09 Lavender: The Most Versatile Herb In The World

Lavender is one of the most versatile plants in the world. Living and Lovin Herbs Postcast
Lavender growing on Thompson Street Farm is a passion for us. South Glastonbury, CT. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

Today's show is all about Lavender; this is a plant I know reasonably well because we grow a lot of it, and I wanted to share with you just how incredible this plant is.

I'll share its history, the difference among the species, growing tips if you're interested in growing a plant or two.

Its exceptional medicinal properties and at the end of this posting, I'll give you some simple recipes to get you started.

Lavender is one of the most versatile plants I’ve ever come across.  How many plants do you know of that can do all this?

Culinary – cooking, baking to beverages

Crafting

Medicinal and aromatherapy properties

Bath and Body products

Pet care products

Landscaping  because its drought tolerant

Pest control – Which originally how lavender got so popular.

Living and Lovin Herbs Podcast - Lavender in the middle ages
Lavender was used in a variety of ways during the Middle Ages – picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)

In the Middle Ages, lavender was used for its insecticidal properties. They would scatter it on the flowers of castles and sickrooms as a disinfectant and deodorize.

In China, it was used as a cure-all using a medicinal oil called “White Flower Oil.”

In wartime, lavender was used as an ingredient in smelling salts and disinfect wounds.

Living and Lovin Herbs Podcast - Medicinal Lavender
Lavender has a wide range of medicinal uses – Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)

Other Historical Uses Include

It was thought to have aphrodisiac properties and surprise! It's still on the aphrodisiac list today! It's true. I've heard several women whisper how they feel after using my lavender products. ❤️ 🌹

It was used to embalm corpses

Cure animals of lice

Tamed Lyons and tigers

Repelled mosquitoes (and it still does!)

An ingredient for snuff

Flavoring for vinegars, jellies and salads

Medicinally, lavender was used to treat headaches, hysteria, nervous palpations, hoarseness, palsy, toothaches, sore joints, apoplexy, colic, coughs, and rumbling digestive systems.

Lavender Monograph – Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)

Member Of The Mint Family

Lavender is a member of the Mint Family or – Labiatae – a family of flowering plants that are frequently aromatic. The word lavender comes from the Latin verb, lavare, which means “to wash” or “to bathe.”

Large commercial lavender operations are native to the mountainous regions of countries bordering the western half of the Mediterranean region and Europe. But, good news for us, lavender is now grown in all parts of the world.

There are approximately 45 species of lavender with hundreds of various genotypes or what I call cultivators, which now makes it possible to grow this beautiful plant in just about every climate. For simplicity, I'm only going to mention four of the most popular varieties.

Which Lavender I Right For You?

Which Lavender is right for you? That depends on the climate you live in and the soil. Also, depending on where you live in the world, the lavender descriptions change.

So I don’t confuse you, I’m using US descriptions for lavender – if you live across the pond from us here in the US or Australia, you’re lavenders descriptions will differ slightly – know, we’re all talking about the same plants.

So, what’s the difference between English, French, and Spanish lavender?

English Lavender Lavendula Angustifolia - Living and Lovin Herbs Podcast
English Lavender Lavendula Angustifolia Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)

English Lavender

English (or Lavendula Angustifolia) is the most widely cultivated of the lavenders. Its also called “true lavender”. It has many cultivators that have various colors – white, pink, to dark purples and blues.

This variety can be started from seed, while for others, it's better to use cuttings and root them as starter plants.

English Lavender can be grown in colder climates and containers.

English – lavenders are mostly grown for their medicinal and culinary properties.

French Lavender L. Dentata Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)

French Lavender

French Lavender or L. Dentata is also known as “toothed lavender.” It's not as hardy as English – Lavender Angustifolia – it cant tolerate colder climates, unlike other lavender varieties. French does well up to zone 8.

French Lavender has the same flower structure as the English, but it has a longer stems. English tends to be smaller compact plants, and the French can grow 3 feet wide and tall.

The French lavender has the most extended blooming times than the other lavenders and is primarily grown in Spain and warmer regions of the world.

For scent – French – L. Dentata varieties don't compare to the English – Lavender Angustifolia species if you want to grow lavender for the scent stick with the English types.

Spanish Lavender Living and Lovin Herbs Podcast
Spanish Lavender L. Stoechas Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)

Spanish Lavender

The next lavender species is Spanish Lavender or L. Stoechas. Things get confusing, depending on where you live. Stoechas is a French Lavender and referred to as such in some parts of the world. But here in the US, we call it Spanish Lavender. Depending on where you live, this lavender may be referred to as L. Stoechas or French Lavender.

Spanish lavender flowers are a little different looking than the English and French. It has lance-shaped leaves at the top of the bud. Think of it as having little bunny ears. They come in different colors, and some have beautiful dark purple flowers that are stunning in one's garden.

Their scent is not as strong as the Lavender Angustifolia or English lavenders. These lavenders are cultivated for their beautiful flowers.

Spanish lavenders grow well in acid soils in hot, dry climates, for example, the Mediterranean. Here in the Northeast, we consider Spanish lavenders as annuals, unlike English and some French cousins, which are grown as perennials.

If you live in the United States Southwest, Spanish Lavender may be the perfect lavender for you.

Lavandin – Grosso variety Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

Lavandin

The fouth lavender species I'll discuss is a hybrid, lavandin. Also known as Lavendula. x-intermedia . This plant is a cross between Lavender Angustifolia (an English Lavender) and lavender Latifolia (a Portuguese Lavender). These plants generally have a longer stem and bloom later than the Angustifolia's or English lavenders.

It's important to note that Lavendula. x-intermedia are sterile plants. Meaning they don't produce seeds for reproduction. So if you want to grow lavender from seed, English, French, and Spanish (with a few exceptions of other species not discussed today) are your only options.

To reproduce Lavendins Lavendula. x-intermedia, they must be propagated. Meaning, growers take small cuttings from a mother plant and root them in some growing medium.

Note on starting plants from seed: Be aware there is a low germination rate for starting English and French lavenders from seed. I recommend you buy starter plants and propagate cuttings. 

Hundreds Of Cultivators

There are hundreds of different cultivators in this group that are popular in commercial nursery production. Lavendula. x-intermedia varieties are a favorite commercial plant for essential oil production.

I mostly grow English and Lavendula. x. intermedia because they do well in my area. I have some plants that are over 20 years old. But they are woody and miss shaped from years of heavy snowpacks.

Shopping For Lavender

If you're shopping for lavender plants, it's essential to know the type of plants your local nursery sells.

I’ve found some plant sellers are not as informed with lavender as they should be. Last year a customer came to me at the farmers market with a lovely lavender plant in hand. The vendor told her the plant was an annual, which surprised me. It didn’t look like a French or Spanish Lavender. A quick search of the name of the cultivator on my smartphone told me it was English. It was a Lavender Angustifolia and indeed would do very well in our area.

So when shopping for lavenders, if the plant doesn’t give the Latin species name, google the cultivator’s name on the plant identification tag. You should be able to find out what species a cultivator comes from pretty quickly.

Examples On How To Identify Lavender

When shopping look at the plant tag. If the tag says Lavender ….

  1. Lavender – Grosso – its a Hybrid, Lavandula. x-intermedia. It does well in diverse climates, including colder and wetter zones.
  2. Lavender – Munstead is a Lavandula angustifolia (or English LavenderLavender). It should do well in colder and wetter climates.
  3. Lavender – Madrid Blue is Lavandula Stoechas (or Spanish Lavender). It only does well in hot, dry climates. If you live in a colder wetter climate, stick it in a pot and grow it annually.
  4. Lavender – Linda Ligon is a Lavendula dentate (or French Lavender). It does well in hot, dry climates but can tolerate up to zone 8. 

Just remember – there are other lavender species out there. I’m only mentioning the four most common plants in this podcast. See the resource list below for recommended books on Lavender.

Lavender Plugs – First season. Paul in the pouring rain making sure the plugs are doing ok. picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

Growing Lavender

For this section, I’m talking mostly of Lavender Angustifolia (English lavender) and Lavendula. x-intermedia’s (lavandin hybrids.) These lavenders are the most commonly sold and grown commercially globally, with some exceptions, of course. The Spanish Lavender or Stoechas I would plant and care the same way as the English or hybrid plants. 

Preparing the ground – Lavender loves dry sandy soil – Picture by Paul F. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
First year lavender plugs. It's the cheapest way to get lavender plants. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Planting culinary lavender – Provence. We mulch around our plants. It helps with the ph. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Lavender plug just planted. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here t0 view picture)

Tip 1: Lavender must have full sun – that’s ten or more hours of daylight. 

Tip 2: Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant and can thrive in areas where other plants cant. It prefers dry sandy, well-drained soil. 

It cannot survive in moist, rich organic soil. 

The ground needs to be well aerated. 

It does not like to have “wet feet” and are lavenders are susceptible to root rot and other fungal diseases. 

Some growers prefer to grow in rocky soil.

Tip 3: It prefers a ph of 6.5 – 7. If your ph is low, add dolomite lime and a little organic compost to level Ithe ph out.

Tip 4: Spacing – How close together should you plant your lavender. If you’re using it as a garden accent, determine which lavender species you are growing. Lavender Angustafolia’s (i.e., English) need about 30 inches of room. These plants tend to be low growing but spread wide.

Lavandins or Lavendula. x-intermedia (the hybrids) grow high and wide. Give them 36 inches between each plant.

Tip 5: To mulch or not to mulch – that is the question? Lavender does not like to be crowded by weeds, or in hotter drier climates watering a will be needed. It will be a personal decision and dependent on your environment and how much upkeep you want to do.

Fresh cut Hidcote Lavender – Thompson Street Farm, South Glastonbury CT. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

We grow some munstead (an English variety) in landscape rock, and they do well—the rest of the munstead's and grosso's we mulched. We have very dry sandy, rocky soil to begin with, so the mulching helps with keeping moisture around the plant when we go weeks without rain.

Lavenders are drought-resistant plants, so we're lucky it rains enough in the northeast; we don't have to worry about irrigation during the year's driest parts.

If you live in a hotter drier climate, putting in irrigation and mulching would probably be a good idea. But for those mid to northern states, where everything is flowering and green, I wouldn't put in irrigation but mulch instead in sandy, rocky soil. The other benefit of mulch is that it helps keep the ph down.

There are other ways to maintain your lavender to keep them high and dry other than mulching.

Raised mounds – and plant on top of the mound. It is done in wetter climates.

Row Plastic – Put down row plastic, then poke a hole in the plastic and plant your lavender. Then grow grass in between the rows and mow when it gets high.

Plant in landscape rock
Weed barrier over dirt, then mulch or use landscape rock

Tip 6: Lavenders can be tight woody shrubs and need to be pruned to keep their shape and encourage growth.

Year 1 of planting: remove new flowers and give your plant a good haircut, using good pruning shears. I use a small handheld battery-powered sheers. A link to Amazon will be below in the resource section.

Cutting promotes growth and helps keep the plant the shape you want or need. By year two, your lavender will have doubled in size.

Tip 7: Year 3 and beyond, your lavender will continue to add new growth after pruning – but prune wisely!

Pruning too severely will kill your plant. Never prune old wood unless its dead

Don't prune in cold temperatures – wait until ground temps are above 50 degrees.

Tip 8: Understand the type of lavender you are growing and its size and uses.

English lavenders are smaller growing and from small mounds. They are perfect for edging along walkways.

Tall-growing lavenders such as Lavindins make excellent hedges, and when their flowers reach their tallest, they sway in the wind, similar to tall grasses.

Farm to Bath Lavender Lovers Gift Crate Picture Nate Solberg Scout Collective (Click Here to view picture)

What Do With Your Lavender

Congratulations! It's your 2nd year, and your lavenders haven't died! Its time to harvest your stems, and you ask yourself NOW WHAT?


Well, that depends on the type of lavender you planted. Hopefully, you did your homework, and you know the kind of plants you have, and it will be easy. Here is a list of lavenders that are perfect for what use.

First up!

Lavender Rose Bedtime Tea is our best seller. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

 Culinary Lavender

English Lavenders or Lavendula Augustifolia are generally preferred for culinary purposes because these varieties have a sweeter taste and little camphor flavor. Some lavenders are lighter and sweeter than others, so experiment and grow various them versus just 1 type.

Our large copper still. Today were making hydrosol for Farm to Bath Face Mist. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Grosso Lavender Hydrosol and Essential Oil floating on top after the first distillation. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

Medicinal Lavender

French Lavenders or Lavendula dentate – are best for making bath and body products, hydrosols, essential oils, sachets, and floral arrangements. These lavenders have high camphor content and are better for their medicinal properties, such as aromatherapy.


Spanish Lavenders or Stoechas – are best for landscaping. They are too bitter for culinary uses and don’t have a strong enough scent for medicinal or for crafts. However, they make any garden or landscape stunning!

And finally…

Lavendula x-intermedia – Grosso. Fresh cut ready to be hung to dry. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

Lavendula x-intermedia – the hybrid. Not recommended for culinary uses as it has the highest camphor content of all the lavenders. It is too bitter to use. 

However, it’s perfect for cosmetics, perfumes, hydrosols, essential oils, and some floral arrangements. I grow this variety for its high essential oil content and ease of drying and de-budding for my bath and body products.

Recap

– We know lavender has been around for hundreds of years.

– We have an idea of where and what types of plants to grow.

– We have an idea of what to do with your lavender after you harvest it.

But the big question that I get the most of why does it make me feel so calm?

I’m glad you asked! Lavender has excellent medicinal properties. So before I get into this information, I need to be clear –

I am not a doctor, The information I’m presenting here is for, and educational purposes only, and in no way am I diagnosing and or treating anything. If you have questions about your health, please see a licensed medical professional in your area.

Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)

For those who want to do a deep dive on herbs, the reference manual I’m using is David Hoffmann’s book, Medicinal Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. 

Lavender’s herbal actions are carminative, antispasmodic, relaxing nervine, antidepressant, rubefacient, emmenagogue, and hypotensive.
And, if you don’t know what I mean by “herbal actions” download the document above.


Lavender has been known to relieve headaches related to stress. It may also be useful in clearing depression if used in conjunction with other remedies and promote natural sleep.


Its properties are also known as a gentle nervous system tonic, which may treat states of nervous weakness and exhaustion.


Safety issues: No side effects or drug interactions have been reported when used correctly. But – remember, overuse of anything can have a negative side effect.

For example, water has no side effects, but if you overdrink more than what your body can handle, it will have dire consequences. It’s the same with anything – too much of a good thing can have adverse effects.


In the herbal preparations section, Hoffman states that drinking lavender tea three times a day is beneficial.


However, he discourages anyone from taking lavender essential oil internally. So only use fresh or dried culinary lavender to make your tea. Don’t add any essential oils.


Lavender essential oil should never be ingested or directly used on the skin. It can be added to baths or added to a carrier oil and then rubbed on the skin, but ingested or directly snorted in the nose.


Now that we understand the different ways you can use lavender –

Lavender Tea Recipe

Here is a basic lavender tea recipe from David Hoffmann’s book page 562.

1 cup boiling water

1 teaspoon of dried culinary lavender buds. 

Pour boiling water over buds. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.  Can have approx. 3 x a day.

Roasted Chicken Lavender Recipe

Lavender All-Purpose Lavender Clearner

2 Tablespoons Distilled White Vinegar

1 teaspoon Borax

Distilled Water

¼ cup liquid castile soap

10 drops of lavender essential oil

5 drips of lemon essential oil or 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice.

1. Mix the white vinegar and the borax together in a 16 oz bottle.

Fill the bottle three quarters full of hot distilled water.

Shake well until borax is dissolved.

2. Add the liquid castile soap and the essential oils to the solution and shake well.  Use as you would any other all-purpose cleaner.

Reference and Books Section

Please note that many of these links are affiliate links and we earn a small commission if these links are used. There is no extra cost to you. The money earned will help support the administrative and web hosting fees charged to keep this podcast on the internet. We thank you for any support you can offer.

The Lavender Lover's Handbook: The 100 Most Beautiful and Fragrant Varieties for Growing, Crafting, and Cooking, by Sarah Berringer Bader

The Lavender Cookbook: Appetizers, Side Dishes, Meat and Seafood, Breads, Desserts and More! by Sharon Shipley

Lavender Cookbook, Essential Lavender Recipe Sampler, by Jennifer C. Petersen

Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal, By Rosalee De La Foret

Lavendula – Wikipedia

Farm to Bath Lavender Products

Thompson Street Farm teas and other products made from herbs

Lavender Plant Trimmer – Battery powered

Show's Sponsor Info

Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!

My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.

The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.

There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.

You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!

Music

A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.

Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com

Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018

Social Media Links:

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04 Coping With Stress

image by pixabay (click here to view picture)

Happy New Year everyone. Today’s show is my holiday show and yes, I certainly blew the deadline.  It was the second week of January 2020 when I record this and since I’m the creator and make the final decisions on what stays and goes.  I decided to go ahead and post this show. 

The topic of the show is managing Holiday Stress (and stress in general) with herbs.  Yes, the title of the show says Coping with Stress. I changed it because I'm posting it so late.

I debated with myself if I should scrap this show and move on to another subject, but then I thought, just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean people’s stress magically disappeared.   For some, the first of the year is a trigger for stress for a variety of reasons.

December bills are due, and the shock of how much all that merry-making cost is a huge reality check.

The first of the year also marks other life-changing events.  Such as trying to buy or sell a home, starting a new semester at school, or starting a new job.

For others its all hands on deck planning that spring wedding.  Here in the Hartford area, there are bridal shows scheduled for the next 3 months. That's just the Hartford area – there are other locations around the state – and CT is a pretty small state. So it appears we have a lot of blushing brides in Connecticut!

Then for some, the new year brings a new set of stressful challenges in the form of legal problems.  Usually, attorneys advise their clients to wait until after the first of the year to file their petitions for bankruptcy, or divorce.

In addition, if you’ve been paying attention to the national and international news – well, what can I say… It's pretty scary out there.

So my point is – people’s stress didn’t go away after the first of the year and it seems for some, things maybe a bit rough.  So I went ahead and posted the show.

In the last segment of the show, I’ll share with you my Lavender Harmony Tea Recipe which is a nice tea to drink all day long. If you wish to purchase the tea scroll down to the Reference section and I posted information on how you can find me to buy the tea.

Articles mentioned in the show have links to the primary sources for more research. I also list organizations for those seeking professional help in the areas of mental health and money management.

Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed, right now – please reach out to a professional for help, just scroll down to the reference section and click on any of the mental health links.

Thank you for being here and enjoy the show.

What does the perfect holiday celebration mean to you? There are strategies to help you get organized and be less stressed. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
When colds hit our house we reach for these products. photo by Nate Solberg – Scout Collective
The best way to help reduce stress is to create a plan. Then create mini checklists to move you towards your goals. (to view picture click here) photo by canva

The Mayo Clinic suggests the following 10 Strategies

This is an excerpt from the article Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for Coping (link to full article below).

  1. Acknowledge your feelings
  2. Reach out
  3. Be realistic
  4. Set aside differences
  5. Stick to a budget
  6. Plan ahead
  7. Learn to say no
  8. Don't abandon healthy habits
  9. Take a breather
  10. Seek professional help if you need it

11 Ways to reduce stress in your life

1. Take frequent breaks from social media and news outlets – and/or don’t engage at all. 

2. Create boundaries on topics you aren’t willing to discuss.

3. Get a good night's sleep or try and take a nap if you need one.  Being overtired only adds to your stress.

Skullcap, chamomile, and lavender or a combination of these herbs can help with sleep. Have a cup of tea 45 – 1 hr before bed.

4. Cut back or eliminate coffee or caffeine and switch to herbal teas.

Afternoon tea. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan

5. Stop eating sugar, and foods high in carbohydrates. They are not your friends.

Switch out a bowl of mashed potatoes with a high fiber food such as wild rice, quinoa with mushrooms or smashed cauliflower with herbs mixed in.

By adding more fiber to your diet its the perfect way to level your blood sugar out. Fewer mood swings and feeling sluggish and overtired.

Trust me!  You’ll feel better after eating. 

6. Start drinking more water. It helps keep things moving!

7. Start a routine where you can sit for 20 minutes at some point in the daily and have a cup of tea.

Herbs used in our Lavender Harmony Tea are from the nervine herb class. Nervines are herbs that help relieve muscle tension, crazy thoughts, wakeful nights, and in some cases help with mild depression. Herbs pictured: Lavender, milky oats, lemon balm. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan

Examples of Nervine Herbs:

            – Milky oats

            – Chamomile

            – Lemon Balm

            – Lavender

            – Valerian Root

            – Skullcap – This one I’d take just before bedtime.

            – St. John’s Wort

            – Rose

This is not a complete list – there are others you can take, but I picked these because they are common and can be found in most health food stores around the country.

And since I’m talking about medicinal herbs versus culinary herbs, I have to add this statement.

I want to stress herbalism is a way of life when using herbs for medicinal purposes to treat certain conditions. You need to be aware:

  • •       There are no magic bullets 
  • •       No quick fixes that will result in a specific health outcome.   

The secret to using herbs is the accumulation of what I call conscious healthy living and eating.

Understand your body and its limits and don’t be afraid to seek medical treatment if you’re not feeling better.

Most importantly do your homework before taking herbs medicinally.  Make informed decisions based on facts and not someone’s opinion or marketing tagline.

My goal is to teach you how to enhance your health and environment with herbs that will bring you over-all wellness. I offer you detailed information along with primary sources so you can research on your own.

However, I still have to give you my disclaimer so we’re clear…

I’m not a doctor, and if you have questions about your health, please consult a licensed medical professional. 

Some herbs interact with certain medications negatively and if you’re on a prescription drug ask your doctor if the herb you’re interested in taking is safe.

In addition, pregnant and nursing Mother’s please consult your doctor to make sure the herbs you’re taking are safe for you and your baby.

The information discussed in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat anyone.

Forest Bathing – Woods near our home that we frequently walk. Screenshot of the Alltrails app. The data is recorded in my walking journal. Date, miles, elevation, and hiking time are things I track. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan

8. Go for a walk. – indoor our out. Just move!

Doing our indoor walk together. It was too cold to be outside. In the house, I use the Argus App which tracks my steps/miles and time. (click here to view picture) photo by Paul F. Sullivan

9. Meditate – According to Harvard Medical School article titled.

What Mediation can do for your mind, mood, and health.

They concluded that:

“Taking a few minutes to focus your mind each day can reduce stress, pain, depression, and more.”

Writing in a journal has been scientifically proven to have mental health benefits. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan

10. Keep a gratitude journal.

According to an article in Psychology Today Article.

There are 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude.

1. Gratitude Opens the Door to More Relationships – 

2. Gratitude Improves Physical Health

3. Gratitude Improves Psychological Health

4. Gratitude Enhances Empathy and Reduces Aggression

5. Grateful People Sleep Better

6. Gratitude Improves Self-Esteem

7. Gratitude Increases Mental Strength

11. Practice Yoga. There are free and paid apps if taking a class is not your style. Youtube has several yoga channels you can watch and follow as well.

Lavender Harmony Tea

Recipe Here

3 Tablespoon Lemon Balm

1 Tablespoon Lavender

1 Tablespoon Milky Oats

Blend together and use 1 heaping tablespoon per cup. Let steep for 5 – 8 minutes before drinking.

Just remember, sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest impact on you emotionally. Find a quiet place for about 20 minutes, even if it's sitting in your car – just be still and have a cup of tea with yourself.

For those wanting to buy this tea, I offer it for sale at the South Windsor Farmers Market during the growing season. During the off-season, orders can be picked up at my home. For more information email me – brenda@thompsonstreetfarm.com.

 

References/Resources


Mayo Clinic| Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for Coping
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544

NOAA| Managing Holiday Stress
https://www.wfm.noaa.gov/pdfs/Conquering_Stress_Handout_1.pdf

NAMI| Avoiding Holiday Stressors: Tips For A Stress Free Season
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2018/Avoiding-Holiday-Stressors-Tips-for-a-Stress-Free-

NAMI|Major Depressive Disorder With A Seasonal Pattern
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression/Major-Depressive-Disorder-with-a-Seasonal-Pattern

Psychology Today| 5 Ways Walking in Nature Benefits Sensitive People
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sense-and-sensitivity/201404/5-ways-walking-in-nature-benefits-sensitive-people

The Difference Between Introverts, Empaths, and Highly Sensitive People
https://introvertdear.com/news/the-difference-between-introverts-empaths-and-highly-sensitive-people/

Harvard Health Publishing| What meditation can do for your mind, mood, and health
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-meditation-can-do-for-your-mind-mood-and-health-

7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201504/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-gratitude

Mental Health Resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
https://nami.org/

Find an Online Counseling Therapist – Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/online-counseling

American Psychological Association – Article with therapy resources listed:
A growing wave of online therapy
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/online-therapy

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Money Management

Note: Please do your research. I have not used any of the debt counseling resources. I've read Rich Dad Poor Dad and thought it was worth recommending. The author offers basic money management tips. However, there are many great books on money management. Many local libraries carry best selling titles – make sure to start there first.

America’s Debt Help Organization
https://www.debt.org/credit/counseling/agencies/

In Charge: Debt Solutions (nonprofit)
https://www.incharge.org/?vdn=4084

Money Management International (nonprofit)
https://www.moneymanagement.org/

Definition of Money Management
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_management

Dave Ramsey Blog| The Truth About Debt Management
https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-truth-about-debt-management

Choose FI Podcast| Money Management, Retirement Planning
https://www.choosefi.com/podcast-episodes/

Books

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This book is in most libraries or online for free somewhere. Check first for free versions before buying the book.

Public Libary Link

Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194/ref=sr_1_7?crid=79LDODIFLU8P&keywords=money+management+books&qid=1579903500&sprefix=money+man%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-7


Lavender Journal Notebook by Brenda J. Sullivan
https://www.amazon.com/Lavender-Journal-Notebook-Journals-1/dp/1981991883/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=brenda+j+sullivan&qid=1579903342&sr=8-4

Lavender Journal: Notebook Volume 2 by Brenda J. Sullivan
https://www.amazon.com/Lavender-Journal-Notebook-2-Journals/dp/1986118231/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=brenda+j+sullivan&qid=1579903412&sr=8-3

Health Apps for Smart Phones

Argus App
It has free and paid options. I use the free option and just use the step counter only. Available on iTunes.
https://www.azumio.com/s/argus/index.html

AllTrails Pro App
Paid App and I use this to record my hikes and walks. Has thousands of trials and reviews by walkers and hikers nationally. I love this app and highly recommend. Available on iTunes.
https://www.alltrails.com/

Lavender Harmony Tea
available from Thompson Street Farm LLC
www.thompsonstreetfarm.com email me for information on pickup times. Local sales only.

Show's Sponsor

Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!

Counting Starfish| A Thompson Street Farm Learn and Play Series Volume 1
Children learn by experience and are stimulated by imagination. Counting Starfish is designed to build both basic concepts and what better way to learn than from the natural world? Counting Starfish was inspired by starfish (or sea stars) living in a tidal pool off the coast of Alaska. This interactive book teaches children the fundamental concepts of counting to ten with coloring pages providing the opportunity for each child to create their own imaginative version of a colorful Counting Starfish Book.

Music

Special Thank You To Gene Tullio!

The music used in this show is used with permission and is created and produced by Gene Tullio.

Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information about his music, please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com

Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018

Social Media Links

Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.

Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.

Living and Lovin Herbs Website: https://livingandlovinherbs.com/
Instagram: @livingandlovinherbspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingandlovinherbspodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Twitter: @Livingandlovin6
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuHD-5N2tPYDbWwI4wzIJA

Brenda J. Sullivan Books: https://brendajsullivanbooks.com/