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Hello friends! I am Megan, also known as A Rooted Mama and owner of Moonshine Botanicals. I have a heartfelt love for herbs and ‘folk medicine’, crafted in small batches with carefully sourced herbs and botanicals that carry the story, energy and tradition of the medicine our ancestors would have made. The center of everything I do, is people, I have a deep and abiding passion for people to find whole body wellness and this is my invitation to you and I hope you will be inspired to join me on this journey.
In the way of our ancestors – life and growth comes with a story and this is mine…
A few years ago, I was a new mom, doing what I was told, I did everything right, all the wellness visits, the specialist check-ups, never questioned and only wanted the best for my little girl. Around the time of the birth of my second daughter, my eldest daughter became very ill and over time things snowballed and we were trapped in a spiral – what would begin as a snotty nose quickly would turn into a trip to the hospital as she would be in respiratory distress. What followed would be antibiotics, a cocktail of medication, cortisone and chronic allergy medication – this cycle was on repeat, she would be well for a week or two and then we would be back in hospital with her immune system depleted. I remember being exhausted, I would wander around the house at night and check that she was still breathing. Then one night,something snapped in me and I decided, NO MORE! I looked at my husband and I said to him that this was no life for a three year old. A flame had been lit, one I could not extinguish and I realised I was her best advocate and that together we would find a way as I pursued whole body wellness for her, and ultimately our family.
“What does a mother look like at the end of her tether? A fierce lioness – I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. We are made of more than our circumstances and genetics.”
Little did I know this journey would spark a lifelong passion as I began to learn, research and study herbal medicine and gained a better understanding of the human body and our wonderful immune system.
Today, my daughter is healthy, her immune system is strong and there are no traces of that sickly three year old. She made me a mom for the first time but she gave me another gift too – I uncovered a dream in me that I never knew I had.
Moonshine Botanicals is my daughter’s victory story.
The Importance of Healing
‘Every woman who heals herself, helps heal all women who came before her, and all those who come after her.’ – Christiane Northrup⠀
This journey of whole body health carries more weight than we could ever imagine. We carry a lineage.
“Did you know that a baby girl develops every egg she will ever ovulate whilst still in the womb? Did you know that your cells existed in the body of your grandmother when she was pregnant with your mother? And that cells transfer neurological information to each other? It’s in this way that women carry the history of their ancestors with them every day… in healing the traumas that have invariably been passed through our bodies on a neurological level, we also have the opportunity to heal our girl children and grandchildren. Isn’t that just so magical and such a special honour?” – La Luna La Femme
Harnessing Herbal Medicine
So now that we understand a little bit more about healing and the value of this journey – how do we practically apply it? How do we incorporate it into our lives so that we see herbs for what they are – the original source of medicine. Harnessing the benefits of plants for medicine is our oldest known healing system and understanding that the earth holds the remedies is a great perspective shift for us – one has to wonder, how did we get so lost? The bottom line is that our origin journey of healing begins with the plants.
“In some native languages the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us’.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer
The best way to harness herbal medicine is to create a tapestry and sequence of healthy touch points within our day – so let’s jump in.
Daily Rhythms and The Importance of Routine
Setting achievable daily rhythms that resonate with your lifestyle and what your body needs is so important. Below I will list some of the ways I weave plants into my life and hopefully you will find some suggestions that resonate with you and ways you can bring them in too.
Product featured: Moonshine Botanicals Immunitea
- I like to connect with nature in the morning, do some grounding and take some big, deep breaths – how you start your day really sets a tone for it.
- Next, I make a pot of herbal tea. This warm tonic varies by day and it is a great time in the day to assess where your body is at and what you need. Are you feeling flat, listless and unfocused? Then Peppermint tea is wonderful. Feeling anxious and stressed? Then a fortifying cup of Lemon Balm can be helpful. Is your immune system low and your body feeling rundown? Then Moonshine Botanicals Immunitea is my first choice.
- A nourishing breakfast – this is great to balance blood sugar levels and keep me fueled for the day. Often when I am on the run – I will make a superfood smoothie, Wazoogles Chocolate Superfood is my favourite base and then I lace my smoothie with a tablespoon of the Moonshine Botanicals Elderberry Syrup for an extra immune boost.
Products featured: Moonshine Botanicals Immunitea & Moonshine Botanicals Elderberry Syrup
A Rooted Mamas Smoothie on the Run
- ½ Tin of Coconut Milk
- 1 Tablespoon of MCT Oil
- 1 Scoop of Wazoogles Chocolate Superfood blend
- 1 Tablespoon Moonshine Botanicals Elderberry Syrup
- 1 Small frozen Banana
- 1 Cup of mixed frozen Berries
Blend together and enjoy!
- Diffuse some essential oils in your space for the day and let it set the tone as you reset your home and work space – I find a reset helps me jump start my work day.
- I like to roll on a Moonshine Botanicals Oil Roller, usually Immune or Soothe as I plan my day which usually involves work admin and homeschooling two busy little children and all the things that come with being a mom!
- Lunch is a simple affair – I usually opt for gluten free wraps or some wholesome leftovers.
Product featured: Moonshine Botanicals Immune
Weekly I make a seasonal green pesto – this nourishing pesto is used daily in our home and can be added to an egg breakfast, to a wrap, to a bowl of soup or a cheese board – so many options and it really ups the green nutrient factor. Top tip – grow your greens!
A Rooted Mamas Green Pesto
- Handful Coriander
- Handful Baby Spinach
- Generous swirl of Olive Oil
- ¼ cup of Parmesan Cheese
- Finely grated Lemon Peel
- Crushed small clove of Garlic
- Handful of Macademia Nuts
Blend with a stick blender and keep in a jar in the fridge.
- To ward off the mid-day slump – I fill a glass with sparkling water and add a few drops of Moonshine Botanicals Holy Basil Tincture. I find sipping on that helps me to sharpen my focus and finish the day strong.
- Towards the end of the afternoon we like to go for a walk and let the kids cycle and burn off some energy – finishing our day in nature, bare feet on the grass, sun on our skin, fresh air in our lungs, being in nature is healing.
- Early evening is bath time for the kids, as part of our wind down routine I really love to do an Epsom Salts bath. I have a large glass jar in our bathroom that is filled with Earths Essentials Epsom Salts and I add essential oils to that and some dried botanicals – this beautiful confetti blend is poured into each bath and sets the tone for our evening.
Products featured: Moonshine Botanicals Immune Tincture & Moonshine Botanicals Holy Basil Tincture
A Rooted Mama’s Detox Bath
- 1 Cup Earths Essentials Epsom Salts
- ½ Cup Earths Essentials Bicarbonate of Soda
- ¼ Cup Earths Essentials Himalayan Coarse Salt
- 10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
This bath will draw out toxins, lower stress and balance your PH levels. Relax for 20 minutes.
Products featured: Earths Essentials Epsom Salts
- After bath time – my favourite thing to do is to whip out my jar of Forever Naturals Unscented Jelly and assess the kids, if we are just looking for wind down support then I will add Lavender to a teaspoon of Jelly in my palm and apply that to the kids top to toe – it is a fantastic moisturising skin balm. If they are a bit chesty then I will add some Eucalyptus and rub it into their chest, if they have a scrape or bruise I add some Tea Tree and apply – any excess on my fingers is rubbed into my lips as it is so moisturising!
- Then just before bed we all have a herbal tincture in a small glass of water – we usually do the Moonshine Botanicals Immune blend unless we are addressing other concerns. I will often lean into the Moonshine Botanicals Sleep blend in the evening to help us all have a good night’s rest and for nervous system support.
- I end off my evening before bed with my skincare routine – some gentle oil cleansing, followed by the Moonshine Botanicals Coffee Eye Serum and then the Moonshine Botanicals Glow Serum. I also love to rub a homemade salve into my hands and feet before I climb into bed so they absorb all that nourishment while I sleep.
Products featured: Forever Naturals Unscented Jelly, Moonshine Botanicals Coffee Eye Serum & Moonshine Botanicals Glow Serum
A Rooted Girl DIY Skin Salve
- 2 Tablespoons Organic Shea Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Moonshine Botanicals Nourish Oil blend (can also use the Calendula or Rosehip from Moonshine Botanicals for this recipe)
- 1 Teaspoon Raw Beeswax
- Can add essential oils of choice to this (Lavender, Frankincense and Tea Tree oils would all be lovely and around 20 drops)
Add ingredients to a Pyrex glass jug and pop into a simmering pan of water and allow the ingredients to gently melt. Remove jug from the water and allow to cool slightly before adding essential oils, swirl in with the back of a teaspoon and then carefully pour into your jars. Allow to set with the lid off.
Products featured: Forever Naturals Unscented Jelly, Moonshine Botanicals Coffee Eye Serum & Moonshine Botanicals Glow Serum
The Final Chapter
I hope that this snapshot of our day and rhythm as a family gives you some practical ideas and tools to create some beautiful rhythms in your own homes.
Health is one of the greatest investments we can make into our children, I invest a lot of time, energy, thought and money into my children and families immunity – my focus for immunity is every minute, every meal and every habit we build into our rhythm.
‘The preservation of health is easier than the cure for disease.’ – BJ Palmer
Products featured: Moonshine Botanicals Glow Serum
‘Children grow up hearing how broken the environment is, how broken beyond repair. Plant strawberries together, make wild medicines, paint the sunrise. Show them proof that for every act of destruction, they can sow a seed, however small, of beauty.’ – Nicolette Sowder
I hope you join me on this journey friends – this invitation is for everyone and it is never too late.
Much love,
Product Photography & Styling by Project Flash Photography
Disclaimer: Each person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual condition is unique. The information in this article is intended for your educational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your doctor for matters pertaining to your specific health and diet. The author of this article is not held responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use or misuse of any information, suggestions or procedures described herein. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.
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