Sharon Hubbs-Kreft, Herbalist - Amazing Grace Herbals LLC

Hello All -

There are only 2 days left to take advantage of the 15% off medicinal herb sale here at Local Harvest!

This is a great way to stock on on all your teas, tinctures and pet needs for the winter months ahead!!

If you have any questions on remedies, please feel free to contact me!!

Thank you to all and many blessings for the seasons ahead!

Sharon Hubbs-Kreft

Amazing Grace Herbals

www.localharvest.org/store/M10524

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women who have touched our lives!!

Enjoy the day and relax  . . . garden, plant and reconnect with the best mother of all  . . . Earth!!

Many blessings and enjoy the day!

Hello all  . ..   due the beautiful weather here, I have an early batch of my Grandmom's Queen of Hungary's Water is back in stock!!!

This remedy takes quite a while to make and the batch turned out to be absolutley wonderful!!

May all of your senses and skin enjoy!!

Here is a link - http://www.localharvest.org/grandmoms-queen-of-hungarys-water-C4528

Peaceful Blessings !

The spring sunshine has started to melt the snow and as I was weeding and working in the gardens this past weekend I happened to notice the new sprouts!

Already we have thyme, chives, lemon balm, fennel, cilantro, peppermint and chamomile sprouts!!

We are getting some heavy rains so radishes will soon be popping up too. How exciting to see the rebirth of the herbs and watch them slowly peek their little sprouts out of the soil.

If the warm weather keeps up, there may an early harvest of chives or maybe even some lemon balm. Ran is expected through the weekend so I am not anticipating any garden prepping this weekend.

Peaceful Blessings, happy seeding and happy weeding!

I would love to hear what you have sprouting too!!

What is fiber?

A variety of definitions of fiber exist. In an attempt to develop one definition of fiber that everyone can use, the Food and Nutrition Board assembled a panel that came up with the following definitions:

• Dietary fiber consists of nondigestible carbohydrates and lignin that are intrinsic and intact in plants. This includes plant nonstarch polysaccharides (for example, cellulose, pectin, gums, hemicellulose, and fibers contained in oat and wheat bran), oligosaccharides, lignin, and some resistant starch.
  
  
• Functional fiber consists of isolated, nondigestible carbohydrates that have beneficial physiological effects in humans. This includes nondigestible plant (for example, resistant starch, pectin, and gums), chitin, chitosan, or commercially produced (for example, resistant starch, polydextrose, inulin, and indigestible dextrins) carbohydrates.
  
  
• Total fiber is the sum of dietary fiber and functional fiber. It's not important to differentiate between which forms of each of these fibers you are getting in your diet. Your total fiber is what matters.

You may also hear fiber referred to as bulk or roughage. Call it what you want, but always remember that fiber is an essential part of everyone's diet. While fiber does fall under the category of carbohydrates, in comparison, it does not provide the same number of calories, nor is it processed the way that other sources of carbohydrates are.

This difference can be seen among the two categories that fiber is divided into: soluble and insoluble.

• Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. Sources of soluble fiber are oats, legumes (beans, peas, and soybeans), apples, bananas, berries, barely, some vegetables, and psylluim.
  
  
• Insoluble fiber increases the movement of material through your digestive tract and increases your stool bulk. Sources of insoluble fiber are whole wheat foods, bran, nuts, seeds, and the skin of some fruits and vegetables.

How much do you need?

Adults - The National Academy of Sciences established an Adequate Intake (AI) level of 38 grams of total daily fiber for males 19-50 years of age and 25 grams for women in the same age range.

Children 3 to 18 years - A simple formula can be used to determine the number of grams of fiber recommended for children:

Child's age + 5 = fiber grams per day

As you gradually increae your fiber intake per day, you should also consume more water, juice or milk (daily fluids).

Beans and legumes are great sources of fiber and usually contain about 6-7 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup cooked serving. They can blend into almost any meal, even mashed potatoes, soups, sauces or as a nice side dish. If beans make you "toot" check out my blog on why beans make us toot and my helpful suggestions to aid with cooking with beans and adding good fiber sources into your diet.

Happy Fiber Hunting and Peaceful Blessings!

So you have a picky pet that will not take anything, no vitamins, no tinctures, no oils, nothing . . . how do you get them to take what's good for them if they go and hide when they see you coming with the dropper? I get asked this question pretty much daily and decided to blog about it to help folks out that just are just at their wits end with picky pets.

Cats can be easier then dogs despite their independence! If you have a capsule (vitamin, probiotic, herbal supplement) first try breaking open the capsule and sprinkling it over the food. Most cat's will take it especially if you are mixing it with a canned food they enjoy. Tried this, still no luck, try adding the supplement to tuna juice. I know my cat's little jowels cannot water enough when she hears the can opener opening tuna! Tuna is pretty much a fail safe with any herbal remedy (tincture, tonic, infusion, decoction, oil) or supplement. Still no luck, try adding the remedy (whatever it may be) to a small amount of ground beef, turkey or chicken - cat's are carnivore's and should eat it with no problems and will never be the wiser to know they was something good for them in the "magic meatball"! If you have an ill cat that has difficulty eating, you may want to try a vitamin supplement with a milk base found at your local pet store, add the supplement ot remedy to the milk based product - added nutrition plus the remedy. Cat still fussy, tried all the above and she still runs away? Try adding your supplements to plain milk, however, if you cat suffers from feline acne, I do not recommend this. Dry food or kibble can always be soaked with chicken/beef or vegetable broth and then the supplements added too.

Dogs usually take almost anything you give them, I know my Golden Retriever takes any herbal remedy or vitamins with no problems but there are some finnicky pups out there. Same as with a cat, try sprinkling any capsule based remedy over the food first, if no luck add it to wet food or if your pet is on a "you cook for him diet" then add it right to the stew you are cooking up. If can still sniff it out, try putting the caspules, oil or tincture into a piece of bread, basically, let the liquid soak in the bread and then give it as a treat. Did that too  . . . ok, just as a cat, dogs are carnivore's too, so when all else fails, add the remedy/vitamin/medication or whatever you are giving to a meatball of your choice. This usually works every time! Try soaking the kibble in broth of your choice and add fresh or steamed veggies for a more enticing meal, most dogs love veggies so you should see him clean the plate.

For vegan pets - you can make a "cheat ball" - mix brown rice, grains or choice, coucous or even make a smoothie for your pet using plain yogurt. Add the supplement and watch them enjoy!

I like to recommend plain yogurt as a treat for pets because it is full of natural probiotics and will aid in their digestion and overall health. Cats love it as do dogs, some picky cats will eat a yogurt treat added with supplements of your choice but I have found that some will detect the scent especially if you are administering a strong aroma based herbal remedy.

Most of my pet remedies are organic vegetable glycerin based and I do this for many reasons but one of the one main ones is for ease of administration - how do you say? Simple, vegetable glycerin is thicker and stickier then water, alcohol or any other aqueous based tinctures so when you drop it out of the dropper it will stick to their fur! If all else fails and you are administering an organic glycerin based tincture, drop the directed dosage amount on your pet's paw, I promise, he will lick it off, it's in their nature so they will be getting the tincture despite their stubborness  . . problem solved  . . if you are administering a tincture made with another menstruum you may have to try th above suggestions as most will roll off the fur and your pet will not be getting the recommended dose.

My pet's are very good vitamin and herb taker's, it really is all they know but I get the occasional cold shoulder from my feline friend and have come up with lots of other ways too of getting the gooodies in! My cat and dog love Acidophilus, they both lick it off my hand like the world's best treat - you can try this with your pet too - especially cats's, I have rarely come across a cat that does not like Acidophilus (probiotics), scent is similar to milk and they usually will almost lick the skin off your hand being sure they get it all!!

I hope this helps answer the question . .how do I get this good stuff in my pet?

If you have any questions or need other suggestions, please feel free to email me at wintersaurora@yahoo.com

Peaceful Blessings to you and your pet!

Many blessings to all for a Happy and Healthy 2010!

We pray that our fields will be full of new life and our pantries stocked with Earth's blessings. From our pantry to yours, all the best and many more!

As the New Year begins, it is a time to think about detoxing and getting your body back on track. I will get into this more with my next blog but just wanted to mention it since so many folks contact me with the "after holiday cookie blues!" LOL!!

Peaceful Blessings and enjoy the Blue Moon!

Hello everyone, my apologies for not blogging in a while, things have been very hectic here with the holidays upon us.

I wanted to send everyone warm winter wishes for the holiday season and all the best of blessings for 2010. A special thank you to all of my customers throughout the years and to everyone at Local Harvest for all the hard work and time to make the site a success!

A quick note, if you are still looking for some great New Years treats, you can try something we have done for many years. If you enjoy my Snuggle Up Tea and would like to add a twist, try adding a teaspoon of Apple Schnapps to your infusion before serving. It's a great winter warm up and folks at your party will love the flavor.

If you like Peppermint and want a added touch, we add a dash of Peppermint Schnapps to the infusion before serving and then garnish with a candy cane . . . folks love it!!!

Just a couple little things we do every year in place of traditional spirits for our guests, give them a try and I am sure your party guests will love them too. You can find both teas and others which you can add spirits too as well here at my Local Harvest store.

Peaceful Blessings and Holiday Greetings to all!

Just thought I would pass this along, great link!

http://fto.co. za/opinion/ obama-declares- swine-flu- national- emergency- what-about- his-own-children -2009102515569. html

Peaceful Blessings!

I was recently flipping through a great magazine and came across a little blurb about 1,4-dioxane and would like to share it on the blog roll. There was no author listed on the blurb but I would like to credit whoever wrote it for sharing great info.

In cosmetics, 1,4-dioxane is the byproduct of a chemical process used to soften harsh ingredients. Although the FDA says 1,4-dioxane levels in cosmetics aren't hazardous to consumers, the National Toxicology Agency says even its prescence - even in a trace amount - is cause for concern, and the EPA lists its as a probably human carcinogen.

Research from the Environmental Working Group revealed 1,4-dioxane in many children's bath products. Steer clear of the toxin by avoiding products with the ingredient names that include myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth and any other -eth, PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.

Peaceful Blessings and please read your labels and as always, buy local and organic!!!

The food additive monosodium glutamate, or MSG, has been linked to many health concersn including migraine headeaches and even hyperactivity in children.

If you see the word "hydrolyzed" in any ingredient list on any food item, the product contains MSG. Some companies try to not use the term MSG and will use other terms such as hydrolyzed and terms from the list below to make their customers think the product is MSG free.

These terms are other hidden sources of MSG -

Autolyzed yeast, calcium caeinate, gelatin, glutamate, glutamic acid, hydrolzed corn gluten, hydrolzyed protein (such as wheat, soy or vegetable protein),  monopotassium glutamate, sodium caseinate and textured protein

Please read all product labels and be sure there is not a hidden source if your favorite grocery item. The above are most commonly found in processed and boxed foods.

Peaceful Blessings!

This week, millions of doses of the vaccine for H1N1 - or swine flu - will
begin to be dispersed across the United States. Media hype has cultivated fear and anxiety over the possibility of a swine flu pandemic but what you are not hearing is what hundreds of healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, scientists, researchers, advocates and activists are learning and speaking out about the vaccination and the alleged health crises.

The Fourth International Public Conference on Vaccination hosted by the
National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) has been a powerful, empowering, and enlightening event. Dozens of professionals from all walks of life have come together to share science and research, knowledge and experience to educate and inform on vaccination. Hot among the topics is the forthcoming H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination.

Without a doubt, there are serious concerns about the safety and efficacy of this vaccination, not to mention questions about the origins of the virus
and the motivation for whipping up public fear and for the mass production of the vaccination itself. Conference Speaker Dr. Joe Mercola points out that, among other concerns, adjuvants in the vaccination include thimerosal (mercury), as well as squalene which has been associated with devastating autoimmune problems as well as with arthritis, memory loss, and neuropsychiatric problems. Conference speaker and Emmy award-winning investigative reporter Gary Matsumoto published a book on the dangerous toxic effects of squalene. The new H1N1 vaccination will contain both thimerosal and aluminum, in addition to squalene, increasing the toxicity of the shot. Each shot is reported to contain 25 mcg of mercury, 250 times the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety limit. Adding aluminum and formaldehyde to the mix complicates the possibility of adverse effects. According to an article published in the International Journal of Clinical Investigation (2005),those receiving regular flu shots for 3 to 5 years had a ten-fold increase in the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those receiving no flu shots.

Last day of the Calgo Gardens Farmers Market –             Friday,   September 4^th      11:30am – 4:30 pm

Mention this blog and receive 20% off all teas and tinctures and 10% off all natural soaps, lotions, candles, herbal vinegars, herb gifts and herbal culinary spices

If you would like a special order, please email me at wintersaurora@yahoo.com and I will be happy to bring it to the market so you can receive the discount.

To view a full line of my remedies, please visit www.localharvest.org/store/M10524 - this offer does not apply to online purchases – or email me for a print list. I also special formulate so if you would like something blended, please let me know.

Thanks for a great season and hope to see you again next year! I also have the soaps and lotions available through the winter and also offer holiday gift baskets.

Peaceful Blessings and warm greetings for the autumn and winter season ahead!

I was just reading a great article by Dr. Lynn Jennings, MD and information is fabulous on the swine flu and the vaccinations now available.

These are some suggestions to help protect yourself from acquiring the swine flu:

• Get adequate amounts of rest. Irregular sleeping patterns, inadequate sleep all cause stress on your body and can adversely affect your immune system.
• Wash your hands.
• Maintain a healthy diet. You need to limit your intake of refined sugar and grains. You should also stay away from artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame and splenda. Eat plenty of green and purple vegetables. The majority of your diet should be vegetables and fruits. The initial phase diet is an excellent start.
• Regular exercise. You don’t have to be a marathon runner. Walking is good. Do what you can. If you cannot walk, arm exercises are good.
• Make sure you are getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D3. A good starting dose would be 5000 units per day until you can have your doctor or health care provider check your 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 level. Recommended levels are 50-70.
• Vitamin C 4000-6000mg daily.
• Zinc citrate 25mg daily
• Selenium 50ug daily
• I would also recommend an iodine supplement (if you are not allergic)
• such as Iodoral 12.5-25mg daily
• Take daily probiotics.

This is good common sense info with some added supplement suggestions, most suggestions can be followed by children and the eldery and are safe for long term use if needed.

There are other natural supplements that can help protect the body too like Colloidal Silver which I offer here in my Local Harvest store. You can read more about it there and if you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Many Blessings and September Greetings!