Elderberry Immunity Boosting

Image courtesy of Forest Wander

As well as the glorious reddish golden leaves on the trees, Autumn can also bring sniffles, coughs and colds, so now is a good time to strengthen our immune systems.

The Elder tree’s gifts are of great value at this time of year. Elderberry Syrup is a traditional preventative and support for colds and flu with its antiviral properties. It’s delicious drizzled onto a warm bowl of porridge for breakfast or simply taken off the spoon.

Image courtesy of John Seb Barber

For a warming cuppa that packs an immune punch, 
try an exquisite Elderberry Herbal Chai.

Ingredients:
3 cups of water
1 or 2 star anise 
3 or 4 cloves 
3 or 4 cardamom pods 
few slices of fresh ginger 
2-3 slices of fresh lemon
stick of cinnamon
elderberry syrup

Bring three cups of water to a boil, then add fresh & dried herbs. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Strain off liquid into cups, stir in a teaspoon of Elderberry Syrup into each one, and share with loved ones. Enjoy!

Image courtesy of Liam Moloney

If you do end up catching a cold or flu, you can boost your immunity by taking the syrup 3 times daily and also try the classic dried herb blend of Elderflower, Peppermint and Yarrow to help cool the body and ease congestion. 

Image courtesy of Jan Kaláb

Infuse a teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of boiled water for 5-10min. Strain and drink 3-4 cups daily, adding honey and lemon to taste if desired (not suitable for use during pregnancy).


To your flourishing health & wellness,

Fiona

P.S. For more seasonal tips and remedies, you are warmly invited to my Edinburgh based Autumn Immune Boosting Herbal Workshops, or consider coming in for a holistic health check up and personalised herbal prescription at one of my herbal clinics.

Back to Balance with Indian Head Massage

Many of our modern day stresses and strains promote a great amount of tension in our upper body, particularly our head, neck, back and shoulders. Our busy minds are juggling various daily tasks. Our mobiles beep continuously keeping us on constant alert. Emails and messages require our immediate attention.

When we neglect to balance these stressors with rest and relaxation, over time this may lead to long term physical aches and pains, health problems, persistent mental and emotional worry. We find our energy levels, mood, concentration, productivity and general well being gradually wearing down.

What can we do to bring ourselves back into balance?

I have recently added Indian Head Massage to my holistic health care practice, and have found that it serves as a highly beneficial treatment to integrate into my client's lifestyle and holistic treatment plans, helping people bring balance to their busy lives. 

Image courtesy of Aga Machnikowvska

Indian Head Massage has been practiced in India for over 1000 years, based on the ancient Ayurvedic healing system. This deeply relaxing therapy is a fully clothed and seated treatment so can be done anywhere. This massage focuses on the head, neck, back, shoulders, arms, face & ears. A session typically lasts 45-60 minutes, but shorter sessions of 15-30 minutes can also help restore us to a feeling of improved health and wellness.

Benefits may include:

• Improved circulation
• Relief from muscular tension
• Easing headaches & migraine
• Improving eye strain
• Promoting hair growth
• Soothing stress & emotional pain
• Supporting periods of intense study or activity
• Enhanced relaxation
• Deeper sleep

You may choose from a range of my own lovingly hand made aromatic herbal balms that I apply to your neck and shoulders to ease muscle tension and uplift your spirits. People have loved these balms so much that I now make up the balms of your choice fresh to order. 

Herbal balms include: 

• Arnica, Black Pepper, Cinnamon & Ginger
• Nutmeg, Ginger & Lemongrass
• Cardamon & Rose
• Lavender & Chamomile
• Grapefruit, Lemon & Orange
• Specially customised to order

After treatments my clients have reported feeling less stress at work, improved mental clarity and focus, a release of symptoms of physical tension, and a good night's sleep. Everyone is different, for some they benefit from regular treatments on a weekly basis. For others, maintenance treatments every 2-4 weeks helps to keep energy levels and sense of work-life balance on an even keel.

Your session ends with a reviving chakra balancing energy healing if you wish.

I practice Indian Head Massage in clinics around Edinburgh and home visits. Click here for venues.

Book in with me today and ask about my special offers!

To your flourishing health & well being,

Fiona

Happy Dandelion Day!

April 5th is National Dandelion Day! 

The Spring season is the perfect time to turn your attention to this humble hardy plant. 

Dandelion is derived from the French 'Dents de Lion', translated as 'Lion's Teeth', suggestive of its sharp toothy leaves & warm yellow lion's mane of a flowerhead. Despite its sunny appearance and majestic name, this nutritional powerhouse is often one of the least cherished in the garden - considered an ugly weed and the unwanted persistent guest of many a gardener. 

To the herbalist, the common Dandelion is a plant to be respected and revered, a welcome friend reappearing in its glory every springtime with its nutritional gifts. To me, the tenacity of the Dandelion is a strong indication of its potent abilities. Its latin name, Taraxacum officinale is suggestive of its many healing virtues recognised at least since ancient Greek times. The genus Taraxacum is derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder) and akos (remedy).

The Dandelion is rich in vitamins & minerals, especially vitamins A, B, C, D and potassium. Traditionally it is used as a remedy to heal liver, digestive, immunity & skin imbalances.

The bright yellow flower heads and petals may be plucked to make into wines & jams, sprinkle as a garnish to brighten any dish, infused into oils for creams & ointments.

The young leaves may be added to spring tonic teas, soups & salads - its bitterness improving appetites, digestion and elimination through the liver and kidneys.

The regular application of the sap has been used remove warts and blemishes. The root may be chopped & roasted, used as a tasty, nourishing and cleansing coffee substitute.

There is something so light-hearted and liberating about blowing a Dandelion's seed head into the wind and watching them float and dance merrily into the breeze.

I hope you will feel inspired to celebrate and appreciate the noble and mighty Dandelion.

If you have any favourite dandelion home remedies or experiences you would like to share, I'd love to hear them...

Wishes for Happiness, Health & Delightful Dandelion Day to you all!

With Dandelion Sunshine & Warmth,

Fiona

New Spring Beginnings... An Invitation to Nourish and Flourish!

In celebration of new beginnings, this post is full of juicy offerings to enhance your quality of life, happiness, health and wellness, sharing this springtime goodness with all of you...

This month I am delighted to be exploring new herbal horizons and expanding my practice in Edinburgh, starting at two lovely new clinics: Bristo Yoga Therapy Room & Neal's Yard Remedies. I am grateful to be integrating my work with the talented teams of holistic healthcare practitioners also based there, and looking forward to a fresh start, brimming with new ideas, possibilities and potential for health and healing.

In anticipation of Springtime, I am delighted to announce the arrival of my new newsletter due out this Spring - the Nourish & Flourish Newsletter.

This brand new free monthly emailed newsletter will be filled with seasonal holistic health care articles and herbal first aid tips, including the latest special offers from myself and holistic health practitioners, remedy recipes, health and wellness book reviews, and news about my upcoming herbal events and other local happenings in Edinburgh to help you nourish & flourish.

This newsletter is being created to bring great benefit to you and your loved ones' well being, so I would welcome you to share your wisdom, contact me with your feedback, requests for articles, herbal information, and please do share any news of local holistic health events, your own wellness top tips, anecdotes and stories of the healing power of nature.

To thank you for joining me on this journey, with your first newsletter I am also giving away a free report of my Top Ten Tips to Nourish and Flourish Naturally. I know that if you implement just one or two of these tips that they can have a deeply transformative effect on body, mind and soul. So I hope you enjoy them and that they may support you on your personal quest for wholeness and fulfillment.

Finally, if you are considering a health and wellness overhaul to see in the Spring with the power of herbs and nature and wish to visit me for a holistic herbal healthcare consultation, I look forward to welcoming you, and any of your friends and family with a £10.00 Gift Certificate towards your first herbal consultation at either of my new herbal clinics! 

Simply click here to sign up for your free monthly Nourish & Flourish Newsletter, free health and wellness report on Top Ten Tips to Nourish and Flourish Naturally and £10.00 Gift Certificate off a herbal consultation before end of May '12. 

You're very welcome to share with your friends...

Flourishing wishes,

Fiona

P.S. For Facebook users, you are welcome to come to say hello and receive more regular updates by 'liking' my Nourish and Flourish FB Page.

P.P.S. Fancy entering Spring by nourishing your soul on a light-hearted course about Healing with Herbs & 5 Element Theory in a beautiful remote peaceful valley at Samye Ling Tibetan Centre? Some spaces still available to join us for a blissful health retreat on the Indigo Medicine Tea Party weekend on Fri 29th March to Sun 1st April 2012.