Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
Pregnancy is such an exciting time! From finding out that you are pregnant, through the various stages of pregnancy (some not so fun), to the birth of your child, there is so much to learn and experience. Some couples wait until the second trimester to announce a pregnancy, while others can’t wait to share the …
There are many types of baths that can be used for detoxification and relaxation, but none that benefit the skin with a single ingredient as much as vinegar baths. I’m not a fan of the smell of vinegar, but I’m a huge fan of vinegar baths because they leave my skin and hair looking and feeling …
September is Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Awareness Month. As the month draws to an end, I want to take this time to shed light on a bladder disease that affects millions of Americans as well as several of my close friends. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy to remedy as a common cold, but there are some …
I recently shared an Instagram photo of my youngest daughter and many commenters asked about the metal bottle she was using. I realized I’d never written about the type of bottles and cups I use in our home for our children. Why Not Plastic? We’ve used BPA and plastic free options for our children since they …
I’ve shared my favorite remedies for PMS and cramps before, but I’ve gotten a lot of questions about essential oils for hormone balance lately and wanted to share some experience with this as well. Essential oils can be very powerful and effective when used correctly, but because of their power they also carry their share …
Ah, fall! That time of year when everything magically becomes pumpkin pie scented and flavored. From candles (don’t buy them!), to lattes, and everything in between … pumpkin is in the air. Pumpkin Pie Spice? Unfortunately, many of these “pumpkin pie spice” products don’t actually contain any pumpkin or spice. In fact, many are artificially …
Elderberry syrup is a mainstay of our Fall and Winter natural remedies, and one of my favorites because it is the easiest to get kids to take happily. It combines the benefits of flu-fighting elderberry with the antibacterial properties of raw honey (and some other beneficial herbs) for a highly-effective remedy. What is an Herbal Electuary? Herbal …
I’ve always been sensitive to the smell of chlorine. In hotels, I could always tell as soon as the elevator door started to open if the pool was on that level of the hotel. A visit to a highly-chlorinated indoor waterpark once left me foggy for days. For this reason, I’ve always been careful to …
If you were to visit my home and glance inside my pantry, you’d find the normal food stapes, but also several baskets and bins of assorted homemade herbal remedies in jars, tinctures in dropper bottles and salves in tins that we use for various ailments. This herbal liniment is a mainstay in my home apothecary and we …
I use bentonite clay in various ways in my home and beauty routine. I slather it on my face, use it to detox my armpits, and it is even an ingredient in my homemade remineralizing tooth powder. I’ve used bentonite clay in my homemade shampoo alternative, and in a soothing foot soak I often use. Is …
If you haven’t already, you owe it to yourself to try the humble and delicious cushaw squash. There are dozens of ways to use this inexpensive heirloom squash and it is one of the least expensive winter squashes available. What is a Cushaw Squash? When you can find one, a good size (15-25 pound) cushaw squash typically …
If you grew fresh herbs in your garden this year or have some naturally growing in your backyard, you can easily preserve some of the extra herbs and have them on hand for use all year long. The first step in the process of preserving herbs is drying them correctly. After drying, they can be …
Did you know that many of the backyard weeds that many of us spend time fighting and spraying with chemicals (like Plantain) are actually medicinal plants with health benefits? We may prefer carefully manicured yards, but often the time, money and effort needed to keep a lawn looking great aren’t worth it, especially when you …
