If you're part of the 30-50% of the population that occasionally has difficulties sleeping, you might want to check out our Sleep Center in the Vitamin/Supplements section. Several approaches have proven effective over the years.
Yoga/Exercise -- We have numerous wonderful books on the subject
Herbs
Magnesium & Vitamin B
Homeopathics
Amino Acids
Visit the Vitamin Section for more!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Carlson Labs & Fish Oils
20% OFF all Carlson products into September... here at Rainbow...
**********
Putting their cheezy "family" oriented marketing aside, Carlson truly knows fish oils, probably better than any other company. They received the "superior taste" award in 2007 and have been around for over 45 years. They believe so fully in the beauty and cosmetic benefits of fish oils, as bestowed upon their family, that they've never had to hire some botox-faced model for their marketing materials. As the company approaches 50, they might have to reconsider that, but it's worked for them up until now. Several years ago they asked us to participate in a "Fish Oil Recipe Contest". The winners of that (Rainbow Remedies didn't enter) include "Lemon Garlic & Herb Popcorn", "Garden & Sea Salsa", and "Gorgonzola Bruschetta", all containing fish oil as one of the main ingredients. We have those recipes handily available from our beautiful Carlson display. Visit it at the store.
**********
If you're on the fence about fish oils and their omega-3 EFAs, here are some of the primary benefits:
*** Cardiovascular Health***
***Brain & Nerve Function***
***Healthy Vision***
***Immune System Health***
***Healthy Joints & Movement***
**********
Putting their cheezy "family" oriented marketing aside, Carlson truly knows fish oils, probably better than any other company. They received the "superior taste" award in 2007 and have been around for over 45 years. They believe so fully in the beauty and cosmetic benefits of fish oils, as bestowed upon their family, that they've never had to hire some botox-faced model for their marketing materials. As the company approaches 50, they might have to reconsider that, but it's worked for them up until now. Several years ago they asked us to participate in a "Fish Oil Recipe Contest". The winners of that (Rainbow Remedies didn't enter) include "Lemon Garlic & Herb Popcorn", "Garden & Sea Salsa", and "Gorgonzola Bruschetta", all containing fish oil as one of the main ingredients. We have those recipes handily available from our beautiful Carlson display. Visit it at the store.
**********
If you're on the fence about fish oils and their omega-3 EFAs, here are some of the primary benefits:
*** Cardiovascular Health***
***Brain & Nerve Function***
***Healthy Vision***
***Immune System Health***
***Healthy Joints & Movement***
Sunday, August 15, 2010
how ’bout a chakra cleanse?!!
There are many ways that one can cleanse, and knowing what area of your body you want to affect is a great starting point to choosing a cleanse. Like all natural medicine, it is very important to understand your own body, life, abilities, and habits. A cleanse can be very involved or as easy as taking an herbal pill morning and night for a few weeks. know what you are capable of, then work from there. Know also that the amount of input you are willing to put into the cleanse is in direct proportion to what you will receive from it. Then be creative: research foods that nourish and detoxify, look into the tummy temple and a sauna/steam spa for outside help, meditate, exercise, drink tea, drink water, focus on what you are trying to achieve and listen to your body when it responds. The response and your willingness to listen will make later cleanses even more successful.
The most common aim for cleansing is the liver, kidney, and colon. This is understandable since these are the systems that filter and detoxify constantly, and its always a good idea to clean your filter once in a while. But there are many other systems that can be addressed and "cleansed" (this words becomes a bit overused, maybe conditioned is more appropriate) such as the lymph system, the circulatory system, the endocrine system, skin and even brain!
But lets not stop there! You could even go so far as what I recently did in creating a chakra cleanse. My intention was to raise my awareness of each of the chakra systems and how I relate to each of their energies. I focused on one chakra a day for a week starting with the root chakra and moving up to the crown. I organized the food I ate, the colors I wore, meditations, actions for the day, elements, scents, and interaction into each chakra's realm. I learned alot about myself from this cleanse, where I responded well or not, which day was harder than others...This was less of a "cleanse" and more of an opportunity to create conversation with my body, mind, and energy patterns.
But I believe this is always what these systematic regimes are about, giving your body and spirit recognition in its actions and processes and supporting what all the many parts do. All cleanses or conditioning treatments should be done with intention, awareness, creativity and compassion for your body and its incredible abilities.
The most common aim for cleansing is the liver, kidney, and colon. This is understandable since these are the systems that filter and detoxify constantly, and its always a good idea to clean your filter once in a while. But there are many other systems that can be addressed and "cleansed" (this words becomes a bit overused, maybe conditioned is more appropriate) such as the lymph system, the circulatory system, the endocrine system, skin and even brain!
But lets not stop there! You could even go so far as what I recently did in creating a chakra cleanse. My intention was to raise my awareness of each of the chakra systems and how I relate to each of their energies. I focused on one chakra a day for a week starting with the root chakra and moving up to the crown. I organized the food I ate, the colors I wore, meditations, actions for the day, elements, scents, and interaction into each chakra's realm. I learned alot about myself from this cleanse, where I responded well or not, which day was harder than others...This was less of a "cleanse" and more of an opportunity to create conversation with my body, mind, and energy patterns.
But I believe this is always what these systematic regimes are about, giving your body and spirit recognition in its actions and processes and supporting what all the many parts do. All cleanses or conditioning treatments should be done with intention, awareness, creativity and compassion for your body and its incredible abilities.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Blackberry…like the leaf, not the phone :)
i have been away for a few weeks, so the tea blog has been on hiatus. but now i am back....back in black (berry...sung to ACDC's famous song) i know, silly, but i can't resist silly humor like that at times.
Rubus spp. (but be sure because red raspberry is also from the genus Rubus, and although it does have similar properties...red raspberry has other uses specific to that plant) There are many species of blackberry....a few can be: villosus, canadensis, fruticosus, laciniatus.
it is a fitting day for blackberry leaf tea here in Seattle. it is warm and slightly muggy. it seems funny to say that after being on the east coast for a couple weeks, where this sort of muggy would be a pleasant break. the energetics of blackberry leaf is cooling, and it tastes really nice on ice, with a bit of a sweetner like honey or maybe even lemon balm glycerite would be tasty.
medicinally the leaf of this plant is used for its astringent quality. it is used in that way for diarrhea, and can be used on infants as well, according to Ellingwood. in Mary Bove's book on children and infants, she recommends the mother drinking the tea for babies under the age of 3 months. it is also used for many skin inflammations, as a poultice or a wash. as a mouthwash, it can be helpful for weak gums and is great as an aid in a sore throat gargle.
so whether you have loose bowels or just want to cool off with a tasty beverage...try some blackberry leaf tea. you're gonna love it!
enjoy!
melissa
Rubus spp. (but be sure because red raspberry is also from the genus Rubus, and although it does have similar properties...red raspberry has other uses specific to that plant) There are many species of blackberry....a few can be: villosus, canadensis, fruticosus, laciniatus.
it is a fitting day for blackberry leaf tea here in Seattle. it is warm and slightly muggy. it seems funny to say that after being on the east coast for a couple weeks, where this sort of muggy would be a pleasant break. the energetics of blackberry leaf is cooling, and it tastes really nice on ice, with a bit of a sweetner like honey or maybe even lemon balm glycerite would be tasty.
medicinally the leaf of this plant is used for its astringent quality. it is used in that way for diarrhea, and can be used on infants as well, according to Ellingwood. in Mary Bove's book on children and infants, she recommends the mother drinking the tea for babies under the age of 3 months. it is also used for many skin inflammations, as a poultice or a wash. as a mouthwash, it can be helpful for weak gums and is great as an aid in a sore throat gargle.
so whether you have loose bowels or just want to cool off with a tasty beverage...try some blackberry leaf tea. you're gonna love it!
enjoy!
melissa
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Cooling, Relaxing, Summer Spirit Tea…
Hot and all in a summer tizzy? Try this tea I've mixed for you all, mostly from herbs that are very common to the Puget Sound local area. ($3 per 2-ounce package, at our herb counter) It will be good warm to start off the day, or nice and refreshing iced in the sultry afternoon. Try a little honey or other natural sweetener with it.
Spearmint -- cooling and flavorful;
Catnip -- relaxing and healing for the stomach;
Lemon Balm -- uplifting, and relaxing to the nervous system
Blackberry Leaf -- immunity and strengthening of physical resistance;
Star Anise -- reduces exhaustion and lack of appetite due to heat ;
Comfrey Leaf -- powerful healing for the stomach and internal organs;
Lavender -- relaxing and aromatic;
Motherwort -- reduces anxiety and tension, strengthens the heart, brings on mid-summer night dreaming...
Enjoy!!
Spearmint -- cooling and flavorful;
Catnip -- relaxing and healing for the stomach;
Lemon Balm -- uplifting, and relaxing to the nervous system
Blackberry Leaf -- immunity and strengthening of physical resistance;
Star Anise -- reduces exhaustion and lack of appetite due to heat ;
Comfrey Leaf -- powerful healing for the stomach and internal organs;
Lavender -- relaxing and aromatic;
Motherwort -- reduces anxiety and tension, strengthens the heart, brings on mid-summer night dreaming...
Enjoy!!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Vita-Coco — July Staff Favorite
I think most of my fellow staff members would agree that the VitaCoco Coconut Water found in our cooler is the BOMB! Absolutely the best when it's hot... like now it's about 90 degrees and I just want to drink it all day! We have Plain and an Acai/Pomegranate flavor.
Here are some of the benefits:
* More electrolytes than most "sports" drinks
*More potassium than two bananas
*Helps rehydrate after fluid loss and prevent cramping from exercise.
Here are some of the benefits:
* More electrolytes than most "sports" drinks
*More potassium than two bananas
*Helps rehydrate after fluid loss and prevent cramping from exercise.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
mmm, mmm - Bilberry
Vaccinium spp.
Both the leaves and the fruit can be used medicinally...however, we stock just the dried fruit, which is the most commonly and studied part of the plant. so, took about 2 tablespoons of the dried fruit and brewed it in about a cup or so of water. by brew, i mean I made a decoction. and by decoction, i mean bringing the water and herb to a boil in water and then lowering to a simmer for about 20 minutes or so. the water turned a nice deep purple and i added just a tiny bit of honey to it. i thought about some apple cider vinegar, just cause i am into that kinda thing...maybe next time. this time, i wanted to taste more of the bilberry. and it was delicious! it didn't even need the honey, it was sweet and flavorful. it would be a great tea for kids, or to add to another tea for flavor. or jsut by itself everyday as a tonic.
if you did it everyday as a tonic, some of its uses might be helpful to know. to see if you are someone that could use a bilberry tonic. it is great to the vascular system. things like Raynaud's syndrome (cold hands and feet), venous disorders during pregnancy, varicose veins (venous insufficiency), hemorrhoids. According to Mills and Bone, it decreases vascular permeability, and so therefore increases capillary integrity. it is also used in my vision supplements. it is astringent and can be sued for diarrhea, and is great for inflammaotry bowel conditions. so, there i would be thinking a yummy tea for my kids if they were having diarrhea or some digestive thing with loose stools. and like other dark berries, it is antioxidant as well.
what a pleasant tea for this sunny seattle day. would be great on ice as well! or made into a syrup. or used in some yummy cocktail. and you know there's delicious bilberry jam out there as well.
drink up!
i bet i'll be having more bilberry tea from now on...and wouldn't you know, i could use it after all my pregnancies i got a little venous insufficiency myself!
Melissa
Both the leaves and the fruit can be used medicinally...however, we stock just the dried fruit, which is the most commonly and studied part of the plant. so, took about 2 tablespoons of the dried fruit and brewed it in about a cup or so of water. by brew, i mean I made a decoction. and by decoction, i mean bringing the water and herb to a boil in water and then lowering to a simmer for about 20 minutes or so. the water turned a nice deep purple and i added just a tiny bit of honey to it. i thought about some apple cider vinegar, just cause i am into that kinda thing...maybe next time. this time, i wanted to taste more of the bilberry. and it was delicious! it didn't even need the honey, it was sweet and flavorful. it would be a great tea for kids, or to add to another tea for flavor. or jsut by itself everyday as a tonic.
if you did it everyday as a tonic, some of its uses might be helpful to know. to see if you are someone that could use a bilberry tonic. it is great to the vascular system. things like Raynaud's syndrome (cold hands and feet), venous disorders during pregnancy, varicose veins (venous insufficiency), hemorrhoids. According to Mills and Bone, it decreases vascular permeability, and so therefore increases capillary integrity. it is also used in my vision supplements. it is astringent and can be sued for diarrhea, and is great for inflammaotry bowel conditions. so, there i would be thinking a yummy tea for my kids if they were having diarrhea or some digestive thing with loose stools. and like other dark berries, it is antioxidant as well.
what a pleasant tea for this sunny seattle day. would be great on ice as well! or made into a syrup. or used in some yummy cocktail. and you know there's delicious bilberry jam out there as well.
drink up!
i bet i'll be having more bilberry tea from now on...and wouldn't you know, i could use it after all my pregnancies i got a little venous insufficiency myself!
Melissa
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Bayberry, what have i got myself into?
so, seriously people. this is another week where the herb i am drinking matches up with symptoms that present themselves in my family. and this time it was me!
I woke up one morning with a swollen left gland under my jaw line. it quickly turned into a sinus issue with incredible pain and a sore throat. gargling with saltwater and turmeric powder really soothed the sore throat, works every time. but i was still left with this awful sinus thing. aha! bayberry!
Michael Moore suggests that it "increases lymph circulation and helps prevent the ineffiecient, poorly drained engorgements of the sinus membranes." it is very astringent, which can help tone atonic tissues. in my notes from herb school, James Snow lists it as a stimulating anticatarrhal and decongestant. the botanical or Latin name for bayberry is Myrica cerifera, but the species californica is also used...though less often.
so, I mixed up some bayberry...and added osha, thyme, balsam root (which i never would have thought of if it weren't for drinking it earlier in this blog) and red root. man, was it astringent! that bayberry really puckers you up. the tea was sorta red and had this dark, thick look to it...probably a combination of all the herbal magic going on. I have to say, it really helped. The next day, i was in much less pain in my sinuses and was feeling much less tired and sick as well. Cheers to bayberry and friends.
but now i am left to wonder what herb is next? and to hope that i don't have to get sick to see that it works!
melissa
I woke up one morning with a swollen left gland under my jaw line. it quickly turned into a sinus issue with incredible pain and a sore throat. gargling with saltwater and turmeric powder really soothed the sore throat, works every time. but i was still left with this awful sinus thing. aha! bayberry!
Michael Moore suggests that it "increases lymph circulation and helps prevent the ineffiecient, poorly drained engorgements of the sinus membranes." it is very astringent, which can help tone atonic tissues. in my notes from herb school, James Snow lists it as a stimulating anticatarrhal and decongestant. the botanical or Latin name for bayberry is Myrica cerifera, but the species californica is also used...though less often.
so, I mixed up some bayberry...and added osha, thyme, balsam root (which i never would have thought of if it weren't for drinking it earlier in this blog) and red root. man, was it astringent! that bayberry really puckers you up. the tea was sorta red and had this dark, thick look to it...probably a combination of all the herbal magic going on. I have to say, it really helped. The next day, i was in much less pain in my sinuses and was feeling much less tired and sick as well. Cheers to bayberry and friends.
but now i am left to wonder what herb is next? and to hope that i don't have to get sick to see that it works!
melissa
Monday, June 14, 2010
barberry…right in time
Berberis vulgaris you knew when i would need you most.
last week i drank this tea...and again, i was pleasantly surprised that i did not hate it. not that i think i hate herbs...it's just that as a tea, i guess i expect them to taste nasty. so, i usually prefer tincture. which is nasty a times, but smaller doses, and quick to get down. plus the alcohol sorta sometimes gives the illusion that i am having fun. just kidding. :)
So...barberry. the day i drank it my family came down with a stomach bug. puking, diarrhea, feeling tired. these are some of the things that barberry is good for! so, i brought some home and brewed it up, nice and strong. and i made my three kids drink a cup...and my husband. i just made a fun time of it, and told them..."ok, we're gonna drink some nasty tea!" with a smile on my face. the older two winced a little more, and with lots of coaxing about how they wouldn't get sick if they drank this...they finally got it down. truth be told, they both had the same initial reaction to tasting it....they'd rather get sick! opun more reflection, they choked it down. my youngest though...she had been throwing up already that day...and she was happy to drink her "nasty" tea...so she would get better. and she was very pleased with herself. and she did get better. only one other kids threw up, and that was only once...with no other symptoms. and the biggest kid, my husband :), he did get sick...but i think he didn't get enough tea!
so...i am excited to see what this week brings....in tea form and otherwise!
peace...Melissa
last week i drank this tea...and again, i was pleasantly surprised that i did not hate it. not that i think i hate herbs...it's just that as a tea, i guess i expect them to taste nasty. so, i usually prefer tincture. which is nasty a times, but smaller doses, and quick to get down. plus the alcohol sorta sometimes gives the illusion that i am having fun. just kidding. :)
So...barberry. the day i drank it my family came down with a stomach bug. puking, diarrhea, feeling tired. these are some of the things that barberry is good for! so, i brought some home and brewed it up, nice and strong. and i made my three kids drink a cup...and my husband. i just made a fun time of it, and told them..."ok, we're gonna drink some nasty tea!" with a smile on my face. the older two winced a little more, and with lots of coaxing about how they wouldn't get sick if they drank this...they finally got it down. truth be told, they both had the same initial reaction to tasting it....they'd rather get sick! opun more reflection, they choked it down. my youngest though...she had been throwing up already that day...and she was happy to drink her "nasty" tea...so she would get better. and she was very pleased with herself. and she did get better. only one other kids threw up, and that was only once...with no other symptoms. and the biggest kid, my husband :), he did get sick...but i think he didn't get enough tea!
so...i am excited to see what this week brings....in tea form and otherwise!
peace...Melissa
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