Hello All,

Mountain Mama Wellness updates on Friday April 14th 2023

Today I have a bit of a recap and some new items to introduce. Also attached the pdf.   I recently found the domain name that I like.  It was a bit tough because there are other Mountain Mamas out there.  I actually can’t believe this was available. When I get my website up and running it will be: www.mountainmommawellness.com

My e-mail is MountainMamaWellness@protonmail.com or if you have a different e-mail that I still use then that works also.

My phone number: 505-472-6656

I am now on Instagram.  I am not sure how all this works, and I do not know (yet) how to tell you how to find me. I am under soul_medicine2023 / Mountain Mama Wellness by Phoenix Sanders. So if you use Instagram, please find me and if you like start following me.   

I recently changed a website that I have had for about 10 years from www.mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com to  www.mountainmomma.ning.com. ;

But… I am having tech issues and now my site is not coming up.  I am in contact with the tech people and they are working on it. 

After I am finished with the website I will start on an etsy shop.  On that note since my website is going to take more time and etsy seems a bit easier I have started my etsy account.  It is not up yet because I have to enter all my items with all their information, which includes photos, ingredients, all measurements, their weight etc.   My official etsy shop name will be Mountain Moma Wellness.  

 It is official the Mountain Mama Wellness Boxes are happening!  I have been working on the information for my Mountain Mama Wellness Boxes this week and I was going to put the information here today.  But I just realized the information is in a notebook at home. The super short version, each monthly wellness box will have a theme with several items for you to enjoy and use.  These monthly wellness boxes will have information on each item, information on each herb used, the recipes (just in case you want to recreate something you enjoyed)each box will be based on a theme. For example summer is coming up and the June box will be a Summer Herbal First Aid Kit. The official start for this will be May 2023, a great way to celebrate May Day!!   The cost is $60.00 a month. I am debating on keeping a few theme boxes available for purchase (separately) year around. Such as a Menopause Box, Pregnancy Box, Men’s Health, Women’s Vitality etc.

New items of the week:  This week’s new items gave me the wonderful opportunity to be with my friend the Rose.  What better timing to, this is that time of year I am out hiking and I literally smell the wild rose bush when I walk by it. Yes you read that right, there are no blossoms at this time of the year, but as the Wild Rose Bush wakes up it literally gives off this intoxicating rose scent that comes from the leaves and branches. It is literally calling out to you saying summer will be here soon, just breathe in my scent, be happy and you will see my blossoms soon.   The Rose has many incredible and amazing health benefits, not to mention it is a wonderful aromatic bush. The rose tells you to relax, to love, to open your heart to love, it can wake up the senses for a night of passion, it rejuvenates and regenerates the skin.   Just smelling the scent of rose gives a calming and relaxing effect.

Rose Cold Cream is now available.  It is a moisturizer that rejuvenates and replenishes your skin. It can also be used as a cleanser. Just put a light coat on and gently wipe it off with a soft tissue.  You will be amazed at the dirt that it can pullout.  Don’t forget to do it to your neck.  After you use it to cleanse your skin, if you feel like it, apply a light coat to moisturize your skin.   This wonderful cream can be used just as a moisturizer.  I also love this cream as a full body moisturizer and I love using it after I get out of the shower.  What better way to start your day than smelling like a rose.

Ah but it gets better.  I also added a couple of flower essences.  Flower Essences are a healing vibrational energy medicine.  They are amazing and I have been using them for many years.  The Rose Cold Cream has Oak Flower Essence and Honeysuckle Flower Essence in it. 

Oak Flower Essence helps those who are extremely positive (but get burnt out) in their approach to life.  They are fighters who never lose hope or give up. Any problems they have stem from their tendency to draw constantly on their internal strengths, ignoring nature’s alarm signals and exhausting even their massive energy reserves as a result. .  Oak helps recharge your batteries and it will help you recognize that there are limits even to your strength and that there is a time to rest.

Honeysuckle Flower Essence helps those who have a tendency to look to the past, maybe to happier days.  As a result, there is a risk of losing interest in the issues and demands of the present, missing out on much of life as a result through a preoccupation with past events and happenings. The remedy will help those who struggle with this by encouraging them to focus more on the present, helping them to put the past into perspective, so that it does not come to dominate their thoughts.  Honeysuckle may help bereaved people who think back all the time, or act as if their loved one were still alive.   The next new items are:  

Yoni Butter Cocoa Butter, this one is almost the same as my other one, but has less bees wax and more of a cocoa butter smell.  It is like using cocoa on your yoni, it’s nice, slippery and is a great sensual moisturizing lubricant.   If you have a partner that loves to give you a full body massage this yoni butter works great for this also.   Something most women do not think about, we always moisturize our hands, faces, body and feet.  But after a shower you can also moisturize your yoni with yoni butter. 

Next is Ylang Ylang Rose Facial Spray. Give yourself a few spritzes on your face and then apply your moisturizer.  You can also spritz your face when you feel like you need a lift. 

Then there is Clary Sage and Lavender Body Mist:  The scent is uplifting and can help with bringing hope and joy into your day.  It has three different Flower Essences in it.  It has the star of Bethlehem, Gorse and Sweet Chestnut.

The last new item for this week is, Full Moon & New Moon Salt Soak. I would like to encourage you to add foot soaks and bath soaks into your life. Start new rituals of soaking in the healing waters of life a few times a week or at least one time a week.  Get a few candles, get some flowers and fill a tub, make a cuppa relaxing tea, put the soft music on, turn out the lights and soak your body or feet  Help yourself, learn to mother yourself,  and reconnect to the natural rhythms of nature. 

These days so many need rituals to mother themselves why not start with a soak, not only is it super important for vitality it encourages you to stop, be still, be silent and go back into the warm watery womb of life.  .So as the sun sets in the west and the darkness of the night approaches, slow down and fill the tub.  Remember the sun sets in the west and gives you a beautiful sunset, but it also reminds you to take in the gift of calm to help you sleep all night long.  The night sky is a reminder there is always beauty and light and this beauty and light reminds you to take the gifts of silence and stillness of the night to help you sleep all night.  So when you wake up you can be happy, healthy and whole so you can take compassion and love wherever you go. 

Full Moon and New Moon Salt Soak:  Baking soda, black lava salt, rose petals, Himalayan pink salt, Artemisia vulgaris, lavender buds, Epsom salt, bentonite clay, clary sage eo, geranium rose eo and LOVE 
Skin Bliss is still available! (I only have a few jars left) This is one of my most popular creams. Skin Bliss is great for most skin types such as normal, dry and mature.
I made another batch of Calm Body Cream – Luscious Moisturizer. I sold all but one last Saturday and that one is going to my niece. This moisturizer works for those who need to have a light moisturizer. This moisturizer works for oily skin, normal, dry, and mature. My daughter Raquel loves it and also uses it on my granddaughters. 

Every Saturday I will be at the Farmers Market at The Grange and will continue to be there every Saturday. I will also be in the Thursday Farmers Market which starts May 11th. I will do my best to update you with what products I will have each week. Each week I will be adding more products.

Satinka’s (my granddaughter) Herbal Allies which is all about Bioregional Herbalism. These are products that are either grown by us, or sustainably harvested here in Oregon by us. We then make products out of what we collected. These items are seasonal. Coming next week Cottonwood Balm (April 22)
Products that are coming soon: Blue Chamomile, Super Nutritive, Fennel Eye Cream, Ylang Ylang Rose, Lavender Toner, Rose Toner Miracle Grains, Face Serum, Fatty Soap and more.
Product List:
*New* Rose Cold Cream – Rose hydrosol, apricot oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, rosehip seed oil, beeswax, geranium rose eo, soy free vitamin e, oak flower essence, honeysuckle flower essence, LOVE AND BEAUTY.
*New* Full Moon and New Moon Salt Soak: Baking soda, black lava salt, rose petals, Himalayan pink salt, Artemisia vulgaris, lavender buds, Epsom salt, bentonite clay, clary sage eo, geranium rose eo and LOVE
*New* Ylang Ylang Rose Facial Spray
*New* Clary Sage and Lavender Body Mist
Calm Body Cream – Luscious Moisturizer -It has avocado oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, lemongrass eo, chamomile eo and love. It is whipped and looks like whipped butter.
Salt Soak – Calm Waters- It has baking soda, Epsom salt, Himalayan pink salt, sea salt, lavender buds, rose petals, chamomile, corn flowers, hibiscus flowers, hops, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, chamomile eo, lemongrass eo and Love.
Calm Waters – Stress Relief Spray -: Lavender Hydrosol, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, chamomile eo, lemongrass eo, bach rescue remedy and LOVE.
Mocha lip Love – organic ground works coffee, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla and a bit of mica.
Smooches Ginger and Spice
Spearmint Lip Love
Happy Feet Foot Cream
Rejuvenate and Refresh Foot Soak
Skin Bliss Face Cream
St. John’s Wort & Cottonwood –Light Luminous, Elevating & Protective – After Shower Body Cream (Bioregional Herbalism)
Warming Balm
Self Heal ( BioRegional Herbalism)
Muscle Goo
Yoni Butter
Oregon Wild – High Mountain Forest Body Cream (Bio-Regional Herbalism)
Vapor Rub
Pine Resin Salve (Bio Regional Herbalism)
Other Chap Sticks:
Hot lips - Rosy Lip Balm- Peppermint Lip Love -Cardamom Tulsi Rose - Calendula Sunshine Lip Balm with gold mica and a touch of Lemon and Lavender.

With Love and Light
Phoenix (aka Sue)

Rejuvenating Rose Hips, beauty for your eyes, their colors reminding us that  fall is here and it's time to reconnect to our roots, by slowing down and  taking care of our gut.   How's your digestion?  How are you digesting  life?  Are you living to much in your head and forgot about your feet?     

The colors of red, orange or a mixture of both let us know it is time to harvest these beauties but to live with bliss, and to seek the  pleasures of life on a daily basis.        

On a physical level orange relates to the colon, bladder, and gallbladder. It is part of  digestion and assimilation.  When you look at the orange color of the rose hips it makes sense that it is a carminative 

On a physical level red relates to the adrenal glands.   The high vitamin C content of rose hips gives your adrenal gland a super antioxidant boost.   

It is as if nature is telling us by providing the colors of fall and fall nourishment to slow down, root yourself back into the ground, reflect, to connect with the deep voice of self, to listen to your gut feelings (not screens), to follow wisdom and how much free radical damage are you generating or using in your life (fried foods, tobacco, non organic food, using perfume, hair dyes, petroleum based body care etc..) 

Rose Hips are sour, astringent, carminataive, nutritive, tonic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic and aperient (gentle laxative).   They are recognized as one of the highest sources of vitamin C.   Rose hips have bioflavonoids, they are great for colds, infections, to detox your body from free radical damage, carminative properties aid in absorption of nutrients and  are loaded with other vitamins and minerals.   

Harvest rose hips when they are bright red or orange.  If you can harvest after the first frost of autumn because they will be sweeter.  You don't want any brown spots and pick when it is dry to prevent them from molding. 

Do not eat them raw unless you cut them in half and scrape out the seeds and tiny hairs.   If you want to dehydrate them you need to do this to. 

 To use them fresh for a syrup or  jam you do not need to cut them in half and scrape out the tiny hairs and seeds.  

To buy rose hips or other herbs: 

https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmqHPBRBQEiwAOvbR8-nR_eLKnFZHDlzuqWRXosG5FAMl-Sl1qUGmnPi1WBLoSvBGwJ2TxxoCoe4QAvD_BwE

High Vitamin C Tea Recipe: 

Ingredients:  rose hips, hibiscus flowers, lemon grass, cinnamon chips

Note:  Vitamin C is a noted antioxidant with disease-fighting abilities.  

Rose Hips:  They contain more vitamin C than almost any other herb, many times the amount found in citrus fruit when measured gram by gram.  

Hibiscus:  high in vitamin C and bioflavonoids.  It has slightly astringent properties.  It is useful for treating mild colds, flus, bruising, and swelling. 

Lemon Grass:  http://planetwell.com/lemongrass-health-benefits-and-healing-proper...

Cinnamon:  Although cinnamon is considered to be simply a spice by most Westerners, herbalists have been using it for centuries as a warming digestive aid.  It is a wonderful mild stimulant and can be combined with ginger to treat circulatory and digestive problems.  It has antiviral and antiseptic activities, making it useful for fighting infections.  

4 parts rose hips

3 parts hibiscus

2 parts lemongrass

1 part cinnamon chips 

Rose Hip Spice Jam

Using fresh rose hips 

1 lb Fresh rose hips (ends pulled off)

1 cup filtered water

1 cup raw real honey

2 tablespoon orange spice (recipe below)

Love

Gently simmer rose hips in the water until fruit is tender.   

Rub through a sieve

Return to heat and add honey and spices 

Gently simmer until thick, stirring frequently

Spoon hot into hot sterilized jars

Seal

Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes 

Label 

Orange Spice Sprinkle 

2 TBL.  orange peel pd.

3 TBL. cinnamon pd.

1/2 tsp. ginger pd,

1/2 tsp. cloves pd.

1/2 tsp. cardamom pd.

Mix and put in a spice jar and label.  

Lavender, rose petals, chamomile and lemon balm tea, potatoes, cabbage, collard greens, beets, onion,rosemary, sage, oregano, kale, nettle, salad mix (lettuce, bitter lettuce,dandelion,swiss chard,lemon balm, queen anne's lace flowers and nasturiums), cucumbers, zucchini, brassica mix, wild food of the week is Queen Anne's Lace (flowers, leaf  and green fruit) and celery

Wild Food Of The Week:  Queen Anne's Lace

Once you know how to safely identify queen anne’s lace, it’s a pretty versatile plant in recipes.  In the spring and fall, the roots may be dug up and eaten in the same manner as domestic carrots.  While these are quite flavorful, don’t expect them to be as big or tender as their orange commercial cousins.

If you enjoy the flavor of the leaves, they can be used either fresh or dried as you would parsley. Young flower buds may be added to stir-fries and skillet dishes.  Or the tiny flowers can be scattered upon finished dishes or in salads.  

You can also eat queen anne’s lace fruit (the tiny green or red bits that eventually dry into seeds).  Harvest the fruit of queen anne’s lace after the flowers start to curl into birds nests, but before they go completely brown.  Queen anne’s lace fruit has a strong flavor that is like an explosion of parsley with a long finish of citrus.

Side Note: Queen anne’s lace  is not a good plant for beginning foragers to try simply because of the risk of mistaking it with poison hemlock.  Never eat a plant which you cannot properly identify.  No harm ever comes from walking away; just consider it a learning experience.

Queen Anne's Lace Fruit 

For more information on wild foods: 

http://www.meadowsandmore.com/foraged-flavor

http://foragingandfeasting.com/

Queen Anne's Lace Jelly: 

http://www.eattheweeds.com/daucus-carota-pusillus-edible-wild-carrots-2/

More Information and Recipes For Queen Anne's Lace: 

http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/queen.html

Side Note: One of the recipes looks like a yummy wild carrot cake.  Please modify the recipe.

 I would not use tofu or  vegetable oil/corn oil.   These items are Toxic GMO ingredients. 

I would use organic sunflower oil, coconut oil or olive oil.  For the tofu I would use organic cream cheese or try organic coconut spread.  

Sage Pesto

Recipe from Rosemary Gladstar's book:  Medicinal Herbs, a beginners guide 

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems

1/2 cup Queen Annes lace leaf fruit mix OR  parsley

1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves, first time making it try the 1/4 cup version and if you would like it stronger than next time add more

3 cloves garlic

3/4 to 1 cup olive oil

1/4 to 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or walnuts or a mix

1/4 cup raw cheese (optional) 

Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt 

To make: 

Combine the herbs, garlic and olive oil in a blender or food processor and pulse until creamy.  Mix in the nuts or seeds and cheese (if using) and salt and pepper to taste.  

To use: 

Serve on toast or crackers, pasta, steamed grains, omelets, vegetables or organic meat.

Mushroom Lover's Special Treat:

Quinoa, Mushroom, and Sage Pilaf with Shiitake Crisps

The shiitake crisps are addictive, so you might want to make much more than theis recipe calls for 

For the shiitake crisps: 

1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and cut into 1/4 inch slices

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and pepper

For the pilaf:

1 oz dried porcini mushrooms

3 tabls extra-virgin olive oil

2 large shallots, minced

3 garlic cloves, minced 

1/2 red bell pepper, cut into small dice

1/lb mixed mushrooms, such as white, chanterelle, shiitake, or cremini, coarsely chopped 

2 cups quinoa, rinsed

3 Tbls minced, fresh sage leaves 

3 cups organic vegetable broth or water

1/4 cup organic red wine

sea salt and  freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbls chopped fresh, flat-leaf parsley, for garnish ( you could use Queen Annes Lace leafs)

2 Tbls chopped chives, for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 

To prepare the shiitake crisps, toss together mushroom slices, olive oil, sea salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  Spread mushrooms in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Roast in the preheated oven until crispy, about 20 to 30 minutes.  They will look much smaller and dried out.  

Set aside. 

For the pilaf, soak dried porcini mushrooms in hot water for 30 minutes.  Drain, reserving soaking water.  Chop mushrooms. 

In a large saucepan, sweat the shallots, garlic, and red pepper until softened.  Add mushrooms, including chopped porcini, and cook until their moisture has evaporated and they start to brown.  

Add quinoa and sage.  

Stir well to coat the quinoa with oil.  Add in broth, 3/4 cup of the porcini soaking liquid, and wine.  

season well with salt and pepper.  Bring the liquid to a boil;  Lower heat to simmering.  Cover pot tightly and cook for 15 minutes.  Turn off heat and let sit for 10 minutes.  Fluff quinoa with a fork.  

Put in a serving dish, sprinkle with parsley (or queen annes lace) and chives.  

Top with shiitake crisps.  

Makes 6 to 8 servings. 

Antioxidant Superstars

Rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano are about the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet thanks to their aromatic phenols.  Though these four have slightly different medicinal properties, they're all anti-inflammatory, circulation-enhancing, and immune supportive.  

Try these interesting beverage combinations.  

rosemary-lemon balm

rosemary lemon

sage - ginger

thyme-oregano-spearmint.  

Fresh herbs often have superior flavor, but the health benefits get stronger as they dry. 

Remember when you make a tea or herbal beverage, that if you are using dried herbs, you always use less than if you you fresh herbs. 

Lemon Balm:  Did you know that by adding a few leaves of lemon balm to salad increases the salad's antioxidant activity 150 - 200 percent?  They work as a team to refresh one another, enhance absorption, and boost activity. 

Tea Of The Week

Place bag of herbs in a gallon jug, with warm filtered water or spring water.  Stir in 4 to 6 tablespoons  of honey.  

Let sit in the sun for 8 hours

Strain and enjoy

Tea Mix Recipe

14 cups of  warm spring water or filtered water

8 heaping Tbls. lavender 

8 heaping Tbls chamomile

8 heaping Tbls rose petals

1 heaping handful of fresh lemon balm

If do not have fresh lemon balm add 1/4 cup dried lemon balm and a few lemon wedges. 

4- 6 Tbls. local raw honey

Put all ingredients in a gallon glass jar.  Stir until honey is dissolved.  

Sun infusion let sit in the sun for 8  hours

Lunar infusion let sit throughout the night

Strain and enjoy

Where To Order Your Herbs: 

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Zucchini Chips:  http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/zucchini-chips/

Zucchini chips are a great snack when you got the munchies! 

If you have not made these yet, I strongly urge you to go for it and try this recipe. The are really good.  My 16 year old daughter made them and they are incredible!  She made up her own spice blend, it was a combination of garlic, pepper, sea salt and Italian spices.  

Lemon Verbena:  http://www.healthyliving-herbs.co.za/index.php/herb-articles/568-le...

More recipes for lemon verbena: http://oldfashionedliving.com/lemonverbena.html  

Lemon Rose Tea

Ingredients:

1/2 cup torn lemon verbena leaves

1/4 cup rose petals

4 cups filtered water or spring water

Honey 

Place 4 cups of water in a teakettle or medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the lemon verbena and rose petals. Remove from the heat and steep for about 15 minutes. Return to the heat and simmer for 1 minute. Pour into individual tea cups or mugs, sweeten with honey and serve.