This amazing trio, wild yam soap, wild yam lotion, and wild yam cream provides three essential targets for your daily routine. 

1) A facial system

2) A shaving cream. 

3) Cleanse, hydrate, and moisturize. 

Good Energy

Spring is an invigorating time, pace yourself do not go out to fast.

La Nina, a wet and cold system was predicted for this Winter Season, (2022-2023) and proved itself accurate. Wet with lots of rain and ice, not much snow. February 2023 was a different scene the first week, Old Man Winter made his appearance with strong winds, ice, and snow. He came in like a lion, negative 0-degree temperatures all week and the 2^nd week he went out like a lamb. Temperatures throughout the second week were above freezing. Wednesday, elevated temperatures 48 degrees with blue skies and sunshine! The rest of the week remained in the 40’s. 

^{With the thaw my outdoor clothing was a lot lighter, no snow pants or leggings under my jeans, just a sweatshirt and jacket while I watered the green house and cleaned up the stall in the barn after I put Harmony out to pasture. My neighbor and I went for a 4-mile walk and I shed my glows, top outer layer of clothing, and hat. Spring fever is starting to spark and kick up the heat. I am trying to restrain myself from going out to fast, I do not want to injure myself. I did more outdoors than normal this year. I could feel my feet getting tight and stiff, legs and back tender, and energy dropping.}  

^{I rubbed Balm of Gilead into the tender areas around my ankles, bottom of feet, hips and lower back. It increases blood circulation, which drives heat and oxygen into the muscles. The blood flow is drawn into the muscles. This action widens the blood vessels which increases the transport of excess lactic acid and other toxins away from the muscle. Restoring the natural heat within the body helps release and clear lactic acid buildup.}

^{Balm of Gilead and lightweight exercise work quickly to relieve lactic acid.} 

^{Another natural alternative is lightweight yoga followed by a resting pose, laying on your back with legs up against the wall and your heart lower than your hips restores your energy. This draws heat and oxygen into the muscles to flush lactic acid out. A half hour lightweight yoga routine then the resting pose, legs up the wall was all I needed to relieve the fatigue, tight muscles, and restore good energy. I slept deep and woke up with no pain from the busy day before. Wow, it put an end to the inflammation and stiffness.}  

^{If yoga is not your thing you can try walking, or riding a bike then use the balm and a resting pose to increase circulation to restore energy and move out lactic acid from your muscles.}

^{Are you wondering what is in the Balm of Gilead that relieves muscle, joint, and foot pain?} 

^{Black Poplar Bud is the main herb a favorite topical analgesic, it deeply soothes joints, muscles, and the feet.} 

^{Arnica: Has been used for centuries, athletes after competing and long workouts find good results for quick recovery for muscles, joints, stiffness, fatigue. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe arthritis and is effective on the joints.} 

^{St. John’s Wort: Known, as a prophylactic because it protects the nerves and soothes throbbing discomfort.} 

^{Eucalyptus: It aids and assists the herbal actions in the balm with a fast working powerhouse that relieves tension and inflammation quicker by promoting good circulation.} 

^{Peppermint: Supports the circulatory system which promotes an anti-inflammatory effect.} 

^{Marjoram: Marjoram is relaxing and calming to muscles, tension, and fatigue.} 

^{Balm of Gilead's anti-inflammatory property works deeply to soothe the muscles, ligaments and tendons that contract and it calm throbbing nerves. The anti- inflammatory relief is beneficial if used before or after physical exertion. Because Balm of Gilead is an analgesic and supports good circulation it supplies heat and oxygen which the body needs to recover from an injury or any strenuous physical activity.}

^{Be careful, spring fever is bound to turn up the heat and jump start your energy flow. You do not want to go out to fast. Enjoy any physical activity you set your mind on that is within your reach.}

Balm of Gilead may prevent an injury if you due to tight contracting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and sore joints that cause inflammatory swelling due to lactic acid.

Skin known as epithelial tissue does not need blood to sustain health. It needs nutrients applied topically, food for the skin. 

One of the main characteristics of our skin is that it contains no blood vessels but, an extraordinary number of nerves. If we feed the skin tissue cold-pressed plant oils the enzymes and volatile oils will be assimilated into the skin cells and repair and regenerate very quickly. If the cells do not need all the nutrients, they are carried by the nerves in the skin to the central nervous system.  

Epithelial Tissue needs food to maintain healthy skin. The skin cells will absorb 60 percent of the nutrients we apply to our skin to revitalize, hydrate, or restore themselves. The nutrients they do not need at that moment in time are collected by the little fingers at the tips of the nerves and when full-on impulse the nutrients are carried and travel through the nerves to the central nervous system.  

If you damage the skin, you might not bleed, but you will feel the pain. The skin is a sensory organ and receives information through touch, solar cells, sunlight, moisture, heat, cold, and the enzymes in plants and plant extracts. Cold-pressed plant oils, volatile oils, herbal infused oils, and herbal tinctures provide a wide variety of nutrients and enzymes for the skin.  

Damaged skin tissue or surgery forms scar tissue. Scar tissue can become painful because it pulls on the nerves and is annoyingly uncomfortable. Free radicals are drawn to fresh scars and create havoc because the blood circulation becomes impaired. The skin begins to age, and chronic skin conditions arise.  

Food for the skin:  

Anna’s Secret Skin Renewal  

The herbal properties of these cold-pressed seed oils include anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, active phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals to support and accelerate wound healing and the regeneration of new skin tissue.  

Evening Primrose Oil: Bioflavonoids and essential fatty acids accelerate the regeneration of new epithelial tissue while it breaks down scar tissue. The astringent action draws the new skin tighter for quicker healing. The gamma-linolenic and linoleic acid are the active constituents to break down scar tissue and soothe skin irritation. The fatty acids have been found to repair, protect, and renew skin cells. They are the energy source for the revitalization of new skin. Evening Primrose provides a natural barrier of protection for the epithelial tissue from free radicals and environmental toxins.  

The nutrients in Evening Primrose are the amino acids, calcium, essential fatty acids, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin E., and zinc.  

Pumpkin Seed Oil:  A high content of polyunsaturated fatty acid (Linoleic acid), tocopherols (Vit. E’s) and phytosterols. The high content of tocopherols makes pumpkin seed oil an excellent lipophilic antioxidant that breaks down scar tissue. The bioactive nutrients are an efficient source for wound healing. It is good oil, sourced for its high antioxidant content which breaks down free radicals and the scar tissue they form. The tocopherols and linoleic acid support the formation of new epithelial tissue and collagen.  

Jojoba Ester: Is soothing on the skin. It is closest to our own sebaceous oil and protects the skin from free radicals. An ester is a combination of wax, oil, and water making it a great barrier for our skin because it absorbs into our pores. It cleans the pores by dissolving sebum because of the high content of iodine in Jojoba, which protects our skin from bacteria and other elemental toxins.  

In 1994, I designed Anna’s Secret Skin Renewal for my skin. I had a hysterectomy and 1 year later my hair started to thin, my skin became dry and scaly, and itched all day long. I used it on my scalp, hair stopped thinning and it made my hair soft and shiny. My skin was moisturized, soft, and smooth again.  

I designed Anna’s Secret Skin Renewal for dry, normal to oil complexions prone to acnes to support a clear complexion and maintain a healthy constitution. Cold pressed seed oils and essential oils nurture the whole body with the vitality to restore specific skin conditions for a healthy skin mantle. 

My experience using cold pressed seed oils and essential oils on my skin after. Surgery, a force to reckon with caused scar tissue, a real uncomfortable skin condition with knurly and as thick chords of stagnant cells. Slowly, but surely the scar tissue shrank by applying Anna’s Secret Skin Renewal everyday as a moisturizer on the scar and my whole body. The discomfort and pain subsided. Today it is completely gone! I am not sure how long it took because I was not focused on it. I had no idea it would work to shrink the chord to the point I cannot feel it at all. It was not a quick recovery but worth the wait.  

I owe a lifetime of gratitude to serums, cold pressed seed oils and essential oils for skincare. Evening Primrose, Black Currant Oil, Black Cumin Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, etc.  

If you enjoy drinking herbal infusions, here is a list of herbs I drink to support new skin cells and accelerate a healthy skin mantle, Calendula, Rosemary, Chickweed, Alfalfa, Rose Hips, and Dandelion. 

Do you have a favorite herbal regimen you go to when you are fighting a cold, flu, or Covid-19? I do. There are a lot of whole herbs to choose from in the herbal pharmacopeia that work for a cold or flu. My choice of herbs to fight the infection and to regain my strength and energy reserve after the attack; are the same herbs I have used for over 40 years. There is less stress on my nervous system taking these herbs so I can rest, which is a necessity to heal quickly. I choose these herbs because they strengthen my immune system, exhaust, diminish the virus and restore my vital energy reserve by relieving inflammation and shortening the life span of the infection.  

For a scratchy sore throat, my choice is the anti-viral herbs because they wipe out the influx of the virus. Elderflower tea with Echinacea flowers is a combination I use, Elder Flower Tincture and Echinacea Tincture I do separately and alternate with the tea if the sore throat is persistent. Drink an ounce of the decoction at a time. I take about 5 drops of the tinctures at a time about every two hours. If it spreads to my lymph nodes and my body spikes a fever, elderflower breaks a fever and stimulates the filtration system of the glands, so they drain which brings the swelling, fever, and pain level. Where there is pain with any infection our body releases stress hormones which cause more inflammation and congestion. Reishi a tonic herb supports a healthy balance for the endocrine system preventing the release of stress hormones on our internal and external nervous systems.  

When it hits my head the inflammation and vascular headaches start. Bee Balm tea is my choice, which I drink at room temperature. I continue taking the Elder, Echinacea, and Reishi tinctures throughout the duration of the cold, flu, and or Covid-19.  

Covid-19 releases a nasty sepsis toxin that attacks the weakest systems and organs. Pau D Arco has a detoxifying effect and restores health. It also reduces the symptoms and may eliminate chronic conditions. Also, chronic congestion in the lung's elecampane root in a decoction or the tincture breaks up sticky mucous and inflammation in the lungs. If your stomach is nauseous from a nasty virus or cold, elecampane will relieve nausea and aids digestion. It contains inulin which settles upset stomachs.  

Fresh oranges are an excellent choice to eat or drink while fighting a cold, flu, or Covid-19. They neutralize acidity. Viruses grow in an acidic environment.  

Five Trees Aroma Mist, a recent blend, I spray in my hands and rub over sore or swollen lymph nodes. Since a lot of lymph nodes are in our armpits, I wear the 5 Trees Aroma Mist as a deodorant. Some of the world's most valued essential oils used to comfort and protect us are found in the 5 Trees essential oil blend, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Clove, Tea Tree, and Frankincense.  

Before we can be of any benefit to help others, we must care for ourselves. Raising three children has proven to me the value of an herbal regimen. Along with a good herbal regimen are good nutrition, exercise, and a good night's sleep. Keeping up with 4 young grandchildren requires the same herbal regimen in the mature years of life: not just for my own health but for theirs.