How a Simple Herbal Steam Helped My Husband’s Eyes A few days ago, my husband was struggling with severe allergy symptoms. His eyes were red, puffy, watering, and even a bit gooey. He was also sneezing frequently. Wanting to help him find relief without reaching for over-the-counter medications, I turned to a time-honored herbal remedy: a steam inhalation using calendula, chamomile, and yarrow. I placed these herbs into hot water, and he leaned over the bowl with a towel draped over his head to trap the steam. After just one session, he felt noticeable relief. By the second day, the gooey discharge and watering had stopped. On the third day, his eyes were almost back to normal. Here’s why this simple herbal steam worked so well—and why these herbs are such powerful allies for allergy season. The Herbs: Constituents and Benefits Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Calendula is renowned for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Its main constituents include triterpenes (calendulosides), flavonoids (like narcissin and rutin), volatile oils, and chlorogenic acid. These compounds help reduce inflammation, fight infection, and promote tissue healing. Calendula is especially helpful for irritated, inflamed, or infected skin and mucous membranes, making it ideal for soothing red, puffy eyes and supporting the healing of delicate eye tissues. It’s also been shown to help with allergies, atopic dermatitis, and other reactive skin conditions by downregulating inflammation and protecting cells from oxidative stress. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) Chamomile is a classic herb for calming both the body and mind, but it’s also a powerhouse for inflammation and irritation. Its key constituents include sesquiterpenes (like chamazulene and bisabolol), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin), and essential oils. Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial. It soothes mucous membranes, calms allergic reactions, and helps reduce redness and swelling. Chamomile is particularly effective for eye irritation, allergies, and even as a compress for inflamed skin or eyes. It’s gentle enough for sensitive tissues and has a long history of use for allergy symptoms, including watery, irritated eyes and sneezing.

During this mornings live mediation with @April Johnson, this is the mountain I visualized. This is from a trip I took with my sister to Colorado, Pikes Peak in 2008. This is was my first experience with mountains including going to the top. During the mediation I realized I actually sat up taller as I visualize me being a mountain. It was the perfect start to my day!

I have been doing some very minor research on making my own tea blends to have before bed. Besides the dried herbs I got for making the bitter tincture, I picked up a couple more today and am really enjoying what I made tonight. You could say I was pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the inspiration to try something new! 1 part chamomile 1 part lemon balm 1/2 part orange peel 1/2 part oatstraw

Happy Wednesday, herbal enthusiasts! In our fast-paced world, finding emotional balance can sometimes feel like a challenge. Today, let's explore some gentle herbal allies that can support us in maintaining equilibrium and nurturing our emotional well-being. Herbal Allies for Emotional Balance: Chamomile: This sweet, apple-scented flower is a true friend to the nervous system. Chamomile is known for its calming properties, helping to ease anxiety and promote relaxation. It's especially helpful when anxiety is causing digestive issues like stomach butterflies or cramps. Try sipping on a cup of chamomile tea before bed to help calm your mind and promote restful sleep. Lemon Balm: This lemony-fresh herb is a mood-lifter and gentle nervine. Lemon balm is known to uplift the mood and spirits, helping people feel better. It's particularly beneficial for those dealing with seasonal affective disorder. Lemon balm can be enjoyed as a tea or tincture, offering a bright and uplifting experience while also providing gentle calming effects. Lavender: The soothing scent of lavender alone can be incredibly calming. Lavender is great for easing anxiety and promoting relaxation. It can help address challenging thoughts and emotions during a crisis, ease feelings of heaviness, boost motivation, and soothe sadness. Try using lavender essential oil in a diffuser, adding a few drops to your bath, or enjoying it as a tea. Holy Basil (Tulsi): This adaptogenic herb helps the body adapt to stress more effectively, whether it's spiritual, physical, or emotional stress. Holy basil supports mood balance and reduces anxiety without causing drowsiness, making it great for daytime use. It can be enjoyed as a tea or tincture, offering support for stress resilience. Skullcap: This herb is a powerful ally for those dealing with anxiety. Skullcap helps to quiet tremors, ease cramps and spasms, soothe a stressed mind, and relax a tense body. It's particularly helpful when stressful thoughts are keeping you awake. Skullcap can be taken as a tea or tincture, but be aware that it may cause drowsiness.

Happy Feel-Good Friday, wonderful community! As we wrap up another week, I'd love to create a space for us to celebrate the positive moments that brightened our days. Taking time to acknowledge and share our joys—no matter how small—is a powerful practice for nurturing gratitude and well-being. Feel-Good Friday: Share a Positive Moment from Your Week This week has been filled with ups and downs for many of us, but today I invite you to focus on a moment that made you smile, warmed your heart, or simply made you feel good. Perhaps it was: A meaningful conversation with a friend A small self-care ritual that brought you peace An accomplishment you're proud of A moment of connection with nature A kind gesture you received or offered Celebration is one of my favorite practices that many of us don't do enough of! By celebrating our successes and the little things in our lives (and the lives of those around us), we reinforce the positive aspects of our experience. This celebration can be something simple or complex—the important part is that it's something you genuinely enjoy. Remember that by celebrating, you're helping to reinforce the positive things in your life, empowering yourself, and boosting your confidence moving forward. I'll start: This week, I took a moment to create a special herbal tea blend and shared it with a neighbor who was having a difficult day. Seeing her smile as she took that first sip filled my heart with joy! Now it's your turn! Share one positive moment from your week in the comments below. Let's inspire each other with our celebrations and create a ripple effect of positivity in our community. Tag a friend who might need a little brightness in their day! ✨ With gratitude and joy