Herbs for Mother's Day

Because Mother’s Day always falls during the beautiful, fertile time of spring when we can cultivate our gardens, herbs make a perfect gift. Even if your mother is not a gardener, there are sure to be herbal products just right for her. Consider first what herbs your mother’s garden already has and try to find something new to add. Understand what the plant needs to mature and make sure whatever you give her, she has room for. A perennial herb like sage, thyme, lavender or even rose will be used and admired for years to come. Mom will think of you every time she is near it. Herbs do not usually require a lot of maintenance. If your mother does not have a patch of earth she tends, give her potted herbs for the deck or windowsill. You or your nursery can create a planter in an attractive pot. 

If fresh, potted herbs are not quite your mom’s things buy new herbs and spices to replace the old, expired containers in her cupboard. Include some she might not buy for herself like a vanilla bean, saffron, Hungarian paprika, colorful peppercorns or a selection of curries. Many such collections are available, beautifully packaged from a gourmet kitchen store. 

Teas always make a nice gift that mom can use year-round. Gourmet tea shops have unique blends to choose from and a staff to educate you on the possibilities so you can be sure to pick what she likes. Going the less expensive route, regular grocery and health food stores now carry a wide selection of various teas in boxes or tins of 20 bags ready for easy use. Try fruit flavored blends, Rooibos tea (an antioxidant) or the now popular white tea. 

There are endless selections for the home and bath. Try fragranced potpourri, dried herb arrangements, wreaths for doors and walls, essential oils and diffusers or stainless steel strainers for teas, graters for nutmeg (with a jar of whole nutmegs) and citrus and garlic peelers and presses. These are the little things that one never seems to have when needed. For the bath, handmade soaps that contain herbs and the fragrance of only pure essential oils feel luxurious. Soaps from European countries can be interesting — olive oil bars from Italy, lavender from France. Naturally scented soy candles do not release toxic smoke or an unpleasant paraffin smell. Herbal body and salt scrubs, loofa sponges and moisturizing herb-scented oils are good choices. Inexpensive, small muslin drawstring bags can be purchased from the health food store, to fill with loose herbs like lavender, lemongrass and mint and toss into the bath to fragrance the steam. 

For health, make a gift basket which includes the most useful preparations like echinacea and St. Johnswort tinctures, arnica salve for sore muscles, calendula oil to nourish the skin, an herb book and a gift certificate for an herb class or a consultation with an herbal practitioner. 

Books on every conceivable herbal topic are available and some very pretty ones are tied with a satin ribbon or fragranced. My book, 'Herbs For All: Herbal Knowledge for Home, Kitchen, Garden and Healthcare' makes a great gift. 

Moms sometimes need help (and always like company), so offer to plant the garden herbs you give her or clean out the spice cabinet with her. You may be surprised at the memories and chuckles that come when you find antique containers and long-expired bottles. When you are done, cook a meal together, or better yet, cook one for her with the new spices you brought using a recipe from the new herb cookbook you gave her. Afterwards enjoy a cup of tea together. Let herbs help create a memorable Mother’s Day you both can enjoy.

RECENT REPORTS CLAIM BABY BOOMERS WILL REQUIRE MORE MEDICAL ATTENTION

Recently, there have been lots of articles on new trends for Baby Boomers. Consistently, they report that Boomers will want and need more medical attention and more prescription medication, noting there is a pill for everything, including brittle eyelashes. Notice the emphasis is on medicine? This conveys the message of our medical model. That is, if you need medical attention, you are sick or there is something wrong with you that needs to be fixed, and you have to rely on a medical professional for assistance.

Although these assessments are probably accurate, these articles lack the focus I would like to see on Integrative and Preventative applications for health and wellness. The articles do report that Boomers understand the importance of exercise to remain physically and mentally healthy and to manage their weight. Also, that they have developed more awareness about food quality and share concerns for environmental practices and pesticides and additives in their foods. Another trend is that was mentioned is that Boomers rely on their coffee and “energy pills” to keep them energized

I sense we are on the verge of a real shift to greater interest and desire for products and information that will inform Boomers how to build and maintain health and vitality to hopefully avoid having more reliance and need on the medical system as they age. My Thrive Tonic, liquid herbal extract is the perfect fit that will meet Boomers’ desire to build health, wellness and vitality and improve energy without the caffeine jolt. It tastes great, does not require refrigeration and the dose is just one tablespoon once a day so it is convenient to use. I developed ThriveTonic and made it for my clients in my kitchen for three years. Thrive Tonic takes a broad spectrum approach with herbs for digestion, stress, gentle detoxification, energy, and it has high mineral content for nutrition. Thrive Tonic is affordable healthcare!

I am a Baby Boomer and I enjoy my morning coffee with my daily dose of Thrive Tonic (Cacao variety) in it. I definitely do not want more prescription medication and medical attention as I grow older unless I absolutely need it. Use Thrive Tonic now to maintain your health and vitality every day.