Your yard, garden and patio are wonderful extensions of the place we call home. Being outside to witness the natural world is refreshing and quite interesting to me.  Why not create your own little garden and make your experience with nature rich and memorable?  Here are 5 of the best summer herbs that are perfect for this sunny season.

Basil

Basil is considered the most adored herb of all time. It is popular because of its bright, vibrant leaves oozing with refreshing flavor and is very easy to grow! Because of its vivid aroma, not to mention health benefits, basil can be a staple all year around. Whether you’re making your favorite soup or you’re looking for an effective deodorizer, be in love with basil.

Chives

The appealing color and amazing benefits of chives make it to the list of the most sought-after summer herbs. Chives are natural antibiotics with anti-inflammatory properties. Growing this attractive plant in your garden not only means acquiring its charm but also driving away insect pets in your area.

Oregano

In terms of ease of planting and harvesting, oregano is a definite front-runner. With good sunlight and drainage, it is a perfect herb to keep your kitchen busy all summer long. Aside from that, oregano flowers and leaves are both edible! So, you can add both into your favorite dish.   Plant lore promotes it for support of respiratory maladies and fungal infections. 

Sage

Have you tried fried sage?  One of our son's shared this with us a few years ago. Just use a little olive oil or butter in a pan, keep the heat low, fry until lightly brown and cripsy and serve as an appetizer. Delectable!   Famed for its traditional cooking benefits and its medical value, sage is also drought tolerant,  making it perfect for the summer heat! 

Lavender

To complete the list is lavender, a member of the mint family. Lavender is famous for its soothing aroma, making it very popular among essential oils. Put a drop on your temples and pulse points to calm your mood and promote a restful sleep. Lavender relieves pain, treats burns, reduces acne, prevents hair loss, and kills germs. Lavender flowers are used in teas, baking and even your favorite aperitif!  You already know how much in love I am with lavender!  With good drainage and 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, lavender will be one of your favorites too.

I don’t think Cannabidiol (CBD), will be just another one of those “buzz words,” if plants have anything to say about it! The history of the plant from which this compound comes (cannabis), is long, storied, beautiful and completely amazing. Let’s begin with the fact that it is possibly one of the oldest plants cultivated by humans.  It goes way back to ancient Egypt and has been used in building construction, to make textiles and as a medicine.

Today CBD has been the subject of much research due to its many and varied medical applications.  It’s not just the therapeutic attributes that caught my eye, but the fact that the compound is also non-psychoactive. It does not produce a feeling of being ‘high’ as is often associated with cannabis use and the mind-altering effects of other cannabinoids such as THC.

CBD and You?

So what makes CBD so hard to understand and to trust?  Is it that complicated? It might help if we understood why our body needs it.

Did you know that your body actually makes a CBD like compound? And your cells have receptors to receive and use it? It’s true!  But we don’t make enough of it to combat all of the stress and pain, be it emotional or physical that we experience daily. So I like to think of it like a vitamin deficiency. We can apply CBD salves and lotions right where it hurts, or we can take it in drop form.  Your body strives to be in balance. Sometimes it struggles.  

The use of CBD and the dose that is right for you is highly individual.  Whether you are looking for improved sleep, relief from anxiety, are experiencing acute or chronic physical pain, or have other conditions you are seeking help for, I believe CBD can help. 

CBD and Me!

Plants have deep secrets they can tell us if only we will listen.  One secret I discovered a few years ago, was that CBD has pain relieving effects.  As an active and outgoing person, I never imagined having to deal with pain and the fatigue associated with it, especially on a daily basis.  My pain led me to reach for something convenient so that I didn’t have to slow down or give up my favorite things.  I thought that my diagnosis of osteoarthritis was no big deal. Although I was advised to take steroid shots and to use high-powered pain creams, I bought the largest bottle of Ibuprofen I could find and started self-medicating.  After a few months and several very large bottles of that technique, I realized I was on the wrong track.  My stomach ached, I had no appetite and I seemed to be increasing the dose daily.  It was time to do some of my own research.

I had heard about CBD and wondered if I could formulate a product to soothe my achy muscles and joints. Just like my grandfather and mother before me, I am a salve maker.  What about a topical application of CBD oil, massaged deeply into those areas of pain?  Better yet, put the CBD oil into a salve with other oils that also help reduce inflammation and pain. 

Four years ago I started formulating our Muscle & Joint Salve.  My trial testing friends were complete strangers to me at the time. They helped me with several iterations until I got it just right.  I was so excited to learn that the salve was helping them too.  People told me stories of how they were snow boarding, skiing, running and walking again for the first time in years, without pain.  But it was a call that I got from my dad, who was 86 years-old at the time, that really stopped me. He told me that he had buttoned his shirt and tied his shoes for the first time in months!  He just wanted to know what the h*** I was putting in that stuff.

Today I have full mobility in my hands, hips and knees.  Most nights I have a nice long, restful sleep. My brave and patient friends, family and trial testers are loyal supporters of my process of curiosity and discovery.  Along with a deep quest for self care and for helping others, this has lead to the development of all natural and organic, healing products. For this I am very thankful.

Shop our CBD/Hemp products by clicking, here! More to come...

Our lives are full of surprises and uncertainties that influence the way we live, how we feel and how healthy we really are.   Each day can feel really challenging.  How do we navigate it all? Remember that everything was not meant to be easy. We can only take care of one thing at a time.  The place we call home, starts with our own body and mind and with taking care of ourselves.  If we embrace our daily challenges by spending personal time away, our perspective shifts and we feel more positive.

Breathe and Relax

The best way to start your day is to take a minute of deep breathing. Life is not designed to be all chaotic and stressful. Focus on the goodness of life and don’t be over-committed! Let go of the negatrons and relax!

Eat Healthy

Healthy food means a healthy body. Never disregard the importance of choosing the right food for your body. Make your own nourishing menu and indulge yourself in a hearty meal. Take note that what you eat is what you get.

Unplug from Technology

An hour away from technology gives you more benefits than you can ever imagine. Free yourself from the virtual advancements and you’ll surely appreciate the innate beauty of nature even more.

Exercise

Get your body moving! Go for a morning run, do some biking, or shake your body. Endorphins and exercise are quite a pair to increase your level of happiness. So, time to move and stretch those sore muscles.

Do something new

Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and do something new. Whether it’s about getting a new job or trying a new sport, a new journey is definitely an exciting one.

Be Selfish Sometimes

Sometimes you need to be selfish and gift your inner child. Do the things that make you happy like munching a basket of sweets or running around like a mad person. Let the euphoria consume you even for just a day.

Read a book

A book a day keeps you going every day. Really, immersing yourself in a good book is beneficial. Books not only expand your comprehension but also encourage a sense of peace.

Be Thankful

Appreciate everything around you. By expressing gratitude you’ll feel more at ease with your blessings. Also, extend your appreciation to your loved ones.

Laugh Often

Laugh like this adorable being! Laughter is free and you can certainly take advantage of it. There’s nothing more beautiful than laughing your problems away. A good hearty laugh decreases your stress hormones and makes you young.

Take a Rest

Lastly, everyone deserves a good rest. If you can’t complete the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep, make sure to take quick naps to rejuvenate your body.

It has been hot lately, so we have been thinking about how to stay cool. Here are some of our favorite summer recipes!

Rosemary is a great healer. Like lavender, it reduces inflammation, and improves circulation. It has great benefits for hair and scalp. When we feel any itchiness or dryness, we like to make a batch of rosemary hair rinse with fresh-clipped rosemary from our garden. It brings immediate relief, and makes the house smell amazing.

It's summer now, and many people have already headed outdoors. We love to hike and camp too, and have already spent days and nights under the sun and stars. When warmer weather comes, whether you are working outside, having a picnic, or hiking on a trail, bugs can be an issue. Everyone knows the green spray that contains chemicals bad for our skin and environment. But at Suzi's, we have formulated a few products that keep the bugs away and heal bites, without DEET and other chemicals.