Theresa leads our Walk & Talk in Mountsfield Park on Thursdays. She is able to hold space and allow the Villagers on her walks to form bonds with each other. She also generously shares her wealth of knowledge of foraging, wild food and nutrition so the walking Villagers get to learn something too! Thank you Theresa.
“I chose to be a volunteer at the Village because I like sharing my enjoyment of the natural world with others, especially to enable new parents to leave the house and get outside for an hour of unstructured activity, in good company.
The common theme is that despite however challenging it may be in the morning getting a baby ready to leave the house, the rewards always outweigh any initial challenges.
I’ve lived in the area over 40 years and I know the park quite well. Occasionly we stop for chat in or around the community garden where herbs and vegetables grow year round. We share our top tips for health and well-being. Did you know that lettuce has a calming effect?! Try putting lettuce in a juicer and feeding a little to your baby or toddler.”
Since the enforced isolation in March, friends and I are sharing what we can; our plants, seeds and produce, specifically. As a National Park City Ranger, I now feel like I’m being gifted on a daily basis. Yesterday Paul, the Chair of London National Park City foundation offered me wildflower seeds for a re-wilding exercise in a local disused alleyway, watch this space… plus Basil seedlings in due course. At The Zoom BeInspired walk On Tuesday, an online participant viewer and wildlife teacher offered us eggs from her hens (for my other family members who would appreciate them). Sunflowers and Spinach plants are also growing in exchange. Counting my blessings indeed.
Wednesday’s gift is Sage; a common Mediterranean herb, which loves a warm climate and the Corbett estate, SE6, clearly. Thanks to Yoga teacher Sara Wickert for donating bags of her fresh sage cuttings to the neighbourhood, sharing with one another is a sensible option
Healing with herbs
Sage is a wonderful herb, useful in prevention during covid-19, in addition to Vitamin C and D. Sage has been used in culinary and medicinal forms for centuries; it has many traditional uses.
Meaning: in French the name sage, means wise, to have wisdom. A sage is a person who holds the wisdom for their tribe and far beyond. This is a herb with further visioning properties, like the wise man or wise woman, in traditional medicinal cultures.
Mouthwash Sage contains anti-viral and antimicrobial volatile oils. For this reason, I use it as a refreshing mouthwash, or even a gargle to soothe and prevent sore throats. For a gargle, take a small handful of fresh or dried leaves and add to a pan of fresh water. Simmer for at least 20 mins to allow the scent and goodness from the leaves to disperse into the water. It turns an intense, dark brown colour. Allow to cool entirely before rinsing your mouth and gargling. Spit out and repeat x 3 times. Use for throat infections.
Sage Tea To drink as an infusion: infuse a small handful of freshly picked leaves in hot water and leave to brew for up to 10 mins or longer for a fuller flavour. The tea will be a gentle, clear green in colour. These properties are ideal for clarity of vision.
Female health
Sage also possesses cooling properties, to ladies’; balancing hormonal symptoms in the menopause and calms menstrual hot flushes, whilst allowing new priorities to develop and be supported. Females develop new needs and values. For others, cool down and refresh from the heat of the sun with a sage tea. In Turkey, at Yuva retreat centre, this is a popular beverage after working outside in the Mediterranean sunshine.
Recipe: Sage and lime Hummus
Sage and lime Hummus
Ingredients
1 cup Chickpeas (either cooked fresh, from a can/carton or Raw sprouted)
1 dsp tahini (sesame seed) sauce
3 dsp olive oil or oil of choice.
1/2 lime juiced
A few sage leaves, plus extra for garnish. A good pinch salt / seaweed / sodium alternative
Method
Use a food processor or a hand blender to Purée the chickpeas together with the olive oil, tahini, herbs, salt and half the lime juice. Mix well until the paste is as smooth or as chunky as you wish.
Garnish with wild flowers eg. forget-me-nots and the remaining sage leaves. Serve with fresh vegetables as a salad/main course eg Quinoa or on bread or crackers.
Beverage: add the remaining lime juice to a glass water, for a refreshing drink.
Recently it was reported in the news that many women were distressed about the lack of menopause drugs; Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). However there are other, more sustainable choices.
The HRT hormones in the Premarin brand medication are derived from a pregnant mare’s urine. Up and down the land, women have been told to take hormones from a female horse, orally without much distain.
Fortunately choosing a more natural alternative is viable; a link exists between the our diet and our hormones, specifically the fresher the diet of a menopausal women, the healthier her hormones.
The Change is a part of who we are, accepting the developments and embracing a new inner power is key to experiencing more glory than gory symptoms.
Most menopausal Chinese women don’t experience the symptoms of sweats, flushing or tiredness, so a term doesn’t exist In China, as their consumption of processed meat and dairy is lower and they have a high soya consumption than in western societies. (The oestrogenic affect in soya has prevented the common symptoms.) Similar food method may also be beneficial in the west.
A combination of Raw, living foods specifically living foods (specifically sprouted/germinated seeds) and Asian, African, Caribbean and European natural Herbal remedies has been heralded as useful and case study proven for women to reduce symptoms of the Menopause. These sprouted seeds contain high levels of antioxidants and are lower in saturated fats. Whole grain plant foods as opposed to processed animal ingredients. A vegetarian and vegan lifestyle not only contributes towards a reduction in symptoms but understanding our bodies requirements from within.
During a nutrition clinic consultation we develop natural solutions towards a dietary practice in harmony with your own lifestyle, to balance your hormones naturally through nutrient intake and understanding your activity. Provide a plan for the future weeks and months ahead.
Kitchen Buddy courses focus on how to harness the benefits of natural HRT alternatives, learn how to grow your own therapy, with us.
Our half day Foraging and natural Food session includes:
Hands on plant based cookery and growing techniques in any space.
Foraging (collecting medicinal plants) including wild weeds with healing properties
Learning the food combination methods, to prepare and share your meal together with us.
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