Month: Jun 2019

Many people know about Nettles and their wonderful ability to rebuild and restore due to being intensely nutritive, full of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.

Nettles are more rich and nourishing than spirulina and they are free. But not many people have noticed let alone got to know the magic that lies within the seeds. When Nettles have seeded, tiny little bunches of crunchy seeds appear on long stems shooting out with potency and life and these are also a rich source of medicine and food. When these strings of seeds are pointing down to the ground with their own weight they are then ready to pick. They should look swollen crunchy and not brown or fluffy.
Nettle seeds work as an adaptogen (a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress.) and a trophorestorative (acts as a nutritive restorative for the body, usually with a strong affinity for an organ or organ system and corrects deficiency and weakness not simply through temporary stimulation but through the vital nourishment of that organ or organ system. )

Nettle seed has an affinity with the Kidneys and so works as an adaptogen and trophorestorative with this organ in mind, and has the same affect on the adrenals as well. The adrenals sit on top of the kidneys like a little triangular hat. Your adrenals are incredibly important to the health and wellbeing of your body,
they manufacture certain vital hormones, such as the stress hormone cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and helps your body respond to stress), adrenaline (which helps your body react to stress, preparing your body to spring into action in a stressful situation). Too much stress over long periods of time such as busy jobs, the constant thought of all those bills to pay, school work overload, weekends with a thousand things jammed into them, meetings, the feeling of not being good enough and on top of that pile unhealthy doses of coffee and vast amounts of alcohol… all of these lead to an overload for the adrenal glands. They will start to produce too much adrenaline and cortisol which leads to a constant feeling of fight or flight which leads to complete exhaustion and renders the adrenal glands dysfunctional and therefore altering the appropriate balance of hormones in the body. The adrenals are not designed for a constant level of stress that is so common in this modern western lifestyle and its societal demands for busyness and pushing oneself to the max.

A recent study published in the Journal of The American Herbalist Guild confirms that Nettle Seed increases kidney glomerular function and reduces serum creatinine levels. Many herbalists have seen significant benefits from using Nettle Seed tincture in patients with glomerulonephritis, chronic nephritis with degeneration, and to protect the kidneys from nephrotoxic medications.’ Impressive stuff.
As the endocrine glands work together to maintain a subtle balance in the body, often a medicine that affects one of them will have a knock on effect throughout the entire system. So nettle seeds can help harmonise the whole of the endocrine system, though their primary action is to balance the adrenals.

Both fresh Nettles and Nettle seeds work wonders for the adrenal glands and are a real restorative.

Dried Nettle seed when eaten 1-2 teaspoons a day boosts energy levels, reduces stress and gives a feeling of calm and wellbeing. Fresh Nettle seed or an extra large dose can be a little too potent for many people and the dried seeds give a softer more gentle effect. Of course Nettles and their seeds won’t cure you of stress but they can help bring about a sense of wellness that will help you deal with what needs to change in your life to make you feel healthier again, such as time for you, learning what’s really important in life and how to follow what it is you really want. If you are doing all these things and yet can’t seem to find energy for life it may be that you have adrenal burn out and Nettle seeds and fresh nettle leaves will help restore balance to the adrenals and bring back much needed energy levels.

It’s worth knowing that when Nettles have flowered and seeded the leaves can become an irritant to the kidneys and a mild laxative. Once they have seeded use the seeds and not the leaves. The seeds are less drying than the leaves and are more oil rich and so are better for people who have a tendency to dryness.

This amount of nettles filled an average size jar with dried seeds.

I like to eat my Nettle seeds on yogurt, porridge, put in smoothies, taken by the teaspoon in the morning, added to raw chocolate balls, made into a vinegar, sprinkled on salads and added to sandwiches.

Enjoy the abundance!

Reference ~ Brigit Anna McNeill, https://brigitannamcneill

https://www.google.com/amp/s/whisperingearth.co.uk/2010/08/23/harvesting-nettle-seeds/amp/

Creative Roots is a Woodland Parent and Child Group in the beautiful Bathford Woodlands.

Dominika Baran is the creator of Creative Roots. If you get a chance, take a class to connect you mind body and soul. Working with your hands in an ancient way in such a natural landscape is so healing and nurturing.

So join them for a morning of fun in our beautiful woodland.

A beautiful morning in the gentle welcoming atmosphere of the woods, around a fire, with activities for both parents and children throughout the changing seasons.

Every Monday from 10.00am to 12.00 noon, whatever the weather. They meet in the car park and walk to the Elf camp. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the site.

Their group leader is Waldorf Early years teacher and so you can expect balanced between child led exploration and fun and some adult led activities. Whilst they always bring activity ideas along each week, the group is very much child-led, and often goes in different directions which is part of the fun.

Group flows with a regular and predictable rhythm, and the session includes a woodland walk, sitting together for snack, crafts for children and adults and circle time with seasonal songs and rhythmical verses and movement.

Please bring simple wholesome snack to share.The snack, prepared by adults and children is shared together around the table or fire.

Every Monday until 20th August 2019 from 10.00am.

Contact Creative Roots on 0750535316

Urban Tree Challenge: 130,000 trees to be planted across England as part of £10m project.

Anyone can apply to the fund but the project must have the greatest environmental and social benefits possible.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund will provide grants that will be made available over the next two years to green urban areas,in an effort to try an meet the government’s target to plant one million trees by 2022. The scheme will be open to individual’s, local authorities and charities, and will be administered by the forestry commission. The fund will pay for the planting of trees and for the first three years of their upkeep. Talking about the scheme, Mr Gove said: “Trees are vital in the fight against climate change, which is why we must go further and faster to increase planting rates. We need trees lining the streets of our cities and towns, not only to green and shade them but to ensure that we remain connected to the wonders of the natural world and the health and wellbeing benefits that it brings us”.

Sir William Worsley, the government’s tree champion said: “Trees are the lifeblood of our nation and it is more important than ever to ensure they are rooted not only in our countryside, but in our towns and cities too. The benefit of planting urban trees are endless, and I encourage anyone with the ability to apply for this fund to get involved and help green our towns and cities “. The government says that the grant is going to be delivered as a challenge fund so it will require matching funding from applicants.

The chair of the Forestry Commission, Sir Harry Studholme, said: “I am delighted the Forestry Commission have been asked to deliver The Urban Tree Challenge Fund. The fund is an important part of the work that the Forestry Commission is doing to expand England’s tree and woodland cover. It allows us to plant more trees much closer to where people live and work, and where the many benefits of trees make the most difference. We look forward to lots of new planting happening this autumn”.The launch of the fund is part of the government’s ‘Year of Green Action’ to help people connect with, protect and enhance nature and is part of a 25 year environment plan, which aims to instil a legacy for future generations.

Reference: Sky News 19th May 2019.

Tree Medicine Tree Magic by Ellen Evert Hopman (get signed copies from http://www.elleneverthopman.com via PayPal ) is an outstanding book for anyone who wants to learn about and deepen their working with trees. In the book you will find poetry, folk lore, herbal lore, Native American lore, mythology, druidic insights, practical and medicinal uses of nineteen of the most common trees in North America and Europe. These nineteen trees include Oak, Pine, Ash, Willow, Holly, Hawthorn, Hazel, Birch, Rowan, Apple, Eucalyptus, Elm, Maple, Chestnut, Cedar, Poplar, Larch, Walnut and Elder.
Hopman’s love and connection with trees definitely shines through each page, and as a master herbalist, homeopath, and druid – the book is not only informative but full of wisdom. In the introduction Hopman writes her intention for the book, “I wish to remind the world of the beauty and poetry of the large trees that are being decimated everywhere to make room for parking lots and shopping malls, to make paper and wood products, and through the destruction of rainforests and wildlands. My second intention is to bring to public awareness how useful natural medicines are, how easy they are to prepare, and how available they are year round in our back yards.”
She definitely succeeds in showing how easy and practical it is to work with trees, providing many recipes and remedies throughout the book. Despite the plethora of information provided within Tree Medicine Tree Magic, the book is written in such a clear and easy-to-follow style that makes this book accessible to anyone of any experience level. This new second edition put out by Pendraig press is revised and updated from the original and has a much deserved upgrade design-wise from the original first edition and includes beautiful full page colored botanical drawings of each tree, which is incredibly helpful.” Review by Mat Auryn