda, arrow root, and coconut oil in a mixing bowl.

Blend until you have a smooth consistency

Step 2:

Play around with some different aromatic synergies, to make a blend that will be nice for YOU.

I like geranium and orange but for my husband I put cedar wood and cypress in his.

Step 3:

Blend essential oil mixture or your single oil choice into your deodorant and blend well.

Step 4:

Fill your jars with your blend and use daily

Vanilla Bean Walnut Oatmeal

Brad@automationlinks.com (Brad Smith) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 13:59:00 GMT

Vanilla Bean Walnut Oatmeal

I love a breakfast that fills me up and is hearty. Oatmeal is packed with fiber and high in nutrients. This makes for a tasty, fulfilling breakfast! You can heat it up for a warm bowl of oatmeal or serve it cold like Ive had in Sweden like a cereal with dried fruits and nuts. Either way you will be satisfied and ready for the day!
I enjoy my oatmeal with crushed walnuts or almonds. Flax seeds and chia with a dash of vanilla powder for added antioxidants and that wonderful vanilla flavor.
Vanilla powder is extremely high in antioxidants - 3 x the amount as pomegranate and blueberries without any sugar!

Ingredients
Think cut gluten free organic oats
Walnuts
Flax
Chia seeds
Vanilla powder- I like to buy mine here. www.baktoflavor.com
Maple syrup (optional)