How does a Medicine Tea Reading work?

Your medicine tea is a blend of medicinal herbs handpicked by me with the help of spirit to support your unique needs. Plants are more than just mere material, but have a consciousness and purpose of their own. When working with plant medicine you open your mind, heart and soul to the plant's lessons and healing. This works on a physical level, with the teas containing minerals, nutrients and phytochemicals that interact with your own biology to heal, balance, and bring health, as well as on emotional and spiritual levels to help bring greater understanding and meaning to your experiences.
You may just like a unique blend to help you relax in the evenings, or to get you going in the morning. Perhaps you’d like to use your tea to help support the function of a particular body system, like your reproductive health, your heart , or your digestive system just to name a few. There are plant medicines to support all of your body systems and all kinds of health needs.

You also might like to feel differently, happier, more vital, more productive. You can choose to work with intention when ordering and drinking your tea. Perhaps you would like to bring in more abundance, more connection, a better job. If this is the case don’t be shy and let me (and the universe) know so I can select the plant medicines that can help you find your way. When ordering a tea reading you have the opportunity request whatever it is you would like help with.. be it a physical health issue, a metaphysical request, or simply just for wellness.

You can order your Medicine Tea Reading here. When placing your order a short questionnaire pops up that you fill out with your intentions and requests to help guide the tea selection process. Typically your tea will contain 5 herbs at least. Your tea is then lovingly created and posted out to you.

7 lifestyle tips to stop getting sick

Confession time: I prefer getting all my nutrients from food rather than popping supplements and powders. I focus on eating healthy and this used to be enough. I’d rarely get sick. Since becoming a Mum it’s a different story. Of course I took supplements prior to conceiving, during pregnancy and most of breastfeeding (I forgot here and there), and I irregularly take them now. Experience is telling me, though, that diet alone isn’t doing enough to build up my nutrient stores post children. It’s hard not to get a cold from a toddler child that needs cuddles and kisses and likes to give cuddles and kisses back. Pre-children I never got sick. I was dedicated to my fitness, ate a pescatarian whole food, low sugar, anti-inflammatory diet, and went years without so much as a cold. 

After two pregnancies and four and a half years of continuous breastfeeding (that’s a lot of nutrients sucked from my tissues) and, 5 years later, I still have my sleep interrupted by babes. I also have a child in day-care a couple of times a week who’s exposed to new pathogens constantly. It feels like I get sick A l l   t h e   t i m e.   I’m actually embarrassed about how often I get a cold. This is postnatal depletion syndrome.  

I’ve had enough. 

I’m boosting my nutritional profile by taking some concentrated vitamins and minerals, essential fatty acids and probiotics RELIGIOUSLY. And of course, botanical medicine. Medicinal Mushrooms are renowned for boosting the immune system, but intuitively, they don’t resonate with me at this time. Rather Echinacea, Baical Skullcap, Japanese Knotweed, Siberian Ginseng, Lemon Balm, Nettles and Withania are here to help me. I feel like my immune insufficiency is caused by nutrient depletion, and once I have those stores up, the mushrooms may be ready to help me. 

So here’s 7 lifestyle tips to overcome immune insufficiency caused by postnatal depletion:

1. Antioxidant rich foods. Antioxidants modify your immune response.  The phytochemicals that antioxidant rich foods provide the body help repair damage to your tissues caused by your immune response to infection. When you see colour in your fresh produce, you can safely assume that’s antioxidants, so that’s why the phrase ‘eat the rainbow’ is so popular. 

2. Getting adequate sleep: , the sleep hormone melatonin performs as a potent antioxidant, repairing and restoring your body. I know this is easy to say and not do when you mother small ones, so ask for help where you can, and do your best. It may mean turning off netflix and getting into bed earlier. Your sleep is much too valuable. 

3. Protein: Inadequate protein is linked to dysfunction in the immune system. Protein is available in meat, dairy, beans, legumes, wholegrains, eggs, nuts and seeds.

4. Wholefood diet - one that is based on foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Not only do whole foods contain a wide array of nutrients, wider than foods that have been segmented, they also retain their vital force, or prana. Nutrients in their natural state work synergistically in the body to benefit the immune system. 

   Leave out

5. Sugar: Sugar is an immune suppressant with studies showing intake of sugar reduces the capacity of white blood cells to function properly, so therefore your immune response is weakened. Studies have shown that eating sugar can deplete the immune system for up to two hours after consumption. So that’s every time you eat sugar, you’re weakening your immune response for a time. 

6. Caffeine: Chronic and excessive intake of caffeine is likely to function as a stressor to the already depleted immune system. HOWEVER, in small amounts it’s actually anti-inflammotory, antioxidant and helps modulate the immune system, and may be particularly helpful in auto-immune conditions.  Yes I love caffeine. It’s been a saviour for me these past 5 years as I’m woken up often in the night and unnaturally early as well, that cup in the morning is supportive. If you’re having a lot, or having it with heaps of milk and sugar, then any anti-inflammatory effects may be lost. I try and keep to under 200mg of caffeine a day. For me this means using nespresso pods at home and rarely buying a coffee when out, as the caffeine content can vary greatly in cafe coffee. 

7. Preservatives: additives and colourings - Foods with these additives have, for the most part, long lost their vital force. Overly processed foods, while do provide calories to keep you going, do more harm than good in the long run. Often high in the wrong kinds of fats, sugars and a driver of inflammation, these kinds of foods wear you out. 

   If you’re rundown or experiencing repeated illnesses, nutritional and herbal medicine will help you build up your immune system and resilience. Nature has everything you need to thrive. Please book in for a naturopathic appointment for health coaching and a herbal and nutritional plan to restore your vitality. Life is too short to waste it feeling awful. 

6 household items you should lose to enhance your fertility

Plastics, and in particular BPA, build up in your system and can affect your fertility. The good news is that studies have shown that by reducing exposure, the amount of BPA in your system decreases significantly, and other kinds of plastics will likely reduce also. 

Head to your kitchen. Many kitchen utensils are made of plastics that break down when exposed to heat - directly into your food, and this is what you want to avoid. 

Replace all the following items with ceramic, glass or metal. 

• Reusable food storage containers - Ikea have some fabulous glass containers with timber lids

• Microwave safe bowls (don’t put plastic in the microwave all together)

• Reusable plastic water bottles and cups 

• Plastic tea kettles

• Colanders

• Blender containers that have been used with hot soups 

Although many plastic kitchen items in store are labelled BPA free, often the manufacturers have replaced BPA with a similar compound such as BPS that isn’t as well researched and may be just as damaging. In our society, until plastics are proven unsafe they are assumed safe. Perhaps they are, but then, asbestos was once assumed safe also, and with substances such as BPA proven to adversely affect fertility, it’s wise to err on the side of caution. The Handmaids Tale comes to mind (eep).

The plastics used for bottled water and food products on the supermarket shelf do not contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s - the fertility damaging components of plastics) and you don’t need to stress as much about it. Reduce where you can and only drink bottled water when absolutely necessary. Tinned foods are more problematic than other shelf foods as the cans are lined with plastics. Although some are labelled BPA free, there’s no way to know what the replacement lining is, and whether it’s benign or not. In particular it’s important to avoid tinned tomatoes, as these are quite acidic and are therefore much better at leeching fertility damaging plastics into their juices. It’s easy enough to dice up your own tomatoes thankfully. Try and use fresh foods instead or products jarred in glass.

While preparing to conceive, ideally, you’ll be focusing on whole foods prepared from fresh ingredients and steering clear of processed foods. Not only are processed foods more likely to contain EDC’s, they’re also more inflammatory and overloaded with bad fats, sugar and salt.  You need a rainbow banquet of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, protein and wholegrain to nourish your body and optimise your maturing eggs and sperm, so shopping at the farmers market for fresh produce and bulk food stores for nuts, dried beans and grains is not only better for the environment, but better for your future baby as well. 

Gorgeous baby image via upworthy.

On being a lightworker and a ghost story

A disembodied spirit jumped on to me while I was visiting a recently-ex-drinker. This person had been forced into abstinence by medical necessity. 

Alcoholics tend to attract disembodied spirits, or ghosts, if you like. Ghosts never quite followed the light and are stuck in a miserable space of nowhere, always having needs not being fulfilled, seeking out depression and misery as that is the frequency they dwell in. I guess the ghosts that loved a drink while living, love a drink while dead. Perhaps you could call it some kind of hell? Anyway, I’m not one that physically sees disembodied spirits as I’m walking around in ordinary daylight, (I have seen them while deep in process giving Shiatsu bodywork, but that’s another story) however I’m pretty sure I felt the moment this particular entity decided that I’d do. I was sitting on my friends couch, and I guess this entity was bored shitless as my friend was no longer drinking or smoking, I felt it attach to me.  

I hadn’t had a drink for ages - well a month, but that’s a long time for me. I’d been feeling fabulous and not missing it at all. But on the way home I noticed every. single. bottle shop. And not only every single bottle shop, but every pedestrian that happened to be carrying a bottle of wine. The shops gleamed at me with their yellow lights as I passed by.  

The traffic was terrible, the hour was late, and I realised I'd be home past dinner time with hungry kids and at least half an hour of food prep in front of me, If not more. I decided to go to Rouccos for dinner, order the kids some pizza and spaghetti, and skip the whole clean up altogether. After this decision was made I realised I could order a glass of wine. That’s exactly what happened. I’m pretty sure it was the entity influencing my decisions.  

The wine gave me a terrible headache after a couple of hours. I knew I needed to get rid of this thing. In the meantime I discovered someone I thought a friend had unfriended me over a relatively impersonal disagreement. Yes, it was only facebook, but it still hurt. This was upsetting on top of having an alcoholic entity hanging out with me. 

I knew what I needed to do, I trained in Alana Fairchild's channelled healing modality Soul Guidance and Sacred Mentoring TM- soon to be renamed Saraswati Healing - last year. It is a gorgeous modality that involves creating a sacred container for channelling spiritual light and using the Crystal Mandala Oracle and accompanying books for guided healing processes. It always feels heart expansive and amazing. You come into your session with an intention, and that intention is flooded with spiritual energy to be made manifest. You have the choice of working with Angels, Ascended Masters and Goddesses, each with their own flavour. There are 54 possible unconditionally loving beings within the deck and healing processes to come through and offer healing and guidance for you.  

After a couple of days of finding the time (cause you know, mum life ), I ran an Ascended Masters 333 healing template  

I was drawn to study with Alana because I find she is divinely clear channel. The particular prayer for clearing entities and karmic clearing within the template is exquisite and complete. I made sacred space and using the Crystal Mandala oracle deck, pulled my ascended master for help. Mataji. Mataji is a Hindi word meaning ‘mother.’ As the story goes Matajii is an unconditionally loving spiritual being who lives in the centre of the Earth, holding space for us all with loving embrace. She is a grounding energy and of the base chakra. Perfect, because the base chakra is associated with tribe, family and our sense of belonging. The unfriending had upset me greatly, was weakening my base chakra, and draining my energy.  

The beautiful entity clearing prayer gently encourages the disembodied spirit into the light. A further message and guidance from spirit healed my leaky chakra, ridding me of my emotional upset over the unfriending completely. The whole process takes about an hour, and I was left blissful and relieved of my suffering, and no cravings for alcohol since.  

I’m soon to be offering these sessions one on one and am looking to run group sessions which will be an evening of guided process and sharing in circle. You create an intention for whatever you like, be it personal growth or healing for humanity. 

What I love most about this modality is that every time you offer healing to yourself, you offer healing to all. Gathering with others to generate a sacred container and channel healing light for ourselves that we can then send out to wherever it’s needed is powerful and important. And right now particularly, the world needs healing light. And that is what this is, light work with unconditional love. 

Also I’m going to be running a Goddess template at the Sistahood Rising festival in November  this year, so very much looking forward to that! 

I look forward to sharing more of this with you soon.  

Alana Fairchild can be found at www.alanafairchild.com

The artwork in the background of this image is by Shiloh Sophia Mcloud

Are everyday items destroying your fertility?

We’re nearly at the end of plastic free July, but saving the planet isn’t the only reason to get rid of plastic. Many, if not most, plastics out there have some form of endocrine disrupting chemicals (ie, they mess with your hormones and normal bodily function)  or persistent chemicals that hang out in your fat cells forever. In fact, in one analysis, 500 plastic products labelled ‘BPA free’ were analysed for endocrine disrupting chemicals. 90% were determined to contain endocrine disrupting chemicals and in some cases at higher and more damaging levels than BPA itself.* 

Whenever plastic is heated, frozen or exposed to the elements in any way it breaks down in tiny amounts and you end up ingesting it, such as from water bottles and take away containers, from water pipes in the ground, or through your skin from creams and cosmetics. 

Further to this, during pregnancy and breastfeeding your body will dump any plastic residues from your tissues into your baby while in utero and into breastmilk while breastfeeding. Alarmingly, pregnancy and lactation are the most efficient way for your body to detox these nasties - straight into your baby. Little is known on how much these chemicals affect the developing foetus however animals studies indicate there is a measurable negative effect on gene expression and health of the foetus as she grows to adulthood. 

I’m not here to alarm, don’t panic. Your body is wise and brilliant and can overcome these hurdles. For example getting plenty of folate in the diet has been shown to negate the negative effects of BPA. So there’s ways around it!  But please be wary and reduce usage of plastic products now. 

If you’re planning on starting a family, it’s wise to consider a full detox program approximately 6 to 8 months prior to first trying to conceive, especially if you have been exposed to a higher level of environmental toxins through your work, lifestyle and living environment. A detox takes approximately four to six weeks, and then you can start a preconception care program of approximately four months. You want as many nasties eliminated from your system as possible before starting your conception journey. 

*BPA has been proven to significantly disrupt fertility. Women with high levels of BPA are 87% more likely to suffer a miscarriage than women with low levels of BPA. 

Quercetin - The essential anti-viral supplement you never heard of

There’s been some good evidence for hydroxychloriquine lessening the impact of Covid-19. After some initial badly designed studies (and some bad press) it’s been found hydroxychloroquine improves outcomes and lowers fatality rates when administered early enough in the infection lifecycle.

Hydroxychloroquine works as an ionophore - that is - it helps zinc pass through cell membranes into virally infected cells and stop the virus replicating. It’s the zinc that stops the virus once inside the cell. Hydroxycholoriquine  is like a gate opener that allows the zinc the pass through. 

The thing is - hydroxychloroquine isn’t for everyone and has some serious side effects. 

You know what else works as a zinc ionophore? Quercetin - a flavanoid found in onions, apples, grapes, berries, and citrus fruits. It’s also found in herbs such as St johns wort, Gingko and Cranberry. Quercetin is also great for soothing allergies, protecting your heart and improves reproductive health in men. It's an all round good thing to have in your body.

Quercetin is also available in supplement form and I recommend taking with vitamin C and zinc to get maximum anti-viral effects in the case of respiratory infection. 

If you want to add some immune enhancing supplements and herbs to your medicine cupboard, I have some naturopathic appointments available where you get a health plan and prescription of quality herbs and/or supplements tailored to your individual needs. You can book your appointment here.

Safe herbal immune support for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

With a global pandemic and winter upon us (here in Perth), this is an anxious time for everyone but especially for those of us due to give birth in the coming months.  I love herbal medicine for protection from illness and immune support however not all herbs are proven safe in pregnancy - so what to do to nurture your health and immune defences while pregnant?

Pregnancy takes more nutrients out of you than any other time in your life - except breastfeeding, which takes more. In classical chinese medicine it is said that pregnancy depletes jing- life force - due to this very nutritionally taxing time. 

If you’re low on certain nutrients your natural immune defences may be reduced leaving you more susceptible to succumbing to illness or suffering a longer duration of infection. 

Eating lots of wholesome, clean and fresh foods is the best response. Think the rainbow of vegetables and fruits, whole milk, whole grains, avoid flour based foods, deep fried foods, overly refined foods (chips, milk chocolate, lollies) Get as much nutrition as possible into your day, and leave out foods that are inflammatory and drain your energy to digest them. this means no overeating, not too much sugar, you know right from wrong. 

Our culinary herbs containing rosmarinic acid are have wonderful immune boosting properties, these include rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, sage and oregano. These are all delicious in soups and stews so add plenty to your meals. Lemon balm is lovely as a tea, is easy to grow, and also calms your nerves and helps you off to sleep. Enhance your connection to the herbs by thanking the plants for helping protect you against illness as you sprinkle them into your dinner.  

IF you are nutrient deplete, supplements are a good way to build up your reserves again. Iron is commonly depleted during pregnancy so get your levels checked and ensure you’ve got good reserves. Zinc, B vitamins and other micro-minerals are important and a good pregnancy multi-vitamin will ensure you get adequate levels of these in combination with a nutritious diet. 

Plant Medicines can help you

Not all herbs are deemed safe in pregnancy however there are plenty of herbs that can be used to help you get over an infection, prevent a virus from doing serious damage, or to boost immunity beforehand.  Echinacea builds up the immune system and staves off colds and flus,  and has been proved quite safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Elder flower is  beautiful and nurturing, as well as delicious. Astragalus and Baical skullcap are especially supportive against Coronaviruses and are both quite safe in pregnancy. I recommend chatting with a qualified herbalist for specific doses. 

And Sleep. 

Personally for me, pregnancy was the only time in my life when I would crash as soon as my head hit the pillow and slumber all night long - until the very last weeks when my belly got in the way. Melatonin is produced at night time and especially while we sleep. Melatonin is also one of the best defences we have against the Coronavirus sweeping the globe right now. This powerful antioxidant repairs and prevents damage caused by the virus and researchers are investigating the possibility of using supplemental melatonin in treating Covid-19 patients in hospital. You can boost your natural reserves by getting up just after sunrise, spending a good amount of time outside during the day (and boosting your vitamin D levels - another important immune defence nutrient) and making sure you turn off screens an hour before bed and have some wind down time. 

Also every hour of sleep you get before midnight is worth twice as much as the sleep you get after midnight. I find for me, lights out at 10pm is optimal, and I’m a night owl, so lights out earlier as you wish. 

Anti-Anxiety herbs for you: Kava

The numbing of the tongue and throat is immediately noticeable when first taking Kava. I find the relaxation and anti-anxiety effects are obvious within minutes. Studies have shown that the higher your level of anxiety, the better Kava works at settling your nerves.  

Kava has been used as a ceremonial drink in the Pacific Islands for thousands of years. When taken, it brings relaxation, sociability and a mild euphoria followed by a relaxing sleep. Partakers wake refreshed and hangover free. Until a couple of years ago, Kava was prohibited in West Australia, but that prohibition has now been lifted.  

Kava is an important anxiolytic. It offers just as much anti-anxiety action as more standard anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals yet doesn’t result in the bad moods that accompany these medications.  

Kava connects the mind with the heart, binging a deeper sense of love and security. If taken just before retiring it will help lull you off into a deep and relaxing sleep.  

In the early 2000’s liver disease and a few deaths were attributed to Kava consumption. A herb that had been used for over 3000 years was suddenly not safe. However in 2008 WHO declared Kava safe for use. It was determined the alcohol based extracts, the use of leaves and branches instead of just the roots, and possibly the varieties of Kava were the cause of the adverse affects. Piper Methysticum (which translates to intoxicating pepper) prepared traditionally or in a water based extract is completely safe and too important as an anxiolytic and sleep aid to not use.  

Kava not recommended for pregnancy and breastfeeding, or for long term use. Overuse can result in stupour and a scaly rash. Traditionally it was used ceremonially, not as an everyday thing. However one group of study participants took Kava for 6 months without adverse effects.

I’m open for online herbal medicine consults, and herbs can be posted out or picked up in South Fremantle.

Anti-Anxiety herbs for you: Passionflower

There was a magnificent passionflower vine in the backyard of a long term rental house I had in my twenties. I was enchanted at the rather trippy flowers with their intricate and unusual structures, shapes and the colours. This is an artful plant indeed. 

When I started studying herbal medicine I was amused to learn that passionflower is an anxiolytic, nervine tonic and - in higher doses - a sedative. It’s as if the flower gives clues to it’s medicine. Working with the plant opens doors to alternative insights, the bigger picture, and enables relaxation and enjoyment at the same time. It can be used to support withdrawal from opiates, alcohol and cannabis. It can be used for anxiety, insomnia and restlessness and is safe in children (in adjusted doses).Passionflower is especially great for gastrointestinal problems related to anxiety and nervousness. 

One small study found that in a group of 36 people with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, passionflower was just as effective as reducing anxiety after four weeks as Oxazepam - a benzodiazapene -  and it was better tolerated. Another study found that patients given passionflower 90 minutes before surgery scored much better on anxiety scores than a placebo group. 

The anti-anxiety relax and chill out vibe of passionflower and it’s aphrodisiac properties can make this a rather nice herb to have around in these housebound isolation times. 

Passionflower is contraindicated in pregnancy due to uterine contractions. 

If you would like some herbs for yourself please book in for an online appointment with myself. There are many herbs out there and different herbs are suited to different people - and I’ve got quite a knack for matching herbs with people. I’ve created a new appointment type - A herbal medicine consult - which is shorter than a traditional initial naturopathic appointment and is more affordable. $88 includes a 200ml herbal, a personalised flower essence and postage . Or $66 for a 100ml herbal, flower essence+ postage. After your initial appointment refill’s can be arranged for the cost of herbs + postage (or pick up in South Fremantle). All initial appointments are online with zoom, follow ups can be over the phone or video link.

Book your herbal medicine consult here through this link.

What Covid-19 does to you and herbs that can help

I was feeling rather calm about the Coronavirus Covid-19 until about two days ago, when I read the tweet of a doctor in Italy describing the scenes of overstuffed hospital wards and not enough supplies to go round. Their resources are being rationed out to only the most high-risk patients, that is patients over 65 years of age. 

Witnessing the pandemic conditions and overextension of medical staff overseas, I feel we all have a responsibility to minimise risk of spreading the disease further. For me that means lots of hand washing and laying low. I’m also going to make sure my loved ones have their own bottles of herbal tincture, to boost immunity and reduce anxiety in these rather strange times. 

 I see a lot of “don’t worry, it only affects older and immune compromised people” being thrown around on social media, as if older and immune compromised people aren’t among us, important or loved. These members of our society can benefit most from herbal support through this epidemic. 

 I love herbs because they come in whole package of phytonutrients and medicine all compete with the co-factors that help absorption and function in the body. I’ve come to think of them as super concentrated forms of nutrition and healing. They are taken directly from nature, and their unique make up interacts with our make-up perfectly.  

 So what does Covid-19 actually do to you and what herbal support is out there to look after your immune system?

 Most people get a mild case of the illness, a dry cough, a runny nose, fever and feel generally run down. Some have no symptoms and all, this is thought to be because they have particularly strong immune systems.  For some though, they’ll be sicker than others, their lungs will be affected and they’ll have difficulty breathing, and in the very worst cases, there will be organ failure and death. 

 This is an overly simplified explanation of what Covid-19 actually does: 

 When first entering the body, Covid-19 likes to invade the cilia in your lungs. The cilia are like little hair like structures that move in synergistic waves. Their job is to coax debris and unwanted substances out of your lungs, - like phlegm and mucous. Their little wave actions of the cilia gradually move unwanted mucous and debris up out of your airways, where you are stimulated to cough and get rid of it altogether.  

If the virus is beating your immune system it will kill your cilia, and you will lose the ability to expel mucous from your lungs. Instead of coughing up, phlegm sits in your lungs impacting your ability to breathe (pneumonia). You can support the health and resilience of your cilia with herbs such as Licorice, Elder, and Astragalus. 

 The virus enters your cells by attaching to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE-2) receptors on the cell surface. When they infect your cells ACE-2 is down regulated, and all the functions that ACE-2 performs - of which there are several important ones- downregulate (aka reduce) as a result . One of the functions of ACE-2 is protecting the lungs from a build up of mucous. Protection of the lungs is compromised and then mucous and unwanted substances are able to build up in the lungs.  ACE-2 tends to be lower in older people and this is likely one of the reasons they succumb to the virus more than fitter, younger people. Gingko, Licorice, Baical Skullcap, and Dan Shen can support ACE-2. Hawthorn and olive leaf may help protect your lungs and other organs from injury. 

Gingko is a tonic for older age so I particularly like this herb to use as a preventative in our older relatives. Astragalus is wonderful for chronically depleted immunity and another great one for the immune compromised to take preventatively. 

 Though you may recover from the virus after a few weeks, scarring on the lungs has been observed in recovered patients. Damage to the lungs can take months to repair, and doctors studying the effect of Coronavirus on lungs in Wuhan aren’t convinced the scarring will ever repair. So supporting your lungs as much as possible before and through infection is crucial. 

When the virus overtakes enough cells, your immune system can go into overdrive and release a cytokine cascade. This is where key organs can shut down, such as your lungs and kidneys. There are a number of biological chemical interactions that happen at this point that may lead to total shut down and death. Again, this is only in a very small percentage of the population, and observed in the aged and immune compromised. 

 Cordyceps, olive oil and leaf and Japanese knotweed are great for protection of Cilia and endothelial cells against scarring and damage. Astragalus, Baical skullcap, Cinnamon and Elder support your body systems in protection against cytokine cascade. 

 Cinnamon, ginger and cayenne are warming and circulatory stimulating, to promote action in your immune system. These spices are easy to add to food and can be taken as tinctures or in teas as well. 

The high antioxidant content of Olive leaf and Japanese knotweed has been shown to protect against ischaemic damage - that is damage to cells when oxygen supply has been reduced. With this herbal support your cells may manage to withstand the hostile conditions of viral attack just a bit longer. 

Vitamin C in doses between 6000 and 12000 mg is being administered to patients in China, as it seems to be helping. Doctors on the front line in China are also recommending Vitamin C as a preventative measure, so make sure you get lots of fresh, raw fruit and vegetables to maximise your Vit C intake. Great sources include blackcurrants, broccoli, citrus fruits, guavas, pineapples, rosehips, strawberries and tomatoes. It’s also available quite cheaply in supplemental form,aim for 3000mg per day. Be sure to make a good cold pressed olive oil dressing for your salads as well. 

Zinc has wonderful evidence behind it for reducing the duration of symptoms in respiratory viral infections. In fact, scientific literature has found zinc inhibits the virus from replicating by inhibiting Coronavirus RNA polymerise activity. The trouble is you need to get enough zinc inside the infected cell, which is tricky.  In China and South Korea, Coronavirus patients are being administered with a pharmaceutical drug called Chloroquine Phosphate which is an anti-malarial drug that opens the gates of the infected cell and allows the zinc to pass through. Once inside the cell, zinc stops the virus replicating. That specific medication is available by prescription only through a doctor and it comes with side effects. I, by no means, recommend that you go out and request a prescription from your doctor. Making sure your zinc intake is good, balancing with a diet rich in a variety of fresh foods, and supplementing with zinc if you’re low will help. Although I don’t have the scientific papers, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the anti-viral herbs here help the passage of zinc into an infected cell in the same way.

Foods high in zinc include pumpkin seeds, red meat, bilberry, brewers yeast, capsicum (also a great source of vitamin C), egg yolks, ginger, milk, seafood and wholegrain. 

Not all herbal supplements are created equal. To access high quality herbal tinctures you can book in for an online acute immune consult. It’s very affordable, it takes 15 minutes and the consult fee includes a custom-made liquid herbal blend for your unique circumstances. It’s easy to book in through this link. We’re blessed to have these herbal plant allies, robust with health-supporting phytochemicals, at our fingertips. It would be a shame not to use them. 

References

https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/videos/coronavirus-epidemic-update-34-us-cases-surge-chloroquine-and-zinc-treatment-combo-and-the-lockdown-331935

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jmv.25722

Kerry Bones, Simon Mills Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy 2nd Ed (2013) Churchill Livingstone Elsevier

Henry Osieki, The Nutrient Bible 7th ed, Bio Concepts Publishing

Steven Harrod Buhner, Herbal Treatment for Coronavirus Infections, 2020  

Tomato Garlic Roasted Eggplant with Bolognese

I love a richly cooked, ripe eggplant that’s absorbed all the fertility friendly polyunsaturated fatty acids of the olive oil it was baked in. This is a recipe inspired by Imam Biyildi, a turkish dish where eggplants are stuffed whole and simmered in tomatoes. Roasted or sautéed eggplants go perfectly with bolognaise sauce and are a great gluten and grain-free alternative to zucchini noodles or pasta. 

Tomato Garlic Roasted Eggplant

2 tbsp olive oil

1 brown onion

4-5 baby eggplants

4 garlic cloves

 6 ripe tomatoes diced or 2 x 400g tins of tomatoes

1 cup of vegetable stock

parsley, basil or other garden herbs of choice to serve 

Cut Eggplants in half lengthwise and sprinkle the cut surfaces with salt, leave for 20 minutes and then rinse in water. This drawers out bitterness. 

Preheat oven to 190C

Meanwhile, Add the oil to a casserole dish that is suitable for both stove top and oven. Slice the onion and sauté in olive oil for 10 minutes until soft and golden. Add the eggplants to the onions with the tomatoes, stock and the garlic and simmer for 10 minutes. Season the vegetables. Turn the eggplants over and place the casserole dish in the oven for 40 minutes. 

Top with herbs, bolognese (see below) and a little cheese of your choosing if you like. Mozzarella would work well, as would parmesan, and even feta. 

Simple Bolognese

Olive oil

1 onion

1 garlic clove

4-500g of beef mince

tin of tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato paste

2/3 cup of stock 

Add olive oil to a skillet and sauté the onion until brown and golden - about 5 - 7 minutes. Add a pinch of salt to the onion and then the mince, stirring until browned. Add in the tomato paste, tomatoes, garlic and stock. Simmer for at least 10 minutes but up to 40. The longer you simmer the sauce the sweeter and more robust the flavour. If simmering for longer be sure to add extra liquid so it doesn’t dry out. 

Variations: Add vegetables of choice. Grated carrot, zucchini and cauliflower work well. 

4 things about mental health

One

Stress causes cortisol to rise, and high levels of cortisol affect brain function. As you know, we all have stress, stress is normal, some of us deal with it better than others. Some times of our lives are way too stressful. Too much stress causes problems, and so can too little. So self care, giving yourself breaks. Investing time in your relationships, allowing time for play, and laughter. Giving yourself down time and allowing for adequate sleep. These will all help keep you well. If you can’t destress adequately on your own, there are herbs for that, seek help.

Two

It’s understandable to reach out for numbing when we’re down in the dumps. Ciggies, alcohol, caffeine , drugs, junky food, sugar, fried things, too much TV, no exercise.
 These things cause inflammation in your body- including -your brain in varying degrees. Some of these things cause neurotransmitter imbalances that lead to depression.  The subtle inflammation in your brain degrades your mental health.    

When in the habit of excessive use of any of these numbing behaviours your mental health suffers. All the discomfort of addiction is caused by the withdrawal of the substance your using. Continuing to use perpetuates the discomfort. The only way to end it is to break the cycle and sit through the discomfort.  

Three

It’s been conventional to treat mental illness purely as a physical imbalance in brain chemicals. Patients are treated with medication, a bottle of pills … or several.. .depending on how ’serious’ your mental illness is, and sent home.

But this isn’t working, consistent data from scientific reviews shows that targeting one or two neurotransmitters with pharmaceuticals often fails to provide overall meaningful clinical efficacy. Enormous amounts of randomised controlled trials have been used to study antidepressants, with the majority demonstrating only moderate superiority compared to placebo, leaving many patients experiencing treatment-resistant depression.  Medication helps, no doubt it helps, and many people really do need their meds to function from day to day. But while benefitting from the ‘balance’ found through the meds, patients need healing. Mental illness is every bit spiritual as it is physical I have no doubt. And we are severely doing a disservice on the spiritual healing side of things for the average mental health patient in our country. They are given a bottle of pills and left to their own devices. - And this means not even assisting to get in to see a psychologist. The psychiatrist doesn’t do any cognitive therapy anymore, they just prescribe in 15 minute appointments.   

Four

You need a good healthy gut and a solid nutritional profile to be mentally well. Most of your serotonin - aka happy juice - is made in your gut. You need a complete amino acid profile, healthy fats, some nourishing carbohydrates and all the colours of the rainbow for minerals and vitamins to keep your neurotransmitters firing happy. You need to eat well to be well. If you are deplete you are not going to be as well as you could be. There are a range of nutritional supplements and herbs that can help you get to where you need to be, so book a naturopathic appointment for help to make some health goals, get some investigations done and receive evidence based guidance on what you need to eat and take.

Giving your baby your very best genes

Have you heard of epigenetics?

You may have a genetic pre-disposition to a range of conditions. 

But not all genes are expressed automatically. 

Your lifestyle affects whether genes are expressed or not. So for example you may have a gene for varicose veins. Your mother and grandmother each developed varicose veins from an early age. You may also have the gene, but with the right diet and exercise the gene may not be expressed at all or until much later in life.  

With optimal health during the preconception phase when the egg and sperm are developing, the healthiest genes possible will be passed on to the new baby. 

If you’re interested in becoming pregnant soon I’m currently putting together an online course to make the pre-conception care journey as simple as possible for you. You can sign up for updates here through this link, and score a free digital download on ovulation while you’re at it.

Wishing you well,

Libby

BPA affects your fertility - here's what you can do about it

Th story of how BPA (bisphenol A)was discovered to contribute to infertility is an interesting one. It was August 1998 and a research group at Case Western Reserve University were studying egg development in mice. Suddenly, seemingly overnight, there was a dramatic increase in chromosomally abnormal eggs - that is eggs that won’t produce a healthy, living baby. Until this point 1-2% of the mouse eggs where chromosomally abnormal, but that jumped to 40% all of a sudden. After a thorough investigation the researchers discovered that BPA had been leaching out of the plastic cages and water bottles after being washed in detergent. Once all the damaged plastic cages and water bottles where replaced, the rate of eggs with chromosomal errors returned to normal. 

It’s difficult to avoid all BPA as it’s present in many everyday items such as packaging and paper receipts from the store. The good news is minimising your exposure will go a long way to reducing the risk of BPA affecting your fertility. In several studies on women undergoing IVF it was found that those with the highest levels of measurable BPA in their blood had more abnormal eggs, and less eggs that successfully fertilised and developed than women with lower levels of BPA. Women with higher levels of BPA also suffered more miscarriages.

However it was found that eating 400mg of natural folate from your diet daily - from foods such as leafy greens, brassica vegetables and lentils pretty much cancelled out any negative impact of BPA. 

The point is don’t stress about being exposed to BPA, but make moves to reduce it. Don’t drink out of plastic water bottles. Don’t eat out of plastic containers and especially don’t heat food in plastic containers. A lot of tinned foods are largelyly BPA free however many companies are replacing BPA with similar chemicals such as BPS and BPF. 

Why we need healing with the divine feminine, and what that actually means

Over the last few years there’s been a LOT of media coming out about the divine feminine, or the sacred feminine, but what does that really mean?

I know personally, back in 2012, the words feminine divine started to pop into my head when I was meditating, so as the years went by and I noticed other people were talking about this, I took a lot of interest. Here’s what I make of it.

We relate feminine principles to attributes such as nurturing, receptivity, nourishing, intuition an even organising.

The divine feminine isn’t about biological sex, neither is it something only of benefit to woman. We all have a balance of feminine and masculine within us. The divine feminine has been squashed under the patriarchal reign of the last whatever-thousand years.

The feminine supplies the nutrients needed in order to grow. Like the placenta and the womb, and breastmilk, or like the rich fertile soils that grow plant life of earth. There’s been a cultural decision to bind the feminine and not allow her to flourish. We’ve been this way for so long that women are commonly bigger patriarchs than men. It’s ingrained. And this is not about being anti-men. No body benefits under a patriarchy.

Our patriarchy is evident in the way we plumage the earth for her resources, taking, taking, taking but not allowing the resources to replenish. It’s evident in the way we (as occupants of earth) have been fighting and trying to achieve domination over each other for ever. The way we put profit before people, animals and the environment. The objectifying of the female body not out of a place of respect but of a wish to occupy and control. The way it’s common across many cultures for children to be sexually abused, married young and sold to the sex trade. All of this action is done without consideration fo the wellbeing and nurturing of the individual. There is a saying in Japan, There’s no such thing as a wise woman. This belief is reflected through many cultures on our planet. The feminine for so long has not been able to speak. But the feminine, if allowed, would not allow our bodies and our earth to be raped.

Of course the symptoms and consequences of patriarchy above apply to a much smaller scale in our own lives, the way we choose to live in our loss of power and control over ourselves, the way we work ourselves to the bone, stressed, frazzled, how we get lost in distraction. We’ve forgotten how to go inwards and trust our intuition, and we ignore what we know is right.

The divine feminine isn’t a doormat. We have been traumatised, in our personal childhood, and as a culture collectively. The divine feminine teaches us about feeling and processing that trauma so you can move onto other things and lift other people up. The divine feminine in her wisdom stands tall in her conviction. When something is not right she puts it right. I spent the weekend in workshop with Alana Fairchild in discussion about Goddess energy, the stories and lessons that the goddess energy tells. Goddess Tara tells us we have a divine given right to say no thank you to what is not right and what does not serve. Goddess Isis sees us through the healing process. Feeling all the feels, processing the pain. There is a purity in the darkness and through it we can rise again, this is the teaching of Isis. And Kali, with her sacred fury. She is all about the power of truth and wisdom over the falsehood of the ego. I find through reflection and embodiment of these goddesses, their stories and principles, I bring the divine feminine through myself.

The strong, protective, divine masculine merges with the divine feminine in a beautiful union. If the divine masculine in us devoted it’s logic, strength and protective qualities to protecting and allowing the feminine and to protecting the earth and our communities - then we would see true healing and true evolution take place.

This blog was strongly inspired by our discussion during the workshop with Alana Fairchild over her weekend, and her book The Kuan Yin Transmission, pictured above, is an extension of the workshop content. I haven’t read it yet but looking forward to snuggling in with my signed copy.

5 things to try when your kids are driving you crazy

Roll out your yoga mat and stream a yoga class. 

After weeks of a particularly bad, clingy, tantrummy, destructive terrible twos phase (here’s hoping it’s a phase) I was starting to be worn down and cracks were beginning to show. In a particularly frustrating moment I found myself yelling at my kids and saying things like ‘don’t come near me’ feeing exasperated at the 78 things to be exasperated about. Anyway ‘don’t come near me’ …this is heartbreaking for little people to hear. 

I knew I’d gone way too far and after big cuddles and apologies I sat down to an online yoga class where the teacher asked us to sit in the self-awareness mudra (legs crossed, index fingers to thumb resting on top of your knees) and set an intention. Today’s intention was about giving ourselves a compliment. It was unnatural to give myself a compliment in that moment feeling terrible as I did about my angry mummy self, but also exactly what I needed. I set my intention. “I am a calm, loving and wonderful mother” 

Immediately after a few moments of peace with the intention, my two-year-old interrupted me for something or other, but I already felt so much better. Sometimes he wants to be cuddled for the entire yoga class, and I just do poses around him as best I can. 

I use gaia.com for yoga and I particularly love the ‘yoga every day’ series on Gaia but there are other paid yoga streaming services and free classes on you tube. Find one you like

Get out of the house to the park. 

I prefer parks where the children are fenced in so they can’t run away and force you to chase them. If your kids are past the running-away-to-potential-death phase, then the world is your oyster. Children absolutely thrive in nature. Fresh air, breezy trees and safe places to jump around and socialise. There are other parents for you to chat too. What’s not to like. 

Garden.

Hands on planting, weeding and especially watering with tiny little watering cans, connects you to the earth and brings peace and calm. Plus kids are so cute when completely absorbed in their little gardening tasks that you completely forgive them for being massive pains in the ass. 

Surrender.

Sometimes just lying back on the couch and reading them stories for an hour, running around and playing games and following their lead is the best thing you could possibly do. Forget the housework, and what YOU wanted to get done that day, just be. Janet Lansbury, my go-to toddler parenting guru, says that children are the best directors of their own play. The games and activities they come up with are exactly what they need for their growth and development at that time. So listening to their ideas and following that lead is the best way to go. Requests for screen time apparently don’t count as development though, so when this happen, redirect, wait it out and distract with toys and other games… or just put paw patrol on and have a goddam break for 45 minutes. 

Get Childcare

Give them to their other parent/relative/friend/ babysitter for a couple of hours and take yourself on a date with yourself, for yourself. Long soaks in the tub, art gallery, the movies, or one of my personal faves, staying in bed with books, magazines, netflix and cups of tea all day long. You freaking deserve it. 

An ode to breastfeeding

I once read in the comments section on facebook, that ‘breasts are for sex and for feeding children.’ This was quickly followed up by guffawing of other commenters “Ahem, breasts are for babies!'

After four years of continuous breastfeeding, I can assure you breasts are most definitely for babies. Everything about their design, the softness, the lumpiness, the silky nipples that are such a joy for babies to grab onto, babies love fondling tags on toys, and nipples on boobs. the squishiness, their warmth, the position on the body so you can hold the child to your breast, lie with them and stroke their little heads. The love hormone oxytocin release stimulating bonding between mother and child, all for babies.

When my milk first came in about two days after giving birth to my daughter I looked like I’d had a boob job. They were so big and round and sat up just so. Now I understood that what my culture agrees to be the perfect breast, is the look of a breast engorged with breast milk, and completely capable of sustaining new life. It made sense, I forgave mankind a little bit that day. I hoped my boobs would stay like that, they didn’t.

My time of breastfeeding is drawing to a close. we have no more babies planned. For over four years my boobs have been at the beck and call of my babies. First one, then both, and then the other one.

Now my son is 2 and a half and the weight of his body and the feel of his latch tell me instinctively that it’s time to wean. My daughter, who is 19 months older, was also 2 and a half when I weaned her. I breastfed them both - as in at the same time tandem style, yes one one each boob, - for almost 12 months. They offer the best of convenience, delicious warm milk on demand, comfort when sad, bonding and togetherness, play and enjoyment. A remedy when hurt. My children both loved their boobies.

Breastfeeding hurt at first. They tell you it doesn’t hurt if the latch is right. Not true, it hurt. It hurt no matter how many times I had my child's latch checked and assured it was fine, no matter how many times I ‘made my boob into a burger and squeezed it in her mouth', breastfeeding hurt. They say that fair skinned red heads feel the most pain when breastfeeding. I’m a fair skinned brunette so perhaps I come in in a second or third on the pain stake. My nipples became sore and cracked and bled. By day 11 feeding was agony but I gritted my teeth. I was determined. I used a nipple shield for every feed for three days out of necessity. I healed, and then it never hurt again.

My milk sustained them and though they both were born rather skinny, they grew chubby very quickly. Fat little rolls over their thighs, up their arms and on their cheeks.Sweet little smiles and shiny eyes, only for mummy.

I love the snuggly closeness, the shared bed convenience. How easy it was to stumble out of bed at that first wake up cry at 5.30 and climb back into bed with them, warm and cosy, feeding away. The beautiful smells of my babies head, their chubby little hands, their innocent sweet eyes taking in all around them, always happy to be on the boob.

They say not to feed to sleep, but feeding to sleep was one of the most relaxing parts of my day, and personally one of my favourite things about breastfeeding. Feeding to sleep absolutely saved me when I was home alone with two babies who needed to nap. A chance to lie down and often snooze with my little one. And in the evenings, guilt free time scrolling my phone amidst the dinner/bedtime routine and then the clean up grind.

My child was safe, happy and warm in my arms with all their needs being met.

With my first baby I tried following a sleep routine to get her in the habit of 12 hour nights by three months old. A 12 hour night didn’t happen until she was way over 18 months. I couldn’t follow the advice, it went agains all my mothering instincts: “let baby feed for 40 minutes, otherwise they’ll be hungry and wake up sooner” My child wouldn’t feed longer than 15 or 20. Don’t feed to sleep, put baby down relaxed but awake, yeah right. Being separated from her boob wasn’t relaxing for my baby or for me. Leaving the child on the boob was much more relaxing for everyone involved.

Even now, removing my toddler from the boob isn’t relaxing. We’ve cut out the snuggly wake up morning feed, and my mornings are much more accomplished because of it. Next we’ll cut out the night feed, and last of all, the midday nap feed. This one is last because I’m not convinced I’ll be able to get my son to sleep in the day without breastfeeding, but we shall see.

As I write this, I’m relieved I still have breastfeeds left to give, because the thought of stopping completely will mark the end of my baby-mummy years, and that’s sad. It’s also beautiful, as now I have gaps in my days to create and accomplish what I could never have done with two under two, or even two under three. Coming out the other side of extreme baby years is like rediscovering who you are all over again. And I still get to cuddle (and sniff) my children every day. There’ll be no risk of my child pulling out my breast in public. And I’ll be keeping the necklines of all my clothes intact.

This was the first major family outing I’d been on since giving birth to John John. We’d been driving for about half an hour and the kids were both losing it. We stopped for a booby break.

Lentil Moussaka

The spices in this, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon are so feminine and fragrant and kinda sweet balancing the rich eggplant, tomato and onion flavours coming through. The spices are stimulating for your circulatory system and are great for metabolism too. Lot’s of folate and minerals in the lentils and eggplant skin is an excellent source of vitamin K. So good with Parmesan cheese on top.

This is a recipe of many steps. Just for an overview you’re going to get the tomato/lentil sauce on the stove, then prep the eggplant and béchamel sauce while the tomatoes cook. 

Ingredients

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 brown onion

1 leek

3 garlic cloves

1.5 tsp ground cinnamon

¾ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground allspice

2 400g tins of tomatoes

2 cups of vegetable stock 

2 large eggplants, cut into rounds about 1 cm thick. 

Béchamel

1L milk of your choosing

80g butter 

1.2 medium onion

1 bay leaf

6 parsley stalks

60g arrowroot

1/2 tsp sea salt 

Method

1.    Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and cook the onion, leek and garlic until soft. Add the spices and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 

2.    Add the tomatoes and vegetable stock, stir to combine. Cook for 25 – 30, add in the tinned lentils, cook for another 10 minutes until sauce is reduced. You can shorten this step if you like by adding less water and cooking for a shorter time, but the flavour won’t be as developed. Season with salt and pepper. 

3.    Preheat the oven to 180°C

4.    Meanwhile grill the eggplant. Brush the slices of eggplant with olive oil on either side and grill over high heat for a couple of minutes each side until browned. 

5.    Cook the Bechamel. Heat the milk, onion, baby leaf and parsley stalks. Set aside for 10 minutes so the flavours can infuse, then strain the milk, discarding the solids. In a separate saucepan melt the butter and then stir in the arrowroot, cook for about two minutes until foamy. Gradually pour in the milk and whisk until the béchamel becomes a smooth sauce. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, whisking occasionally. Add in the salt and nutmeg and remove from heat once thickened. 

6.    Assemble the Moussaka. Choose your baking dish and cover the bottom with a layer of eggplant rounds. Spread half the lentil mixture on top, and then half the bechemel. Repeat these layers and then sprinkle some nutmeg on top. Bake for 15 minutes and then take out of the oven, sprinkle grated parmesan over the top and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown and the sauce bubbles up over the sides.   

Lamb Shank Harira Soup

Lamb Shank Harira with lentils, pumpkin and Silverbeet. Deliciously warming and made in under an hour in the pressure cooker, though you could also let it stew all day in a slow cooker if you prefer. When bones are simmered in liquid all the nutritive minerals are leached into the water - such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. All essential for healthy bodies and healthy babies.

Ingredients

3 tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1kg lamb shanks

1 large onion

2 celery stalks

1 medium carrot

3cm knob of ginger

5 garlic cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1.5 tsp turmeric

2 tsp cumin

half a tsp of nutmeg

1.5L of chicken bone broth

400g tin of diced tomatoes

1.5 tbs Worcestershire Sauce

1.5 cups diced pumpkin

Half a bunch of silverbeet, washed and torn into pieces

2 handfuls of green herbs, like coriander, and parsley, chopped

Extra virgin olive oil to serve

Method

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan (I used my pressure cooker on the browning setting). Add the lamb shakes and sizzle them, turning occasionally for 5 - 7 minutes until browned all over. Remove and set aside.

2. Add the onions into the saucepan perhaps with a dash more olive oil. Brown for five minutes and then add the ginger, garlic, celery and carrot. Give a little stir.

3. Add the spices and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

4. Return the shanks to the pan. Add in the bone broth and tinned tomatoes. bring to the boil. It was at this point I set my pressure cooker for 20 minutes, but you could set your slow cooker to go for all day. If using a slow cooker add the pumpkin and lentils at this stage. If using a stove top simmer for two hours. After the simmering is finished, add in the pumpkin and tinned lentils. Splash in the Worcestershire sauce and simmer another 25 to 30 minutes.

5. Remove the lamb shanks and set aside until cool enough to handle, perhaps 15 minutes. Shred the meat from the bones and add back into the soup. Add the silverbeet and heat until wilted.

Tomato Kale Soup with Sausage and Mozzarella

I love it when the whole family savours their dinner because it’s so damn delicious and satisfying. With a couple of picky eaters in the house nothing quite beats the sound of kids quietly slurping their dinner.

This one’s a winner with kids, husbands and wives alike. I used regular sausages to appease the toddlers but feel free to experiment with chorizo or other kinds if your household is less fussy.

Note: I did NOT let my kids eat off my new fancy plates

Ingredients

4 - 6 fresh sausages

1 brown onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, diced

1 large carrot, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

2 bay leaves

1 sprig rosemary

2 x 400g cans tomatos

2 cups beef bone broth or 2 cups regular stock with 1 tbs powdered beef broth (I like nutraorganics)

4 - 6 big leaves of kale

Buffalo mozzarella and basil to serve

Method

1. Place a dash of olive oil in a skillet on medium to high heat and cook sausages, turning frequently until brown and cooked through. Remove from heat.

2. Meanwhile, pour a couple of tablespoons of olive oil into your soup pot, also on medium to high heat and slice the onion and add to the soup pot. Once browned, add the sliced, garlic, carrot and celery. Sautés for a few more minutes until the vegetables have softened.

3. Pour in the bone broth/or stock and bone broth powder. Season with a good pinch of salt. Add in the tomatoes, rosemary and bay leaves and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Wash the kale leaves, tear into pieces a couple of cm across and add to the soup pot. Slice the sausages into bite size rounds and add to the soup also. Simmer until the kale wilts and the sausages are heated through. Turn off heat.

5. Serve into bowls and top with torn mozzarella, basil and parsley if desired. Season to taste.

Note: I served this up with melted cheese on toast for my kids which worked really well. If you like you could place some day old sourdough in the bottom of your serving bowls before ladling soup on top for a traditional style ribollita.