Hi Friends,

Got the winter blues?  Well, here in New England some of us have the winter “blahs”!!  We’d love to look out our windows and see white snowflakes falling softly to the earth but instead we’ve been having 30-something degree days and no snow to speak of.  So….I’ve decided to plant an inside garden!  I’ve got about 10 pots of hyacinth going and my new experiment this winter is planting morning glory seeds to see if they’ll grow inside.  Any suggestions anyone?

And, thinking ahead, do you need to sign up ahead of time to join a community garden for this coming spring?

Take the opportunity that offers itself only in the springtime … soft earth!  Even if you live in the city, join a community garden or, if you need to, you can garden in pots.  It’s so nice to grow something yourself; even if it’s only one tomato plant, or an herb garden in your kitchen window (try chives, parsley and basil in one long pot).  See how good it makes you feel to produce food for yourself!

A build up of dead skin cells causes a rough and dull appearance. Removing the top layers of desiccated cells oxygenates the skin and speeds up cell growth, promoting a youthful, glowing appearance.  Using our luxurious, “Exfoliating Dead Sea Salt Scrub” a few times a week does wonders for your skin, including your face.  You have to experience it to believe how wonderful your skin feels after being exfoliated and moisturized with oils that soften and  rejuvenate your thirsty, toxin-laden skin!  Mineral-Laden Salt from the Dead Sea is carefully mixed with Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil and Citrus Oil.  Truly a fabulous sensation!

• Also great for use just before shaving your legs
• No need to use lotion after your shower if you have used this Scrub

By Jean Pollock

Our grandmothers or great grandmothers had knowledge of what God has put at our doorsteps, fields and woods to heal our ills or those of family and friends, but somehow, maybe with the moves to the New World as well as with the advent of modern technology, the knowledge of herbs was lost to them. While modern medicine has saved millions of lives, it seems to have pushed aside the simple wisdom of ages past, which we believe is still applicable. Just as God said “Be fruitful and multiply” and He’s never yet said, “OK, that’s enough, stop!”, He gave us modern medicine, but did not take away the properties and uses of what grows right outside our doors.

Many priests, monks, and nuns of earlier times were very knowledgeable regarding the uses of herbs. Recall their beautiful herb gardens! The Church herself gives us a period of cleansing for our souls the the seasons before the major feasts of Our Lord, Christmas and Easter. If you will but stop and think about it, however, in her holy Wisdom, this cleansing is not only for the soul, but also for the body! To go without all meat and dairy products, as Lent used to be, and without some of these items, as Advent used to be, is very cleansing for the body as well as for the soul! If you will read medieval cookbooks and history books, you will find many herbs were collected for use during this time of year and that they are herbs chock full of cleansing properties (such as dandelions and leeks!) as well as high in vitamins and minerals. God is so good to us! In light of this, we offer a cleansing tonic for use during Advent and Lent.

Consider the history of herbs. Up until about 60 years ago, herbs were the foundation for all medicine! Every doctor used them. The AMA and similar groups, all funded with money from drug companies, are what put the common use of herbs into the background. Whereas mothers used to have at least a general knowledge of what to pick and make a tea of for different maladies for her family, they now have more or less a hazy nostalgia of “my grandmother used to collect that chamomile stuff for the winter”, as if the same herb would no longer work for what Grandmother used it for!

As great as modern medicine can be, it can also be dangerous. Many doctors now treat almost every ill with a prescription for an antibiotic, even if they can’t figure out what’s wrong!

Everyone who wishes to familiarize themselves with the use of herbs, can do so easily.   Begin by borrowing a few books from the library and begin reading.

COMMONSENSE
Employ commonsense health measures to promote good health; drink a lot of pure water – from 4 to  8 glasses a day, as well as lots of fruit & vegetable juices and herbal health teas. Eat high quality whole wheat bread (sourdough bread offers your digestive system a wonderful array of digestive-stimulating enzymes), less meat & dairy and more raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If you get sick, try natural methods before you give up and go to the doctor. If you have a serious complaint, by all means, see a competent physician. We highly recommend those who incorporate the use of herbs into their practice.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK
We believe that the bottom line to good health, however, has a lot to do with how one looks at life. Do you have a positive attitude? Are you cheerful? Do you acknowledge everything as coming from the Holy Will of God with the exception of your own sins? Give thanks to God in all things, praise Him always and stay in the state of Grace. Make frequent acts of adoration, especially in times of trial, because these trials are your jewels; they can unite you with Our Lord’s suffering on the Cross. This even applies to someone else’s sins, which cause you pain. Unite your pain with the pains of Jesus upon the Cross of our Redemption. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING: 1)“Uniformity With God’s Will” by St. Alfonse de Liguori (TAN Books / 1-800-437-5876) and 2)“The Four Temperaments”, which is published by: The Pallotine Fathers, Inc., 5424 W. Bluemond Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53208-3097. Written in 1934 by Rev. Conrad Hock, it is a masterpiece of self study and we highly recommend it.

Rosa Mystica, Ora Pro Nobis!

All of our products are handmade with the utmost care.  Each of our products were Created and Developed by Jean Pollock, HHP; Nationally-Certified Medical Herbalist since 1999.  We use no parabens, petroleum or preservatives in our products.  No animal testing, ever.   All vegetarian ingredients.  We hope that you will enjoy all of our products and we add new products frequently! Please consider that  your skin is your largest, most porous organ.  We suggest that nothing be put in your skin that cannot be put in your mouth.  NOURISH YOUR BODY FROM THE OUTSIDE IN!  For best results, use all-natural and organic products.  Please re-use or recycle your jar.  It’s a beautiful, cobalt blue and makes a nice ring or earring holder.  It can also be used to carry change in your car.  Any more ideas for re-using your beautiful jars?  Post ’em!

Because we use no chemical preservatives, we seal air out from our Face Cream with a combination of Local Beeswax and food-grade Cheese-wax. If your product disappoints you, please return it to us (not the store where you purchased it) and we will happily replace it.