Superfood Girl

Hot Springs

I've just made up a new word that I wanted to share with you -- Amaziated

Amaziated is what happens to you as a result of visiting hot springs. The soaking-in-springs experience is utterly a-maz-ing; you feel alert and rejuvenated, yet completely relaxed and calmed at the same time. For the days and weeks following, you are positively shifted as a result of your time spent in healing, mineralized, warm springs water. I'd imagine it's a lot like going back to the womb, if there were such a thing.

So, that leads me to my question:
Have you been to visit any hot springs?

Yesterday we visited Jackson Wellsprings in Ashland, Oregon. We've been to hot springs loads of times before, but honestly it's been so many years since we've last been. Well, let me just say...it's about time!

If you haven't been to any local hot springs, I highly suggest you take a visit. Depending on where you live, you might have to drive a bit to get to the nearest one. And remember, the nearest one is just the start! There are two really great books you can get to help guide you to some local spots.

Here is one of the books that I have, one I have found quite useful (for the pacific southwest)

Since I now live in the pacific northwest, this is one I use as a reference:

These books are by no means exhaustive lists of the multitude of hot springs that may be in your area -- many springs are small, and/or simply undocumented (and these books only cover the western states). The internet may be a useful tool in finding those that aren't listed. Talking to the locals is also a great way to find out the special, hidden spots just waiting for you to enjoy them.

I invite you to become amaziated by visiting your local hot springs.

Garlic Man

Today, the kids and I made pickled garlic! When it's finished pickling, it will be much less odorous (and way less spicy) than fresh, raw garlic. My thumbs hurt like heck from pulling apart cloves from eleven whole bulbs (and peeling them), but it was a really fun project -- not to mention it's SO much cheaper than buying the largest jar from the local health food store ($16+ dollars...yikes!). The 11 bulbs that we peeled filled a one-quart mason jar right to the top.

We've had a lot of sickness going around our town this year, and I haven't been as on top of the anti-viral whole-foods as I could have been. Pickled garlic is definitely something I'd like to have around the house regularly, especially in the colder months. The kids can totally tolerate pickled garlic, which is great because it's likely the only way they will eat it raw -- and they LIKE it!

You can also try the garlic-in-a-date trick -- the date hides the spiciness of the garlic quite well. Have you tried it? Take one whole date, remove the pit and place a peeled clove of garlic where the pit was inside. Close the date back up, and then chew away!

I also love cooked garlic, but it does not seem to have the same medicinal properties as when it's raw. Pickled seems like a good compromise to me.  :)

Check out Garlic Man and his farm... this really makes me want to start growing garlic again.

The Eden Prescription...for free!

 

Oooh...I have been waiting to read this thrilling book!  And now, the Kindle version of The Eden Prescription is available for free until December 30th, 2011!

Don't have a Kindle? I don't either!There are many free Kindle reading apps available for your Mac, PC, or phone. Everyone should grab a copy of this while it's still free! Check out this excerpt...

"What if the ultimate treatment for cancer was closer than most of us realize? A silent revolution has been unfolding recently in the science of natural medicine, bringing us so close to the answer—far too close, for some. Chromogen employee Annika Guthrie understands this more than most. She’s watched her terminally ill father add years to his life with natural supplements, and makes it her mission to turn this alternative medicine into what the medical community calls “real” science. It’s why she joins forces with the maverick but genius cancer researcher Dr. Elliott Lindell, even though he works with Mitogenica—Chromogen’s fiercest competitor. Together, they formulate a cocktail of natural supplements which Annika secretly gives to patients in Chromogen’s latest drug trial. The cocktail works so well, it threatens to undermine Chromogen’s next billion dollar chemo drug, and Annika’s world quickly falls apart. Her wards start curiously dying from everything but their cancer, and Dr. Lindell disappears on the eve of his most critical experiment. Annika soon finds she is the only one left who can recover what remains of Dr. Lindell’s work—and that she is racing against someone far larger and more deadly than her worst fears."

            -The Eden Prescription: The war on cancer is not what you think... (excerpt from back cover)

You can also follow Ethan Evers and his exciting book, The Eden Prescription on Facebook and Twitter.

Share this with your friends so that they can grab their free copy, too!