Other Names: Plectranthus
Description: Vick’s plant is a fleshy,
fuzzy leaved plant with spreading habits. It is grayish-green in
color. Leaves are roughly triangular and scalloped on the edges.
Cultivation: Vick’s Salve plant grows easily from cuttings, and will
spread and root on its own. It likes a fair amount of water and sun,
but will tolerate shade.
Medicinal: Vick’s plant is good for
treating stuffy noses. Kristin Jayd-Jimenez makes her “Booger Balm”
from it, and unlike the real Vick’s Balm, this can be used directly
under the nose without ill effects. It can also be made into steam
treatments to help congestion.
Sources: Herbs and Spices for Florida Gardens by Monica Moran Brandies.
Kristin Jayd-Jimenez is the new programming vice president. If you have program requests, wish to present a program, or know someone who would like to present, let Kristin know!
The newsletter is seeking gardeners willing to be profiled in future issues. Please let us know if you are interested. Thank you to those who voted (all 10 of you) for the newsletter’s new name. The final count was 6 in favor of The Herbal Scoop, 4 in favor of The Herb Jar.
John and Marie Thorp, long-time REHS members, did a wonderful job as presenters at last month’s meeting!
Their presentation on detoxification via Ion Generating Footbath was quite enlightening and they followed it with some great recipes for herbal detox, too. While at a fair on an out-of-town trip, John tried the Body Balance System, which assists your body to re-balance its bio-energy fields,
and stimulates the body for self-detoxification.
This machine is a selfcontained high-tech water detoxification system which uses surgical stainless steel electrodes to generate ions and put the body into an alkaline state. He was amazed by his body's reaction and the immediate reduction in pain he had long been experiencing.
After several more sessions he found that he relied less on his cane and was able to walk longer distances. John and Marie brought two units with them to the meeting and had two members try them out. The results were visible after just a few minutes, with sediment and "toxins" which looked
like different colored dirt entering the water and accumulating through the session.
The participants noted a feeling of general well being afterward as well as more freedom of motion and less pain in previously achy joints. Drinking plenty of fluids is recommended after the footbath, as with any detox method, to help the body continue to flush out toxins.
The couple's genuine enthusiasm for this system has prompted them to become distributors of the Body Balance System and John offers the first session at no charge at his barber shop. Just call him at 786-399-5047 to be sure he is there.
Detox Herbs for Tea and Foot Bath
–any combination of mint, raspberry, ginger, turmeric, hyssop, dandelion, nettle, milk thistle. Marjoram and calendula are also good to relieve pain.
Foot Detox Process
1. Detoxification herbs
are used in the foot bath to help the detoxification process.
2. After the foot bath drink plenty of either artesian or mineral water
or a herbal detox tea with added mineral supplements, as minerals
are drawn from the body during the process. Drinking this tea will
replenish the body and enhance the detoxification process.
3. Cleansing of the feet after the detox session is done by spraying with a blend of lemon, lime, or grapefruit and distilled water. After the citrus cleansing, a refreshing combination of lavender or rosemary essential oil and witch hazel is applied to the feet to complete the balancing of
the body. Lavender is good to relax and harmonize, and smells wonderful. Rosemary eases muscle and joint aches
Detox Foot Cleanser
1. Create a blend of Lemon, Lime and
Grapefruit. Lemon is an effective degreaser. Lime is refreshing and
grapefruit is uplifting.
2. Add 1 tsp. citrus mix to 4 cups
distilled water.
Use this in a spray bottle to clean toxins off
feet.
Herbal Detox Tea Recipe
The current all time favorite herbal detox combination is red raspberry, peppermint, and peach tea. Sweeten with raw whipped honey. Whipped honey has more oxygen, but pasteurized store creamed honey will work. Add stevia or agave if you would like it sweeter. Other sweeteners will not
work, especially alcohol sugars. Xylitol does not work.
To use teabags, use
the following: 1 red raspberry, 2 peppermint, 1 peach, 1 strawberry,
and 1 ginger.
To use loose herbs, use the following:
1 Tbl. Red raspberry,
2 Tbls. Peppermint,
1 Tbl. Calendula,
1 Tbl. Dandelion,
and thin slices of ginger root to taste.
Using a 12 cup coffee maker, steep tea for 10 -15 minutes, strain into a 1⁄2 gallon jug, then fill jug with spring water. For extra detox properties, add the following to each cup you pour off to drink:
1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar (brown apple
cider vinegar w/mother from the store works)
1 tsp. raw whipped/creamed honey
1 shake of turmeric powder
1 squirt trace minerals
Detoxing is best done slowly. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Energized alkaline artesian water (Fuji, Wild Oats Brand), mineral water (San Pellegrini, Perrier, Evian) or herbal detox tea is recommended. You can also use drops (AlkaLife) to alkalize your water.
Contributed by John Thorp
“The...patient should be made to understand that he or she must take charge of his
own life.” -Quentin Regestien
The website is growing, but still needs more input to be the best it can be. If you would
like to contribute or have any suggestions, contact the Web Liaison,
Tracy, or the Webmaster, Tao.
We did have a suggestion, and will be
implementing a discussion forum on the website to encourage participation. This will be a place to exchange
tips and uses for herbs and spices.
Contact Tracy at: 305-444-5612 or
inariargenteus@gmail.com
Contact Tao at: info@umaatantra.com
The cookbook is nearing completion. Look to this space for further
announcements.
March 10: Authentic Thai Cooking, held at the Buddhist Temple in the Redland. 10am-1pm. $25.
March 17: Authentic Indian Cooking, held at the FSP. 10am-1pm. $25
March 24: Authentic Chinese Cooking, held at the FSP. 10am-1pm. $25
April 21: Tropical Ice Cream Making. 10am-1pm. $25
April 21: Aquaculture Tour. 10am-1pm. $25
April 21 & 22: Heliconia, Palm & Flower Show. 10am-5pm. Admission $6, children under 12 free.
May 5 & 6: Herbs for Your Health. 10am-5pm Admission $6, Lecture Series Admission $90, Wellness lunch $8 per person per day. Preregistration required.
May 18-20: Redland International Orchid Show. 9am5pm. $6.
May 26: Thai Fruit Carving and Shaping. 10am-1pm. $25
June 16 & 17: Tropical Ag Fiesta. 10am-5pm. $6, children under 12 free.
June 16: Lychee & Longan Workshop, held during the Tropical Ag Fiesta. $25
June 17: Hurricane Pruning. 10am-1pm. $25
June 23: Mango Mania. 10am-1pm. $50 includes mango tree to take home.
July 21: Banana Workshop. 10am-1pm. $25, dig your own banana plant from the FSP.
For more information on any of these events or to register, call the Fruit & Spice Park at 305-247-5727. Registration is required for all classes.
“I refuse to believe that trading recipes is silly. Tuna fish casserole is at least as real as corporate stock.” -Barbara Grizzuti Harrison
All members and guests are invited (but not required) to bring a contribution to the monthly tasting table. For those not inclined toward the culinary arts, paper plates, plasticware and beverages are also very welcome.
Donations are also encouraged for the raffle table. Tickets are on sale at the raffle table during each meeting, and are fifty cents each. Ticket proceeds benefit the Society.
I missed the last meeting, so only have highlights reported for the tasting table. John & Marie Thorp brought chili made with cocoa, several desserts were brought using chocolate, and other, unnamed yummies were also provided. Apologies again for the lack of information.
Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices by John Heinerman Prentice Hall, Paramus, NJ ISBN 0-13-310210-6 $13.95
According to recent information, the American medical system is the third leading cause of death in the US. This gives good cause to consider the remedies our grandmothers used before pharmaceutical companies came along. We need to learn to take care of ourselves. What better way than to
investigate what our grandparents used before chemicals came along!
There are many good resource books on natural healing available. Aromatherapy, Bach Flower remedies, herbs, and spices. Google.com is an excellent resource. One of my favorite websites is www.mountainroseherbs.com
Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices is by John Heinerman, a medical anthropologist who has spent a lifetime researching in over 33 countries, and has written over two dozen books. He presents information in an easy to read, ordinary language, no medical jargon. A list of
common symptoms makes it easy to look up a remedy.
I find that John Heinerman's work is well written and full of useful information.