Herbal & Natural Stemulus Package :)

[Guest guest]

I posted this to my BLOG today and thought everyone here would enjoy it too as it is in line with what I usually read on this wonderful list!

 

Ok, I admit I didn't make the title up. Our local florist has that on their sign and I thought it was so clever! But it also fits what I wanted to talk about today. During rough economic times (be it now or another time) I often find people struggling to keep up with their natural healing program.

 

This can be for many reasons. Sometimes it is because their health insurance does not pay for the vitamins and herbs they are using, sometimes it is because the organic milk costs double what the "hormone laden" milk costs and it is hard to keep doubling one's grocery bill when the budget is so tight.

 

However, there are many things we can do to reduce our budget and still keep eating and healing in a natural way.

 

1. Use herbs and sprouts instead of expensive vitamins. Green herbal teas like Nettles, Alfalfa and Peppermint are laden with minerals and vitamins. Drinking a cup of greens every day is better than a multivitamin. Additionally, sprouts are packed with vitamins and minerals and are also very inexpensive to grow. If you can have tea and sprouts daily you do not need to purchase multi-vitamins. If you or a family member are taking vitamins for a certain condition you can plan your teas according to which nutrients they need the most. You can find a lot of this information online by searching under the name of the nutrient you need and the words, "herbal sources". If you would like a personalized nutrient tea created for you and your family please Kristie at: herbnhome - the cost is only $15.00 per person.

 

2. Get "back to basics" in cooking. I find that when I'm not worried about money I may pick up those granola bars, boxes of cereal, canned organic soups and my favorite - ready-made Indian foods. However, making things from scratch is still the least expensive way to eat. And it does not need to be hard. Some of our favorites are also very budget-friendly. We love to make brown rice and then add our own toppings. I set cheese, greens, stir-fry veggies, and various toppings on the table and we make our own "rice sundaes". Yesterday I put some potatoes and a few other ingredients in the crock pot and we had a savory stew in the evening.

 

3. Prioritize your organic purchases. In an ideal world everything I purchase would be organic. However, my local organic resources are expensive and belonging to a buying co-op has not worked out for me yet. Instead, during the weeks when budgeting is tight, I may put some "regular" (although definitely unbleached!) flour in the cart, or buy some "regular" apples. However, I always purchase organic milk, eggs and meats. We use meat as more of a flavoring, so I don't need to purchase a lot of meat anyway. However, these three items are the ones that contain some of the worst pollutants when it comes to "regular" food standards.

 

4. Being vegan or vegetarian is also a good option! We don't eat much meat anyway, and my youngest daughter has always been vegetarian (nobody told her to, she just only likes to eat grains, beans, veggies and fruits). On weeks when the budget is tight we can always forgo the milk, eggs and meat too. Even if you are not interested in a vegetarian lifestyle, "going veggie" every once in awhile is a wonderful detox for yourself and your family. It also allows your family to discover new foods and new ways of cooking and eating.

 

5. Learn what herbs can substitute for your expensive herbs. Are you using herbs that are costing you a lot of money? Echinacea, Goldenseal and many Bowel Cleansing Formulas are very expensive. So are many other herbs and herbal formulas. Go online or to your local store and look at the least expensive herbs, then go online and search for what those herbs do. I can ALWAYS find an herb that is less expensive when I am doing healing work. For example, the best bowel cleanser & detoxer around is still psyllium husks. These have been used for thousands of years in India and the east and they are still superior and safe enough to use daily. You can purchase a large container or these for only $7.50 at the local health food store or online.

 

6. Make your own tinctures. There is nothing magical about a tincture. You can make your own "gypsy tinctures" from ANY herb (see the free video at www.TheNaturalLivingChannel.com) and store it in your refrigerator for 3-6 months. Use honey or glycerin to make the syrup/tincture tasty. The added bonus? Glycerin actually extracts herbal properties BETTER than alcohol does. The only time I purchase those expensive little tincture bottles at the store is when I am travelling or I need to keep something in my purse.

 

If you have any other ideas that you use please share them in the comments or by posting to this list.

 

Blessings & Health,

Kristie

www.HerbnHome.com