Hollyhocks   Morning Glories   Our Enchanted Adventure  

Explore In Our Enchanted Garden

  Hello to you from our enchanted world! Join a gardener/writer/webmaster and a Lucky Dragon on our journey. We are caretakers of an enchanted garden and we're using the internet as a means to share our adventures while we re-arrange and re-build our magical place; an enchanted garden; a little corner of heaven on earth

  A garden designed to enhance and nuture nature herself. We're looking forward to sharing the information uncovered through our experimentation and to developing an interactive website for all to enjoy!

Choose A Section

PLANTS
by common name
POETRY
inspired in the garden
ANIMATIONS
playing with graphics!
FUN THINGS
spotted on our travels!

Coming SOON! Tips on feeding the birds with Natural goodies from your garden!
Scroll down for a section on tonics to help you stay well through the Holiday season!



more focused! more coming, from the garden, with Love...


Here's To Happy Holidays of all shapes and sizes for all to enjoy!

Just in time to help you get through the next few weeks of holidaying!
   I'm inspired to share a few herbal tonics with you.
These I use to help my body avoid illnesses and to soothe my system as it adjusts into the cold weather season.

This time of year, once the heat is on in the house and the temperatures dip outside, our bodies go through a series of adjustments relating to changes in humidity and temperature levels as well as less daylight. The adjustments our bodies make can often be misconstrued as illness, early in the season, when really the body is simply attempting to remove toxins with it's internal housecleaning.

By assisting our bodies in the adjustment process we can mitigate the potential to acquire additional difficulties later in the season when the risk of exposure to viruses and bacteria increases.

Can't overstate the obvious, to avoid exposure;

1)  Get plenty of rest
2)  Eat well
3)  Drink plenty of fluids
4)  Wash your hands frequently
5)  Avoid touching your eyes
6)  Kiss, rather than shaking hands*
    *if you get to make a choice!
7)  If you are sick - stay home!

  You've undoubtedly heard the first 4 many times. I've added 5 through 7 for a very good reason; they represent how we transmit viruses in most cases.
  If your hands have been in contact with a virus you are most likely to transmit it to yourself through your eyes - apparently this is the region that viruses enter most often.
  This makes sense when you also consider most colds begin with head congestion, an ear infection or a throat irritation. All connected to the same sinus cavities your eyes are connected to.
  There have been reports that saliva actually kills viruses and therefore kissing is considered far safer than handshakes as a form of greeting. If you must shake hands, do be sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, or ears at least until you can clean your hands quickly and as diplomatically as possible. (Always keep a water-free hand cleaner, or wipes, nearby.)

  The last point - if it's at all possible don't be where others will be in contact with your germs! Please! At least until you're no longer carrying the active virus. I would even recommend you avoid shopping or traveling in public transit if it is possible. If not, again, take great care in assuring you are not depositing your cold germs or viruses on surfaces which will potentially infect others.

Now to help through the adjustment period here are a couple of tonics I use which assist in boosting the bodies' immune system and clearing away congestion;


Cider Vinegar Tonic


<  This tonic assists to de-acidify the body. During the holiday season people often over-eat or have foods that tend to add to the body's acidity. (rich foods, sugary foods, gravies, sauces and high fat foods) This tonic cuts that acidic sensation and gives your body a boost of nutrients.

Place the following ingredients in a heat safe mug;

1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon (or to taste) honey
fill mug with boiling water, or very hot weak tea
stir until honey melts

allow to cool to desired drinking temperature (you can drink it warm or cold). Drink as often as you like. Once a day is fine, once a week if you just want a periodic boost.



Congestion Buster Herbal Tea
(Can be made by the cup or by the pot)

Yarrow - boosts organs, cleanses system by promoting perspiration
Ginseng Root - Immune booster, soothes mucous membranes
Echinacea - Immune booster
Licorice Root - Expectorant, used for coughs & clearing congestion
Ginger Root - flavour, promotes perspiration, eases cold symptoms

Flavour with honey and or lemon, or add lemon or orange peel to the mix. Best not taken with milk.

This tea is refreshing and soothing and can be used every day if needed. As a preventative; use at the begining of the cold season to strengthen the body's defences and periodically throughout the season to keep them primed.


All but the Yarrow are roots of their respective plants. Licorice root is best purchased already chopped as it is difficult to break into small pieces. All are available at bulk and health food stores. Ginger root is available in grocery stores. I use a tea ball in a 6 cup teapot or a special teaspoon with a hinged lid for one cup. In total you won't need more than 2 tablespoons combined herb to a pot of tea. Experiment with the proportions to find which tastes best to you. If you don't have a tea ball use the herbs loose in your teapot , steep and then pour through a strainer when serving.


Yet to come in the Enchanted Garden; a section on herbs, domestic and wild, their various uses and their fabulous benefits, as well as sharing some of my favourite herbal concoctions. Hope you enjoy this sampling, in time for the holidays, for you to try.


Tea anyone?





click here to go to the top of the page


Wish List - These Sections to come;

  • The Garden's History
    • Stories with pictures
    • eventual slideshow story format
  • Come take a walk in the garden
    • garden "tour" stories with pictures
    • eventual slideshow story format
  • Making Other Connections With Nature;
    • Camping
    • Biking
    • Hiking
    • Star Gazing
    • Birding
    • Gathering materials in the wild
  • Garden Maps
    • links to stories about special spaces in the garden
    • eventual Web cam links to;
      • birdbath
      • birdfeeder
      • toadhouse
      • other points of interest
  • Organic Gardening; working with nature in the garden
  • "Weeds", "Herbs" and "Native Species" - when a weed is not a weed!
  • Metaphysics In The Garden - a special place to practice your own magic
  • Garden Craft Ideas
    • Wreaths
    • Arrangements
    • Artwork
  • Kids section
    • gardening
    • garden "critters"
    • simple projects
  • Faeries, Dragons, Sprites and Elves; some olde garden lore
  • Links to other resources, outside my site


Do you live a life enchanted?


©2005, all original material copyright protected

click here to go to the top of the page



About Us   Our Enchanted Adventure  
Webmaster; send a message to the gardener/webmaster
©2005 Cheryl Binstock, original material, All rights reserved


Visitors to the garden to date;counter