Have You Gotten Caught - Reading that is!

A lovely spring day, a beautiful garden, a hammock and a good book - does that sound heavenly or what? Books can transport you to other times and places. They can educate and inspire. Books can make you laugh, cry, dream and sigh.

May is Get Caught Reading Month. Not reading Facebook - but a real book. (Kindles and Nooks are good too.) I grew up in a home filled with books. There were overstuffed book cases in every room. My home now is much the same. Mysteries, science fiction, science, romance, adventure, children's stories, poetry, biographies, how to's - if it looks interesting, it winds up on our shelves. We've got hardcover and softcover. There's one whole book case for herb guides and books on aromatherapy, herbal studies and herbal home care.

This doesn't even count the magazines we have kept!

Get Caught Reading Month is the chance to recognize the amazing gift that reading can be. I always make sure to compliment children and young people that I see reading books and magazines. And it's a wonderful conversation starter with people (unless they are reading at that moment. Then leave them alone and let them read!)

These are some of my current favorite reads.

The Harry Potter books. That's the books - not the movies. I do like the movies, but the books are so much better and intricate. I've read them all at least 3 times.

China Bayles Series by Susan Wittig Albert. China Bayles, the lead character, lives in a small town in Texas and runs an herb shop. She has interesting friends and seems to find murder and mayhem about her. Susan writes with detail and clarity, but with a inviting, inclusive manner that makes you a part of the adventure. Herbs play an integral part of the story. And there's the herb shop. I have to admit, it's the shop of my dreams.

The Brother Cadfael mysteries. These historical murder mysteries feature Brother Cadfael, a Welsh Monk in Shrewsbury, England in the 12th century. He is the abbey herbalist and has a keen eye for clues.

Every now and then I find myself going back to James Herriot stories, a British country vet. These stories make me laugh and cry and love animals all the more.

Richard Scarry books and Animalia by Graeme Base. Not by myself, mind you. But these are my favorite books to read and give to children. No. Really.
Have you been caught? And what are you reading now?  Me? I'm going to grab my copy of The Essential Herbal Magazine and head out to the hammock. You can catch me there.

Which Witch in the season of the Witch?

Soon we will be coming upon the season of the Witch. I don’t mean Halloween and “cast a spell” type of Witch (although that is coming and that’s a separate story). I mean season of the Witch … Hazel. Specifically Hamamelis virgniana, the plant that blossoms in late autumn and winter and has such fantastic healing properties.

Witch Hazel is native to the eastern part of the United States and Canada. It has several common names, including popping hazel, long boughs, spotted alder and winterbloom. It was widely used by Native American’s for a number of purposes. They used it for medicine. And because the branches were flexible yet strong, they used it to make their bows. Plants were brought over to Europe in the early 1700’s. In Middle English “wyche” meant pliable or flexible. Hazel – because the tree was similar to hazelnut. Over time it became Witch Hazel. Nothing spooky about that.

The shrub or tree can grow to be 12 to 15 feet tall. The leaves are a lovely red before they fall off for the winter. Here’s where Witch Hazel’s magic begins. After the leaves fall off, beautiful, bright yellow blossom appear in the early to late fall. At the same time, the fruit from last year’s blossoms ripens and makes an audible pop. No wonder the tree is considered to have mystical properties.

Native American Indians utilized Witch Hazel for a variety of medicines, applying decoctions and poultices on cuts, burns, bug bites, bruises, and sore and stiff joints, muscles and backs. Teas were used to help staunch internal bleeding and treat colds, sore throats and other ailments.

Another part of Witch Hazels magic is found in its strength as an astringent and anti inflammatory, as well as anti-itch properties. These enable Witch Hazel to help stop internal and external bleeding. It's a wonderful asset to skin care where it helps ease and prevent acne, tighten and tone up the skin, and help damaged blood vessels under the skin.

Witch Hazel hydrosol is also very effective in treating hemorrhoid’s and varicose veins. It’s a main ingredient in products like Preparation H Pads, Tucks, and others. The tannins and astringency help tighten the distended veins and add a protective structure to help the veins return to a more pliable, normal structure.

Witch Hazel just does so darn much. And you probably have a bottle of it in a bathroom cabinet. The Witch Hazel you find in your cabinet is most likely made from the leaves and young twigs, which are then distilled. The bark is used to make different tinctures and ointments.

I’ve always been a fan of Witch Hazel. I’ve used it straight as skin toner and in hair rinses. I’ve mixed it with different herbs for liniments and bruise treatments.

We use it in a number of our products, including our Face Toner; Dó Gréine Spray for sunburns, rashes and bug bites; Méla Tae Night Moon and Lemon Bright Hair rinses; and in one of our new skin care products (news on that one soon).

As the season of the Witch approaches, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for ghosts, goblins, flying brooms and magical winter blossoms of bright yellow, because Hazel is one of my favorite witches.

How do you like to use witch hazel?