October 16, 2024
For many of us, work is a primary driving force in our lives. We spend an enormous percentage of our lives at work, with our coworkers and supervisors, and traveling to and from work. Even when at home with friends and family, our mind can be occupied with work-related thoughts, if not actively inundated with emails and phone calls.
I feel like everyone has experienced the same horror stories; stories of toxic supervisors with no boundaries, workplace cultures that celebrate working yourself into the ground, all while making a pittance, jobs that were so mentally draining that it was all you could do to just make it through the week. Growing up, these were considered “normal,” so when I entered the workforce after college, it was no surprise when I encountered these things for myself. As I endured I suffered, which made my work performance suffer, which made my mental health suffer. It was a horrible cycle perpetuated by my false understanding that this is just how it is. It wasn’t until I started working for Herbal Revolution that I realized that what I had believed to be “normal” didn’t have to be normal. That a healthy workplace was possible and that I could thrive in ways I hadn’t known were possible.
Today, I feel like we are finally starting to heal the toxic work environment. People are becoming more aware of their mental health and less tolerant of unhealthy work practices. Business owners, like our very own, Kathi Langelier of Herbal Revolution, are prioritizing the holistic health and well-being of their employees, realizing the innate worth of a happy and healthy human in the workplace. At Herbal Revolution we practice Radical Wellness in all things, from the beauty of our products to the treatment of our staff.
This year, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace. As a strong supporter of mental health awareness in general, I was happy to learn that this topic would finally get the attention it deserves. Working in an environment that places such high value on mental health, I recognize the challenges, financial and otherwise, it takes for a small business to prioritize its employees over a fatter bottom line. But Kathi has never been one to back down from a challenge and continues to fight for human and labor rights every day. I feel privileged to work for a company that truly puts its money where its mouth is and serves as a reminder that Workplace Mental Health Matters, today and everyday.
-- Amy Bley
“World Mental Health Day was established on October 10,1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. Since then, it has been observed every year with the aim of raising awareness in the global community about critical mental health agendas through collaboration with various partners to take action and create lasting change. Over the years, this day has gained momentum, becoming a platform for governments, organizations, and individuals to develop initiatives that focus on various aspects of mental health care.”
“The Global Campaign 2024 and its initiatives are based on this year’s official theme for World Mental Health Day – ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’. This theme underscores the critical importance of mental health in professional settings, aligning with the founding principles of WFMH established in 1948.
The campaign is dedicated to advocating for mental health within the workplace. Our objective is to engage a global audience—including employees, employers, organizations, and stakeholders—in grassroots advocacy to promote mental well-being at work. We aim to highlight the essential role of mental health in professional environments, advocating for workplaces where mental health is prioritized, protected, and promoted.”
Get involved in spreading awareness of mental health in the workplace:
https://wmhdofficial.com/engage-2024/
Struggling with mental health in Maine?:
https://namimaine.org/maines-mental-health-resource-database/
https://211maine.org/mental-health/
Want to create a healthier work environment for your business?:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240053052
Other resources on mental health awareness:
https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/
October 08, 2024
What is a Hydrosol?
A hydrosol, also referred to as floral waters, is produced through a steam or hydro-distillation process that utilizes fresh plant material. This material can either be suspended above or submerged in water, which is then heated to generate steam. This steam is subsequently condensed back into liquid form. This alchemical process captures phytonutrients and other complex, water-soluble or hydrophilic compounds, along with volatile and lipophilic elements.
Hydrosols effectively encapsulate the essence, energetics, and phytomedicinal properties of a plant in a powerful and potent manner, suitable for both internal and external use.
Difference between Hydrosols and Essential Oils
Making essential oils is a super cool process, but because it takes such large quantities of plant material I find it to be a less sustainable use of both the plants and farmland.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be a health hazardous if misused. The significantly large quantities of plant material needed to create essential oils makes it a far less sustainable way of working with plants. For example it takes 10,000 lbs of rose buds to create 16 ounces of essential oils.
Along with the large amounts of plant material needed to make essential oils it’s equally important to consider that most large essential oil companies are not working with organic farms and purchasing their plant material from large pesticides using farms.
Hydrosols are a much safer, sustainable way of working with the plants, requiring far less fresh plant material. The small amounts of essential oil compounds that are captured during the process, are proportionally diluted creating a safe and shelf stable hydrosol.
How to Use Hydrosols
Hydrosols can be used in various ways both internally and externally such as facial toners, added to still or sparkling water, body spray, room spray. They also can be used as an ingredient in drinks, syrups, tinctures, lotions, facial washes—the uses are endless.
Recommended Reading:
https://www.sovereigntyherbs.com/blog/distillingthefeminine
Recipes:
https://goldenvistafarm.com/blog/hydrosol-series-part-3-what-to-do-with-hydrosols
References and further information:
https://aromaticstudies.com/about-distillation/
https://www.ecowatch.com/environmental-impact-essential-oils-2465879288.html
Check out the small batch hydrosols we currently have available from the farm here!
February 15, 2023
Give our 21 Day Reset a try and see what a difference a solid sleep and immunity routine can make! 21 days can be a magical number in creating new routines that stick.
Sleep is such an important part of our day. It’s a time when our bodies can heal and restore themselves. If we don’t get enough sleep there are a host of issues that can arise, such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure, and lowered immune response just to name a few.
The average adult should get roughly 7- 9 hours of sleep each night. Getting a restful sleep can help reduce health issues, support healthy cortisol levels and boost the immune system.
Our sleep health is directly connected to our immune health. Studies show that getting 4 hours of sleep instead of 8 hours, reduces the amount of immune fighting cells created in the body by 72%.
So let’s talk about something you can do to support getting a healthy night's sleep…starting with some herbs!
There are a handful of great herbs that can help support sleep issues like California poppy, catnip, passionflower, lavender, chamomile, milky oats, all things you can find in our Go to Bed Elixir, Goodnight Moon Tea and Restore + Relax Tea.
Set a goal to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time.
Days 4 - 6 Continue Days 1 - 2. If you are feeling you need more support you can add the Go To Bed Elixir. Take a dropperful after dinner and then again half an hour before bed.
Days 8 - 10 Continue days above and add:
On Days 3, 7, 11 Do the same as above and add
Check In:
How’s it going?! Hopefully you’re starting to notice some shifts, maybe you’re waking up feeling more refreshed and alert, ready to take on the day or maybe you’re noticing you have less stress and anxiety. But maybe you’re still not feeling much….this is also normal. It can take time for our bodies to reset and undo patterns that we’ve had for years, so hang in there.
For the next 10 days you will be sticking to the routine that was set during Days 1 -11 but adding a few more things to that routine to support your immune system.
The immune products we suggest for this reset are Elderberry Elixir, Mushroom + Roots Elixir, Chaga Chai Tea and Fire Cider. For the sleep products, we recommended use during your evening routines, but the immune products you could use throughout the day when it’s most convenient for your schedule. A morning immune routine is a perfect complement to your evening sleep routine.
Days 12 - 21 Continue with the routine you created on Days 1 - 11.
March 17, 2022
December 22, 2021
December 13, 2021
December 03, 2021
March 26, 2020
March 26, 2020
March 26, 2020
February 02, 2020
August 19, 2019
What is a ritual? According to the dictionary; it is any established form of a ceremony, ritual observance, or an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a precise manner. One of my favorite rituals is that act of stepping out into the gardens in the evening to collect herbs for a night time tea.