Earthsense Herbals

February Newsletter

2012-02-06T20:05:00.002-07:00

Hi, Everyone!
Thanks for reading our February Newsletter. I’ll admit that this time of year is not the most eventful here at the store, but we are still having fun, and planning our classes and events for the spring. January was mostly devoted to the nitty-gritty aspect of the business: taking inventory, organizing our records, doing taxes, and other parts of business that an herbalist prefers not to contemplate. I really can’t wait for spring to come, so I can start harvesting plants rather than counting beans!
One thing I have enjoyed spending time on in January, and that has helped me get through tax-time, is working on a short fiction story! Last fall, I took a fiction writing class at Fort Lewis College, just to have some variety, and it got me very excited about writing. I haven’t stopped since. It’s very fun to have such a different way to spend time.
We don’t anticipate a lot of change in February, except of course that Valentine’s Day is coming up! I’ll mention that we have some ideal Valentine’s presents…just so you know! There are several new items from Carolyn, including really fun necklaces made from dominos, and decorated with her original artwork, as well as some beautiful porcelain wall-pieces. From an herbal standpoint, I’m having fun exploring a couple of new herbal adaptogens.
Adaptogens are a class of herb that helps to increase the body’s own non-specific resistance to stress. Many are considered very mild herbs, suitable for long-term use. They can work by reducing the adrenal glands’ secretions of cortisone and other adrenal corticoids, and by increasing the rate at which the body metabolizes such stress-hormones. They can also effect the interplay of hormones from the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands. An interesting and useful group of plants!
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the recipe of the month is a simple and tasty Romantic Tea…relaxing, but invigorating, a perfect finish for a candlelit dinner with someone special…like your pet goldfish or hamster.
1 part Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
1 part Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
1 part Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
.5 part Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
.5 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
.5 part Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
.5 part Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Mix all herbs and brew using 1.5 teaspoons blend per 1 cup boiling water. Let steep 5 minutes.

Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough

January Newsletter

2012-01-04T21:09:00.002-07:00

Happy New Year!
Thank you all for a great Christmas season at Earthsense! It felt like all aspects of the store were appreciated, and the good sales helped contribute to an overall increase in sales over 2010 amounts.
Right now the weather feels more like March than January…warm during the day, with quite a bit of bare ground exposed. I keep expecting to see little early wild flowers poking up when I go for walks, and have to remind myself sternly that it’s not time yet.
While the lack of snow pack is actually very concerning, one advantage of the weather is that it’s getting me excited for late winter/early spring projects here at Earthsense. One of my new year’s resolutions (There are several others that I won’t mention here) is to wild-harvest and grow a greater percentage of the herbs that are used in the store. We already harvest some, but I’d like to start collecting enough to see us through the fall and winter without having to supplement our stock with cultivated herbs.
I also have plans for growing several herbs in our little garden-plot. I find that it’s a constant balancing act, weighing factors such as space, soil and growing requirements, amount of time needed before harvest, and the overall suitability of a given plant for your particular garden. So, I try to stick to high-yield plants that give a lot of reward for my time and space, such as the Mediterranean herbs - sage, thyme, oregano- as well as vigorous annuals, including chamomile, calendula, and basil.
Is it obvious how easily I can forget it’s only January?
I’m also looking forward to our upcoming classes for 2012! You can expect a full schedule, starting in March and going until the early autumn. We will have monthly herb walks throughout the summer, as well as classes at the local Women’s Club and Garden Club, and several exciting classes at the library and community center. The schedule will be finalized and posted within the next month.
The Recipe of the Month is for a “Wake-Up Gotu Kola Tea”. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a small, low-growing member of the Umbel Family (In case you’re wondering, this one does do well in greenhouses or as a tender perennial outdoors). It is used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as a tonic for the circulatory system, and a rejuvenating tonic to speed recovery from stress and promote mental function.
1 part Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
1 part Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
1 part Lemon Verbena (Aloysia cirtiodora)
.5 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
Freshly shaved orange zest
Mix all dried herbs. Brew 1 tsp blend to 1 cup boiling water, in a tea ball or tea infuser. In each cup, place a few shavings of orange zest before adding the water. Let steep 10 minutes. Also makes a great iced tea!
Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough

2011-12-07T21:09:00.002-07:00

Happy Holidays!
After getting a foot of snow, and several nights of sub-zero temperatures, it definitely feels like it’s time to get into the Christmas spirit! The store looks like a gingerbread house, with snow on the roof and lots of colored lights…also, the ginger-colored siding helps!
Inside is decorated, too. We’ve had fun making fir-greenery candle arrangements and Christmas gift baskets. There are also holiday soaps, including Almond Spice (get it while it lasts!) and Frankencense and Myrrh, as well as a new soap called Bamboo Grove, which is probably the prettiest soap I’ve made yet. Our holiday Narcissus bulbs jumped the gun a little bit and bloomed around Thanksgiving, but they still sold well and were very much enjoyed.
Coming up on Saturday the 10th is our Holiday Open House! A bit more low-key than last year, we are still planning on having a good time. Come by! There will be yummy treats and hot mulled cider all day.
I’d like to keep this month’s newsletter simple, so I can get back to making Christmas cards and other festive stuff…so, the Recipe of the Month is for a simple spicy tea.
¼ cup damiana leaf (Turnera diffusa)
¼ cup rooibos (Aspilanthus linearis)
1/8 cup cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
1/8 cup fresh orange zest (Citrus sinensis)
1/8 cup ginger (Zingiber officinalis)
Damiana is traditionally used as a circulatory stimulant, so it combines well with the warming spices to increase circulation to the extremities…great when you’ve just come in from shoveling! The rooibos is just in there for the flavor - wonderfully deep and nutty. It’s also high in antioxidants.

Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough

November Newsletter

2011-11-07T14:06:00.001-07:00

Happy November!
Our little Indian Summer ended abruptly this morning, with six inches of snow, making one realize that it really is November. I’d sort-of been in denial. Now that winter seems to be happening, though, I’m starting to appreciate the beauty of a snowy day. We are starting to prepare for Christmas, making several fun new varieties of soap, and various other herbal gift items.
Carolyn and I are excited to be making our own candles (In our own decorated candle-holders, of course) for the holidays. We’ll see how it works…home-made candles may become an on-going item, rather than just for Christmas, if we have enough fun doing it. There will also be many more holiday art items, including fir-greenery center-pieces and table arrangements, Narcissus bulbs, new decorated teapots, and lots of other things we haven’t “put together” yet.
There will likely be a holiday open-house during the first week of December…check the December newsletter for the exact date. Like I said, we are only just beginning to get in the holiday mood.
We are both still enjoying the creative outlet that the store provides; the discipline of learning to make new things, and making them well, is a part of my life that the store has greatly expanded. It produces a different outlook than I would have if I were simply managing a stock inventory…I’m not just going to work, I’m constantly refining and experimenting with what I can DO. The store is an ongoing process.
So…enough philosophizing! The Recipe of the Month is Chai Spice Chocolate Sauce. Great for drizzling on cakes, ice cream, or mixing with coffee for an intense mocha.
1 tsp Earl Grey tea leaves (Camellia sinensis)
1 tsp Vanilla extract (Vanilla planifolia)
½ tsp pwd Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
¼ tsp freshly grated Nutmeg (Myrstica fragrans)
¼ tsp pwd Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)
1 cup whole milk
¼ cup Cocoa pwd (Theobroma cacao)
2-3 tbl honey, to taste.
1 tbl butter
Heat flavorings with milk in a small saucepan, simmering gently for 10 min. Strain out spices and tea leaves. Return milk to saucepan, and whisk in cocoa powder. Whisk in honey and butter, and heat gently, until mixture thickens and comes to a simmer. Serve hot. Leftovers may be refrigerated and re-heated as necessary.

October Newsletter

2011-10-10T11:57:00.002-06:00

Hello!
As usual when I’m a week late in posting the newsletter, Earthsense has been very busy! September continued the lots-of-business trend of the summer, with lots of customers stocking up for cold and flu season, but also many people buying artwork. We actually started running out of things, and are now working hard to restock.
Carolyn, Tom, and I have spent the last few weekends harvesting herbs -- uva-ursi, osha, Oregon grape, raspberry leaf, and a last crop of plantain. Cleaning and preparing the plants has felt a bit daunting, but, with the help of my parents and friends, we’ve gotten it all done. With several feet of snow already in the high country, and a couple of inches down here, I’m glad we harvested when we did.
New products for October include Soothing Throat Syrup, Kidney Balance Tea, and Cold-ease Tea, as well as a few new essential oils and Tamanu-Carrot Seed facial moisturizer. Carolyn has a new line of collaged mirrors, and Prayer Token porcelain wall-hangings, which are selling faster than she can make them.
For the Recipe of the Month, how about Tropical Spice Punch…
32 oz Grapefruit Juice
8 oz water
1 Tbl Kava-Kava (Piper methysticum)
1 Tbl Cinnamon bark pieces (Cinnamomum cassia)
1 Tbl Star Anise (Illicium verum)
1 Tbl Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
Simmer herbs in grapefruit juice and water for 15 minutes. Add a bit of sweetening if desired. Serve hot.
This non-alcoholic punch still definitely packs a “punch”, with kava and damiana. Kava is traditionally made into a social beverage in the Pacific Islands, and it helps to relax muscular tension and ease the nerves. Damiana is used for much the same purpose in South America. Cinnamon and star anise are both gentle circulatory stimulants, and also taste good! Enjoy!
Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough

September Newsletter

2011-09-02T11:58:00.001-06:00

Hello!
Late summer is announcing itself with afternoon thunderstorms and occasional orange-red branches amid the lush green of the year’s last growth. This seems like a good year for wild fruits…the chokecherries and service berries are abundant, and rosehips are doing pretty well in some locations. Acorns are maturing on the gambel oak, although they won’t be ready for a while yet. All of this means that the wildlife should be well fed and happy this fall…and this includes those wild humans who enjoy gathering and preparing native foods, as well!
I myself have not had as much time to go harvesting as I would ideally hope for, but I’m not complaining; August was the best month yet, business-wise, since we opened, and I’m grateful to be so busy. There has been a good mix of locals and tourists, buying a mixture of fun, casual items and artwork, and hard-core herbal items. Not to brag, but we have heard exciting good reviews of the Self-Heal Salve, and several tinctures, including Good Night, Zen Blend, Allergy Relief, and Keep-Your-Head. It definitely inspires me to keep learning and formulating, knowing that the potential for success is there.
In order to give me time to put into continued studies, we’ve completed our class and workshop schedule for this year. I’m grateful for so many people attending the classes, which began in February with a three-part Principles of Herbal Healing series (A definite success!) and continued with tincture-making workshops, native plant presentations, perfume-making classes, and herbwalks. Did I mention herbwalks? And more herbwalks? The monthly expeditions were a huge success, and an important learning experience for me, also…nothing to make you research and remember your botany, like having to explain it to people!
This might be a bit daring…but let’s try Rosehip/Oregon Grape Cordial for the Recipe of the Month:

2 oz fresh Rosehips (Rosa woodsii, R.sayi)
2 oz fresh Oregon Grape fruits (Mahonia repens)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)
11/2 cup brandy
Crush fruits and mix all ingredients. Bottle and let rest in a cool, dark cupboard for 2 weeks. Strain out the infused brandy. Add ½ cup honey, or to taste, and heat gently until the mixture comes to a simmer. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Bottle and refrigerate.
This recipe makes a useful cough and sore-throat syrup and, depending on your taste, might also be a yummy sauce for cake, ice cream, or fresh berries and whipped cream…very versatile! The rosehips contribute substantial Vitamin C, and the Oregon Grapes contain potent antioxidants as well as antibacterial compounds. Ginger is warming and soothing. And the brandy…well, I guess you could call that medicinal, as well!

Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough, certified herbalist

August Newsletter

2011-08-09T21:15:00.003-06:00

Happy Summer!
Well, it’s definitely an indication of how busy the store is, that I’m late in getting the newsletter posted…July has been the busiest month to date, since we opened in May 2010! Very cool!
Our perfume-making class went well; a very nice and patient bunch of people came, and had a great time experimenting with different fragrances and scents, which I then mixed together to each person’s specifications, creating the final perfume. (That’s where the ‘patient’ part came in…) Our July native plant identification walk was also a great success! Twenty-three people attended, and very much enjoyed the hike. A little bit of rain didn’t stop us, either!
Coming up in August, we have another plant walk on the 20th…I’m not sure yet of the location, but we’ll certainly find a variety of exciting plants.
For some variety in the Recipe of the Month, how about White Sage Smudge Powder…
1 tablespoon White Sage (Salvia apiana)
1 tablespoon Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
1 tablespoon Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
1 teaspoon Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
Blend all ingredients in a coffee grinder, until finely powdered. Store in an air-tight bag. To use: on a heat-proof dish, shape a pinch of powder into a cone. Light with a match, blowing out the flame and leaving an ember to smoke down through the cone.

Until next time,
Thanks for reading!
Lake

July Newsletter

2011-07-05T21:18:00.001-06:00

Hi, everyone!
Happy July! The hot and dry weather has definitely begun; we’ve been selling a lot of ‘Island Breeze’ sun tea and ‘Don’t Bug Me’ insect repellant.
Many of our new herbal products are finally available, thanks in part to increased summer cash flow. (That means your purchases! Thanks!) We have a really luscious Thai Curry seasoning…I’ve been using it in rice, and with coconut milk as a stir-fry sauce. Also in the culinary section is Jungle Spice hot cocoa mix, which is perfect for summer camping trips, and herb-infused vinegars, which are perfect for summer salads. We also have, as mentioned above, a very potent bug repellant, as well as Coconut Hand and Body Lotion. It goes well with the coconut lip balm and Thai coconut soap for gifts! Also, several new bulk herbs are here, including Curry Leaf, Fenugreek, Fennel, Smoked Paprika, Damiana, White Sage, Wormwood and Lobelia. Keep on the lookout for Tea Tree & Aloe Soap, as well.
The Native and Medicinal Plants class at the Sisson Library went well, with over thirty people attending. Carolyn and I spent several days preparing, gathering plant samples from all over the county, and we had about forty specimens on display. One hour was definitely not enough time to do them all justice, but I did cover most of them, addressing their uses and mode of action, as well as habitat and distribution.
Along the same lines, I recently went out to look at the rare Pagosa Skyrocket, a relative of the Scarlet Gilia. The Skyrocket grows only in this area, in shaley, poor soil and disturbed ground; a very hardy local! It was exciting to see, if not the most showy flower.
Coming up in July, we have a perfume making workshop on Saturday, July 16th, and another herb walk on Saturday, July 23rd.
The perfume workshop will be from 1 to 2:30, here at the store. We will take this subject pretty lightly, and have a good time making individualized blends. There is a $10 materials charge.
The Herb Walk will cover high-altitude plants on Wolf Creek Pass. The walk will include a steep hill, so it’s not for the un-acclimated or those with poor footing. Cool plants, though!
For our Recipe of the Month, let’s try Basil Lemonade!
It’s important to use fresh basil, for its aromatic, sweeter taste. The dried basil can be much more savory…good for tomato sauce, but not lemonade!
Juice of three lemons
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
3 large sprigs of basil, lightly bruised but not chopped
¼ to ½ cup sugar, to taste.
64 oz water
Mix all ingredients except basil vigorously to dissolve sugar. Add basil sprigs. Let stand 12 hours or overnight to infuse. Chill and serve.

June Newsletter

2011-06-02T09:52:00.002-06:00

Hello!
After a cold, snowy, and wet spring, it seems like summer is finally coming! Of course, I said something similar last month, and it started snowing immediately afterward…so we’ll just have to wait and see. One benefit of all the moisture we’ve received in the last month is that the local plants and wildflowers are very happy; they’re all blooming at once, so now is a great time for native plant walks!
Our plant walk in May was very well-attended: 17 people, and they were all really excited and interested. A good crowd! We walked in the stream-bottom of Martinez Canyon, which is a well-traveled area abutting the Pagosa Lakes and Twincreek Village subdivisions. It was amazing how many useful plants we found growing in this area, right behind populated neighborhoods…literally a pharmacy in your backyard.
We have another herb & flower identification walk scheduled for Saturday, June 25th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. I haven’t decided where we will go yet…we’ll wait and see where the flowers are best. Please come if you can!
On June 16, from 5:30 to 6:30, we are presenting an “herbwalk brought to you” at the Ruby Sisson Library. We’ll have sample specimens of many local medicinal plants, and talk about their botany, growing conditions, and traditional and current uses. Should be fun!
Both the event at the Library and the herb walk are free, so there’s no reason not to come.
I’m also participating in a series of lecture/conversations at Promoviendo la Salud, a Latino health discussion-group hosted by San Juan Basin Health. I’m learning a bit of Spanish, and we are having a good time talking about the use of herbs in our respective cultures.
We have a few new products in the store…mainly beautiful new artwork by Carolyn. There is a series of porcelain vases, as well as exciting new porcelain wall-hangings!
Now, for our Recipe of the Month…Citrus Cleaner. This is an all-purpose, mild surface cleaner. To get enough citrus peels, you might need to save-up for a while. Just put your discarded peels in the freezer until you have enough.
6 oz citrus peels (Lemon, Orange, or Grapefruit), coarsely chopped
16 oz water
2 oz distilled vinegar
30 drops orange essential oil
Boil the peels in the water for about 30 minutes, until the water has reduced to about 8 oz in volume. Strain off and let cool. Discard peels. To the citrus-water, add vinegar and essential oil. Shake well before each use. Keeps for about three weeks in the refrigerator.

Thanks for reading!
Sincerely, Lake McCullough

May Newsletter

2011-05-05T20:00:00.002-06:00

Hello!
Well, Mayday was snowy, and felt more like March than May, and this is the first day that has seemed to be seasonally warm. In fact, it’s beautiful outside! Very inspiring for gardening and hiking, and for herb walks!
Our first herb and flour identification walk is scheduled for Saturday, May 21st, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. We will meet here at Earthsense and carpool to the walk site from the store. At this point, I’m waiting to see which area will have the best display of medicinal plants, before choosing a site. This approach has the added benefit of giving me an excuse to spend a lot of my free time wandering around the woods, looking for a good location…
The way the weather has been lately, I think that our first walk will highlight lower-elevation medicinal plants, focusing on areas where there is less snow and the plants will be out sooner. We’ll get a chance to see hawthorn, horsetails, nettles, plantain, uva-ursi, sage, dock, and undoubtedly many other exciting plants…please give us a call to find out the walk location and to sign up!
Here in the store, we have several new products. Due to a recent surge of interest in remedies for the musculoskeletal system, I have developed a Joint and Tendon Formula in tincture form, as well as a Deep Tissue Liniment and a Comfrey and Mullein Salve for deep-tissue complaints. We’ve also recently added single tinctures of Osha, Eleuthero, Echinacea, Ginkgo, and Valerian. On the more playful side, we now have a new soap variety…Thai Coconut, with skin-softening coconut milk.
The Gift Gallery aspect of the store features new silk paintings by Carolyn, as well as some exciting new applications of her porcelain work: soap dishes and sculptural wall-plaques. The soap dishes are especially fun! Also, with the return of spring, we have our Desert and Alpine Dish Gardens back, as well as some beautiful Bonsai plants!
For the recipe of the month, let’s try Spring Garden Perfume!
Makes 1 fluid ounce.
30 drops Lemon essential oil
30 drops Orange essential oil
15 drops Patchouli essential oil
15 drops Ylang-Ylang essential oil
10 drops Rosemary essential oil
Everclear liquor to fill bottle (You can use the leftover for making tinctures!)
Begin by adding the essential oils to an empty bottle. Then, simply fill to 1 oz volume with the Everclear. Shake well, and store in a cool, dark place. Shake well before each application.
Thanks for reading, everyone, and I hope to see you either in the store or out in the woods!

April Newsletter

2011-04-05T18:55:00.002-06:00

Happy April!
Springtime is here…the bulbs are blooming, the snow is mostly all melted, and the first few spring beauties and verbenas are starting to flower out in the woods. For me, this time of year always brings on a frenzy of activity and new ideas; I get caught up in planning and growing seeds for my garden, hiking and kayaking, cooking new recipes, and doing silly things like trying to decorate cakes with butter-cream flowers (I don’t even like butter-cream!). Now that I also have Earthsense to keep me occupied, the list gets even longer!
There are quite a few new ideas and products which are either being made right now, or will be soon, and Carolyn and I are coming up with more all the time. To name a few of the new items, we recently expanded the essential oil selection, and have now added clove, citronella, fir needle, ylang-ylang, and lemongrass. I’m playing with new varieties of soap, as well, and just got done making a batch of green-and-white marbleized Sage & Lemongrass soap…very pretty! Also on the soap menu are Island Coconut and Coffee Spice, as well as a revised Oatmeal recipe, with Honey and Aloe. We are going to be expanding the carrier oils section to include shea butter, rosehip oil, and tamanu oil, in addition to the useful oils there already. Additions are also occurring to the spice section, and the bath and body-care items. Come in and check it out!
The Principles of Herbal Healing class series was a definite success, although I keep having ideas about topics I should have covered, even though the classes are over. I enjoyed having several classes in a row, rather than having to cover all the information at once; definitely be on the lookout for more in-depth series in the future. Also, our ‘Blend-Your-Own Herbal Tea” activity at the senior center was a lot of fun! It was interesting seeing what blends people created…none too daring, although one woman asked if she could put a little of all 12 herb choices in her concoction…that would have been quite the taste experience!
We are going to have our Making Herbal Formulas workshop on Saturday, April 16th, from 1:00 to 3:00. In this class, I will demonstrate how to make a tincture from scratch, and discuss the principles of formulating a gentle and effective herbal blend. We will address topics such as interactions between different herbs, selecting primary and supporting herbs, and different schools of thought regarding how many different herbs to put into a formula. Then, each person will get to create their own blend to take home! There is a $15 materials charge.
As a reminder, if you would like to view our complete class schedule for the spring and summer, please see our February Newsletter, accessible from the menu to the right.
Now, for the recipe of the month… Lemony Spring Tea
1 part lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) - flavor and carminitive
1 part lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) - gently relaxes the central nervous system
1 part roasted dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) - stimulates the liver, increasing detoxification and the secretion of bile.
.5 part hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) - flavor and circulatory stimulant
Pinch cayenne (Capsicum anuum) - circulatory stimulant
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
Honey to taste
Mix dry herbs and infuse in boiling water, 2 teaspoons per 8 oz. Add lemon zest and juice and honey to taste. Serve chilled or hot.

March Newsletter

2011-03-07T20:03:00.001-07:00

Hello, and Happy Spring!

I know it’s early yet to be calling the weather ’springlike’, but winter definitely seems to be changing-thawing, melting, dissipating, warming up. I just ordered a bunch of flower seeds, to plant here at the store, so our garden should be looking pretty colorful as the year goes on. The store itself is very colorful right now…no need to wait until later in the season! Carolyn has introduced a line of handmade paper bowls, which look like nothing so much as colorful, delicate flowers. They are also scented, which makes them even more floral-seeming. They are perfect for putting tiny, special objects in for display, and they also function as room diffusers. Carolyn has also created a line of beautiful, very comfortable aprons…great for cooking or wearing when you blend herbal formulas. They have lovely color combinations!

Our spring and summer class schedule is also taking off! There have been about 20 people at each of our ’Principles of Herbal Healing’ classes, and the third class in the series, on March 8th, should continue to be fun and exciting. So far, we have covered some of the ’how’s and why’s’ of herbology, as well as addressing different common and useful herbs for the systems of the body. Next class, we will go into detail about a few major categories of herbs, such as immune system boosters, liver cleansers, and antioxidants. I’d also like to mention that this class series has been a wonderful learning opportunity for me, just as much as it has been for the other attendees! There is nothing to make you memorize information faster than having to stand up in front of a group and explain it; and I have also appreciated the opportunity to refine my expectations and approach to public speaking.

There is also a workshop on ’Making Herbal Formulas’ coming up on April 16th. If you have attended and enjoyed the Principles of Herbal Healing classes, you will like this! If you haven’t been able to make it to the Principles series, you will still like it! Please come!

Now, for the recipe of the month. The following tea is very cleansing for the hepatic and lymphatic systems, as well as warming and soothing for the digestion.

SPICY ROOTS TEA

2 parts roasted dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) - digestive bitter, liver stimulant
1 part burdock root (Arctium lappa) - liver stimulant
1 part eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) - supports adrenal function and metabolism of adrenal corticoids
.5 part cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) - circulatory and digestive stimulant
.5 part ginger (Zingiber officinale) - circulatory and digestive stimulant
Pinch cayenne - circulatory stimulant

Simmer 2 teaspoons in 10 oz water for 10 minutes, strain off and add honey to taste.

Thanks for reading!

February Newsletter

2011-02-01T19:47:00.003-07:00

Hello!

Thanks for reading our February Newsletter! The last week of January was so warm and sunny, it almost seemed that the weather was going to skip February and head straight into March…however, today it is cold and snowing quite heavily, so it appears that we’re back to winter for the time being. That’s good for us here at the store, because we have a lot planned for February and early March.

We’ve come up with some fun (and affordable!) new products for Valentine’s Day, including massage oils, Jungle Spice Hot Cocoa, spicy mole` seasoning, and lovely Valentine’s gift baskets. Carolyn’s porcelain frog sculptures are a perfect Valentine’s gift…they are charming enough to kiss, and just might turn into a prince!

Okay. With the sales pitch aside, we can now discuss our upcoming events for the next few months!

On Friday, February 4th, we will be participating in the Renaissance Village at the Pagosa Sounds concert. The concert itself is at 7:00 PM at the Pagosa Community Center, and will feature a truly huge number of world music and acoustic performers. However, the Renaissance Village will take place before the actual concert, from 6:00 to 7:00. It will provide a chance to socialize before the music starts, as well as a fun scene for kids and families to participate in. There will be wandering performers and minstrels, and beautiful display of Carolyn’s artwork-fairies, frogs, snails, birds and butterflies! I will be demonstrating a variety of medicinal herbs and preparations used in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Carolyn has created an ambient setting for our wares, including a kids’ activity area and a Wishing Fountain. It should be a fun evening, with lots of music, costume, and dance. Come check it out! Tickets are $10 beforehand, and are sold at the Community Center and Higher Grounds Coffee.

We are also happy to announce the creation of a full Class & Workshop Schedule for 2011! Come by the store to pick one up, or check back in with our newsletter for listings of classes coming up in the next month. We’ve got events beginning in late February all the way through the end of August, all of which are free, or include only a small materials charge. See below for the full listing.

I’d like to draw special attention to our three-part Principles of Herbal Healing class series! We are very excited to be offering this free series at the Community Center, which will give us room for more people as well as greater exposure. The goal of these classes is to increase awareness of herbal healing within the community…this is not just a subject for hippies and “alternative” types! Herbal medicine has solid science behind it, and what I’d like to focus on in the classes is its safe and appropriate use for daily health and wellness. There will be demonstrations at each class, and fun and simple “homework” questions will provide a chance for further study.

Earthsense Herbals, LLC and Gift Gallery 2011 classes and workshops

Principles of Herbal Healing Class Series
Participants may attend any one of the classes, or all three.
All classes in this series will take place at the
Ross Aragon Community Center, Arts & Crafts Room
5:30 to 6:30 PM
Free! No RSVP necessary

Part 1: How Herbs Work
Tuesday, Feb. 22nd
This class will introduce the foundational principles of herbal healing, in the context of personal and family health. We will briefly discuss different forms of herbal preparations, such as liquid extracts, teas, and salves, working towards the goal of making and using these products confidently and safely.

Part 2: Common and Effective Herbs
Tuesday, March 1st
In this class, we will touch, smell, and taste some of the most easily found and therapeutically useful botanicals, and explore their physiological actions and chemistry. We will discuss how to use each herb in the most effective way, based on its unique chemical components and mode of action in the body.

Part 3: Herbs for the Healthy Body
Tuesday, March 8th
In this final and most technical class, we will address different categories of physiological actions in terms of how herbs effect the human body. We will explore antioxidants, liver cleansers, and immune system boosters, among other types of herbs.

Making Herbal Formulas
Saturday, April 16th
In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the principles of creating their own therapeutic herbal recipe, and then mix either a tincture or a tea blend to take home. We will address such criteria as proportions, extraction method, herb interactions, and primary/secondary actions. Class will be held at Earthsense Herbals. 1:00 to 3:00 PM $15 materials charge. Please RSVP

Native Plant Identification Walk
Saturday, May 21st
Join us for a fun and informative hike to learn about native wildflowers and medicinal herbs. 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Meet at Earthsense and carpool to the walk site. Free! Please RSVP as space may be limited!

Medicinal Plants of Pagosa Country
Thursday, June 16th
Join us for a "tour" of local medicinal plants! We will provide sample specimens of many native plants of therapeutic importance, and talk about their habitats and growing conditions, and their traditional and current uses.
Ruby Sisson Library 5:30 to 6:30 PM
Free! No RSVP necessary.

Native Plant Identification Walk
Saturday, June 25th
Join us for a fun and informative hike to learn about native wildflowers and medicinal herbs. 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Meet at Earthsense and carpool to the walk site. Free! Please RSVP as space may be limited!

Making Natural Perfumes
Saturday, July 16th
In this workshop, participants will learn about the science and art of perfumistry and how to combine scents. Each person will create their own customized blend to take home, in a beautiful glass bottle!
Earthsense Herbals 1:00 to 2:00 PM
$10 materials charge Please RSVP.

Native Plant Identification Walk
Saturday, July 23rd
Join us for a fun and informative hike to learn about native wildflowers and medicinal herbs. 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Meet at Earthsense and carpool to the walk site. Free! Please RSVP as space may be limited!

Native Plant Identification Walk
Saturday, August 20th
Join us for a fun and informative hike to learn about native wildflowers and medicinal herbs. 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Meet at Earthsense and carpool to the walk site. Free! Please RSVP as space may be limited!

January 2011 Newsletter

2011-01-08T19:54:00.001-07:00

Hello!
Thanks for reading our January Newsletter. Things here have been a bit slower this month, but we really did need a break after Christmas, anyhow. December was our busiest month yet! We were very excited by the number of locals who came in to buy gifts…as well as visitors, right up to Christmas Eve. One last-minute customer stated that he could find something here for everyone on his list, and then proceeded to do so…with gift-wrapping too, of course!

Our Holiday open-house was also successful, mainly serving as a party for our regulars. Paul Roberts’ cello-banjo music was wonderful! It even inspired me to dance an Irish jig…if you weren’t here to see it, too bad, because I’ll never do it again! Or at least, not until next year’s party.

We are slowly rebuilding our inventory after the December rush, and adding new items at the same time. Carolyn has some exciting new clay sculptures, as well as more found-object artwork, including practical items like trivets and glass bottles, which she has embellished with beautiful hand-cut stenciled designs. In the herbal area, we have Jungle Spice Hot Cocoa mix, bath milk, and massage oils, as well as lovely new teapots. Come check it out!

We are still developing ideas for an upcoming class schedule, but starting in February, you can expect to see topics like “An Introduction to Using Medicinal Plants for Home Health”, “Making and Using Herbal Preparations: Tinctures, Teas, and Salves”, and “Herbal Cleansing and Detoxification”. I’d like to present these classes over the next few months, possibly as a series. Some hands-on work will be included in each class.

Now, for the recipe of the month!
Ache-Easing Bath Salts - Perfect for warming up and relaxing after a day spent skiing or sledding!
1 cup Epsom salts - helps to reduce swelling and buildup of lactic acid in the joints and muscles.
¼ cup baking powder - softens the skin and helps to emulsify essential oils.
45 drops Ginger essential oil - warming and soothing to the muscles.
45 drops Peppermint essential oil - also a gentle circulatory stimulant, increasing blood flow to the extremities and thus easing stiffness and soreness.
30 drops Lavender essential oil - helps to ease muscle tension.
Mix all ingredients and store in a glass jar with an airtight lid until ready to use. Add the whole jar to the bath just before getting in, and agitate the water to dissolve. If desired, add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar at this point to further ease sore muscles. (The vinegar is an old folk remedy for sprains and aches, and is also good for the skin.)

December Newsletter

2010-12-02T20:34:00.001-07:00

Hello again!
It’s early December and there is snow on the ground that will stay till springtime. Although, I have to admit, it’s still being hard to stay inside at the store all day, knowing that winter is only going to get snowier, and my days of walking in the woods are numbered. I’m trying to find a balance!

Here at Earthsense we’ve been getting ready for the holidays…decorating the Christmas tree, hanging lights, and making all kinds of fun little stocking-stuffers, as well as larger gifts. We have tried to put together the kind of holiday display I dreamed about as a kid: bowls full of tiny, inexpensive trinkets that are still handmade and unique. Miniature seashell soaps, tiny paper-Mache stars and boxes, silk-painted sachets, quilted ornaments, and beautiful items by Carolyn, which surpass the category of trinkets and become tiny, portable artwork.

We have a busy December ahead of us. This Friday and Saturday, the 3rd and 4th, we will be participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s Parade of Stores event. For these two days, we will not be charging sales tax on purchases…in effect, giving a 7% discount on every item! There will also be drawings for prizes from the store, and a Grand Prize drawing for a vacation to Taos. No sign-up is required; just come by the store!

The following Saturday, the 11th, we will have a Holiday Open-House for locals. This is simply an excuse for people who haven’t been in to come by and see what we’ve been up to…also an excuse for returning customers to stop in and see what’s new for the holidays. We’ll have mulled cider, yummy treats, and free holiday craft projects, as well as recipes for herbal-themed gifts. As an unexpected bonus, for which we are very grateful, we are going to have live music by Paul Roberts!

For the past few months, I’ve omitted the Herb of the Month section form these newsletters…mainly because it seems like so much work to present a plant in the detail I expect of the information I give out. However, I’d still like to include some sort of usable herbal information in each newsletter…how about a Recipe of the Month? Following is my selected recipe, with accompanying information on each of the ingredients.

Immune-Boosting Spicy Tea
1 tsp Osha (Ligusticum porteri) --Antibacterial herb with a specific affinity for the respiratory system.
1 tsp Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) --Helps to relax smooth muscle tension and promote healthy circulation.
1 tsp Peppermint (Mintha piperita) --Tastes good!
1 tsp Ginger (Zingiber officinale) --A warming, mild, circulatory stimulant, helping to relieve chills and congestion.
1 tsp Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) --A hearty, fortifying herb, relieving tension and smooth muscle spasm.
Pinch of Cayenne (Capsicum anuum) --Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
32 oz water
¼ cup Lemon Juice (Citrus limon)
2 Tbl Honey
Place the dried herbs in a saucepan and cover with the water. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain off the herbs, and add lemon juice and honey to the remaining tea. Serve hot, and refrigerate any leftovers, re-heating again before drinking.

Until next month, thanks for reading!

November Newsletter

2010-11-01T12:34:00.001-06:00

Hi, everyone!
It’s finally starting to feel like winter, after a fairly warm fall. There is snow in the mountains, all the aspen leaves have fallen, and there is a certain quality to the cold that says it won’t really go away until spring. I know that this is usually the season when people talk about “hibernating” or “slowing down” for the winter…however, for an herbalist, this is actually a very busy time of year! Why? Fall and early winter are flu season, and immune system support is one of the most common purposes for which people use herbal medicine.

Along this line of reasoning, our Herbal Teas for the Immune System workshop was very well-attended; we ran out of chairs for everyone! Nonetheless, I think people had a good time, and learned some good information to put to use when they start feeling under the weather. We began the class by talking about the physiology of the immune system, and different levels of immunity; then we moved on to how herbs effect this complex system, and how best to administer them. Each participant blended their own immune-building herbal tea, some of which sounded very yummy, as well as healthy!

I’d like to continue the immune system theme in subsequent classes, especially as people seem surprisingly interested in more technical information about how to make and use herbal preparations. Perhaps in January we can have a “Principles of Herbal Immune System Support” class, and jump in at the deep end!

In the meantime, however, I’m going to take a break from herbology and teach a class on planting paperwhite bulbs for the Senior Center. That class will be on November 29th, at 10:00, at the Senior Center. Should be fun!

In December, we’re not going to be having any classes, so as have more time to prepare for Christmas. We will be participating in the Parade of Stores event on Dec. 3-4, and having a locals‘ holiday party on the 12th. Plans are underway for live music, mulled cider, and yummy food. Our goal is to give locals an excuse to come into the store and see what we’ve been up to…no purchase necessary! It’s a party, not a sales gimick! We certainly understand that it’s sometimes hard for locals to find the time or motivation to check out new stores, but we’d still like for people to experience something different downtown, and Earthsense is certainly that. Please come! The party will be from 3:00 to 7:00.

Well, that’s all for now…Hope to see you here in the store!
Sincerely, Lake McCullough

October Newsletter

2010-10-11T11:18:00.001-06:00

Hi, Everyone!
As usual, I’m a bit late in getting this newsletter written…but I really don’t care! I’ve been busy (as usual) here in the store, and I’ve been spending as much free time as possible outside-much more important than writing!

However, there is quite a bit to write about! September felt like a long month, because a lot of different things happened - our Orchid Planting workshop was fun, and certainly kept me on my feet. We still haven’t sold all of the orchids that we started with, though, so if you would like a darling little blooming phalaenopsis, now is your chance to get one! As each plant finishes flowering, I’ve been taking it home to bring back into bloom…So, needless to say, my house looks even more like a jungle than usual!

Also in September, I had the pleasure of attending the first annual Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference at Ghost Ranch, in Abiquiu, NM. Not only did I get some time off from the store, I attended three days’ worth of informative and interesting classes, and got to spend time with over 200 other herbalists from around the country. My favorite classes included such topics as herbal therapeutics for mood disorders, clinical use of diaphoretics, tonics in tradition and practice, and, of course, a high desert plant walk led by an herbalist named 7Song. Although his name sounds Native American, he was dressed like a Hell’s Angel, and had the knowledge-base of a botany professor. Certainly a “cool dude”. I’ll definitely be going back to the conference next year!

Things have kept moving here in the store, as well. We have several new products, including facial lotion (my latest experiment), mulling spices, perfumes, and a large selection of epiphytic bromeliads planted in seashells. Carolyn’s artwork is also continually changing; she has recently introduced a collection of hand-turned wood bowls, painted with Fall leaves and flowers, lovely new paintings, and greeting cards featuring her “On the Way to the Light” series of oil paintings.

In summary, I’d like to say that we’d truly like to see you here at Earthsense, and we’d like for you to see all of our fun new creations, as well. Even if you don’t have money to spend, we’d still enjoy having you come and look around!

Until next month,
Happy Fall!
Lake McCullough

September Newsletter

2010-09-06T11:30:00.003-06:00

Hi, Everyone!

Happy September! There’s a bit of an autumn feeling in the air, although it still gets pretty hot during the day. This summer has been a great season for Earthsense, both in terms of business and in terms of developing a place or ‘niche’ in town. We also got through the summer without any major disasters or fiascoes…which, knowing myself and my business partners, is impressive! I’ll not bore you with too much introspection, but it does seem that we’ve come a long way in the four months that we’ve been open; we have a great many new products, with more on the way, and we also have a new sense of the purpose of the store-where it’s going, and what we can expect along the way.

In the month of September, we have a workshop on planting orchid seedlings; this is a follow-up for our Orchid Care and Maintenance class, which went wonderfully! Over 20 people came, many bringing their own orchids for personalized care advice. I was surprised and happy to see that so many people in town not only grow orchids, but are also quite skilled and enthusiastic. I look forward to continuing on our orchid tangent with the upcoming orchid planting workshop! We’ll look at the pros and cons of different potting media, and explore the world of an orchid’s roots in detail. Then, we’ll each plant our own seedling to take home! Space is limited, so please call to sign up. The workshop is on the 11th of this month, from 1:00 to 3:00, here at Earthsense.

With autumn and cold season on the way, I’d like to take the opportunity to mention that we have a good supply of immune-enhancing and sniffle-mitigating herbs on hand, in bulk, in tincture form, and in teas. Come by and check them out!

I’m also looking forward to attending the first annual Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference at Ghost Ranch, NM! This three-day conference is the first of its kind in this area, and will feature a variety of speakers and topics ranging from herb identification walks to discussions on clinical herbalism.

I’m toying with several ideas for future classes and workshops…I’d like to address some more technical subjects over the fall and winter, when I will have more time and inclination to be indoors studying, rather than outdoors harvesting! I’m considering doing a soap making workshop, and a class on herbs for the Immune System, as well as another herbal tea blending workshop (back by popular request!) on Saturday, October 16th. Please let me know if there is a subject you are interested in, and I’ll add it the schedule!

Stay tuned for updates on future classes, and a synopsis of my experience at the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference, in our next newsletter. And as always, thank you for reading!
Lake McCullough

Hello, and Thanks for Reading!

2010-08-11T20:39:00.003-06:00

Well, time flies when you’re having fun (Or are insanely busy), and I was surprised to find that it is already the second week of August and I still hadn’t written our monthly newsletter. Hopefully, no one noticed, because you were all out enjoying the beautiful and unusually wet weather we’ve been having!

I’m pleased to say that we have had a very busy and successful summer at this point, and hope for it to continue. I have had just about all that I can do to keep making tinctures, teas, silk paintings, soaps, salves, seasoning blends, etc. fast enough; however, we’ve also added quite a few new products! These include a line of specialty salts and peppers (very yummy!), facial toners, bath fizzies, and some new soap combinations, as well as a line of china teapots and, last but not least, orchid plants in bloom!
Carolyn also has made quite a bit of new artwork, including oil paintings, “Collectors’ Treasures” pieces, and an ever-changing menagerie of porcelain frogs, toads, and snails.

We have two classes coming up this month: On August 14th we will be having our third and final herb identification walk of the summer. The herb walks have been very well attended and informative, and I hope for this one to be the same. This Saturday we will be looking at lower-altitude plants, including self-heal, hops, dock, clematis, nettles, mullein, and more. We will meet here at the store at 1:00, and go until 4:00 or so. Please come if you can make it!
Our second class is an orchid care presentation on August 26th, from 5:30 to 7:00, at the Sisson Library. We’ll address orchid botany, growth habits, and growing needs, and how to keep your orchid happy and reblooming over a period of time. We’ll also have an orchid clinic, where participants can bring in their own plant for some care instructions. Please come! I’d like to see some friendly faces in the crowd!

I’d also like to thank Glenn and Hudson of the Pagosa Post for writing a great article about the store, which appears in their August issue. It’s been wonderful publicity!

As always, thanks for reading, and I hope to see you around at the store or at classes!
Lake McCullough

July Newsletter

2010-07-05T16:02:00.002-06:00

Hello Again!

Thanks for reading our July Newsletter! It was hard to start writing, because June flew by so quickly it didn’t seem like it was time for July to start, yet. June was a great month here at Earthsense…it really felt like we were in business. The store was very busy, and we had two well-attended workshops, as well.

The Springtime Herbs and Flowers Identification walk was a definite success, with about 20 people participating. There were several very knowledgeable participants, and I learned a lot from their wild plant ID information. Thanks, guys!

Our Refreshing Summertime Teas workshop was also a lot of fun; everyone’s tea blends were very original and sounded quite yummy!

This brings me to our schedule of classes for July: We have an exciting workshop on Making a Silk Aromatherapy Pillow coming up on the 10th, and another Herb Walk on the 24th. In the Aromatherapy Pillow workshop, we’ll learn how to draw and paint a design on silk, and then sew it into a pillow to be filled with a selection of therapeutic herbs. Each participant will make and bring home their own completed pillow! The workshop is from 1:00 to 3:00, and there is a $10 materials charge.

Our Herb and Flower Identification Walk will be from 1:00 to 4:00 on the 24th. We will concentrate this month on Alpine herbs, flowers, trees, and shrubs, during a walk on Wolf Creek Road at Wolf Creek Pass. The walk is free! Please be prepared for a 2-mile walk at high altitude.

Unfortunately, (or fortunately, considering how busy business has been!) I don’t have the time this month to write an Herb of the Month column. However, I expect to resume in the fall. If you really miss it, please come by the store, and I’ll be happy to talk about any herb which interests you! Or better yet, come on the Herb Walk, and I guarantee you’ll get several months’ worth of herbal information!

As always, thank you all for your support of the Earthsense endeavor, and for checking in with us in July!
Lake McCullough

June Newsletter

2010-06-02T09:35:00.001-06:00

Hi, again!
Earthsense got off to a great start in May! We have had a very interesting and informative first month in business, and are looking forward to “keeping things moving” in June with the beginning of our summer class schedule.

We are going to be leading monthly herb and flower identification walks throughout the summer; the first one is scheduled for Saturday, June 19th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. We’ll meet here at the store, and carpool to the walk site. I’ve been reading up on my native plant information, and hope to have lots of interesting info to share; however, I also hope that other people will pitch in and share whatever they might know, too! There is always more to learn when it comes to our wide variety of native plants! The herb walk is free; however, please call or come by to let me know if you are interested.

Our second class in June is an herbal tea blending workshop. It is scheduled for Saturday, June 26th, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. In this class, we’ll cover the basics of how to combine a variety of herbs to create a refreshing and tasty summertime brew. We’ll also talk about the nutritional and therapeutic properties of selected herbs, and how to get the most out of them in a tea blend. Each person will create their own customized formula, and take it home with them. This class has a $5 materials charge, which is due in advance. Please let me know if you’re interested!

Our featured herb of the month for June is Oatseed (Avena sativa). Last month we talked about a gentle stimulant (Tea), so this month I’d like to focus on a gentle relaxant; oatseed is a perfect example. The medicinal oatseed is the immature, whole (or un-hulled) form of the culinary grain, with the calyces attached and all of the flower parts still intact. In a sense, it could be called the “oat flower” rather than the oatseed; however, the immature seed is also present. As you can imagine, all of this requires the herb to be harvested within a narrow time-window: Before the flower parts wither, but after the seed has started forming.

The plant is native to the Mediterranean, like so many grain crops, and was domesticated around 1000 B.C. The book Economic Botany by Simpson and Connor-Ogorzaly connects the widespread cultivation of oats with the use of horses as draft animals; apparently, oats were considered excellent forage for horses, but never gained wide popularity as a staple food for humans. Oat production decreased markedly in the US at the same time that draft horses began to be replaced with farm equipment.

The active constituents of the oatseed are mainly protein-based, which is somewhat unusual among therapeutic herbs. In fact, oat seeds contain several essential amino acids, including tryptophan, which is a chemical precursor of serotonin. Relatively few clinical trials have been conducted on oatseed, with the few that have been done focusing on its use to help reduce depression during nicotine or opium withdrawal. Needless to say, the results were inconclusive! However, traditional herbology does suggest that oatseed is supportive of the nervous system in some situations. It is often used to help lessen the effects of chronic stress, and is considered very beneficial for “burn-out” , however you choose to define it! I tend to think of oatseed as a “maintenance” herb, which doesn’t have a particularly strong action, but is beneficial and nurturing over time.

Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough, Diploma in Herbal Studies

As always, please remember that the above information is intended for educational purposes only.

May Newsletter

2010-05-07T19:59:00.002-06:00

Hello!
Well, there is finally a lot to talk about in our May newsletter! Earthsense Herbals opened for business on May 4th, and has gotten off to a great start. We are having an Open House celebration on May 8th, from 10-5, if anyone would like to come!

We are also in the process of organizing a schedule of classes and workshops to be held this summer; there is a sign-up sheet here in the store, or you can call to sign up. We’d like to include such topics as:
Common Springtime Herbs Identification Walk
Potting and Growing Orchids
Making Summertime Herbal Teas
Growing and Maintaining an Alpine Dish Garden
The topics that we end up addressing will depend on public interest, so please let us know if you are interested in any particular subject!

Our Featured Herb for the month of May is the Tea plant (Camellia sinensis)! I chose tea because it provides a gentle lift, which I definitely feel like I need after the whirlwind activity of opening the store.

All black, green, twig, and white teas are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, which is native to central Asia and has been cultivated there for over 4,000 years. It belongs to the Theaceae family, which contains roughly 40 genera and 600 species. Of these, only Camellia sinensis is used for food and medicine. Its use, however, is so widespread that it is considered to be second only to water as the most widely consumed beverage in the world.

The differences in flavor, color, and caffeine content between black, green, twig, and white teas occur because of differences in how the teas are processed, and in what part of the tea plant is used. Black teas, for example, are made from the mature leaves of the plant, which are harvested and then “fermented” or cured for varying periods of time before being consumed. Green teas are also made from the leaves of the plant, but instead of being cured, the leaves are steamed immediately after being harvested. This “cooking” process halts many enzymatic processes within the leaf which are allowed to proceed in the processing of black tea, resulting in green tea’s milder flavor and lower caffeine content. White tea is made from the immature leaves and flower buds of the tea plant; twig teas, as the name implies, are made from the stems and twigs, and have the highest astringency and tannin levels of all the teas.

Regardless of type, all tea contains similar active chemical constituents: tannins, flavonoids-including the popular antioxidants known as catechins-caffeine, and flourine. Of primary interest are the antioxidants, which have been shown to help mitigate atherosclerosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and high blood cholesterol. However, unlike other antioxidant-rich herbs, tea does not lower blood pressure; in fact, it increases it due to the vasoconstricting effects of caffeine.

The therapeutic effects of tea are best experienced by simply drinking it consistently; it can also be blended with other herbs for added effect. However, it’s good to remember that, despite the often-mentioned benefits of tea, it is still a caffeine-containing stimulant! Drinking too much in the afternoon might make it hard to sleep at night!

As always, please note that the above information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace medical treatment.

Thanks for reading!
Lake McCullough, Diploma in Herbal Studies

Things are Coming Along!

2010-04-08T14:11:00.002-06:00

Hello, again!
Well, it’s been another month of hard work getting Earthsense Herbals, LLC started! However, there has also been a great deal of progress; we now have a storefront, and are well on our way to opening in the first week of May! Our address will be 144 Pagosa Street, which is two doors east of the Forest Service building downtown. We’ll have advertisements in local newspapers, and posters up all over town, announcing our Open House party.

We’ve also been spending time preparing for and teaching two community classes. The first, which took place on April 6th at the Archuleta County Senior Center, was about starting a windowsill herb garden from seed. It was well attended, and I had a very good time teaching it! Our second class, about growing therapeutic herbs in Pagosa Country, will be held in conjunction with the Growing Spaces Gardening Workshop, on April 20th at the Extension Center. For more information, or to RSVP, please call Growing Spaces at 731-2120.

Now, to address our Herb of the Month for April! Last month, we focused on a tropical flower, the Hibiscus, so this month I thought I’d highlight a blossom from temperate climates. German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is native to the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, and is well known for its calming and relaxing effects. It has a long history as a therapeutic herb, with its traditional uses closely mirroring its modern applications in herbology. It is a member of the large Asteraceae family, along with such diverse plants as the common thistle, Echinacea, artichokes and lettuce. Chamomile flowers are the most therapeutically active part of the plant, due to their high essential oil content.

Chamomile has four main uses in modern herbology: it is used internally as a gentle sedative, an anti-inflammatory, and a diuretic. Topically, it is used to soothe inflammation of the skin.

The active compounds in chamomile consist of several components found in its essential oil - alpha-bisabolol, chamazuline, and matricine - as well as a potent blend of flavonoids including apigenin, quercetin, and luteolin. These compounds work together to produce a marked anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect, by inhibiting the formation of pro-inflammatory chemicals in cells throughout the body. Some of the relaxing or soothing characteristics of chamomile are thought to be due to the plant’s antispasmodic activity.

Chamomile is considered to be a very safe herb, with few possible ill effects. However, it should be avoided in large quantities during pregnancy, and by those with allergies to members of the Asteraceae family.

Please note that the above information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

Thanks for reading - Lake McCullough, Diploma in Herbal Studies, ACHS

March Newsletter

2010-03-04T18:26:00.003-07:00

Hello again!
Earthsense Herbals, LLC is still on schedule to open in May! We’re working hard to get everything prepared; but, at the moment, there is not a lot of exciting news to share. I won’t bore you with the details of designing labels, filling out (seemingly endless) forms, and building cabinetry. So, I’d like to use this lull in interesting happenings to introduce a feature that I’m going to include in all the newsletters: Featured Herb of the Month. In each newsletter, I will include information about the botany, chemistry, and traditional uses of one of my favorite herbs.

March in Pagosa Springs is still a pretty sparse month, when it comes to the local flora. So, instead of focusing on a native medicinal plant, I’ll do the opposite, and feature a lovely tropical flower, the hibiscus.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) plants are members of the Mallow family, and are native to the tropics of the Old World, namely India and Malaysia. Only a specific variety of hibiscus, H. sabdariffa var. sabdariffa race ruber, is used for its edible flowers and calyces; other varieties are used for the fiber of their stems, and for edible seedpods (okra, in fact, is a species of hibiscus).

In the early 1900’s, hibiscus was widely used in jams, jellies, and sauces; however, its current use is mainly as a tea. It is nutritious, and contains considerable amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin, and ascorbic acid, as well as antioxidant flavonoids.

Probably due to their content of minerals, hibiscus flowers act as a mild diuretic, increasing the amount of water removed from the blood by the kidneys. This activity can result in a drop in blood pressure, leading to its traditional use as a hypotensive. However, modern herbology tends to use hibiscus more for its nutritional value, and of course its tart and fruity flavor, than for a therapeutic effect on blood pressure. It is a valuable addition to many tea blends, imparting a rich red color, a tropical flavor, and a nutritious amount of calcium, vitamin C, and iron, and other minerals.

For further reading about hibiscus, the Purdue University Horticulture Department website is an excellent resource:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/roselle.html

Please remember that the information included in this newsletter is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of medical advice or treatment.

Until next time,
Lake McCullough, Dip. Herbal Studies

Getting Up and Running

2010-02-02T12:03:00.002-07:00

Hello, and welcome to the Earthsense Herbals, LLC monthly newsletter!

Let me begin by introducing myself and my family's store. My name is Lake McCullough, and, with my parents Tom and Carolyn, I am in the process of opening a small herbal supply store in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We will sell a full line of herbal products, as well as nature-themed artwork, all made completely by ourselves. We will also be offering a variety of community classes, in subjects ranging from herbal preparations to botanical artwork to exotic plant care.

We are still in the process of setting up our retail storefront, but hope to open our doors by May 2010. Please check in frequently with this site, as I will be adding more information on a regular basis, including the address, hours, and grand opening dates of the store!