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Herbal Helper
YOUR SUMMER TRAVEL KIT Lyndsay Anderson works with herbal manufacturer A Vogel, pursuing her personal interest in natural health and complementary medicine If you’re lucky enough to have a summer trip planned, you’ll know that it’s tricky to pack for every eventuality, especially if you have other people’s needs to take into consideration. Whether you’re heading overseas or venturing within Ireland somewhere, it’s important to be prepared. Along with the usual essentials such as a first aid kit, you may think about taking some herbal remedies to give you a hand. Here are a few holiday ailments that may benefit from a herbal helper.
Hay fever If you or a member of your party suffers from hay fever or allergic rhinitis, try a homeopathic remedy which can reduce eye, nose, and chest symptoms without causing drowsiness. The herb Luffa is also excellent at reducing hay fever-type reactions in the nose, eyes and throat. It works quickly and doesn’t become less effective if you use it long-term.
Cold/flu In order to keep the immune system up whilst away take a tincture made from extracts of herb and root of Echinacea purpurea. In this formula, Echinacea has a triple action affect – anti-inflammatory, antiviral and supportive of the immune system.
Tired/heavy legs If your trip involves a long flight or you’re going to be on your feet for long periods of time, it is worthwhile packing a horse chestnut gel in your hand luggage. Horse chestnut extracts in a gel format are ideal for soothing tired, heavy legs.
NOT FOR PROFIT SPOTLIGHT
Irish seed savers Irish Seed Savers Association was founded in 1991 and operates from a purpose-built facility in Capparoe, Scarriff with an educational facility and small shop and café, offering a wide range of workshops on subjects such as organic gardening, bee keeping, making the most of your polytunnel, cheesemaking, and creating an orchard. They keep a seed bank containing more than 600 rare and endangered varieties of vegetables. The work of Seed Savers focuses on the preservation of heritage varieties of seeds from all over the world that are suitable for Ireland’s unique growing conditions. For more info check out www.irishseedsavers.ie
Flexible fun Labfitness fitness studio in Drogheda is running Anti-Gravity Kids where children aged six to 13 can learn to fly, stretch, flip, swing and spin, improving their co-ordination, strength, flexibility, fitness, confidence while having fun. Cilla Byrne from Labfitness in Drogheda is one of the first AntiGravity Yoga instructors in the world to train in New York. She will teach moves that have child-friendly names like monkey, snapping turtle, mermaid, dinosaur, wind chimes, squirrel, school of fish and many more which keep children’s imagination alive while exercising their bodies. Labfitness 087-6314752
WHAT’S IN SEASON IN JULY & AUGUST A wealth of vegetables including: asparagus, aubergines, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, French beans, kohl-rabi, mangetout, marrows, mushrooms, onions, pak choi, parsnips, peas, runner beans, spinach and sweetcorn. Fruits include: rhubarb, apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Salad vegetables include: celery, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuces, peppers, radish, scallions and tomatoes.
Aching joints/muscles If after your flight, or any form of travelling for that matter, your joints and muscles are feeling achy and sore, arnica gel is ideal for easing the pain. Again, fresh extracts are best.
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13/06/2014 12:45