,

Preventing Respiratory Illness

enviornment

Colds and flus have plagued mankind for millennia. We all end up getting sick at one point or another. In fact, nature, in its wisdom, has ensured it. Contracting viruses allows our immune system to develop and maintain strength as we age.

So, since we can’t avoid germs and illness altogether, the next best thing is to create an environment within the body and our surroundings where viruses and bacteria don’t readily survive.

Here are some of the ways we can create an inhospitable environment for germs.

The Body

Eating a lot of vegetables, leafy greens, citrus and fruit while getting regular exercise and having a solid sleep routine goes a long way. It provides your body with the nutrients, strength and restoration it needs to fight illness, disease and to rebuild itself while efficiently removing waste.

This is the best way to create an inhospitable environment for bad bacteria/viruses both inside and outside ourselves. We need to discourage unhealthy microbes, so they don’t set up shop.

The plant world can also help us out here. Certain herbs help the body fight viruses by creating an environment that stands strong against unhealthy microbes. Elderberry is phenomenal in this regard. This plant doesn’t fight the viruses that may be cruising the bloodstream. Instead, it “teaches” the cell membranes to refuse entry to viruses that want to penetrate them (this is the first stage in contracting a virus). You can take Elderberry long term but after a couple of weeks you may find you feel nauseous so take this herb for one week and then take a week off etc.

To continue reading this blog click here…

/by

Cyclical Consumerism & Holding Corporations Accountable

cyclical consumerism bev mcleish

You may wonder why I write such potentially inflammatory or politically charged blog posts. Maybe your idea of an herbalist is a smiling lady in her garden making meals, teas and DIY products to sell at our local market or fair.

Yeah, that’s not me.

Herbalists nowadays are pretty political. Don’t get me wrong, we would LOVE to be in our garden or deep in the forest harvesting and hanging out with the trees but the current climate prevents us from doing so.

We notice the trees and forests are farther and fewer in between while mc-mansions sprout up faster than dandelions. We see our familiar plant stands disappear before we get a chance to blink because there are too many of us to practice any semblance of ethical wild crafting (harvesting plants from their natural habitat).

As nature lovers and as individuals who truly understand how the earth supports us while we destroy her, we’re pretty angry. We’re also devastated because we know we participate in a culture that claims they see the value in an ecosystem and then look quietly away while we decimate it.

To continue reading this blog click here…

Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, ,

What is Clean?

Our journey to answer this question spans centuries but really took off at the discovery of bacteria, an extremely advantageous development in our ability to survive and flourish as a species.

Form that came the notion of hygiene. So we made sure we had cleaner bodies and cleaner homes – directly resulting in less illness, less disease and the advent of antibiotics.

This last development brought us to a bend in the road with the influx of hundreds of anti-bacterial products. We’ve come to realize that what we call germs (whether viral or bacterial) are organisms that evolve and change quickly. We now know that they have learned to resist the very substances we’ve created to kill them. And they have done this quite efficiently.

We’ve inadvertently started a battle against an adversary that evolves and changes much faster than we can anticipate. It’s a battle that we can’t win. We’ve learned the hard way that sterility should not be our definition of clean.

To continue reading this blog click here…

Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, , ,

A Portrait of Grandmothers, Mothers and Daughters

herbalism and herbal medicine support in the body - holistic health services aurora

As we get close to Mother’s Day, I thought it would be fun to continue focusing on the feminine and let you in on an interesting link between the ancient perspectives of women and scientific fact.

A woman’s lifespan that took her from child hood, to motherhood, to old age was considered a holy trinity, revered thousands of years ago.

Ancient societies around the globe felt that a woman’s lifecycle was holy and that each stage should be respected. I’ve provided a brief description of each below and together they paint a picture of what we now refer to as the Triple Goddess.

To continue reading this blog click here…

Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, , , ,

Women and Plants Share a Unique Connection

Traditions of Females in Herbal Medicine, natural medicine roots with Herbalist Bev McLeish at Out of the Woods Wellness in Aurora

Although women have been compared to the earth and the powers of creation for thousands of years, there are some other, very tangible reasons why women have an intimate and inextricable connection to the planet and specifically, plants.

Some Obvious Reasons

It makes perfect sense really as both the planet and women have the ability to create life and multiply. We can also feed others from our bodies and provide the love and nurturing that supports life.

Our cycles also mimic those of the moon and we gravitate to qualities like cooperation, interconnectedness and sacrifice, all characteristics we see in nature.

But what’s been lost is how women themselves felt about the environment, how we worked with it to grow food for our families and how we tended the sick as an everyday part of our life.

To continue reading this blog click here…

Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, , , ,

Old Fashioned Ways to Show Your Love

Old Fashioned Ideas for Valentine's Day, Show Your Love, Relationships, Wellness Centre Aurora

Having been married for twenty years, I realize how tough it can be to inject fun and excitement into a long standing relationship. After years have gone by, a kind of comfort and complacency settles in and we fall into a routine that seems impossible to break.

You know your partner so well that you both play a role set in stone years ago making days like Valentine’s day habit.

This blog is all about how you could create some spontaneity and excitement while creating a Valentine’s day to remember.

For those of you going through a hard time in this department right now, please see the end of the blog for workshop details you may be interested in.

The number one thing when it comes to introducing variety and fun is to add an element of surprise. And finally, this is when having a long term relationship serves as an advantage.

Surprise them!

Do something out of the ordinary. In one day you could do two or three of these things and score big.

  • If you are not the chef of the house, cook them dinner.
  • Show up at their work with a coffee.
  • Take them to lunch on a whim.
  • Run an errand you know they had to do but dreaded doing.
  • Buy them something they need but keep forgetting to pick up (for instance, I would be very happy to have my partner put new windshield wipers on my car so that I don’t have to fuss over it).

To continue reading this blog click here…

Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, , , , ,

The Self Care Movement

self care movement bev mcleish herbal north out of the woods wellness in Aurora, york region

As someone who is in the wellness industry and who has lost a decade of her life to depression, I deeply understand how important self-care is to our mental state.

In this world, with its panic-stricken days full of rush and bustle, where adrenaline and production at any cost are prized over serenity, our mental health would collapse without caring for ourselves in some way, shape or form.

But lately I’ve struggled with the overwhelming influx of self-care posts being shared, particularly on Facebook.

It may be due to the fact that I am in the wellness industry and I have multiple contacts that support and help people in various ways, but whenever I scroll through my newsfeed these sheer amount of these posts overwhelm me and I start to get upset.

It took me a while to figure out why but then it occurred to me that my newsfeed read like a list of commands:

  • Be kind.
  • Listen to your heart.
  • Read more books.
  • Join more groups.
  • Get active.
  • Change and the world changes with you.
  • Gratitude brings more of what you’re thankful for.
  • Be this.
  • Do that.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. These phrases are great to a certain extent but they don’t really tell you anything you don’t already know.

We’re all adults here. We get it. Most of us have already read, seen or heard about the Law of Attraction. Although great in theory, the Law of Attraction hasn’t done much for folks. At least for the folks I know.

After all, the universe contains many different laws and these work simultaneously. One of which is that opposites attract! For example, males are attracted to females, and vice versa. Which is why we’re all here in the first place right?

To continue reading this blog click here…

Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

 

/by
, , , , ,

How Herbs Work

how herbs works bev mcleish out of the woods wellness herbal north york region

As I continue my practice, I’ve noticed that it’s been difficult for some of my clients to understand the difference between plants and the conventional medication we’re so used to taking.

As a result, the mind shift I went through is something I try to my clients with as well, so they can understand how plants work and how they are fundamentally different from drugs.

Let’s Talk About Plants

Herbs contain a multitude of chemicals and unlike medication, they don’t consist of one concentrated substance. Plant substances can number in the thousands and they all enter the body and work together to offer some of the elements the body needs to bring itself back into balance.

This is why plants take time and work gently. It takes a while for the body to become unbalanced and so it may take a while for the body to recover on its own naturally.

When something takes time to heal it usually means that the healing is thorough. Think of the difference between sleeping for 8-10 hours to become fully rested or drinking a coffee in 10 minutes to get an immediate boost. The sleep will be more productive and enduring in the long run.

Herbalist Principles

Herbalists have strong beliefs about the human body and the ways in which herbs work. We’ve developed these beliefs from collective experience spanning hundreds of years.

1. The Body Responds to Illness as a Whole – this is the premise behind all Holistic medicine. When we get a headache it doesn’t necessarily mean that the cause for the headache resides in the head. There are many reasons for headaches; diet, the liver, the digestive tract, muscular tension or your sleeping routine to name a few. It’s important to find out the underlying cause and not simply suppress head pain by treating the only body part that hurts.

2. Symptoms are the Language of the Body – Herbalists see symptoms as a language the body uses to tell us when it’s out of balance. We will pay very close attention to how you experience your symptom(s) and to the other organ systems within your body to determine the source of the problem.

3. The Body Is Intelligent & Hard Wired to Heal – The body is our greatest ally and it wants to heal itself from any conditions with which it may be afflicted. The body is more intelligent than current science and any practitioner that attempts to help it. Herbalists believe the body knows what it needs and how to use it once it gets it.

To continue reading this blog please click this link…

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, , , , , ,

When Can I Make It Myself & When Should I See an Herbalist?

what can an herbalist help with - when to see an herbalist bev mcleish herbal north york region aurora

I wish I got asked this question more often.

Most people think herbs are easy to understand and easy to take because they grew up immersed in a Western mindset when it comes to substances that affect the body. They think of natural remedies as safe because they’re gentle and not as strong as medicinal drugs. At the same time, they view plants as if they are single substances all to themselves, when nothing could be further from the truth. For instance, many believe when you take an herb labelled for a specific condition it will only work on that condition and a particular part of the body. In addition, many believe that if an herb doesn’t work for them then it doesn’t work for anyone with that condition. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The reality is that herbs are multifaceted. They contain many chemicals and constituents which work on more than one condition simultaneously. Because there is more to them than one dimension, herbs can work for someone’s joint pain and not another’s. I’ll be touching more on this in next month’s blog.

The main point I am trying to make here is that just because an herb doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean plants are not going to be helpful to you and your situation. This is the very reason why there are herbalists out there. And why some herbs work for some people and not for others.

Small Stuff

When it isn’t serious and happens infrequently, go ahead and use plant remedies for:

  • Colds & Flus
  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Aches & Pains
  • Cramps

If there is an issue that has been bothering you for a while or the herb you used did not help or seemed to make things worse, reach out for an herbalist.

We are specially trained to determine which plant would make the best impact based on what you are experiencing – and there are thousands of plants out there.

A WIDE ARRAY OF HERBS IN JARS

When It’s Time to See an Herbalist

If you have any kind of longstanding, chronic or repetitive issue, you should see a medical practitioner. This is to ensure it does not progress into something dangerous; or points to something more problematic going on inside your body.

That being said, plant remedies can do a lot to alleviate discomfort. And can help with any condition the body cooks up.

Menstrual cramps, headaches, long-term insomnia, musculoskeletal pain, digestive issues and nervous system issues are all conditions where herbs can provide a lot of support.

To continue reading this blog please click this link…

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

/by
, , , ,

Supporting Your Dosha, Supporting Your Health

Ayurveda and herbal medicine - What doshas are you? Bev McLeish, Certified Herbalist with Herbal North in aurora

As we discussed last time, our bodies are not all made the same and an ancient, medical tradition still in practice today, called Ayurveda has isolated three different types of body constitutions called Doshas, Kapha, Pitta and Vata.

These constitutions stem from the belief that our body contains three dynamics of the universal life force and they combine in the body slightly differently each time. What is useful is that Ayurveda also provides the types of diets we should be following based on our predominant dosha.

VATA – The Air Element

Food and personal habits that nourish, ground and moisten are key for this dosha. In order to keep the nervous system working in top condition and to ensure the body remains balanced. Like the mountaineers in the image above, Vata’s tend toward dry, cold, weakness, tension and sensitivity, so they need a nourishing, strengthening diet.

Eating spices like garlic, salt, cumin, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon and coriander help Vata people warm up their core. Gentle massages using heavy oils, like sesame or almond, on a regular basis help to keep tension at bay, increase circulation and keep the nervous system calm.

Consider practicing meditation and letting go of bad thoughts or memories you have already successfully moved past. Adequate sleep with no late nights, mild exercise while filtering social media, tv or news also works to keep the nervous system calm. Vatas should avoid overwork, overthinking, excessive talking/noise and too much travel. These activities keep the nervous system in overdrive, something that easily happens in Vata people.

To continue reading this blog please click here…

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

 

/by