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[Editorial] Spring newsletter 2010

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the “Dragonflies & Lilies” Spring 2010 newsletter.

At last, spring is just around the corner with the promise of warmer months and spring herbs and flowers. The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary is going to celebrate spring with a month long workshop series beginning Saturday March 6th. Each Saturday the clinic practitioners will host a special workshop. A practitioners ‘coupon book’ will also be available. This special booklet will offer discounts for dispensary products and practitioners services.

News Flash! The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary is thrilled to be included in the new CRAVE Toronto book which will be launched May 2010. CRAVE is an artful, inspiring, and fun city guide which highlights small, unique businesses run by women. The CRAVE Toronto book will be available for sale in the dispensary.

To all of our wonderful customers, thanks so much for all of your support. See you soon!

Celina

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[Dispensary] New Dispensary Hours

The dispensary has once again extended its hours. We are now open seven days per week.

Our new hours are:

Monday to Saturday: 11-7 pm
Sundays: 12-5 pm

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[Clinic] Two New Practitioner’s Web Sites

Practitioners Naomi Frank and Silver Owl have just launched their new web-sites and they are fantastic! Check them out at the following links:

Both web sites were developed and built by Interzone Design, the designer of The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary web site and this newsletter.

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[Dispensary] Coltsfoot: The First Herb of Spring

Coltsfoot has a soothing expectorant and antispasmodic action. This common herb has a long history of use for the treatment of acute or chronic bronchitis, irritating coughs, and asthma. The plant’s botanical name means ‘cough dispeller’. Coltsfoot is the first flower to appear in early spring and is often mistaken for dandelion. Interestingly, the hoof-shaped leaves only appear when the flowers have died down, giving rise to the plant’s old name, filius ante patrem (son before father). In Paris, the flowers used to be painted on the doorposts of apothecaries shops.

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[Poetry] Spring, the Sweet Spring
by Thomas Nashe

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

from, Summer’s Last Will and Testament, (1600)


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[Dispensary] Silverowl’s Motion Sickness Remedy

My motion sickness remedy enjoys great success for those unable to travel due to nausea/anxiety. The combination of valerian root, chamomile, rose hips, ginger and catnip produce a calm, relaxed state.

Properties:

    Valerian Root: anti-anxiety
    Chamomile: nervine (calming), carminative (soothes the stomach)
    Rose Hips: anti-stress
    Ginger: anti-nausea
    Catnip: nervine (calming)
    Lemon balm: anti-anxiety, nervine (calming)

Silver Owl, thank you for the motion sickness tea for my mother. Since she has started drinking it prior to our car rides she has not experienced her motion sickness anymore. It works great and has given us our freedom to travel back. I can’t thank-you enough–what a wonderful remedy.
—Katie P.

Visit Silverowl’s web site

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[Dispensary] The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary Herbal Cleanse
by Celina Ainsworth, Clinical Herbalist

For centuries people from many cultures have taken the time to practice ritual cleansing in order to promote wellness and vitality. This was traditionally done through fasting, sweating (i.e. sweat lodges, steam baths and saunas) and by purging the body. Wherever and however we live today it is inevitable that we are exposed to a wide range of toxins from many sources including chemicals in the foods we eat, environmental pollutants, as well as ‘body produced’ toxins or waste products produced by minute to minute metabolic processes. Below is an outline of an herbal cleanse which is safe and effective and not too drastic. (continued…)

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[Dispensary] Dispensary Products: Spring Tonics

1) Herbal Cleanse Tea Blend. A tasty and nourishing blend of Nettles, Cleavers, Red Clover tops, Peppermint and Dandelion leaf. These herbs have a history of use for cleansing the blood by enhancing the elimination of metabolic waste from the body and by supporting liver and kidney function. $12.95

2) Herbal Bitters. Bitters are traditionally used to encourage digestive power and assimilation by stimulating the natural production of digestive enzymes and acids and by supporting liver and gallbladder function. $9.95 60 mls

3) Custom tea and custom tincture blending is available. The dispensary staff will help you to make a special formula for your health and wellness needs this spring.

4) We have a selection of high quality loose green teas, black teas and white teas as well as Rooibos (red bush) teas. Tea Party Special: During the month of March all of these teas are 10% off.

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[Workshop] Spring Workshop Series 2010

The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary and our Community Practitioners welcome you to our Spring Workshop Series to be held on Saturdays throughout the month of March. For details see our flyer in printable PDF format or visit our events page.

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[Articles] Ancient Immune Protection from the Forest
by Celina Ainsworth, Clinical Herbal Therapist

Last fall, I hiked a north Pacific Coast trail hoping to identify medicinal mushrooms. The sky, visible in occasional breaks through the cathedral-like trees, was pearly grey and the fine drizzle which sieved through the forest canopy refreshed. I decided to rest by a massive cedar, fallen long ago, and now decaying into the spongy forest floor. The cedar’s broad surface was covered in deep, moist mosses and fan-like ferns. As I took in the beauty of the old growth forest which surrounded me, I noticed several large, cream coloured, mushrooms, growing ‘shelf-like’ on a nearby tree. (continued…)

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[Clinic] Healthy Spring Tips from The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary practitioners #1

In order to make sure you’re getting the most out of your food, your body needs the right conditions. Once you’ve finished eating, take 60 seconds, sit down, and do nothing; just count to 60. It will take at most 5 minutes out of your day, and it will do wonders in preventing things like gas, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion.
—Chris Pickrell, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Try making catnip popsicles for their soothing, cooling action. These herbal popsicles will keep kids calm and hydrated when ill. Catnip also helps to lower fevers.
—Alexis Touyz, Homeopathic Physician

A nasal irrigation and oral rinse with salt water once a day makes the virus go away.
—Anna Sienicka, Homeopathic Physician

In the Spring, we need to eat foods that can reawaken our energy, which has been hibernating all Winter long. Look for fresh, seasonal foods such as sprouts, asparagus, rhubarb, fiddle heads, radishes, new potatoes and maple syrup.
—Brenna Enright Acupuncture, Herbalist

Stretch into Spring! Raise your arms and stretch slowly to each side, then stand in a neutral position with knees slightly bent and swing your arms left and right whilst doing gentle spinal twists. This helps your Liver energy to flow freely.
—Naomi Frank, Chinese Medicine

A 20 minute speed walk in the park and two cups of nettle tea a day is a great tonic!
Celina Ainsworth, Herbalist

Please visit our Practitioners Page for more information about the practitioners, their services and contact information.

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[Clinic] Healthy Spring Tips from The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary practitioners #2

When you balance your chakras, the adjustment affects not only the energy coming in and going out, but also the hormones associated with each, and in turn, all our cells.
—Janis Silverowl Young, Reconnective Healing Practitioner

Spring signals the awakening of new life and growth. This may also serve as a metaphor for our own period of renewal. Choose to embrace the coming season with clear perspective and less clutter from baggage of years past. Each day brings another opportunity for health and well-being, so allow this day and each successive one, to be an enriching experience.
—Sherry Holt, Psychotherapy

Close your hands into a relaxed fist and tap your body from head to toe to promote Qi, or energy, flow.
—Carlotta Trenholm, Shiatsu Therapist

One way to cleanse and re-energize this spring is by eating lots of leafy green vegetables. A favourite recipe of mine is kale chips. Wash and dry 1 bunch of kale and lay out on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and a little salt, and bake in the oven at 300F for 20-30 min, turn them midway, and enjoy!
—Dr. Ruchira Sudd, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

To help transition the body, add these key ingredients when making stock for soup. ‘Change of Season’ soup calls for adding 2-3 oz of Codonopsis root, Astragalus root, Chinese yam root, and Chinese Lycii berries and simmering for 4-6 hours. Have one cup, two times per day for 2 weeks.
—Dr. Yolanda Strzelec, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Put your health as the number 1 priority in your life. Emphasize proper sleep, exercise and consuming healthy, natural wholesome foods. Always, remember that you are your most important asset.
—Irene Dzerowicz, Holistic Nutritionist

Please visit our Practitioners Page for more information about the practitioners, their services and contact information.

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[Clinic] Homeopathic Walk-in Clinic with Anna Sienicka

Please take advantage of the Homeopathic Walk-in Clinic between 2:00 and 6:00 on the 1st Wednesday of each month. There will be a FREE homeopathic consultation by Anna Sienicka. Remedies are not included and there will be a charge of $9.95 per remedy. First come first serve. 416-532-8660.

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[Clinic] New! Roncesvalles Community Acupuncture Clinic.

@ The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary
409 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto
Welcome to a different way of getting acupuncture!

    Tuesdays 2.30-5.30
    Thursdays 3.30-6.30
    Fridays 11.00-3.00

Only $20-40 per visit: you pay what you can afford.
($10 extra administration charge, on your first visit only)

Acupuncture is given in a group setting. You remain fully clothed and resting during your 30 minute treatment. Come and enjoy one of the worldʼs oldest healing methods. For more info, drop into the Herbal Dispensary or visit our web site.

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