Lisa's Top 3 Picks for Immune Support

Lisa’s 3 Top Picks for Immune Support

I love Fall weather, so cool and fresh. Soon the leaves will be showing us all of their bold colors. Already, my family has had the flu and several customers too. It is time to give a little extra support to the immune system. I have picked out 3 great products to share with you. Stop in and stock up on what you will need to stay healthy this winter. Be prepared!

1 – Wellness N-A-Cetin Immune Protocol from Source Naturals

This product contains nutrients you can take daily to get your immune system primed and ready for action: Vitamin C & D, Zinc & Copper, NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), Quercetin, and Bromelain. Crucial for immune support and respiratory defense with high potency vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Be ready for anything!

2 – Seasonal Defense from Nature’s Sunshine

This product is a game changer! Packed with herbs to fight bacteria and virus, you will want to have this on hand to take the minute some bug is hanging out with your friends or family. It can also be taken daily to boost your immune system to defend itself. This completely herbal formula contains: Andrographis, Thyme, Eleuthero, Bitter Orange, and Oregano.

3 – Echinacea Boost from Starwest Botanicals

This herbal product contains some of my favorite herbs for the immune system: echinacea (both purpurea and angustifolia), ginger, astragalus, cayenne, olive leaf, lemon balm, and goldenseal. These herbs are best taken at the first onset of symptoms or when exposed to something. It can be taken for the duration of symptoms up to two weeks, but is not meant to be taken daily or long-term.

Keep Well This Fall!

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

740-652-5565

Headache Story

Headache Story

A lovely young lady came into the shop today looking for answers. She asked about migraines. She had tried medication, which gave her a rash and less than satisfactory results. I told her that migraines are tricky because there can be so many causes. Hormones, allergies, stress, dehydration, chemical exposure….the list goes on. But in natural medicine, we always want to go to the cause of the problem, and not just slap an herb on the symptom. She knew the cause – STRESS! Ok, so we looked at support for the nervous system and adrenals.

B-Stress is a formula providing B vitamins from FOOD, so they are easily absorbed and used by the body.

Adaptra is a combination of ashwagandha and rhodiola, these herbs help cope with stress, reduce fatigue, and maximize energy.

Magnesium is helpful for so many things: sore muscles, anxious feelings, sleep, and headaches.

Peppermint oil is so cooling and often helps immediately. She had heard it helped with headaches, but had never tried it. I pulled out the tester bottle and she tried a drop rubbed directly onto her forehead, where those stress headaches like to manifest. She sighed, immediately feeling relief. She said, “I can lift my head now.”

I was SO excited for her – we found her solution – the very thing that her body needed! I know she is on her way to better health. So, for the cost of a doctor’s appointment, she found relief that goes to the cause of the problem and will help to prevent more stress headaches.

This is WHY I am here at Healthy Life Solutions.

Let me help you find a solution today!

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

740.689.1111

Let's Talk Poison

Let’s Talk Poison

Let’s talk poison…poison ivy that is. I found 4 poison ivy plants growing in my landscaping this week. I guess it must like this hot, humid weather. This is one plant that I really dislike. I normally break out with the awful itchy rash and become pretty miserable.

I was “oh so careful” in digging it out. I wore long pants, long sleeves, and gloves. I wasn’t about to touch it to my skin, so that the irritating oil could cause a problem. I carefully wrapped it into plastic and into the trash bag without touching it. Then I went inside and washed my hands and arms carefully with soap. I immediately washed all my clothing and showered, taking every precaution not to be exposed to it. Guess what? The next day the itchy, bumpy rash appeared under my knee. What?! How did it get there?

Thankfully I had a homeopathic remedy for poison ivy ready. I took an aggressive dosing strategy for an acute problem. One dose every 5 minutes, repeated three times. Then it would be one dose every 15 minutes, repeated three times. But I only took one of those, so after 4 doses the itching was totally gone. The next day it started itching again, so I took one dose. Gone. Just like that. So easy, no misery. Rash gone too, it never blistered.

I am so grateful for this simple inexpensive remedy. You might want to stop by the store and get one to have at the ready in your cupboard.

Happy Summer!

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

740-689-1111

Hot Humid and Smoky

Dear Friends,

I have had a lot of people coming in with allergies, sinus, swollen glands, coughing, headache, and trouble breathing. The air quality has affected many of us. If you are struggling, stop in and see how natural herbal supplements can help.

The top three that I have been using and recommending are:

Seasonal Allergy - seasonal respiratory support offering airborne substance relief and soothes irritated tissues - contains: boneset, fennel, fenugreek, horseradish, and mullein 

Histablock - supports healthy airways and mucus membranes - contains: nettles, quercetin, bitter orange fruit, and bromelain

SinuCare - Sinus, Bronchial, and Lung Support - contains: eucalyptus oil & myrtle

I have also been using Clear the Air essential oil blend in the diffuser - contains: peppermint, eucalyptus, hyssop, and rosemary oil

10% OFF ALLERGY SUPPORT

Discount Code: ALLERGIES

Offer expires 30 days from date email was sent. One discount per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Harvesting Mullein

Hello Friends,

My garden has loved the rain! My mullein plants are taller than me and blooming beautifully. Now is the time to begin harvesting your medicinal herbs. Here are a few instructions to help you.

Mullein flowers must be gathered daily, one little yellow flower at a time. I gather them every morning. Yes, it is ok to use the flowers that fall to the ground, just not muddy ones. I find them laying on the leaves, so look carefully. Then lay them out on a paper plate to dry. Mullein flowers are like gold, rare, they cannot be purchased for retail. You must gather them for yourself. Mullein does grow wild in Ohio, so you could find them free for the taking. The flowers are the best for earache oil. Simply place the dried flowers in olive oil and let set for 14 days, shaking daily. Strain. Mullein oil is anti-inflammatory and very soothing.

Mullein is a biennial plant. Meaning that it lives two years. The first year it is just a rosette of leaves. The second year it sends up a tall stalk of leaves and then flowers. Beautiful and majestic in your landscaping. I always lay down the stalk and break it up a bit in the fall, so as to scatter the tiny seeds and hopefully have more mullein next year. It will volunteer in the most astonishing places and loves poor soil.

Mullein leaves are used as medicine for the respiratory system. It is the perfect remedy for mucus draining down the back of the throat. It helps to rid the body of mucus and is gentle enough for children. This herb was my favorite for use during the pandemic. A reliable remedy to always have on hand. Mullein leaves are usually available for retail purchase, however, they are scarce at the moment. Probably due to demand in the past few years. It is always good to know how to grow your own or where to find them wild, just in case they are not available.

Mullein leaves may be harvested at any time. Technically, before they flower is the best time. However, if you want the flowers, it is fine to wait until they are done to harvest the leaves. First year plants can be harvested also, but always leave some leaves to provide food for the plant to make it through the winter. I like to lay the leaves out flat to dry and then tear them up into tiny pieces to store in quart canning jars, kept in a cool dark place. You can then make tea with them or make them into a tincture. To make mullein tincture simply fill a jar halfway and cover with vodka. Let it set for 14 days, shaking daily, and strain. Store in a dropper bottle. To use as a tea, use one tsp. herb to 1 cup of hot water. Steep 15 minutes. Strain and drink. The roots can be used too. Make a tincture of them to use with incontinence or bedwetting. Again, mullein roots cannot be purchased retail, you have to gather your own.

I hope this encourages you to go out and find some mullein, harvest it, and make your own herbal medicine. One of summer’s greatest joys is being in the garden, preparing for the next winter. Feel free to call me with questions. Have fun harvesting herbs and making medicine!

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

740-689-1111

New Year’s Resolutions at Healthy Life Solutions

I have never been a big fan of making resolutions. After all, they usually last about a week and then you are done! I do however like to look back on the last year, evaluate, and set goals for the next season. Setting a goal requires having a way to measure it. So not a vague, “I want to lose weight this year.” But rather, list the exact amount you wish to lose in January. Something measurable and with a time limit. A due date if you will. Then you have to create a plan of how you are going to accomplish that goal. So maybe a plan to follow the Keto diet, or simply remove sugar and bread, or a list of new recipes to try. Have a plan or plan to fail, as they say.

My goal for the first week in January is to look at expiration dates. Firstly, in the spice cabinet. Most cooking herbs are recommended to last for 1 year to get optimum taste and health benefits. They won’t necessarily harm anyone after that year, but they won’t taste good either. What sparked this resolution? Well, an evaluation of the past year. At Thanksgiving I made deviled eggs and sprinkled them with paprika. It looked a little brown and smelled kinda like dirt, so I looked at the date. Yikes 2017! Really?! Ok, it is time to check all the spices dates in my cabinet. Throw out the old, make a list, and shop for fresh spices.

Need a second idea for a resolution goal? Check the dates on all your oils. Did you know that oils go rancid or bad in about 6 months? They have an extremely short shelf life. If you buy organic or better quality oils, they will go bad even faster than cheap oils. Why? Because they don’t have the added chemical preservatives. Rancid oil creates free radicals which lead to cancer. We don’t want that! One of the worst things you can do for your body is take in bad or rancid oils. Not only check your cooking oil dates, but your moisturizers, lotions, and cosmetics. Bad oils are absorbed through the skin too.

The nice thing about these resolution goals is that they can be accomplished in one afternoon! Start the New Year with a sense of accomplishment, knowing you have done something good for your health.

Happy New Year!

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Super Tonic Recipe

The children are back to school and already we are seeing more people coming in for cold and flu products.

Super Tonic is one of my family's favorite remedies. I make it every fall and keep it in the refrigerator for the winter cold and flu season. We like to keep the pulp in the tincture and just take a spoonful whenever you feel a bit off. Chase the heat with a slice of apple. This also makes a great seasoning for chicken. I love to add it to my homemade hummus, yum!

Super Tonic Recipe

1/2 cup each chopped:  onion, garlic, habenero or cayenne peppers, ginger root, and 1 jar of prepared horseradish root  (or 1/2 cup fresh)

Place in blender and cover with Apple Cider Vinegar, puree. Keep refrigerated for up to six months. (You may strain after two weeks if desired, discarding the pulp.) Take 1 tsp. three or four times a day, as needed.

It's Vacation Time!

The store will be CLOSED June 11-16 for vacation, be sure to get what you need before I leave.

Are you busy planning your vacation? Many of us missed one last year, so we are excited to get going this year. What do you need to take with you to stay healthy and be prepared for travel emergencies? Are you ready for sunburn, constipation, sore muscles from travel, allergies, interrupted sleep cycles, headaches, bug bites, or wounds? Here are some of the things that I won’t leave home without.

Aloe vera gel – This is great help for sunburn, so cool and soothing! You can put it into the refrigerator at the hotel, for an even more cooling effect. It is also good to use on bug bites, poison ivy, or heat rashes too. I like to add a few drops of lavender oil to it for even better relief.

Silver gel – This is my choice for preventing infection. I have used this on wounds, cuts, scrapes, rashes, bites, ingrown toenails, or blisters. On vacation you do a lot of walking, so sometimes what might have been a minor irritation becomes a major problem. Be prepared! Throw in a few bandaids too.

Curamed Acute Pain Relief – This is a new product which I use often and have come to love! I have taken it for hip pain, knee pain, back pain, toe pain, sore muscles, or a headache. No one has fun if they are hurting, so be prepared for aches, pains, and inflammation. I use this instead of common NSAIDS that have negative side effects.

Deep Blue Rub – This is a wonderful lotion containing a blend of essential oils. I use it on my hip, back, or neck and it is great for sore muscles. Whether you have done too much hiking or stairs, ridden too long in the car, or slept on a lumpy mattress, this rub can bring relief!

LBS-II or Lower Bowel Stimulator – This is a laxative formula, which works by stimulating the bowel muscles to move. When we travel, we try new foods, eat lots of junk food, and overall just eat too much. It is all part of the fun, until you feel miserable! So take two capsules of LBS before bed to keep yourself regular while you travel. This comes in liquid for children also, keep everybody happy.

Crystallized Ginger – This is perfect for anyone prone to carsickness. I always carried some in my purse, when my children were little and we took a car trip. Ginger helps with nausea, gas, or cramps.

SinuCare – This is an amazing product to help clear those sinuses! Eucalyptus oil in a softgel to take internally. I always am stuffy after a night in a hotel. Whether it is the air conditioning, enclosed space, or strange bedding, I don’t know. But I will wake up uncomfortable. SinuCare works for me within about 20 minutes.

AnxioCalm – This product is amazing for anxiety! Whether you are fretting about missing the plane, traffic in a strange city, or just the crazy noise level of the kids in the car, you could use a little help. I take two tablets and let them dissolve under my tongue, relief in 10 minutes. It is that simple. AnxioCalm will also help you to relax and sleep, which is always harder in a strange place or new bed.

These are the things that I won’t leave home without! As you pack for your vacation, make sure you plan for healthy relief and support. Have a great trip!

Are You Sleeping?

 I had a restless night. Seemed to wake up every hour, with too much on my mind. It has been 3 months since my husband passed away and I think the grief and reality is sinking into my brain. I can’t do anything about the circumstances that are keeping me awake, but I can take some herbs to help me process it all and relax more. Here are a few that I am considering and they might help you too.

Valerian – Seen in the photo above, helps to relieve emotional stress, nervous tension, and restlessness. It is an effective sedative (yet not addictive), mild anodyne (pain reliever), nerve restorative, and is antispasmodic. In large doses it may create excitability. Should not be used in conjunction with prescription sleep-aids or anxiolytics. 

Passionflower – for general restlessness, useful for insomnia and disturbed sleep patterns, sedative, tranquilizing, analgesic (pain killing), and antispasmodic. As a nervine herb, the longer you take it, the better your nerves are able to handle things. It is excellent for shutting down those anxious thoughts that go around and around in your head and just won’t stop. NOT recommended during pregnancy.

Ashwagandha – Known as an adaptogenic herb, it has the special ability to be both energizing and calming at the same time. It reduces cortisol levels and inflammation, balances stress hormones, calms nerves, sharpens your focus and concentration, increases both libido and stamina, and it is a powerful antioxidant.

Full-spectrum hemp oil – helps to balance the body and mind. Endocannibinoid receptors are found throughout the body, but especially in the brain and gut, areas where hemp may be particularly helpful. It is calming and helps to relieve stress and pain.

Serenity Essential Oil Blend by doTerra – includes Lavender, Cedarwood, Ho Wood, Ylang Ylang, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Vetiver, Vanilla, and Sandalwood. This blend is available as an oil for the diffuser or as softgels to take internally. It has a powerful calming effect on the mind and heart. Helpful to relinquish feelings of stress, anxiousness, and being overwhelmed. It can help quiet an overactive mind, releasing feelings of worry, and give you the ability to unwind. Serenity brings a sense of tranquility that allows space for personal reflection, peace, and healing.

Tonight, I plan to choose two or three of these and put them to good use. I am ready for a good night’s sleep. How about you?

DIY Elderberry Syrup

DIY Elderberry Syrup

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Elderberries are back! Available and in stock, now is the time to make your elderberry syrup to have on hand for the winter cold & flu season.

Why elderberry? Because it is an immunomodulator! It helps the body adjust its immune level, without sending it into overdrive. Considered to be anti-viral, elderberry can sometimes disarm a virus and flush it out of the body before it has a chance to duplicate itself and set up housekeeping. The herb contains compounds that are active against flu viruses and has historically been used to treat epidemics. Elderberry is useful for nerve problems, back pain, and inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. Drink as a tea to soothe a sore throat and ease respiratory distress. Elderberries are safe for all ages and children love the taste!

Cautions: Raw berries have laxative and diuretic actions and please note that ALL green parts of the tree are poisonous! Hence the reason for making them into a cooked syrup. Please also note that diabetics need to carefully monitor their blood sugar levels while using elderberries, to prevent low blood sugar. Elderberries work in the same way as blueberries and green beans, by sensitizing the body’s insulin receptors so that more of the insulin produced by the body can be used.

Lisa’s Elderberry Syrup

½ cup dried elderberries (or 1 cup fresh – freeze berries first to make it easier to pick out ALL of the green stems)

1 cinnamon stick                                                    5 cloves

1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated                                2 cups water

Simmer about 20 minutes in a stainless steel pan, reduce liquid by half.

Strain, squashing berries.

Add 1 cup honey to liquid. Store in refrigerator.

Suggested dose is 1 tsp. every two hours, up to 3 Tbsp. a day for active symptoms. 1 tsp. daily for prevention. Children ½ dose…not for use with infants, because of honey.

Lisa's Favorite Herb for 2020 - Mullein

Now is the time to harvest this fabulous herb! Mullein grows wild in Ohio and in many other states. I have seen it in Colorado and Utah. The first year it grows as a simple rosette of leaves, soft and fuzzy. The second year it sends up a stalk, anywhere from 2-8 feet tall. As a biennial it lives only two years, then it reseeds and the cycle begins anew. You will find it along roadsides, or building sites, where the earth has been disturbed. It loves poor soil, so will thrive just about anywhere. Try to harvest it in a location free of car exhaust fumes, fertilizers, or pesticides.

Each day I go out to my garden and harvest 4-5 yellow flower petals from each mullein stalk. It is a long process to fill a small bowl. These mullein flowers are like gold, very precious. They cannot be bought…only harvested by hand. The flowers are used to make the best earache oil.

Mullein & Garlic Ear Oil

In the top of a double boiler, place 1 Tbsp. each mullein flowers and chopped garlic. Cover them generously with olive oil, a little over 1 ounce. Fill the bottom half of the pot with water. Place oil half over the water half and simmer lightly for 15-20 minutes. Strain off oil and place into a bottle with a dropper. Use to soothe earaches. Place 3 drops in the ear, follow with a bit of cotton, 1-2 times daily as needed. This oil generally lasts for 6 months, so make a new batch each summer.

After the flowering is done, you can harvest the leaves. I lay the leaves flat to dry on a table. Or you can hang the whole stalk upside down to dry. Once the leaves are dry, I tear them into ½ inch pieces and store in a canning jar. Check the lid after about 3 days, if you find moisture, lay the leaf out to dry a bit longer. Then store it in a cool, dark place. Don’t forget to label your jar with herb name and date.

Dr.Christopher’s Lung & Bronchial Tincture

¾ cup mullein & ¼ cup lobelia

Place dried herbs in pint canning jar. Cover with vodka. Use a piece of plastic over the jar before using the metal lid. Let sit for 14 days, shaking daily. Then strain out herbs and discard. Place tincture in dropper bottles. Use one dropper as needed or 3-4 times a day, to help dispel mucus from the lungs and throat.

I allow the stalk to dry laying in the garden. Then in the fall, I will break up the flowering part to allow the seeds to fall and hopefully, give me mullein for the next year. I am always delighted to find those little fuzzy leaves in my garden. The little first year plants will tolerate being transplanted in the early spring, so you can place them where you want them.

I hope you enjoy making your own herbal medicine with this wonderful herb.

Mullein is my herb favorite for 2020! Have fun!

Make Your Own Healing Wound Paste

Healing Wound Paste

Mix together - 1 Tbsp. of each herb in powder form: comfrey root, slippery elm, myrrh, ½ Tbsp. bayberry root, and ¼ Tbsp. garlic

Store powder in a tightly covered jar. This is a perfect addition to your first aid kit.

When you have a wound, let it bleed a bit, that will help to clean it out. Don’t panic. Remember that facial wounds may bleed profusely. I usually will wash off the wound with running water and use colloidal silver on it to disinfect the wound. Then pour on a bit of the healing wound powder right into the wound and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Sometimes I will add silver to the powder and apply the paste into the wound. Add more powder as needed and then bandage to keep clean.

The next day add more powder if you need to and put on a clean bandage, but do NOT clean out the wound again. Keep an eye on it, looking for infection. The wound will heal from the inside out. The powder will help to stop the bleeding, and act a bit like stitches to hold the wound together, allowing it to heal from the inside out. Never put the powder on an old or infected wound, as it may actually seal the infection inside the tissue causing a deeper problem. I have used this wound paste many times with my family and seen wonderful healing, many times leaving no scars.

Now is a good time to gather the things you might need for those summer activities with your family. Be prepared with your natural first aid kit!

Have a happy and safe summer!