We have now been under the “stay at home” order for over 3 weeks. Are you running out of projects to do? Closets and cupboards are clean and organized, maybe even the basement and garage too! I went thru photos and organized albums for the first time in a few years…yeah, there were a LOT of photos. My husband helped me to mulch our garden beds. I was delighted to find a local greenhouse offering FREE delivery. I was happy to support their small business and get my mulch done too. We are all in this together!

This next week is supposed to be cold and rainy, so outside work is not in the plan. May I suggest that you READ A GOOD BOOK! We have several great books on the shelf, so call me and pick it up curbside. Here are a few suggestions:

Be Your Own Doctor Series, by Rachel Weaver, MH. This series includes 4 books. Read them now and take our classes later to practice making herbal remedies that you know how to use!

Book 1 - Be Your Own Doctor is divided into two sections, Household Remedies and Working with your Family’s Health. Learn how to use simple things like vinegar and garlic to improve your health and fight sickness. Rachel includes lots of recipes to make your own herbal medicine. Her directions are clear and simple, easy to follow. I love all her stories! Rachel is a midwife in a farm community, so she is often called upon for help. You will love reading the stories and learning how to safely use herbs with your family. You will learn first aid recipes for wounds and burns, and how to apply them for healing in an emergency. There are chapters on immune, respiratory health, pregnancy, and antibiotics. This book is one of my favorites!

Book 2 – Backyard Pharmacy has information and recipes for 22 herbs. Rachel lives in Pennsylvania, so we have the same herbs growing here in Ohio. She helps you know how to identify the herb, harvest and preserve it, how to make herbal remedies, and how to use the herbs safely. This book is the favorite for gardeners or those who like to wildcraft herbs from their property and make their own medicine.

Book 3 – Be Your Child’s Pediatrician is everything you need to know as a mom! Beginning with Birth, caring for a new baby, croup, cradle cap, thrush, sore nipples, diarrhea, diaper rash are just a few of the things covered in this book. Then Rachel grows with your child, discussing ADD, bed wetting, colds & flu, ear infections, eczema, yeast infections, and vaccines. She discusses the typical childhood diseases: chickenpox, measles, fifth disease, and whooping cough. I love the photos of rashes to help with identification and remedies to offer comfort. This book is the perfect gift for a new mom.

Book 4 – Be Your Own Doctor II covers everything needed as healthy adults. Topics include allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, anemia, arthritis, auto immune disease, blood pressure, blood sugar problems, bone health, brain injury, broken bones, cancer, cataracts, cholesterol, depression, flu, heart problems, kidney disease, Lyme, prostrate problems, thyroid help, vertigo, and more. You need the knowledge to prevent disease and these books are a great resource to make and use helpful herbal remedies.

Making Herbal Medicine is not your thing? Try ESSENTIAL OILS!

The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils, by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele. This is my favorite guide to essential oils. It includes 109 essential oils and more than 450 remedies and uses. It is easy to use, organized alphabetically with uses, cautions, and recipes. One drop of chamomile essential oil is equal to 30 cups of chamomile tea, so the medicinal qualities of essential oils are fantastic! Having a reliable resource can help you to gain confidence in using essential oils in your daily life.

Emotions and Essential Oils is a fantastic guide for emotional healing. Use this book two ways. First, look up each individual essential oil to see what emotions are associated with it. Second, look up the emotion you are feeling to see which essential oils may assist you. Need to make a decision? Maybe lemon or clove may help. Feeling despondent? Try lemongrass, Melissa, eucalyptus, or vetiver. Essential oils are a powerful tool for emotional healing, do you know how to use them?

Don’t forget that we are offering an online essential oil class to help get you started. Check out our website for more information. www.healthylife-solutions.com

Other ideas? I have books on keto or paleo diet. Now, might be the time to finally start that healthy diet.

Now is the perfect time to learn something new that will improve your health. As a society, we have had a “wake-up call”. The question is what will we do about it? Start simply by reading a book.

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

740.689.1111