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Holiday Gift Guide 2019

December 2, 2019 0 comment

All About Adaptogens with Anima Mundi

As we enter the holidays, the best thing we can do is equip ourselves with healthy ways to manage and reduce stress related to the season. That’s why we’re diving into a topic that has been incredibly life-changing for me: adaptogens!

My first real learning experience with adaptogens was when I attended a plant medicine workshop during a Spirit Weavers Gathering in 2016 taught by amazing teacher and friend, Paula Ferraro. I’d known about adaptogens before then, but didn’t truly understand their healing properties and how to incorporate them into my everyday routine. Adaptogens are botanicals and mushrooms that support the body’s natural ability to handle stress. They adapt to each person’s unique needs to help bring their body into balance, working bi-directionally to both help promote relaxation as well as provide more energy and overall stamina. Adaptogens work specifically with the immune, endocrine and neuroendocrine systems. They have been used for centuries in herbal medicine practices throughout the world, most notably in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.

I take a variety of adaptogens everyday. My favorites are ashwagandha, chaga, reishi, rhodiola, lion’s mane, mucuna and tulsi (holy basil). I typically start my day with an adaptogenic blend of mushrooms. If I’m making matcha, I will blend 3-4 adaptogen powders (reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane) into my drink (1/2 teaspoon each). If I’m drinking yerba mate, I’ll squeeze about 40 drops of an adaptogenic tincture (Adaptogenic Tonic) into my tea. In the afternoon around 2/3, I usually take another 40 drops of a different adaptogenic tincture (lately Cerebrum Brain Tonic) either just in water or in herbal tea. Finally an hour or so before bed time, I either make a moon milk with powdered adaptogens (ashwagandha, reishi and tulsi) or use a calming adaptogenic tincture (Happiness Tonic) to wind down before sleep. When I’m traveling, I usually bring 2-3 different tinctures with me. I find the tinctures are easier for on-the-go, as they blend into things way more easily.

While I love making potions at home and sharing the knowledge my teachers have taught me in workshops, I wanted to bring in a true master herbalist to share her expert knowledge on the topic. I received so many great questions about adaptogens from you all, and I am so thankful to have Adriana Ayales, medicine maker and founder of Anima Mundi Herbals, provide her insight.

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Adriana is a rainforest herbalist who was born and raised in Costa Rica. Immersed in the world of plants since she was a child, Adriana has helped provide relief to people with chronic disease through custom formulas for years. The demand for her formulas naturally grew during her time in New York, and from that Anima Mundi was born. Now back in Costa Rica, Adriana works with sustainable farmers to source indigenous herbs, import organic species from all over the world, and send ingredients to New York for production and distribution. If you ever find yourself in Brooklyn, I highly recommend that you stop by her apothecary shop in Greenpoint!

Now through Monday, 12/02/19, Anima Mundi is offering 20% off all products with code WUHAUS.

Alison’s Favorite Anima Mundi Products:

Adaptogenic Tonic – great adaptogenic tincture with several kinds of mushrooms, camu camu and mangosteen
Happiness Tonic – one of my favorite tinctures for stress and mood
Brain Kit – also makes a great holiday gift!
Coconut Cream Powder – always travel with this stuff! just add to hot water and you instantly have coconut milk
Mucuna – the best for mood boosting
Ashwagandha – so soothing for the nervous system. my favorite all-around adaptogen
Lion’s Mane – the best brain food!
Plant-based Collagen Booster – a great plant-based collagen alternative

Alison’s Recommendations for Daily Use:

Start small by incorporating between 2-3 adaptogens into your daily routine
If you’re intimidated on where to start, try a preblended formulation that addresses your needs
Try blending powders into your smoothies or superfood lattes (coffee, tea, or herbal)
If you don’t have a blender or just prefer to drink regular tea or coffee in the mornings, I recommend using tincture form instead of powders, which can get clumpy if not blended
Adaptogens work best taken in small amounts over longer periods of time. I recommend taking 1/2 teaspoon of each adaptogen you are working with 2-3 times a day
Get creative with how you use them! Add them to your homemade soups/broths, granola, bliss balls or cookies/cakes

Alison’s Favorite Adaptogens For:

Stress + Anxiety: Ashwagandha, tulsi/holy basil, reishi
Immune Support: All the mushrooms! (chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, maiiake, etc.), astragalus
Energy: Rhodiola, cordyceps, maca, schizandra
Mood: Mucuna, ashwagandha

Wu Haus Adaptogenic Recipes:

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I’ve known and used Anima Mundi’s herbal remedies for several years and was fortunate to connect with Adriana after we were both quoted in a New York Times article about adaptogens last year. Here, she answers your questions about adaptogens, plus offers personal tips for dealing with stress during the holiday season:

Wu Haus: What’s your advice for those who are just getting started with adaptogens?

Adriana Ayales: I would start with up to three different kinds of adaptogens, used as single herbs, so you can notice what the effects are in your life. Also, be patient. Nothing is instantaneous. It’s always good to allow natural medicines to take their time, up to 2 weeks of consistently take it along with a healthy diet, so you can really observe the energetics of that adaptogen. And pair them properly to metabolize. Patience, time and consistency is key. The whole pill-popping culture doesn’t work for these herbs, which work in a more holistic sense.

WH: How much and how often should you take adaptogens?

AA: Every herb is different, and it depends on the reason it’s being used for. For chronic illnesses, for example, larger and consistent doses can be particularly beneficial, but again depends on the imbalance in particular. Adaptogens used for daily maintenance also involves a different dosage. Because these herbs are powerful, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to use 1/2-1 teaspoon of its powdered form. When the herb has been extracted, whether as an extract powder or as a liquid extract, the dosing can vary depending on the extraction rate. All in all, consistency is key. The more consistent you are with their use, the more likely you’ll reap their excellent benefits.

WH: What’s the difference between primary and secondary adaptogens?

AA: Many of the adaptogens that are marketed today aren’t officially adaptogens. There are only nine adaptogens that are officially recorded from the 1940s, when they were first studied in the Soviet Union. They’d discovered herbs that helped recovery from stress and biological stress, like being exposed to heavy metals. From there, a lot of people started studying other herbs that have similar properties, like mucuna. There’s no approval in the modern-day sense, but all the chemistry signals that it’s a primary adaptogen. It’s just not labeled as such by the living scientists who created the label in the first place. Hopefully, there will be research in the future.

The nine primary adaptogens are Asian ginseng, American ginseng, ashwagandha, cordyceps, eleuthero, rhaponticum, rhodiola, schisandra and shilajit.

WH: Are there adaptogens that are better to take at a certain time of day?

AA: Yes. I do think some have more of a daytime use than nighttime. And this greatly depends on your body. For example, ashwagandha can be deeply calming to most, but to others it might be energizing. This depends on the current needs of your own constitution. So for some, ashwagandha can be a miraculous nighttime remedy if they’re handling a lot of stress and anxiety. Others, like rhodiola, are more stimulating and awakening, and tend to be best taken during the day.

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WH: What are the differences in delivery methods?

AA: I think tinctures are a lot more vital than pills. Tinctures tend to capture energetics and vitality over pills, due to the result of its bioavailable nature once the extraction has happened. Pills unfortunately tend to contain binders and fillers, whether to keep them preserved, or because the extract powder in itself wants a clean derivative. Although there are some great ones out there, it’s hard to find clean and fresh sources. But for folks that cannot handle the herbal taste, as a tincture or powder, then finding excellent unadulterated sources for pills can be a great alternative.

WH: What’s your favorite way of taking adaptogens?

AA: Functional foods are so great. You usually combine them with healthy fats – it’s the best way to metabolize them. Raw fresh coconut oil, flaxseed oil, any of that healthy goodness. From power balls to homemade granola bars, the sky’s the limit!

WH: Do certain adaptogens go better together?

AA: Yes. Pairing is key to generate particular results. The art of formulation is creating essential pairings of master herbs with supportive and activating herbs to tackle someone’s particular healing journey properly. There are classic combinations that have been practiced for hundreds of years by Chinese (TCM), Daoist, Ayurvedic and other [medical systems]. For example, there’s a classic formula in Traditional Chinese Medicine that’s Panax ginseng, astragalus and licorice that assists with lethargy and deep-rooted exhaustion. Another famous Ayurvedic pairing that many of us know is Triphala, which is three restorative tonics, such as amla, haritaki and bibhitaki. This is a classic formula for a sluggish digestion. Another classic formula used for depression in clinical herbalism that our Happiness Tonic contains some of the herbs, is rhodiola with supportive “antidepressants” such as St. John’s Wort and Albizia. And so, so many more!

WH: Does your body build immunity against adaptogens?

AA: Technically, primary adaptogens teach the body on a chemical level. So essentially, over time, your body will be able to create the response without its use. One of the key signature traits of primary adaptogens is that they’re safe, which also means they are not habit-forming nor create any kind of dependance.

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WH: Are there possible side effects or things to consider before taking adaptogens?

AA: Secondary adaptogens that many of us consider primary, like he shou wu, reishi, mucuna, maca, suma, (etc!) might have side effects when taken in very large doses over long periods of time. Primary adaptogens have no foreseen side effects when taken in larger doses, which is why it became a signature trait for the 9 declared adaptogens back in 1957. Yet we’re due for more research to really get to understand the deeper chemical realities of the secondary adaptogens and other herbs that have identical traits to the primary adaptogens.

WH: What adaptogens are helpful for dealing with stress related to the holidays?

AA: Everybody needs to be super energized and as stress-free as possible. My favorites are mucuna, maca and rhodiola to keep you energized and help fight off stress. Cacao, although not technically an adaptogen, is a good accompaniment, especially for digestion. Suma helps keep you super energized. For the wintry season, I enjoy them in warm beverages like teas, soups, or broths. Of course, putting them in a latte or your favorite milky beverage is exquisite.

WH: What’s your favorite way to destress during the holiday season?

AA: Body care with adaptogens! I usually do an adaptogenic body oil. I love integrating ashwagandha, calendula, horsetail, passionflower, and basically any flower that’s currently in season that’s excellent for skin and relaxation. I slowly cook the herbs in the oil on very low heat and use it to massage the shoulders, temples and feet after a warm bath. I also love integrating powdered adaptogens with other plant-based things, like avocado and coconut milk, in face masks. Wintry self-care, inward meditation type of rituals are my favorite.

November 25, 2019 0 comment

Beauty Self-Care Wellness

Guide to Face Masks

During the fall season, one of my favorite ways to take a moment for myself – as well as prepare my skin for drier weather – is by using face masks. There are so many options out there, and each one comes with its own set of benefits. I partnered with milk + honey, one of my favorite holistic skincare brands, to share the different kinds of masks and steps of application to help you find the perfect match for your skincare needs.

I first became acquainted with milk + honey when searching for a natural, baking-soda free deodorant. My skin is sensitive to baking soda, so I was so relieved to find a product that not only didn’t irritate my skin, but also kept both sweat and smell at bay.

Not only do their products work well for me, but the Austin-based company’s values align with my own. The founder, Alissa Bayer, is dedicated to only using hyperclean, quality ingredients in her products that are both effective and enjoyable to use. Unfortunately I don’t live near any of their six spas, but I love using their spa-quality, organic products every day in my home and when I’m on the road traveling. Starting today through December 31st, they are offering 20% off all of milk + honey products on milkandhoney.com with code WUHAUS20.

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First, let’s talk about the different face masks that are widely available:

Clay
Clay masks have been around for centuries and are great for removing dirt and toxins from your face and replacing them with beneficial minerals. They’re ideal for acne-prone skin, and can be extremely helpful when applied the correct way (keep reading for tips on mask application).

Some common clay masks include bentonite, which is great for oily skin; French green clay, which boosts circulation and tightens pores; and kaolin clay, which contains milder absorption qualities that is more ideal for dry to normal skin.

I love alternating between milk + honey’s charcoal clay masque and pink clay masque for their unique benefits. The charcoal clay masque includes both activated charcoal and bentonite clay, making it a great detoxification mask that minimizes dryness with organic aloe leaf. The pink clay masque is a gentler option that is perfect for those with combination skin or who want some mild exfoliation for brightening.

Skin type: Normal to oily
Benefits: Detoxification, exfoliation, pore minimization, skin tightening

Mud
Mud masks are water-based and can be very hydrating. They’re a great option for those who tend to have dry skin, especially during the harsher months of fall and winter. Since you don’t run the risk of overdrying your skin with mud masks, they can be used regularly – up to 2-3 times a week, depending on your skin needs and sensitivities.

Skin type: Normal to dry
Benefits: Detoxification, exfoliation, hydration, skin tightening

Cream
Cream masks are also a great option for hydration, making them ideal for people with normal to dry skin. Most are made with replenishing oils and moisturizers like jojoba oil and shea butter. They may also include hyaluronic acid, which our skin naturally produces but can often be compromised by regular exposure to UV rays and other elements. Cream masks can help supplement your natural supply to hold in moisture and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin type: Normal to dry
Benefits: Hydration, spot treatment + brightening

Exfoliating Enzyme
Sometimes, all your skin really needs for a pick-me-up is a thorough exfoliation. Enzyme masks are a great way to remove dead skin cells that clog pores and cause breakouts. Many exfoliating face masks, like the milk + honey exfoliating enzyme masque, are AHA-based (Alpha-Hydroxy Acids). These acids create a chemical peeling effect that are gentle enough for most skin types. Since these can be drying, look for one with moisturizing ingredients or be sure to follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

Skin type: All
Benefits: Exfoliation, spot treatment + brightening

Sheet
Sheet masks are fun to apply and come in a variety of options that can target different issues. Most sheet masks state their benefits directly on the packaging – from exfoliation and pore-refining to firming, hydration and detoxification. Most are ideal for all skin types and don’t require washing your face after removing the sheet. Instead, massage any remaining mask into your skin to keep reaping its benefits. They’re great for airplanes or to take traveling.

Skin type: All
Benefits: Varies by sheet mask ingredients

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There are more types of face masks available on the market, but these are the kinds that I have most experience with. Not all masks are made equal, but you can get the maximum benefit that they provide when they’re applied correctly. Here are the steps I suggest taking when applying a milk + honey face mask:

1.) Wash your face
Most masks include this as the first step in directions. By starting with a clean face, your skin is able to properly absorb the benefits of the mask. Be sure to wash with your regular cleanser and not just water to clear the skin of any makeup or impurities. If it’s been a while since you’ve exfoliated, you may consider using your favorite facial scrub or adding a natural exfoliant like sugar to your face wash.

2.) Open your pores
Opening your pores makes it easier for the mask to effectively clear them of debris. You can do this by taking a hot shower before applying the mask, covering your face with a washcloth that’s been dipped in hot water (test the temperature before placing on your face to avoid getting burned!), or by placing your face over a bowl of steaming water for a few minutes.

3.) Apply mask
My favorite part! Although clean fingers work perfectly fine, I love using the milk + honey Masque Brush for an even application and to keep things from getting messy. To apply, I usually start with my forehead, applying across the middle and brushing out toward my temples. I do the same with my nose, cheeks and chin, taking care to avoid sensitive areas like my eyes and lips.

4.) Remove mask
People often wait until the mask becomes completely dry and flaky before removal, but that’s actually too long. Once it reaches that stage, it begins to remove moisture from your skin and can leave your skin dry and irritable. Instead, wait until it becomes lighter in color and sticky to the touch, then wash it away to reveal fresh, clean skin. I usually take off masks with lukewarm to warm water, splashing my skin until the water runs clear.

5.) Lock in the benefits
At the very least, splash your face with cold water or use a gentle toner to close your pores. If you have a favorite serum or moisturizer, apply as you normally would while your skin is still damp to maximize hydration.

6.) Repeat!
Before using any new mask, I recommend spot-treating on your skin, either on your neck or someplace not highly visible, to make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions to its ingredients. If all looks good after 24 hours, you can apply most masks up to 2-3 times weekly or whenever you feel like having an at-home spa day. I love making the most of the experience by putting on my favorite music, lounging in a robe and petting my fur babies while the mask does its thing.

Let me know your favorite face mask rituals in the comments!

October 23, 2019 0 comment

Drinks Wellness

CBD Peach Smoothie with Luce Farm

When searching for supplements to aid your body and daily life, it can be so intimidating to research the myriad of products out there who all claim to be the best. When I was looking into products for my blog post about cannabidiol, aka CBD, it was clear that many brands had seen the financial opportunity behind the new wellness craze and were quick to get something on the market to meet that demand.

Out of all the CBD companies I learned about, there was one that really stood out. Luce Farm is an idyllic 200+ acre farm on the hills of Vermont, and home to farmers Rebecca and Joe Pimentel. There, the couple raise livestock, grow high-CBD hemp plants and other medicinal herbs. As predominantly hemp farmers, it’s clear that they are dedicated to the plant and its natural benefits, and that shines through in their quality products.

Rebecca was first introduced to the potential benefits of hemp plants as a teenager, when her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her dad had mentioned that cannabis could potentially help remove the brain plaque that is common among Alzheimer’s patients. Years later, Rebecca started growing hemp and taking CBD regularly in the hopes of seeing long-term benefits. To her surprise, she started feeling positive effects almost immediately.

Here’s more about Rebecca and Luce Farm, in her own words:

“I was taking it with the hopes of long-term benefits, but really started feeling amazing benefits instantly. I had sore fingers from working, and those ailments went away. I was generally feeling more even and stress-free. So we whipped up all these recipes and started handing them out to friends and neighbors. We started hearing all these beautiful testimonies, and we knew we had an important and powerful medicine.

C02 Extraction

We went through several channels and found C02 extraction, which is the extraction process we still use today. There’s ethanol extraction, which is something I didn’t want present in my products. C02 extraction uses a very low amount of solvent. It is a very low-temperature [process] that almost freezes the product, met with a very high pressure that extracts the cannabinoids.

For something to be a legal hemp product, it has to have less than 0.3% THC. You have to either remove the THC or dilute it down, so we use a coconut oil to dilute below the threshold while mimicking the natural plant as close as possible. It leaves trace amounts of THC and terpenes, so you get a synergistic effect. Other forms of extractions either burn off cannabinoids, or remove the THC or terpenes. Terpenes give it flavor and taste, and I think the way they blend with cannabinoids is what makes the product effective.

Benefits of CBD

Inflammation is number one. CBD has a major anti-inflammatory effect. Inflammation is the cause of almost every ailment, and I think that’s why there’s such a huge range of things that people report it’s helping with. The other thing is its anti-anxiety effect. We get testimonies all the time, ranging from chronic illness to epilepsy to digestive issues to stress and anxiety.

In my opinion, the endocannabinoid system explains how it works. Every mammal has that system in their body, and it has receptors. When you use CBD, it binds to those receptors and creates homeostasis. Whatever is out of whack – that’s what CBD is treating.”

The entire process of creating Luce Farm’s small-batch CBD products – from hemp farming to extraction and manufacturing – will be certified organic by this year’s harvest season. I personally use their full-spectrum hemp extract daily for stress management and reducing inflammation and feel like it’s one of the few CBD products I’ve tried that’s actually effective. I love to add it to hot and cold beverages. You can also take it sublingually (under the tongue) for fast absorption into your body. The amount you should take daily depends on your body and what you’re treating, but a smart approach is to start with a lower dosage taken once or twice daily and gradually increase until effective.

There are tons of other ways you can use and benefit from CBD’s properties, from tinctures and CBD-infused foods like Luce Farm’s Honey, to balms and even skin care products and makeup. You can add a teaspoon of honey to your favorite morning drink, drizzle it on a snack or even eat it off the spoon. Balms are ideal for localized relief and can be applied topically to treat ailments such as skin irritation and joint pain. Luce Farm offers a wide range of CBD products and can help you decide which products best suit your needs. Now until 11:59PM PST on Wednesday, 8/7, Luce Farm is offering 20% off all products with code WuHaus20.

While many people say they experience health benefits from using CBD in different forms, please keep in mind that its full effects have not been thoroughly researched, and you should always listen to your body when introducing something new to your routine.

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CBD Peach Smoothie
[Serves 2]

2 cups chilled oat milk
2 cups frozen peaches, cut into slices (about 2 large peaches)
.50 mg Luce Farm hemp extract
2 Tablespoons coconut butter, softened
1 medjool date
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

1.) Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender on medium until smooth. Serve immediately.

August 6, 2019 0 comment

Drinks Lifestyle Self-Care Travel Wellness

Finding Fluidity Retreat Preview

Wow! I can’t believe tomorrow is the officially start of summer. Really looking forward to river days and camping trips, but even with so many memories yet-to-be-made, I can’t help but be most excited for our Finding Fluidity retreat in October in Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico, at the stunning Pachamama Mexico Boutique Hotel and Retreat Center! This will be the first (hopefully of many) international Wu Haus retreats, and I couldn’t be more excited to spend time with some of you in one of my favorite countries in the world. After the success of last year’s retreat, Coming Home, in LA, we decided we wanted to host a longer retreat with a beautiful natural setting. This very special retreat will be the only event I host for the remainder of 2019 and the only retreat until fall of 2020. Shannon and I are pouring so much energy into making this retreat unforgettable. Today, I wanted to give you a little sample of what you can expect.

We decided to call the retreat Finding Fluidity, as inspired by the resilient quality of water and how it’s strong yet graceful and moves with both force and ease. We live in a world that can often feel over stimulating. We have to deal with so much stress and commotion on a daily basis. This retreat is designed to help you learn to move through your life with more fluidity. To surrender more. To invite more ease into all that you do. Through the difficult periods, to learn to sit with the discomfort while still nurturing and taking care of yourself. This retreat is open to all people from all walks of life. We invite diversity in all forms and are here to support each of you on your own unique journeys.

If you’re interested in joining us in October, you can see the full retreat page here, and you can sign up here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about logistics, programming, payment plans, etc..

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Sample daily itinerary:

7:15-8:30am Guided yoga/movement and meditation
9:00-10:00am Breakfast
10:00am-12:30pm Morning Session (ie: creative inspiration gathering + prompted writing, food prep + styling, adaptogenic herbs and elixirs, etc.)
12:30-3pm Lunch and free time (One-on-one sessions with Shannon + Alison, swim, beach, walk, sleep, relax, etc.)
3:00-5:30pm Afternoon Session (ie: breathwork ceremony, guided scenic hike, trip to Todos Santos, etc.)
6:00-7:00pm Dinner
7:00-bedtime Free time to relax, swim, read, write, reflect, etc.

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This retreat is:

an invitation to show up, perfect as you are, and explore healing mindfulness practices in a supportive community of like-minded humans
an opportunity to slow down, breathe deeply into the wisdom of the heart, awaken the body and nourish the spirit
an inclusive gathering where diversity in all forms is desired as a priority and honored
a time to learn and gather tools for creative inspiration
an opportunity to reflect and practice guided writing activities
a chance to experience a powerful breathwork ceremony
a time to learn about adaptogenic herbs to incorporate into your daily rituals
a chance to learn useful, everyday food preparation and styling tips
an opportunity to connect and forge lasting relationships with other creative, in-tune people
SO MUCH MORE!

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Besides being a magical food goddess, Shannon guides powerful breathwork ceremonies. You will get to experience one of these incredibly healing and expanding ceremonies at the retreat this fall. If you’ve never practiced breathwork, here’s a little bit about this practice:

“Clarity Breathwork is a powerful process of healing and transformation. It deeply supports the clearing away of old energies, patterns, conditioning, negative thoughts and emotions and opens the doors wide for new life and greater consciousness. Most of us don’t breathe fully, we hold back the breath and have been doing so most of our lives. When we start to breathe fully and consciously we are easily able to release what we have been holding and open to an incredible expansion of consciousness, including greater forgiveness and self-love. This inner change brings about shifts in our outer lives for the better. Clarity Breathwork supports people to release stress and tension, heal and resolve trauma, gain deeper insights into current life issues, and access one’s own internal healing energy, creativity and greater knowing.”

We wanted to offer you a short guided meditation video to use at home. Shannon guides us through a calming and centering meditation that can be used at anytime during your day.

A big part of this retreat will focus around nourishment. What we put in our bodies, so we can move through our lives with as much ease as possible. Since we’ll be in sunny Mexico, we’ll focus on cooling foods and hydrating beverages. We wanted to offer you a sample recipe to make at home. Perfect for summer, this Aloe-Honeydew-Mint Elixir is bright, delicious and refreshing.

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Aloe-Mint-Elixir-Wu-Haus

Aloe-Honeydew-Mint Hydrating Elixir
[Makes 6 cups]

4 cups ripe honeydew, juiced (or just blended with other ingredients if you don’t have a juicer)
1 ½ cups fresh aloe, cubed (about 1 whole fresh aloe stem)
1 cup fresh mint, loosely packed
1 cup filtered water
Juice from 1 lime

1.) Wash and dry the aloe leaf, then place it spike-side down on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut along the edges of the leaf to remove the spikes, and cut off the bottom and top of the leaf. This should expose the gel on all sides.

2.) Run a sharp knife under the green skin on one side until you remove it completely. Be careful not to cut too much into the gel. If you notice that there’s any yellow ooze on the aloe gel from the skin, that’s aloe latex—which has laxative properties. You can wipe it off with a paper towel or rinse off with cool water.

3.) Once you’ve removed the first side of skin, score the gel into one-inch squares. Scoring the gel first will make it easier to remove in pre-portioned chunks. Edge the knife along the other side to remove the other green skin. Check for yellow aloe latex and remove or rinse it from any of your one-inch square pieces of aloe gel.

4.) If using a juicer, juice honeydew and add liquid to high-speed blender. Otherwise, add all ingredients to high-speed blender at once. Blend on medium-high until smooth. If you didn’t use a juicer, you can strain the blended beverage through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp. Chill in refrigerator for 30-minutes before serving. Pour over ice and enjoy!

June 20, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle Wellness

Guide to Edible Flowers

The edible flowers are starting to pop up all over the Pacific Northwest! It’s no secret that I’m a lover of all things bright and floral, and that love naturally spills over to my work in the kitchen. Edible flowers are my absolute favorite way to transform an average-looking dish into a work of art. I created this guide as a jumping off point for anyone wanting to incorporate edible flowers into their dishes at home.

If you’ve spent any time browsing the Wu Haus recipe catalog, you know it’s not uncommon to see me use blooms and petals in salads, lattes, or as garnishes for desserts. I also love incorporating flowers in more creative ways like into handmade pasta, ice cubes, and infusions for syrups in iced drinks. The flavor variety of edible flowers is surprisingly diverse, making them a great way to add a delicate burst of flavor. The cool thing about edible flowers is that you can incorporate them into basically any dish. Some are spicy, some herbaceous, while others are floral and fragrant. You can even pickle flower buds to make faux capers or stuff heartier varieties, like squash blossoms, for a complete savory meal.

Edible flowers are also a really fun reason to spend more time outside gardening, foraging, and learning about your region’s native plants. It is possible to buy a few select varieties of edible flowers at specialty grocery stores, but I much prefer to support my local farmers or grow/forage my own. If you want to grow you own from seed, Floret has an amazing selection of edible flower seeds. Never buy flowers from a florist or from the floral department of a grocery store for consumption. Most of those flowers are sprayed with a number of pesticides.

A tip for those foraging: as lovely as eating flowers can be, it can also be a little dangerous. Not all flowers are edible, so make sure you’re absolutely sure of the flower you’ve harvested before you eat it. I love this app to help me identify unknown plants. You also want to make sure you’re harvesting flowers from a place that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides. Once you pick the bloom, give it a shake to remove any insects and rinse briefly in cold water before using.

Dried flowers are a fun alternative if you don’t have access or are in a season where fresh flowers aren’t available. Just keep in mind that when swapping out dried flowers for fresh, the flavors become more concentrated, so you’ll probably need less.

Besides being beautiful and delicious, some flowers are also medicinal! Like their leafy-green counterparts, many contain potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds and are highly nutrient dense. For example, one of my favorites, rose, has been shown to have compounds that may play a role in reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. Not featured in this guide, but herbs and veggies also produce beautiful and delicious flowers. I especially love flowers of cilantro, dill, fava beans and chives.

Whatever your reason is for incorporating more flowers into your food, I’m into it. Enjoy!

Borage Blossoms

Tasting notes: Sweet and refreshing, like cucumber and honey
Uses: Best in salads, cocktail garnishes or candied
Season: Mid-April to November
Growing tips: A common self seeding herb, will return year after year. Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last date of frost and plant with strawberries to attract bees and increases the yield of fruit.

Calendula

Tasting notes: Slightly spicy bitter, tangy to peppery. Tastes similar to saffron when cooked.
Uses: Calendula is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, so great for the salves. Can be used in a tea, add zest as a garnish to dishes, or decocted in oil for cooking.
Season: April – November (although usually seeds in August in PNW)
Growing tips: Calendula can be started indoors under grow lights 6-8 weeks before the last frost or directly seeded outdoors after the last frost. They grow best in full sun to partial shade. They help repel insects so are great companion plants.

Pansy/Viola

Tasting notes: Sweet and grassy
Uses: Cup for cup violet flowers have more vitamin C than oranges do. Both flowers don’t cook well but are a beautiful garnish either whole or just petals on salads, smoothies or baked goods. Work great in ice cubes.
Season: April – November
Growing tips: Pansies/violets perform best in cooler weather, and are therefore usually planted in spring or fall. They like rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter, and full sun or partial shade. Can also be planted in pots.

Rose

Tasting notes: The petals of roses have a delicate flavor ranging from fruity to spicy over a sweet undertone. The more intense the color, the stronger the flavor, whites of petals are bitter and should be removed before using in dishes.
Uses: Dried in teas, made into jams, cooked into desserts or used in beverages. Rose water can be made to increase rose flavor in a dish.
Season: Blooms in spring and through the summer
Growing tips: Roses crave sun, at least six hours a day is ideal. Plant roses in rich, well-draining soil. Check roses frequently for insects or disease outbreaks. Regularly prune roses.

Hibiscus

Tasting notes: Tart and sweet, with a cranberry-like flavor
Uses: Citrus-like teas, in champagne or prosecco, fruit salads
Season: Mid-to-late summer and fall
Growing tips: Grows well indoors and from cuts. Rich and well-draining soil. Container-grown plants are often grown in a soilless potting medium to prevent compaction. Keep moist, but don’t let it stand in water.

Nasturtium

Tasting notes: Slightly peppery & tangy, like watercress.
Uses: Salads, carpaccio, spring rolls. Seed pods of nasturtium can be used as a “caper”.
Season: Spring – Summer
Growing tips: You can start the seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. Plant nasturtium seeds in early spring in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. They can grow in partial shade, but they will not bloom as well. Do well in pots. When planted in the ground, may come back the next year.

Zucchini Blossom

Tasting notes: Delicate and slightly sweet
Uses: Fried or stuffed and baked with herbs and cheese, as an Italian appetizer, used as a pizza topping, in a frittata or a quesadilla. Best when used day of picking.
Season: June-August
Growing tips: Zucchini and squash plants grow with two kinds of flowers: the male flower is large, bright orange and wrinkly, and the female flower is smaller and yellow. Both blossoms are edible.

Lavender

Tasting notes: Sweet, floral, citrus flavor, with hints of minty and rosemary-like aromas
Uses: In the garden, lavender is often teamed up rosemary, and it can be used in cooking wherever you might use rosemary. Roast rubs, desserts, cocktails and teas, distilled into vinegars, infused into syrup or milk, etc.
Season: June – July
Growing tips: Very drought resistant. Grows as tiny purple flowers along a stiff stalk. Rub the flowers off the stalk and discard most of the stalks, which contain essential oils that can be too pungent for cooking.

Elderflower

Tasting notes: Floral, vanilla
Uses: Most commonly used to create elderflower cordial or syrups. Also makes a nice garnish for desserts or drinks. Flowers can also be dried out and steeped in hot water to make elderflower tea.
Season: May – Mid-June
Growing tips: Elder trees grow very well in the Pacific Northwest. Elderflowers turn into elderberries, which is a great immune-boosting berry. If you don’t have time or space to grow a tree, elderflowers are easy to forage. You can also find them at the farmer’s market. They’re best picked when the buds are freshly open on a warm, sunny day.

Dandelion

Tasting notes: Young dandelion have a sweet and honey-like flavour, whilst the mature ones are more bitter and earthy with a nutty flavor. Dandelion buds taste better than the actual flower.
Uses: Use the petals as a garnish in desserts, salads or savory dishes. Leaves are an excellent addition to salads or sautéed. Also used to make dandelion wine.
Season: Spring/Summer
Growing tips: You won’t see dandelion flowers at the grocery store. As with violets, it’s easy to find dandelions in a grassy field or lawn. Don’t pick any for eating unless you are sure that the ground wasn’t treated with pesticides.

Cornflower

Tasting notes: Slightly spicy, clove-like flavor with a subtle sweetness
Uses: They can add color to dishes when used as a garnish for desserts, soups, salads. Can even steep them in a glass of wine or use for mulled wine for an extra zesty taste.
Season: Spring/early Summer
Growing tips: Also called Bachelor’s Buttons, cornflowers can be found in shades of blue, pink, purple and white. In the wild, they tend to enjoy the company of poppies and will pop up to add a hint of blue or purple to fields of red flowers.

Marigold

Tasting notes: Marigolds have a similar taste to saffron, pleasantly pungent and citrus-like with a hint of umami
Uses: Marigold are one of the few savory tasting edible flowers and can be used in place of mushrooms or as a garnish for roasted dishes.
Season: Summer
Growing tips: Marigolds need an area with full sun, and make good bedding and edging plants. They’re relatively drought resistant, self seeding and require minimal care.

Forget-Me-Nots

Tasting notes: Mild, subtle
Uses: Forget-me-nots have very small flowers so they make a lovely garnish for beverages or placed in ice cubes for a playful, confetti-like touch. Great dried and used for tea.
Season: Spring
Growing tips: Forget-me-not is usually an annual or biennial herb with its success being based on its flexibility. The seeds can lay dormant in the soil until they deem it is a suitable time to sprout for up to thirty years and germinate when conditions become favorable.

Chamomile

Tasting notes: Slightly sweet apple-like flavor
Uses: Chamomile is an age-old herbal remedy for many human ailments. It is used as a mild sedative to reduce stress. Use it in calming teas, honey infusions, bitters and as a garnish.
Season: Plant March – May and harvest June – November
Growing Tips: Chamomile is a great companion plant for leafy greens as it deters many pests.Young seedlings easily tolerate spring frosts, and may survive winters in mild climates. The easiest chamomile to grow is a cool-season annual.

Dianthus (Carnations)

Tasting notes: A pleasant spicy, floral flavor, and a light clove and nutmeg-like taste. Remember to cut away the bitter white base of the flowers before eating.
Uses: Dianthus is a powerful healing plant in Chinese medicine and can be made into teas, essential oils or tinctures. They come in a variety of bright colors, making them wonderful as large garnishes on dishes.
Season: Sow in early spring and harvest in the fall.
Growing Tips: Dianthus love full sun and need a nutrient rich soil to flower. Encourage fast growth by mixing an organic fertilizer into the soil before planting. When wild harvesting, it can be found at the hillside, meadow, forest edge, woodland or sub-alpine meadows.

May 23, 2019 1 comment

Beauty Self-Care Wellness

Holistic Skincare Update and a GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

Finally a holistic skincare update! I’ve been promising you guys this one for a while. Before I dive into all the skincare details, I want to announce the AMAZING GIVEAWAY I’m hosting on this post. I’ve teamed up with some of my favorite brands to give away the ultimate self-care skincare package (a $635 value!) to ONE LUCKY WINNER. Included are literally all my favorite products. Best of luck to everyone who enters! Here are the dets…

GRAND PRIZE INCLUDES:

January Labs Daily Brightening Tonic, Restorative Tonic Mist, Revitalizing Day Cream and Retexturizing Night Cream – What I love about January’s line is that it’s pared down perfection. The line focuses on less products that do more, so you don’t need 5 serums AND 2 creams. (And in case you can’t wait to see if you win, use promo code WUHAUS for 15% off anything on site from now until 3/20)
ACTIVIST Raw Mānuka Honey +100, +300, +850 – I use this amazing Manuka honey both internally and externally. I use the +100 and +300 in teas and tonics, and I use the +850 on it’s own as a face mask. It’s so healing for my skin. I absolutely love it. (And in case you can’t wait to see if you win, use promo code ACTIVATE10 for 10% off one order)
Sun Potion Yin Power and Solar Rose Water Mist – The Yin Power includes a variety of herbs and adaptogens that support the skin from the inside. I mist the Solar Rose Water over my face a few times a day.
MIRTH Caftans Laos Robe – This lightweight robe is my favorite. Not only is it super cute, it’s comfy, lightweight and breathable.

CONTEST RULES AND HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a comment ON THIS BLOG POST telling me why you want/need/deserve this bag of goodies in your life.
For an extra entry, follow @alison__wu @januarylabs @activistmanuka @sunpotion @mirthcaftans on Instagram then leave ANOTHER comment ON THIS BLOG POST telling me you’re following everyone.
For one more entry, tag a friend (or several) in the comments section of THIS INSTAGRAM POST to let them know about the giveaway.
Contest open to residents of the US and Canada only. Must be 18-years-of-age or older.
Contest closes at midnight PST on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
Winner will be notified on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 by email.

Before I dive into how I take care of my skin, I want to talk about modern beauty culture for a sec. I am absolutely all for taking care of yourself (duh, self-care). But I also absolutely acknowledge how privileged I am, and one must be, to have the time and energy to care, let alone afford all these nice products and facial treatments. These things are a nice-to-have, but absolutely not a necessity. I’m sharing my routine and the products I use with you, but please remember, you absolutely do NOT need these things. You are perfect and beautiful just as you are in your natural state.

I think it’s also important to note, we live in times where the predominant beauty standard has reached unachievable heights. We have young girls who are looking up to the Kim Kardashians of the world and think that they should look like that too. And don’t get me wrong, I support every person’s right to choose, and this includes their choice to change their appearance. I just also think it’s important to acknowledge how dangerous it can be. Our desire to constantly change or “fix” our appearance is a very slippery slope. No amount of surgery, procedures or expensive products will help us find the self-love and acceptance we really seek. That takes hard work and looking at ourselves very honestly, not through a FaceTune filter. It’s learning to love our strengths, what we perceive as beautiful, AND our weaknesses, what we perceive as flaws. There is SO MUCH beauty in the diversity of our appearances. Let’s embrace them all. Let’s expand what society has deemed as the standard by accepting and loving people of all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and skin types and demanding that there is equal representation of ALL people in the mainstream culture.

Everyday Essentials
Honestly, I’d say some of the most important things I do for my skin are relatively easy and FREE. Drink plenty of water everyday (I aim for 3-4 liters). Get enough sleep (I aim for 8-hours a night). And be conscious and cautious about what you put on and in your body. This last one is a bit more tricky, but it just takes mindfulness. Start to notice which foods effect your skin in good ways and which foods effect your skin in bad ways. If you have super sensitive or reactive skin like me, limit the amount of products you use and never start using more than one new product at a time. You don’t need 100 products. Simplify. Find what works for you.

(Mostly) Everyday Routine
Over the years, I’ve come to understand my sensitive skin on a deeper level. It changes from day to day, so I’ve really had to tune into it and try to figure out what it’s asking for. I adapt my skincare routine to the state of my skin and its needs. It’s another lesson in listening to your intuition. If you get a feeling about something that’s going on with your skin, chances are you’re more than likely right. This is the routine I generally follow and the products I use most days unless my skin is being overly reactive (which actually happens more than you might think):

- Upon rising: wash my face with alternating warm and cold water for about a minute. Dab January Labs Daily Brightening Tonic over my face using a soaked cotton pad in an upward motion from the center of my face outward. Smooth January Labs Revitalizing Day Cream over my face avoiding my eye area. Somedays, I dab January Labs Eye Cream around my eyes, but I’m not religious about using it. Use my jade roller (tutorial on my IG Stories highlights) for 3-5 minutes. I currently use this Suntegrity board-spectrum sunscreen, but I would love to find something that’s a bit more lightweight (any suggestions?!). Finish with a spritz of January Labs Restorative Tonic Mist or Sun Potion Solar Rose Water.
- I focus on hydrating from the inside. Constantly sipping water throughout the day. 3-4 liters if possible!
- I focus on eating lots of vegetables and healthy fats throughout my day. I often add in some adaptogens (like the Yin Power) to my morning matcha to support balance within my body.
- In the evenings, I wash my face with the Osmia Black Clay Facial Bar. Dab my face with the Daily Brightening Tonic again. Several nights a week, I use the ACTIVIST 850+ Manuka Honey as a face mask (spread evenly over entire face and leave on for 20-60 minutes). I finish with the January Labs Retexturizing Night Cream.
- I try to get 8-hours of sleep every night. I recently switched to using Upstate Silk Pillow Cases, and I’ve noticed a major difference in the amount of sleep lines on my face when I wake up. Silk pillow cases are also great for hair health.

Perioral Dermatitis (PD) Routine
As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with perioral dermatitis (PD) about 5 years ago. I’m not going to go into major detail here, as I have an entire blog post talking about my experience with it. The main takeaways are that PD hates relatively all products and makeup, so as best you can avoid putting anything on your face. I will say though that if there was one product that may help, it would be the Avene Cicalfate Cream. I got an Instagram DM from a reader who recommended using this cream and absolutely nothing else on my skin for 2 weeks, and my 6-month-long outbreak of PD pretty much disappeared by the end of the 2 weeks. I’ve heard from many of you that it’s been helpful in getting rid, or at least calming, your PD as well. Might be worth a try if you haven’t already. Once you have PD, it’s likely to come back, so it’s great if you can identify your triggers. I haven’t had a major outbreak in over a year, but little bumps come up now and again. PD is also aggravated by stress. It feels counterintuitive, but I’ve found that when my skin is overreacting, it’s usually best if I just leave it alone all together and avoid looking in the mirror as much as possible.

Skin Fasting
I learned about skin fasting last month through an article I read on Man Repeller (explains the theory behind why it works). It really resonated with me. While I’d never done a full 7-day skin fast, there were many days (sometimes 2-3 in a row) that I would refrain from using any products because of the overly reactive nature of my skin. So I decided to embark on a 7-day skin fast. For the entirety of the fast, I didn’t use a single product on my face including my lips. I washed with alternating warm and cold water in the mornings and used a warm washcloth laid over my face in the evenings. I was really surprised by how my skin responded. Besides my lips feeling extremely dry and burning for the first 4 days, my skin reacted great to the fast. My face never really got dry and any blemish or inflammation I had seemed pretty calm the whole week. I didn’t get any new breakouts or irritations during the fast either. Overall, it was a great opportunity to step back from my regularly routine and really look at all the products I’m using. While, yes, I enjoy using my day and night creams, maybe I don’t absolutely need them all the time. It felt good to take a break and give my skin a chance to breathe. Since the fast, I’ve been doing 1-2 days a week product free. I especially recommend this practice to people with very sensitive or overly reactive skin like me.

Holistic Facials
I started getting monthly facials about a year ago. I’m almost 33, and I noticed my skin start to change a few years ago after I turned 30. My regularly facialist here in Portland, Oriana (she’s amazing!!!), uses a combination of LED, microcurrent and Reiki during our treatments. Besides the positive effect they have on my skin, I’ve actually found that I really love the relaxation and stress relief aspect of facials. Facials have fast become my favorite form of body care. I don’t really get massages anymore (maybe 1 or 2 a year) since I’ve started getting regular facials. Not that they need to be mutually exclusive, but I personally don’t have the budget to afford both. I will say that I think it’s worth finding a facialist that uses LED, microcurrent, microdermabrasion, oxygenation or other techniques that you wouldn’t be able to do at home. In NYC, my favorite facial that I’ve had is at Joanna Vargas. If you have any other NYC facial recommendations, I would love to know!

Microneedling
Skin needling, also called microneedling therapy, collagen induction therapy (CIT), and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI), is a minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation procedure that involves the use of a pen that contains fine needles. The needles are used to puncture the skin to create a controlled skin injury. Each puncture creates a channel that triggers the body to fill these microscopic wounds by producing new collagen and elastin. Through the process of neovascularization and neocollagenesis, there is improvement in skin texture and firmness, as well as reduction in scars, pore size, and stretch marks. I did 4 initial treatments with Kimmer (highly recommend!) at Echo Natural Beauty one-month after another last winter, which is recommended to begin. It is considered a minimally invasive treatment, but it’s still pretty intense. You need a couple days of recovery afterward. No touching your face, no sun exposure whatsoever, no physical activity, no alcohol. Essentially your whole face is an open wound, so you have to be very careful about aftercare. That being said, I did notice a big difference in the overall texture of my skin after the 4 treatments. My pores were visibly smaller from the microneedling. It’s recommended to go back 1-2 times a year after the initial 4 treatments.

LED Light Therapy
LED Light Therapy is a non-invasive and soothing way to expedite the skin’s healing process. LED works by sending light waves into deep layers of the skin, stimulating natural intercellular response. LED can reduce wrinkles, improves skin tone and texture, stimulate collagen production and kill acne bacteria. LED is beneficial for all skin types and overall a soothing treatment (read: I usually fall asleep under the lights). I’ve found it to be especially helpful for any sort of breakout, even PD. I always notice a difference in my skin a day or so after a treatment.

Microcurrent
Microcurrent uses a mild electrical current to stimulate the skin and facial muscles, promoting collagen and elastin production. This treatment lifts and contours the face, softens wrinkles and improves overall complexion. It’s pretty incredible how you can visibly see your face more lifted after a treatment. I purchased an at-home microcurrent device through Oriana, and I usually use it once a week. The currents are not as strong as the professional machines that estheticians use, but it’s great for maintenance and relatively easy to use at home. See Oriana giving me a microcurrent treatment in the video below.

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March 13, 2019 582 comments

Self-Care Wellness

Vaginal Health and Sustainable Period Products

Vaginas are beautiful, sensuous, vulnerable, mysterious and sensitive. For so long, talking about sex, our periods, our anatomy, our intimate desires was stigmatized. It’s conversation that was better kept between your most trusted confidents. It’s been so refreshing to see sex, vaginal health, periods, women’s pleasure come into mainstream conversation. In these modern times, we need to equip ourselves with as much information as we can so that we can better care for our minds and our bodies. This happens through having conversations, reading, listening, experiencing and any other ways we can learn to take knowledge and use it to empower us to make better decisions, to stand up for our needs and desires and ultimately care for ourselves more deeply. In the spirit of open communication, I want to share my own experience with taking care of my vagina and with making the switch to sustainable period products.

I’ve partnered with Sustain on this blog post. Sustain makes everything from condoms and lube to organic cotton tampons and washable period underwear to their newly launched period cup. They’ve developed all of their products to be vagina AND earth friendly. They also donate 10% of profits to women’s healthcare organizations. Sustain is offering you 20% off your first order with code: WU20

Over the years, I’ve suffered from countless UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, painful sex and periods. Most of the time quietly. Consulting the help of my regularly changing healthcare provider. Taking antibiotics at first and then as I got into herbal medicine, learning to help myself with natural remedies. Of course, there’s tons you can do to take care of your vagina. Eat well. Exercise. Use natural soaps and beauty products. Take herbs and vaginal probiotics. Pee after sex. Tell your partner to stop when sex is painful (which unsurprisingly is very hard for many women – listen to this podcast episode). Sleep underwear-less. But unfortunately sometimes doing all of those things isn’t enough.

There are many factors that effect the bacteria and pH levels down there. I have a hunch that the way our body chemistry reacts to our partners can also play a part. Since I’ve been with my husband, stopped taking hormonal birth control and took antibiotics for the last time (hopefully ever), which were ALL right around the same time in my life, I haven’t had any cases of BV or UTI, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had any odor/itchiness down there, which were all minor and went away in a day. Painful sex still happens sometimes, but I feel confident and comfortable enough to speak up and say “stop” when it does.

I finally made the switch from organic tampons to the Sustain period cup and underwear. I don’t know why I waited so long to make the switch. I honestly was just telling myself a story that I made up in my head about how it wouldn’t work for me and how I thought it would be difficult and messy. After going through a few successful periods using both the period cup and underwear, I can now say, that while there is a bit of a learning curve, they both are relatively easy to use, and I really don’t see myself switching back to tampons ever again.

Learning to use the period cup has brought me closer to my body. I’ve learned more about my cervix and how its position changes through my cycle than I ever knew in my life. I’ve become more intimate with my blood and how much blood I’m producing on different days through my cycle. At first it felt intense, but after a couple days I felt empowered and more curious about my female anatomy than ever before.

Inserting the period cup can be tricky at first, but with practice you’ll be a pro. Sustain has lots of info to get you started, but leave it to me to not read any info before I tried mine for the first time. I simply looked at the drawings in the pamphlet included in the box and went for it. TBH, I didn’t realize how far it was supposed to go up. Unlike a tampon, there’s no string that hangs down. The cup actually sits all the way up inside your vagina. Anyways for the first day, I wasn’t inserting it all the way (which would normally cause leakage), but I was working from home, so I just kept incessantly checking it and didn’t have any leaks.

The third day of my period I had to head out to an appointment and then to film a video with my friend Kait. I brought a tampon to use for the video shoot, just to be 100% sure I wouldn’t leak on set since I wasn’t that comfortable using the cup yet. I wore the period cup to my prior appointment though. When I got to the house where we were shooting the video, I went to the bathroom to change my clothes and switch from the cup to the tampon. I reached down to pull on the little silicon piece that hangs down from the cup, and it wasn’t there. I started panicking right away. I was in the honest-to-God smallest bathroom ever, and now my period cup was stuck up inside my vagina, AND everyone was waiting for me to come upstairs so we could start filming. Luckily, I did remember reading that if you can’t get it out, don’t panic. Remember to breathe. So there were several moments of vacillating between panic and “you got this!” Relaxing and getting my hands on some part of the cup, but then it would slip away, and I would be sent into a fit of panic again. Finally I sat down on the toilet, and released the grip of my vaginal muscles (akin to what it feels like to pee, you gotta push!) and slowly felt the cup drop to where I could actually grab onto it. PHEW! I wasn’t going to have to cancel the photoshoot and go to the emergency room.

After that experience, I had all these realizations about the cup and how you were actually supposed to use it. I came home and of course did all sorts of Googling and reading. I honestly haven’t had any issues removing it since. Like I said, it just takes practice and getting used to your own body.

A couple general tips that have helped me:

+ Shorter finger nails are better with the period cup. Honestly I had a couple moments where it felt like I gouged my vagina with my nails. Not a good feeling.

+ Use a wet wipe or wet paper towel for public bathroom use. Before going into the stall, I always wash my hands (which you should do anytime you insert or remove your cup) and grab a wetted paper towel just in case anything gets messy when I’m removing or reinserting. Just pour the blood from your cup into the toilet and use the wet paper towel if you need to clean your vagina, hands and/or the cup.

I’ve been using the period underwear on days when my flow is super light or super heavy. On heavy days, I sometimes use both the cup and the underwear. Sometimes it’s nice to have the reassurance of the underwear when my flow is super heavy on days 2 and 3. The cup is super reliant and won’t leak once you get the hang of it, but the underwear’s got your back if not. And on the first or last day, when I’m barely bleeding, I’ll just wear the underwear on its own. Feels great to not have to wear a tampon when you’re barely bleeding. Caring for the underwear is super easy. I usually just rinse it in the sink with cold water before I pop it in the washing machine with my other laundry. I have 2 pairs of the underwear, so I don’t have to be constantly washing one pair.

There’s tons of great info over on the Sustain blog. And as always, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have or share my experience with something if I forgot to include it here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

December 6, 2018 9 comments

Drinks Wellness

Adaptogenic Dream Tonic and Tips for Restful Sleep

This evening I’m sharing a brand new adaptogenic dream tonic recipe and my favorite tips for promoting restful sleep. Though the winter months are more conducive for sleep because it’s colder and darker, I find my sleep is often times more disrupted during the holiday season. Whether it’s the stress or indulgent eating and drinking, sleep often suffers this time of year. We may wake up feeling unrested and may have a harder time falling asleep.

Incorporating herbs and adaptogens into my daily routine over the past several years has improved the quality of my sleep tremendously. Adaptogens work to help the body better react to stress by balancing cortisol levels in the body. Because adaptogens work bi-directionally, they not only help promote relaxation and restful sleep, but also give us more energy and stamina overall. Adaptogens work to bring the body into better balance, giving our bodies the power to better respond to various external stimuli.

I’ve been drinking Mountain Rose Herbs Dream Tea for years now, and I love it. When they asked me to make a dream tonic, I thought it would be lovely to use their tea mixed with a couple of my favorite adaptogens for sleep. This creamy tea latte is one of my favorites to drink an hour or two after dinner time. As always, Mountain Rose Herbs is one of my favorite places to source organic and sustainably harvested herbs. They offer a large variety of bulk herbs and spices, as well as some of my favorite tea blends out there (try the spicy, caffeine-free turmeric chai if you haven’t already).

Create a nighttime ritual
Creating a nighttime ritual that I look forward to is one of my favorite ways to get me excited about going to bed each night. I usually make a tea tonic (like the recipe below!), turn down all the lights in my house, spend 30 minutes or so in the living room lounging, sometimes reading, other times talking with my husband. Then I dedicate about 15-30 minutes to my evening self-care routine. In the colder months, I might take a bath a few nights a week. Otherwise, I spend time taking care of my skin and teeth before getting into bed. By this time, I’m usually pretty wound down, but I usually like to read for about 15 minutes at least and/or take time to practice deep breathing.

Shut off screens at least 1 hour before bed.
And if possible, dim the lights throughout your living space. Soft, dim light signals the body to relax and that it’s time to wind down. Blue light, which electronic devices like our smartphones and computers emit in large amounts, does the exact opposite. It tries to trick the body into thinking it’s daylight.

Include herbs that promote sleep and relaxation
My favorite herbs that help promote rest, relaxation and overall calm are: peppermint leaf, chamomile, skullcap, mugwort and oatstraw. Adaptogens for sleep: ashwagandha, tulsi, eleuthero and schisandra. Try incorporating some of these powerful herbs by drinking the Dream Tonic recipe below, or you can take them in whatever form calls to you (capsules, tincture, infusion, etc.)

Stick to a sleep schedule
Waking up and going to bed at the same time everyday allows your body to get into a rhythm. As we create habits, our bodies respond either positively or negatively based on what these habits are. Our bodies love routine. Sticking to a regular sleep schedule will improve the quality of your sleep. If you want to start waking up earlier in the morning, at first it’s always challenging, but if you stick with the same sleeping schedule, over the course of a few months, your body should slowly adapt to your new bedtime and morning wake up time.

Limit caffeine after noon.
This rule doesn’t apply to everyone, but if you are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, I definitely recommend limiting caffeine intake, especially after noon.

Remove the clock from your bedside table.
I can’t stress this one enough. There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, turning over and seeing your clock staring back at you with the numbers 3:15AM in red. I never check my clock (on my phone, as I don’t have an alarm clock) if I wake up in the middle of the night or if I’m having trouble falling asleep. I know from experience that this gives me anxiety and then I usually have a very difficult time falling asleep. Instead lying there thinking about how soon in the morning I have to wake up.

Set up your sleeping space for success.
Lots of cozy blankets. Supportive pillows. Mood lighting. Plants. Crystals on your bedside. Whatever it is that makes you feel safe, calm and protected in your space.

For enhanced dreaming, sleep with a piece of labradorite or spectralite by your bedside.
I’m always impressed that this works. Crystals are magic! Whenever I sleep with a piece of labradorite or spectralite next to my bed or under my pillow, my dreams are much more vivid, and I usually have an easier time remembering them.

Adaptogenic Dream Tonic
[Serves 2]

2 Tablespoons Mountain Rose Herbs Dream Tea
3 1/2 cups boiling water

1.) Steep loose leaf tea in boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and/or cheesecloth.

_________________________________

1 oz (2 Tablespoons) coconut butter
1/2 teaspoon ground ashwagandha
1/2 teaspoon ground schisandra
1-2 teaspoons raw honey or 1 medjool date (optional)

1.) Blend all ingredients with steeped Dream tea in a high-speed blender for 1-2 minutes. Serve, sip slowly and enjoy!

December 4, 2018 2 comments

Beauty Self-Care Wellness

Immune Support Bath and Tips to Stay Well this Winter

Okay friends, unfortunately, cold season is upon us. Now is a great time to adapt immune-boosting practices into your daily routine. Besides getting plenty of sleep and staying hydrated, one of my favorite ways to support my immune system is with a relaxing bath using Epsom salts and essential oils. Mountain Rose Herbs is my favorite one-stop-shop for herbs, spices, essential oils, salts, teas, etc.. All of their essential oils are 100% pure, certified organic and high-quality from farm to bottle. I’ve long been inspired by MRH’s commitment to sustainability. You can read all about what they do as a business, here. Also in this post, I’m also sharing some of my favorite tips for staying well this winter. Take care of yourselves, bbs.

Essential Oils for Immunity:

Eucalyptus – Known for its ability to support upper respiratory health and break up congestion. Eucalyptus is also an anti-inflammatory for the lungs. Great to use in a the bath, hot shower, sauna and/or a facial steam especially during a cold or the flu. Eucalyptus also help fight infection by stimulating antibodies.

Lemon – A powerful detoxifier. Used as a lymph tonic to help move cellular waste out of the body during a cold or the flu.

Rosemary – Provides a great boost to the immune system and can be helpful in loosening mucus clogging nasal passages. Can also help relieve a sinus headache.

Oregano – One of the best all natural antibiotics because of its high carvacrol and thymol content. Oregano essential oil can be used both help strengthen the immune system and prevent cold and flu, or to shorten the timespan of an illness once you get sick.

Cinnamon Bark – One of the most powerful antibacterial/antivirals among all essential oils. You can add a drop or two to your bath. I also love add to a spray bottle with water and use to clean surfaces in my house. Just be sure to let the cinnamon-water spray sit for 2-5 minutes on a surface before wiping dry.

Clove Bud – Has antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiseptic and antiviral properties. One of my favorite essential oils for stimulating the immune system.

Frankincense – Strengthens the immune system by increasing production of white blood cells. Also acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory.

Immune Support Bath
2-3 cups Epsom salt
4 drops clove bud essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1 drop rosemary essential oil

Optional after bath care:
In 2 teaspoon of jojoba oil (or any other carrier oil of choice), add 3 drops of oregano essential oil and 2 drops of frankincense essential oil. Massage into the soles of your feet then cover them with cotton socks to allow the oils to absorb.

Tips for Staying Well:

Plenty of sleep – This is KEY. Any time we’re worn down, overworked or stressed, our bodies become way more susceptible to illness. I always advocate for getting plenty of rest, but I find especially in the colder months good sleep is essential to staying healthy. For me that means at least 8-hours a night. Sometimes more if my body is craving it. Winter is a good time to slow down, get more rest, stay closer to home and really nurture your body and your mind.

Plenty of water – Hydration is so important for every aspect of health. In the cooler months, it can be harder to get your daily water quota, so you may want to sip warm water with lemon instead of room temp or cold water. I aim for 3 liters of filtered water a day. Sometimes more when I feel like I need an extra boost.

Dry brushing – Dry brushing (I do it before bathing or showering) stimulates the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. This helps clean the body’s tissues and maintain its balance of fluids. Our lymph nodes filter out waste, toxins and pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Dry brushing also improves skin health and appearance by increasing blood flow and exfoliating dead skin.

Apple cider vinegar – One of my favorite things to soothe, and usually get rid of, a sore throat. In a mug, mix 1-2 Tablespoons of ACV with warm (not hot!) water, lemon juice and a little bit of raw honey. Sip morning and night until sore throat goes away.

Vitamin C – A real powerhouse. I bolster my immune system with Vitamin C anytime I feel the slightest bit run down. There are plenty of food sources of Vitamin C: Papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, strawberries, pineapple, oranges, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, bok choy, grapefruit, etc. I also take this supplement when I feel like I need a little extra.

Adaptogens – As we start to move into the cooler months, now is a great time to start bolstering your immune system for cold and flu season. One way I love to do this is with adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens have been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine lineages. If you want to start incorporating some adaptogens for immunity this season, these are five I recommend:

Astragalus – my top choice for immunity. However discontinue use if you do actually get sick and reincorporate after getting well again.
Ashwagandha – immune boosting as well as helps the body combat stress and anxiety
Reishi – the queen healer mushroom – strengthens immune system, antimicrobial
Chaga – the king healer mushroom – antiviral and immune-boosting properties
Rhodiola – best taken in the morning as it’s energizing and helps with focus.

Start slowly, incorporating 1-2 into your daily routine and see how your body responds. You can always add more after a month or so if you feel called to. I recommend starting with 1/2 teaspoon of each adaptogen per day. Autumn is also a great season to incorporate warming herbs and spices. Try adding powdered adaptogens into your favorite chai recipe or into a warming bone or mushroom broth.

Cut out dairy, sugar and alcohol – I don’t eat dairy or sugar normally, and I cut out alcohol completely from January – March every year. It might be worthwhile to cut one or all of these things out of your diet during cold and flu season, or at the very least, at the first signs of cold or flu. All three of these things act as immune system suppressants. Dairy also increases mucus production, which can make you feel worse if you’re fighting a cold.

[This post is sponsored by Mountain Rose Herbs. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

October 23, 2018 2 comments

Lifestyle Wellness

My Experience with Contraceptives, and How I Found the Fertility Awareness Method

I want to start this post by saying everyone’s body is different. What may work well for one of us might be the wrong choice for another. That goes for so many aspects of our health and our lives, and it continues to be true about birth control methods. It’s important to educate yourself and/or talk with a trained professional to help figure out which contraceptive method is right for you. And if you’re like me, the right method for you today might not be the right method for you 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 or 10 years from now. We’re ever changing, both physically and in how we want to live our lives, so its important to remember that we often need to adjust how we care for ourselves. Today I’m sharing my experience using contraceptives throughout my life from the time I lost my virginity up until present day. Please keep in mind that this is a personal narrative. Having safe sex and protecting against pregnancy sometimes means taking hormonal birth control and wearing condoms. Sometimes it means abstaining from sex all together. THERE IS NO SHAME IN YOUR CHOICE. I stand by all people and their right to choose what is right for them.

I lost my virginity when I was 15. To my boyfriend at the time. We were together for a year or so. Immediately following the first time, I told my mom I wanted to go on birth control pills. I didn’t tell her I had become sexually active, and though I’ve always felt loved completely and never judged by my mom, we never really openly talked about sex and different contraceptive methods. I assume she knew I had become sexually active, and she made an appointment for me with the nurse midwives where she went and the same group of midwives who delivered both my brother and me. Talk about full circle.

At the young age of 15, I started taking Ortho Tri-cyclen. What would be the start of about 10 years of daily hormonal birth control. I bounced around to different pills and back to the same ones again over the years. Some pills caused me to not get my period for months at a time, which when you’re a sexually active college student is absolutely frightening. As some of you may know, I’ve struggled with digestive issues for most of my life. Starting at a young age when my parents figured out I was lactose intolerant. It will probably always be somewhat of a mystery, but my guess is that many of my digestive issues come from a combination of chronic antibiotic use from age 2 all the way up into my twenties (I was born with 60% hearing loss and had surgery on my ears 3 times before the age of 6 then I suffered about 15 UTIs and a kidney infection starting at the time of becoming sexually active into my mid-twenties) and then long-term hormonal birth control use from age 15 to 24. Hormonal birth control pills essentially act like antibiotics in your gut, destroying the essential microbiome balance, depleting all the good bacteria needed for proper digestion. Some other negative side effects from hormonal birth control include mood swings, headaches, acne, bloating and weight gain, irregular spotting and low libido.

The number one reason I decided at 24 that I was going to finally go off the pill was because I strongly believed it was giving me anxiety, mood swings and depressive thoughts. I finally woke up to the fact that I was putting hormones in my body that were negatively effecting my life. I wanted to take a clean break from all hormonal forms of birth control, so I did. It took my body a little while to adjust back, but after about a year, I felt way better overall. Less anxious feelings and depressive thoughts, higher libido and a greater connection to my body and my natural cycle.

Though in many ways I was feeling better health wise being off the pill, it still left the question of what birth control method I should use now. The first year I relied mostly on using condoms. I always used condoms with any new partner before both being tested for STDs. However, condoms really bother my vagina and make sex burn and hurt for me. I found myself uninterested in sex and disappointed that there weren’t better options for people like me.

So after about a year of using condoms, a friend mentioned an IUD, and I was intrigued. I honestly don’t remember hearing much about the IUD before that time. That’s likely because “comparing 2006–2010 with 2011–2013, IUD use increased 83% (from 3.5% to 6.4%)…” It seemed like every woman I knew was getting an IUD around that time. Sticking with my plan of not using hormonal birth control, I decided to get the copper Paraguard IUD in December of 2011. I never really had heavy periods or bad cramping, so I wasn’t so concern about the side effects associated with the Paraguard IUD, which include heavier and more painful periods and cramping/back pain associated with menstruation.

I’m not going to lie the first 2-3 years of having the Paraguard IUD were rough. My periods were next level. I would soak through a super tampon every 3 hours during the first 3-4 days of my period. Looking back now, I’m honestly shocked I stuck with it. I remember telling myself that it would get better. That it wasn’t THAT bad. I’ve always had a high threshold for pain and always seem to forget it once it pasts, so each month once my period was over, I’d just keep going along until another insanely painful period hit me the next month. A few years in, I started to notice my PMS symptoms were the worse they’ve ever been. Luckily I was introduced to evening primrose oil and that definitely was a game charger for the intense feelings of loneliness that would always strike a week before I started menstruating. Overall, I think I put up with the negative side effects of the IUD because I didn’t want to use the hormonal IUD or go back on the pill, and I really trusted the effectiveness of the IUD (99.2% to 99.4%). I had settled down and gotten married, and the IUD seemed like the best method for me at the time.

A couple years ago, I started to grow wary of the IUD. Mainly because of the insane amount of inflammation it caused in my body. My womb space literally felt swollen, not just when I was having my period, but at various other times throughout my cycle. I started to consider getting it taken out. I began looking into different options, and this time the one that came up and stuck with me was the fertility awareness method. Essentially this is when you track your cycle (using various methods) so you know when you are ovulating (fertile). Then you either abstain from sex or use a barrier method on the days of your cycle that you’re at risk for pregnancy. About a year ago I got my IUD removed. I’ve been using the fertility awareness method ever since.

I started using Daysy in June to help me track my cycle with better accuracy. Daysy is a basal body temperature thermometer fertility tracker that works using the fertility awareness method by learning and tracking your cycle over time. Each morning right when I wake up, before getting out of bed, I pop Daysy under my tongue to get my temperature reading. The easy-to-read color coded system on Daysy will illuminate either red (fertile), green (not fertile) or yellow (not enough information to determine status – the “learning” phase when you first start using Daysy). When I’m in the red (fertile) or the yellow, we use condoms when having sex. With over 30 years of data collection, Daysy predicts your cycle with 99.4% accuracy. Every few days, I sync Daysy to the DaysyView app where I can view findings and see my cycle at a glance. I’m not planning a pregnancy in the foreseeable future, but if/when I do someday, I love that Daysy is also a reliable method for women trying to get pregnant. It’s important to note that Daysy does not protect against STDs. And its only recommended for women with cycles 19-40 days in length. For where I’m at in my life right now, using Daysy to help me track my cycle works really well for me. It’s empowering to feel connected to my body and its natural rhythms in a way I’ve never felt before.

When I first became sexually active, I never really considered any other form of birth control besides the pill because the options seemed so limited to me at the time. Nowadays, it seems like the sex conversation is way more mainstream. It’s less taboo to talk about because, duh, safe sex education is SO important. There’s even great resources like Bedsider that educate you on all birth control methods and help you find which method is right for you. As always, I’m here to support you on your journey. I’m happy to answer any questions as they pertain to my personal experience with contraceptives.

[This post is sponsored by Daysy, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.]

September 19, 2018 32 comments

Wellness

Holiday Gift Guide 2019

FOR THE HOME

FOR THE KITCHEN

STYLE + SELF-CARE

TRAVEL

All About Adaptogens with Anima Mundi

Now through Monday, 12/02/19, Anima Mundi is offering 20% off all products with code WUHAUS.

Guide to Face Masks

CBD Peach Smoothie with Luce Farm

Finding Fluidity Retreat Preview

Guide to Edible Flowers

Holistic Skincare Update and a GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

GRAND PRIZE INCLUDES:

CONTEST RULES AND HOW TO ENTER:

Vaginal Health and Sustainable Period Products

Adaptogenic Dream Tonic and Tips for Restful Sleep

Immune Support Bath and Tips to Stay Well this Winter

My Experience with Contraceptives, and How I Found the Fertility Awareness Method

Wellness

FOR THE HOME

FOR THE KITCHEN

STYLE + SELF-CARE

TRAVEL

***Now through Monday, 12/02/19, Anima Mundi is offering 20% off all products with code WUHAUS.***

****GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!****

GRAND PRIZE INCLUDES:

CONTEST RULES AND HOW TO ENTER:

Now through Monday, 12/02/19, Anima Mundi is offering 20% off all products with code WUHAUS.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!