Radio Interview with Melanie Flach

I was recently interviewed by Jamie Murphy on a local radio station. This show is about............... you guessed it, ...herbal medicine!

Here is a link to the podcast:

Go to www.wntn.com

and click on podcasts.

Scroll down to where it says interview with Melanie Flach.

Enjoy the interview!

Custom Herbal Blends

Mother nature has been very good to me this year. The rainy, New England spring provided a rich supply of vibrant medicinal herbs. Just this year I have been able to harvest skunk cabbage, dandelion roots and leaves, burdock, red clover, elder flowers, shepherd's purse, and violet. And the season is not over yet! That being said, my apothecary is completely stocked up with local dried plants and tinctures, as well as more obscure plant medicines that don't tend to grow in our neck of the woods.

If ever you are in need of a special medicinal tea blend or tincture, don't hesitate to contact me. It's a lot more convenient and cost effective to order exactly what you need, rather than buying everything separately and blending them together yourself.

Prices of custom herbal blends range from $10-$40 depending on what you need and the quantity. Shipping can cost between $3-$6.

I accept checks or if you need to pay with a credit card, I can set up a private listing for you on my Etsy account.

Many healthy blessings,

Melanie Rose

Start the Day Off Right

What we choose to put into our bodies in the morning is one of the most important decisions of the day. Sleeping gives our bodies a much needed rest from the day's activities and digestive processes. When we sleep, the liver has a chance to complete the metabolic and detoxification processes (that is, if we haven't eaten too close to bedtime). This in turn allows us to wake up feeling rejuvenated and nourished at a cellular level.

The first things we put into our bodies will either assist

this natural flow of the metabolic cycle, or stifle it, leading to sluggish elimination, a feeling of fatigue and cloudiness....etc.

What is something you can put into your body that will flow with your body's needs?

I always start the day with hydration. A glass of pure spring water, water with trace minerals in it, or water with lemon, is a great way to facilitate the awakening of the body. Let this settle for at least 10 minutes before consuming anything else. Eating food or drinking a shake first thing in the morning can be a shock to the system. Remember you are breaking a fast! Even juice is a shock first thing in the morning, as it has too much sugar. You are asking the body to produce tons of insulin before you've even fully woken up, and this is just plain stressful. Some people like to mix half coconut water with spring water. This is great for people who don't feel hydrated from drinking regular water. It is a lower sugar alternative to coconut water that contains just enough electrolytes to enhance hydration.

Trace minerals in water not only aid in giving the body some much needed minerals, but also aids in the entry of H20 into the cells. Lemon in water is cleansing to the liver and stimulates hydrochloric acid production, which prepares the stomach for food. This also helps to encourage a healthy morning bowel movement.

Next, I like to consume some sort of "super tonic". This changes from day to day. My super tonic could be a nourishing infusion of nettles (which I have instructions for in a previous blog), it could be a combination of wheat grass, reishi mushroom, and maca combined in half water and half coconut milk, or it could be something like Amazing Grass's Super Green formula, which is a powder you put into water. But you get the idea. Something that's cleansing yet fortifying. Something that is super packed with vitamins, minerals, chlorophyl, adaptogenic herbs....etc. This is essential to my day. I personally don't feel deeply nourished unless I do some sort of super tonic in the morning. So play around with this. This is the fun part. You could experiment with acai, chlorella, spirulina, herbal infusions of alfalfa, comfrey, nettles....etc. But the idea here is: nutrient dense, ease to digest, pure fuel for the body.

For some people, the thought of consuming anything in the morning turns their stomach. This is likely to be caused by a congested liver, not having fully detoxified the body or cleared out heavy fats, OR long standing, sluggish elimination. If eating in the morning makes you feel nauseous, starting the day with lemon juice and incorporating bitters into your day could make a world of difference. The goal here would be to thin out the bile, cleanse the liver and gallbladder, and increase bowel movements.

If you are a fruit eater, this is the next step. After 10 minutes or so of consuming your super tonic, have your fruit. A mango, some pineapple, some strawberries....whatever is in season and speaking to you. Fruit is a great gentle way to break your fast. It is cleansing and full of vitamins, fiber, and enzymes. Fruit can be very soothing to the digestive tract, when consumed alone. (If you're on a candida diet, you can skip this step). When eaten alone, it is quickly digested and progresses down thru the intestinal tract and enhances elimination. If eaten with other heavier foods, it sits in the gut for too long causing fermentation, gas, feeding candida, ....etc. If eating fruit in the morning makes you feel depleted and tired, that means it is either not constitutionally right for you, or there is candida present in the digestive tract.

Allow your fruit to digest for at least 15 minutes before continuing with your breakfast. Whatever you have after that is up to you, but let it be whole foods. Please, this is not the time to go out for Dunkin' Donuts. People that run on Dunkin' are consuming a false, acidic stimulant (coffee), and then follow with a white flour product and perhaps some cream cheese- both which muck up the digestive tract. In my morning breakfast, there is always some sort of protein, some whole grains ( I skip the wheat), and healthy fats like organic pasture butter, coconut oil, flax oil....etc. Note: If you are cooking your fruit, it can be consumed with the rest of your breakfast. For example: cooked goji berries and blueberries in oatmeal with walnuts.

Recently a friend was at a loss about how to start her day off right. She got so confused about how to make good food decisions in the morning. So here is my attempt to inspire you. This is the way I've been doing breakfast for years, and I have to say, I feel completely fueled by these choices. Many people might think that they don't have the time to take all of these steps, but when you want to feel your best, I can guarantee that you'll find a way. If it means taking your nettle infusion in a mug to work, so be it.

May you be deeply nourished on all levels of your being,

~Melanie Rose

Homemade Toothpaste

The teeth are comprised of living, breathing tissue. They require nutrients, minerals, saliva, enzymes, bacteria, and proper pH in order to stay healthy.

Most toothpastes contain ingredients that have a negative impact on our mouth environment and our bodies.

Glycerin, for example, is found in almost every natural and commercial toothpaste on the market. Glycerin is a natural ingredient derived from the wax of fruits and vegetables. It is used as a sweetener and it gives toothpaste that texture we all know and love.

What most people don't know is that glycerin coats the teeth and makes it difficult for them to take in the minerals and nutrients they need. The teeth can't "breathe" properly when coated in glycerin.

Some glycerin-free toothpaste advocates suggest it can take up to 30 brushings to clear the teeth of glycerin residue. When I stopped using glycerin based toothpastes, I couldn't believe the difference in how clean my teeth (and tongue!)actually felt.

Over the years I have searched for glycerin-free toothpastes and tooth powders. Not only was it difficult to find them, but the ones I did find were very expensive. My favorites among them were Tates' Miracle Toothpaste, Tooth Soap, and IPSAB, which is a traditional Native American style toothpowder using seasalt, baking soda, and prickly ash bark.

So after years of searching for the best of the best, I've decided to go ahead and make my own.

Here are the ingredients of my homemade toothpaste:

Horsetail powder

Zeolite Clay

Clove Powder

Stevia Leaf powder

Spilanthes Tincture

Peppermint Essential Oil

To make this toothpaste, you need an electric coffee grinder (that preferably hasn't been used for coffee). You grind the desired amount of horsetail herb in the grinder, and then run it thru a sieve or tea strainer and into a bowl. Next, add the desired amount of clay. You can use any kind of clay, but I choose to use Zeolites. Sprinkle in some clove powder to your mix. Grind your stevia herb in the coffee grinder, unless you found some that was already ground up. Sift out any "chunky" pieces and add it to your mixture. Mix it up well with a chopstick (or a wooden or ceramic utensil. It's best not to use metal.) Pour the desired amount of your mixture into a small glass container. I use a 1 oz glass jar. Then add about 4 drops of peppermint essential oil. Mix your peppermint oil well into the mixture and look out for clumps. Add a tiny bit of water and continue mixing with a chopstick. Add enough water until it turns into a pasty consistency. At the end, add between 4-10 drops of spilanthes tincture.

Horsetail is rich in silica and has a high mineral content. It has been traditionally ingested for the health of bones, skin, hair, and nails.

Zeolites- I use Healthforce Nutritionals' zeolite powder. It is ground into an extremely fine powder which makes it easy on the teeth. Zeolite clay has an affinity for pulling out heavy metals and impurities from the body.

Clove is great for gum health because it is naturally antibacterial and astringent. A must for anyone with sensitive gums, toothache, or gum disease.

Stevia provides sweetness without the sugar or negative effects of glycerin.

Spilanthes is a little known herb, similar to prickly ash in action. It stimulates saliva production and leaves a tingly, fresh sensation in the mouth. Spilanthes combats dry mouth. This is perhaps the most important ingredient in my toothpaste. Saliva delivers minerals, enzymes, and nutrients that keep your teeth clean and strong. Just remember, a little goes a long way!

Peppermint Oil. Just a few drops is all you need to freshen your breath.

It's great to play around with your own toothpaste recipe. Other ingredients you may want to consider are sea salt, baking soda, and calcium carbonate. If this is all too overwhelming and you want to try this recipe, then send me a check for $10 and handling, and I'll send you a fresh batch of the most amazing natural toothpaste ever! You can also check my online herbal shop. I may add this to the store in the future.

Stay healthy. Love Life. Smile Big.

An Encounter with Mugwort

This evening I adorned my home with mugwort after taking a spring stroll thru Millennium Park. There I found angelica, yarrow, and wild indigo. Knotweed, elder and boneset. But it was mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) that I chose to collect and bring home.

I made a bundle from the fresh leaf stalks and hung it on our front door. I strategically placed the dried stalks, (which were so artfully frozen in time), in the entry way, over doorways, and on a wall which leads to the back porch.

Mugwort was reminding me to place less emphasis on the mundane aspects of my life and to enter the realm of dreams, etheric vision, and otherworldliness. And for some reason, I needed to hang that reminder all over my house!

Mugwort, an artemesia, carries the moon energy. This can be seen on the silvery underbelly of her leaves. She is a shamanic herb; a priestess. Used for smudging and lifting the veil of ordinary waking reality, allowing us to see and become aware of other subtle states of being.

Tonight I go to sleep feeling comforted by mugwort's presence, knowing that I will have a deep sleep with dreams that will carry messages and symbols of importance; connecting me to the wisdom of my soul.

Blessed Thistle, Nettles, and Fennel

Every now and then, I stumble upon a blend of herbs that stands out as a superior tonic for health and rejuvenation.

While digging in my herb cabinet last week, I found some blessed thistle that needed to be used up within the next few months, so I put it in a basket next to my stove.

Into the pot went blessed thistle, nettles, and fennel.

I strained the tea into my favorite mug and sipped on the bitter concoction before going to bed.

When I awoke in the morning, I felt so refreshed. My skin looked like it had cleared and softened, my abdomen was nice and flat (good digestion), I felt flexible and mentally clear.

So I've decided that this is going to be this year's spring tonic. 1 cup a day.

Here is the recipe:

If you're making just one mug of tea, I like to use the kind of tea strainer that rests on the brim of your cup. Put in 1 teaspoon blessed thistle, 1 teaspoon nettles, and 1/2 teaspoon of fennel. Pour boiling water over the herbs and let it steep about 15 minutes or so.

This will make a nice strong cup of tea. Don't be repelled after the first sip. It may seem that the bitter taste is too much, but if you keep sipping, most will find that the flavor grows on you and becomes quite pleasant.

Blessed Thistle: A great herb for the liver and for eliminating toxins, including xenoestrogens.

Blessed thistle is also great for lactating women, and can help increase milk supply.

Nettles: A nutritive herb, rich in calcium, chlorophyl, and betacarotene. Also good for the liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands. Has antihistaminic properties.

Fennel: A warming carminative, great as a digestive aid after a meal, warms up the interior and dispels wind. Mildly increases bile flow.

Green Blessings and Happy Spring!

A Message from Essence

We are not purely physical beings. We are emotional, conceptual, and spiritual beings too. Therefore, not all of our ailments can be addressed on the physical level.

Plants are not only physical beings either! They have a vibration, an essence, a teaching, a message.

As part of my practice over the years, I've been working with plant medicine and flower essences. When we use this subtler form of plant spirit medicine, we are attuning ourselves to the vibrational qualities of a particular plant.

I have found that matching words or phrases to the energy of a flower essence deepens its effects. We are more likely to embody it's message and make the necessary shifts for true healing. These shifts could be a change in a belief structure, a clearing out of stuck emotions, or a repair to a damaged energy body.

The words provide a felt sense of the plant's vibrational shape. By saying the phrase slowly and silently, we can receive the medicine that this plant has to offer without even working directly with the plant, tincture, or flower essence.

It is a true gift to receive the wisdom of a plant. The words are transmitted from the soul of the plant, to your soul, and then translated into your conscious awareness. Here are a few examples of phrases that match the energetic nature of these flower essences:

Pink Yarrow- I love and approve of myself and all the magnificence of my being.

Garlic- I live in a safe universe. I am held in a space of love and protection.

Angelica- I connect with my spirit guides. May I be open to receiving their wisdom.

Impatiens- My resonant pace is in flow with the rhythms of the universe.

If you feel drawn to a particular plant or you have been using a flower essence for awhile, try finding it's essential teaching and incorporate it into your healing.

Here are some questions you might ask that help to get a sense of a plant's energetic shape. Let's use rose as an example:

If you love rose, what is it about rose that you are drawn to? How does rose make you feel? What is the energetic shape and vibrational quality of rose? What does she teach you physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually? Which chakras are effected? Don't "think" about rose, rather, use your inner senses to feel the shape of rose.

You won't find yourself trying to put words together. They will be presented to you. And it will be clear.

Two different people focusing on the same flower may get two different phrases, but the essence of both phrases will contain the truth of that flower.

Cradle Cap Remedy

Cradle Cap is not really a big deal.  The yellow crust on your baby's head is caused by a temporary over-secretion of the still developing sebaceous glands.  If left alone, it would eventually go away, but with the help of herbs, oil, and a little exfoliation, the "cap" will quickly disappear.

My little one developed cradle cap at about 8 weeks.  It was very

thick and scabby and I'm sure it bothered me much more than it 

bothered Elijah Jay.  My friend Deanna discovered this great recipe

created by Rosemary Gladstar.  I've been using it one week, and the cradle cap is almost completely gone.  (Usually this condition would take a few months to clear up.)

If you can get the loose herbs to make this oil, it is simple to make, smells wonderful, and is pleasant to use.  In fact, I'm hoping to have some left over for myself to use as an after-bath oil! It leaves your skin feeling silky smooth.  

Here's the recipe:

1 part chamomile flowers

1 part mullein leaf

1 part dried nettle leaf

Olive Oil

Lavender essential oil

*Combine the herbs in a double boiler.  Cover with olive oil.  Cook over low heat for about 1 hour.  Strain and bottle.

*Add 1 drop of lavender essential oil for each ounce of oil.  Store in the refrigerator and warm to body temperature before applying.

Instructions for Use:

First, gently exfoliate your baby's scalp with a soft, natural bristle brush.  Then apply the herbal oil.  Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, and then shampoo it off.  I've been using Weleda's baby shampoo, since it's natural, organic, and moisturizing.  

Repeat this as necessary.  I've had success doing this once every day, but Rosemary suggests doing it 2 or even 3 times a day.  

If it is a particularly stubborn case of cradle cap, and you are breast feeding,  you can try drinking a tea of burdock root, mullein leaf, and red clover.  Probably taking the tincture of burdock alone would be effective, as it helps to balance oil production.  

And lastly, don't worry.  Your baby's little noggin will be as soft and fuzzy as a peach in no time.

Natural Pregnancy

If you're planning on delivering your baby naturally, you'll want to start preparing yourself 6-4 weeks before your due date.  Of course you've been preparing all along by eating a healthy, balanced diet, and drinking herbal infusions like red raspberry leaf and nettles, -but these final preparations are important steps for insuring the best delivery possible for you and your baby.  Now is the time to get plenty of rest, boost your immune system, build your energy reserves, address any health problems that could interfere with a healthy delivery, and let go of any fears associated with the delivery of your beautiful angel (or angels!).

Preparing the perineum-  find a nice oil (Olive, coconut, almond, ...etc), and massage the perineum several times a week.  Start by gently massaging in and around the vagina, labia, and perineum to get comfortable with the feeling of applied pressure.  Apply a little more pressure with every massage, gently stretching the area to the point where it starts to get slightly uncomfortable. Breathe and relax.  Perineal massage won't necessarily stretch the muscles or make you any bigger.  It allows us to get familiar with the sensation of stretching so that you can learn to trust the feeling and relax into it.  This can be very healing for women, especially for those who have experienced sexual trauma.  

There are 2 reasons that women tear during delivery: 

1. pushing too hard, too fast when the baby's head is crowning and

2. holding tension in the perineal area. 

Your midwife will know how to guide you during crowning to avoid tearing.  The second reason is where perineal massage comes in.  Remember to trust and relax.  Your body is very wise and knows how to accommodate your baby's head.

Avoiding a herpes outbreak-  if you are one of the many women who have genital herpes, you'll want to start proactively preventing an outbreak before your due date.  If you have a lesion at the time of labor, more than likely you'll need to have a c-section to not pass the virus onto the baby.  Don't worry, there is no reason why you can't prevent an outbreak naturally. 

1.  Reduce your stress

2.  Take 500-1000mg of vitamin C daily

3.  Take 500 mg of L-lysine daily.  Take 1,000-1,500 mg if an outbreak is coming on, but do not stay at this dosage for more than 15 days.

4.  Take 3-4 droppersful of echinacea tincture everyday

5.  Limit foods that contain a high amount of the amino acid arginine.  These are foods like coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, and wheat.

6.  Eat lysine-rich foods like eggs, kefir, and yoghurt.

Hemorrhoids-  It's normal for women to get hemerrhoids toward the end of pregnancy due to the amount of downward pressure.  Sitz baths are soothing, and there are many salves that contain witch hazel that will help.  It's a good idea to keep a pack of seventh generation baby wipes on hand (toilet paper can really aggravate the situation).  Don't worry, they will eventually go away on their own after you deliver your sweet pea.

Low energy levels-  Yes....it comes back.  But there is always ashwagandha!   Dr. Vasant Lad, one of the world's leading experts in Ayurveda, considers ashwagandha a superior pregnancy tonic.  It helps to boost energy and immunity, while reducing stress levels.  Who doesn't need this???  This is a great herb for debilitating fatigue and for balancing the nervous system.  Be diligent with this herb and you will be glad you did.  Take 10-30 drops of the tincture 3-4 x's daily.  And continue taking it for several months after the delivery.  Ashwagandha will also increase your milk supply.  You may also place an order with me for a special preparation of ashwagandha using ghee, raw honey, ginger, and cinnamon.  This is very concentrated, and it's my favorite way of taking this herb.

Preparing a first aid kit- Here are some natural healers you may want to have on hand during and after your labor:

Arnica-  To reduce your recovery time and help speed up the healing of any tearing, homeopathic Arnica Montana 30x should be taken 3-5 pills under the tongue, every hour, for the first 5 hours after birth.  Then continue with 3-5 pellets, 5 x's daily for 1-2 weeks.

Coconut Water-  I can't say enough about agua de coco.  This is nature's best electrolyte replenisher.  If your labor is long, drinking coconut water throughout can give you the hydration and strength to carry on.  Have your doula or birthing partner offer it to you every now and then.  It's very important to avoid dehydration, and laboring women often forget to drink.  Straws are helpful.

Black and blue cohosh are used in labor when the cervix isn't properly dilating.  I don't have any direct experience with these plants, but there is something to be said for their certuries-long use as labor facilitators.

If the cervix is not ripening and you think it's due to stress, then try a combination of kava and passionflower.  They will help to calm and relax you and hopefully allow your body to open up.  20-30 drops every half hour for 2 hours.  

Indian Pipe has been traditionally used by Native Americans to help one disassociate from pain.  It's been said that Indian Pipe helps us to step outside of the pain, and consciously observe it from the outside, so that we are not in it.  Indian Pipe is an endangered plant, so only use it if it's speaking to you, and get it from a reputable source.  This has been a great year for Indian Pipe.  Perhaps this is nature's way of telling us that Indian Pipe wants to help.

Nettles- It's wonderful to drink a cup of nettle tea right after your baby is born.  It is nourishing and has great blood building properties.  Nettles will also help increase milk supply, so keep on drinking it! This is one of the richest plant sources of vitamin K, so if you've been drinking nettle tea during your pregnancy, your baby is not likely to have a vitamin K deficiency.

Blood Builder by Megafood is an unsurpassed iron supplement.  Definitely buy this and take it for one month following your delivery.  

Releasing Fear-  It's completely natural that most women have fear about their delivery- especially if it's the first time.  We have all heard the horror stories and tales of traumatic birth experiences, but what we don't hear is that pregnancy and labor is a profoundly healing experience for many women.  When people ask me how my natural labor was, I say, " Awesome!  The most amazing event I've ever experienced!"  And I mean this whole heartedly.

Birth is sacred.  And for a moment, we are an active part of the creative life force.  

These last several weeks left of your pregnancy is the perfect time to retreat from the world, to go inside yourself, to start journaling if you haven't already.  Meditation, affirmations, and creative visualization are all powerful tools to prepare your body, mind, and soul.  Please visit my other webpage, www.sacredchanting.blogspot.com to learn mantras and meditations for releasing fear and having a positive birth experience.  Many blessings to you.  You are about to be an active participant in the biggest miracle of life!

Recommended reading:

Susun Weed- The Childbearing Years

Aviva Jill Romm- Natural Pregnancy Book

Ina May Gaskins- Guide to Natural Childbirth

I challenge you to get UNSTUCK!

Do you believe that you create your own reality?

Do you believe that anything is possible?

If so, why not put your beliefs to the test:

I challenge you to a one week experiment.

Instead of getting fixated on what you don't want or what you are not happy about, what would happen if you directed all that energy on what you DO want?  For one week, try focusing your consciousness on exactly what you truly want at the core of your being.  This is what the buddhists call "changing poison into medicine", and how desire can actually become fuel for your enlightenment .

For example:  Instead of repeating to yourself, "I am so tired, I am so drained, I hate feeling this way...etc", try catching that negative mental chatter and say something like, "I want to be full of flowing energy and life force."  This completely shifts your frame of mind and gets energy moving in a positive direction.

Or instead of saying, "I will never be able to afford a house or live in a beautiful place", try something like, "I would like to find my home and create a beautiful life."

Or instead of, "I will never feel healthy, I will never be completely well," try "I want to experience radiant health.  I want to release my dis-ease and fill myself up with healing energy."

PLEASE, TRY THIS AT HOME!

The possibilities are endless.  The trick is to catch yourself when you are stuck in a negative mind loop.  Everyday for one week:

#1  Get into a quiet space with no distractions.

#2  Notice what is nagging at you;  a health problem, an irritating person, shame, guilt, a  job, etc...

#3  Negate that limiting, self-defeating thought with a new thought that starts to move it in a positive direction.  Write down this new thought so that you can remember it.  Put the piece of paper in a place where you will see it everyday.    When you say this new thought to yourself, repeat it over and over until it starts to sink in.  Notice what it brings up for you--fear, doubt, or maybe contentment or inner peace.

Just doing this simple exercise can open up new doors to unlimited possibilities.  You may even become aware of new concrete actions you can take to alter your situation.  

I invite you to return and post your comments.  I'd love to hear what has shifted in your life!

Blessings, Melanie Rose