Sleep. We take it for granted until that time in our life when we experience sleeplessness, or miss out on enough good quality sleep. And that’s when we realise how deeply it affects our health and wellbeing.

Mood, mental focus, immune system health and blood sugar balance are all impacted by sleep.

We can muddle through for a day or two without our six to eight hours, but longer than that and cognitive functions are impaired and we can feel like we have aged overnight.

There’s many reasons for not getting enough sleep - illness, emotional stress, pregnancy, menopause, and environmental issues such as noise or light. Exercise, diet and lifestyle habits can all play a part in improving the situation, and natural plant remedies are available to support you too.

Plant powered remedies to support our sleep experience are entirely natural, non- addictive and suitable for just about everyone.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a well-researched power plant that supports quality and duration of sleep. It combines with Hops (Humulus lupus), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnate), Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and Woodruff (Galium odoratum) to support regeneration and rest at night.

And these are the plants you’ll find in Artemis Deep Sleep Tea.

Formulated by expert medical herbalists, this potent, yet naturally gentle, remedy is ideal support for people who experience sleep problems due to stress and tension, restlessness and mental and physical overload. It is used as additional support for people with degenerative conditions or hormonal issues, including during pregnancy or menopause.

To retain the active compounds of these amazing plants Artemis only uses high- grade, certified organic, GMO free plants.

We combine this high quality with centuries of proven plant knowledge to make Artemis Deep Sleep Tea, so you can sleep easy.

Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist, see your health professional. Artemis Brands Ltd, Dunedin. TAPS: PP4657

This blog was written for The Natural Parent Magazine. You can see the original here

The Fourth Trimester – how traditional plant remedies can help support you and your baby

The fourth trimester, while it may sound a bit odd, focuses on the three months after your child is born and it just as important as the months spent in the womb.

During this time, your baby is refining and maturing all their senses, growing more brain cells, developing neural pathways and the nervous system, learning to control reflexes and responding to the environment. Researchers suggest that human babies could really do with another three months gestation but that would make natural childbirth very difficult!

While it is a very exciting time and your baby undergoes a number of changes, so too does the mother; your body will need time to recover and you will need lots of nourishing vitamins and minerals to help with the healing process.

This is where plant remedies can be of assistance. Totally natural and suitable for preganancy and breastfeeding, the phytochemicals work with the body and have a compounding effect, meaning over time they help to strengthen systems and processes within the body.

At the ready to help nourish and soothe mum and baby, Artemis Breastfeeding Tea provides natural, organic, powerful plant-based support for the production of quality breast milk. 

Tea remedies are an easy way to absorb valuable nutrients quickly, and also contribute to your daily water intake, keeping you well hydrated while supporting your milk supply and health.

The superstar plants in our blend are:

• Fennel, widely used in traditional herbal remedies to support the supply and quality of breastmilk production. The added benefit from fennel is, via your milk, that your baby gets special volatile oils that help relax the digestive tract and reduce wind.
• Chamomile is the quintessential new motherhood herb and known to be calming.  It helps soothe the after-effects of birth and support mum and baby’s nervous and digestive systems.
• Aniseed is a galactagogue which means it supports the normal flow of breastmilk. It also helps to reduce baby’s wind, which will help soothe and settle baby’s tummy.
• Nettle is another support to milk production and the nutritious quality of breastmilk. It contains essential minerals, vitamins and enzymes to help your body strengthen after birth, and to form new blood cells to recover from blood loss.
• Raspberry leaf supports milk production. It also helps strengthen pelvic tissue and supports the recovery of strained pelvic floor muscles.

Sometimes it is not milk supply that can make breastfeeding difficult but sore, cracked nipples or trouble latching. Midwives and lactation consultants are your go-to experts and will be there to support you with proven techniques.

You could also try Artemis Nerve and Skin Rescue Oil, containing fresh plant extract of New Zealand wild-grown St John’s wort extracted in an organic oil base. St John’s wort is scientifically researched and shown to support skin healing and preserve skin integrity.

Containing 100% natural, organic, non-GMO plant ingredients, Artemis products are suitable to be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding, giving you peace of mind that you are nourishing your body, and your baby’s body, without any nasties. 

Correctly formulated plant remedies are suitable for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as young children, that is well tolerated with minimal side effects.

Natural treatments with high-quality medicinal herbs such as teas are traditionally a top choice in the treatment for adults and children in European countries where plant remedies are part of the mainstream health system. Plant-based health support has been effective for generations, is proven by history and increasingly supported by science.

What an absolute privilege to have this lady on our podcast. 

Sandra Clair is one of New Zealand’s most highly qualified Swiss trained medical herbalists, a medical anthropologist (M.A.) and the founder of traditional plant medicine company Artemis.

Sandra has completed her PhD in Health Science at the University of Canterbury, looking at the health policy challenge in regulating traditional medicines in the era of contemporary evidence-based practice.

Long story short, Sandra is an absolute guru when it comes to anything plant medicine. This chat is simply fascinating. The conversation covers Sandra’s background in health science and how Artemis was born (accidental entrepreneur),  the power of plant medicine and how we can incorporate it into our everyday self-care practices, examples of plants and their specific remedies,  her love for NZ and so much more.  You will leave the chat feeling inspired, 100% guaranteed (and will look at your back garden weeds in a new light).

https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-qebax-c0d633

Listen here

This article, by Dr Sandra Clair (PhD) first appeared in the New Zealand Herald. You can see the article online here

Plant medicine is a safe and effective therapy for children that is well tolerated with minimal side effects.

Many pharmaceutical drugs are not researched or approved for children. Plant medicine forms a valuable natural treatment option and are increasingly investigated as a safe alternative to many conventional drugs which are not researched or approved for children. That they work seems to be beyond any doubt: In a 2010 survey of German parents by Humer et al, 96.3 per cent of parents who have used herbal medicines for their children would do it again.

Infections of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract are the most common illnesses in early childhood. Natural treatments with high-quality medicinal herbs such as medicinal teas are traditionally the first choice in the treatment for children. Plant-based medicine has proven useful to generations of doctors, midwives and families and is increasingly supported by scientific trials. It is thus becoming more readily accepted in mainstream medicine as a natural option for the safe and effective treatment of children.

Medsafe NZ made an important ruling in 2013 that pharmaceutical cough medication was not to be given to children under 6 years of age. This was due to lack of evidence of efficacy, safety and that the risk-benefit profile was unfavourable, with documented harm to children. This followed similar other rulings in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. However, children still suffer from coughs and colds so a valid alternative is sought.

Ideally, a natural cough remedy for children provides a comprehensive, broad-spectrum formula that treats all types of coughs (wet or dry), from catarrh and bronchitis to asthma. It can also help remove the phlegm that can be an unpleasant trigger of coughs and protects the respiratory tract from further infections. The traditional combination of marshmallow root, mullein, plantain, thyme and liquorice has shown great results for all members of the family, including newborns. The above medicinal plants are endorsed by a German Commission E Monograph of the German Ministry of Health which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of medicinal plants and gave regulatory approval upon rigorous unbiased scientific investigation.

For an anti-viral formula to protect against influenza, (as well as the lessening its severity and duration), the medicinal herbs echinacea, angelica root, olive leaf, and sage, have also been endorsed by Commission E Monographs. This formula is best given to the child once a day throughout winter for improving the child's own defence mechanisms. Should an infection have gone past a child's defences, then an increase of the same formula up to five times per day may reduce severity and duration of the infection.

For very young children (under 3 months of age), tea remedies as well as tea baths (made with a strong infusion of medicinal herbs extracted in hot water) are often the preferred choice of treatment. However, echinacea, elderflower, liquorice, and thyme distributed in a vegetable glycerine base have shown to be beneficial in clinical settings in helping with immunity concerns from newborn.

In 2006, the American Academy of Paediatrics estimated 16 per cent to 26 per cent of all infants experience colic. There is no consensus as to the definite cause of this gastrointestinal disorder, but plant medicine has shown overall positive results in the treatment of this distressing complaint. In 2005 Savino et al. a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a standardised extract of chamomile, fennel and lemon balm was investigated in the treatment of breastfed colicky infants. It was found that 85.4 per cent of the treatment group improved within one week of treatment with a significant crying time reduction from an average of 201.2 minutes of crying a day at baseline to 76.9 minutes. No side effects were reported.

This article first appeared in the New Zealand Herald, authored by Dr Sandra Clair:

Plant medicine is proven to positively impact on many aspects of life and the start of life is no exception. For millennia, plant medicine has been used successfully to help support mums while breastfeeding and to help with healing the womb post childbirth. It isn't always easy for mums to breastfeed, and plant medicine can help support them during this time.

Traditionally, breastfeeding teas are used for nutrient support during breastfeeding to provide a nourishing boost to both baby and mum. According to research the most significant factor in milk production is the ability of the mother to produce high-quality blood. Therefore, proper nutrition plays an essential role in the process of breast milk production.

Professionally formulated medicinal teas comprise of plants that are nourishing (high in minerals) and are also galactagogues (which help increase breast milk production), along with calming herbs to support digestion and absorption of foods for the baby. Babies are born with an immature digestive tract and digestive support via breastmilk gently helps them. A prospective double-blind placebo study has shown that a medicinal tea with carminative herbs reduced infant colic more effectively than a placebo liquid.

Common traditional plants for regular production of good quality and flow of breastmilk are fennel, aniseed, chamomile, nettle, raspberry leaf, goat's rue, dill, and blessed thistle in various combinations. They must be of medical quality and free of herbicides and pesticides which is best verified by independent organic certification.

Raspberry leaf is great for both the mother and the baby; it has a dual purpose, acting as a galactagogue as well as supporting uterine involution after birth, helping to restore the mother's strained pelvic floor muscles.

New-borns often have tummy upsets, excess wind, sore stomachs and gripey pain. Carminative plants like fennel and aniseed are high in volatile oils which can help reduce the incidence of reflux, colic or stomach upsets.

Chamomile is also a highly effective plant that is helpful for preventing and treating colic and digestive upsets. The volatile oils from chamomile, fennel and aniseed are passed to the baby though breast milk.

Sometimes it is not milk supply that can make breastfeeding difficult but sore, cracked nipples or trouble latching. Midwives and lactation consultants have specific knowledge and can support breastfeeding women with proven techniques. A remedial cream that contains organic calendula, chickweed and nettle can preserve the integrity of the skin or soothe and heal the tender breast tissue for relief pain.

Such a healing cream can also be used to treat cradle cap, nappy rash and infant eczema. It helps to ease itching and swelling and is a general wound cream for cuts, grazes and open skin due to irritation or scratching. It is important that the cream does not contain parabens or paraffins.

If you're having trouble breastfeeding, talk to your leading healthcare professional.

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