Tension Headache

I get these a lot, though much less often than say three years ago before the knowledge I learned at Bastyr started to kick in. I started to kick the things when I straightened out my diet a bit and got some chiropractic care, but a few choice herbs have helped in the struggle.
Namely: Lobelia, Valerian, Cramp Bark, (all of these are muscle relaxants and most likely wouldn't work for most headaches) and if its hormonally relevent, Motherwort. (Motherwort is good for any sort of menstrual pain and headache due to hormone imbalances) Oh and drinking lots of water since if the headache is that bad I must be dehydrated something awful.

Unfortunately nothing seems to be an instant cure all and the side affects of each of them make it a not so great cure for you know getting rid of a headache (one that will turn into a monster or pain and crying and sleeping it off until the next day are the only options left sort) before going to work in two hours.

Lobelia makes you nauseuas (depending on the dose and the person, some people can take up to a droppful before getting sick, some people can't handle a drop, unfortunately for me, the worse my headache the more sensitive I am to it and can usually only handle a couple drops), Valerian makes you sleepy. The other two aren't so bad but don't always work, Cramp Bark isn't really strong enough in one dose, motherwort tastes awful, though if it works it actually works.

I also use Lobelia, Valerian and Cramp bark topically by adding a few drops of each tincture to a little lotion and rubbing it into the tight muscles of my shoulders and back, this only seems to work if someone else applies it and I get a massage, and frankly it never seems to help me 100%, though I know people that this is the best thing for them. I guess I am an exceptionally tense person or something.

Hence, despite three years of knowing what to do and how to prevent these things if I have one a comin' the only medicine I take is ibuprofen and a hell of a lot of water. How ridiculous is that? If I don't catch it soon enough it doesn't matter I often end up throwing Ibuprofen up anyway, but if I get it in time I can have my muscles give me a break enough to let me have a life for a few hours.

I am on drop two of the lobelia and really not feeling that much better, and my stomach is already protesting. I hope this stupid pill kicks in before work or I am screwed.

Infestation!

My house plants are all sort of dying. Spring has brought on a full on infestation of white flies (that have been there for a couple months, but now that its warm there is a swarm) and a new infestation of aphids: which must have been here for a week or two because I notice that some are already sprouting wings which means they are out to spread their seed to other plants. Lovely.

So I am doing major damage control starting with the Cardamom (Elletaria cardamomum) and the Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia spp hybrid) since they aren't really being affected yet, just a few stray white flies. The rest of the 'window bunch' have been banished outside until I can bury them or rid them of the little parasites. (I am sort of hoping that the cold will help me get rid of most of the problem, even if a couple of the plants bite it too it will be better than my entire garden dying.)

I am using soapy water with lavender essential oil to clean off the plants as best I can then lavender essential oil with water in a spray bottle for keeping the bugs off afterward. I am thinking I will lose the basil (almost dead anyway) and the lemon balm (which is where the white fly infestation originated) I hope I can save the geranium from the aphids, it washing doesn't work I may go out scouting for some lady bugs to help out.

Also, my husband chose this week to place our stuffed moose and bear in the window and they are now host to many (dead looking) white flies. joy. It looks like my bear has lice...ewwwww.
Update: Also found really creepy spider under one of the plants. Sean says its not poisonous. But I don't like the creepy skull marking on its back. Hopefully its just for the flies benefit ("no, I would not say benefit")

Life List

My friend Jill over at thinklikeajillian.blogspot.com started this (as usual!). Check out 43things.com to make your own list!



1. Move to Italy

2. Finish writing a book

3. Make a scientific herb garden

4. travel all around the world

5. make wine

6. Start my own business

7. Sculpt

8. Cook more

9. Become fluent in another language

10. Use herbal medicine

11. Drink tea every day

12. Play Flute more

13. Learn to play a stringed instrument

14. Paint

15. Experience more diverse things

16. learn to kayak

17. Memorize all the countries so I have a mental map of the world.

18. Write 1 page a day

19. Publish many books

20. Learn Latin

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Aboca

Aboca is an herbal company in Tuscany, Italy that makes a wide variety of products. I found they have a little introductory video I thought I would share.

here (requires quicktime to run :)

Sean and I are discussing moving to Italy for a year so its now a race to see who can get a placement at our prospective places of study.