by The Happy WAHM
Astragalus is an herb. The root is used to make medicine.
Astragalus is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them.
Astragalus is used for the common cold, upper respiratory infections, allergies, fibromyalgia, anemia, HIV/AIDS, and to strengthen and regulate the immune system. It is also used for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Some people use astragalus as a general tonic, to protect the liver, and to fight bacteria and viruses.
Astragalus is commonly used in combination with other herbs. For example, in combination with Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet), astragalus is used orally for treating breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lung cancer.
Astragalus is sometimes applied to the skin to increase blood flow to the area and to speed wound healing.
There are several different species of astragalus. Some species contain a toxin called swainsonine and have been linked to livestock poisonings. Some of these species include Astragalus lentiginosus, Astragalus mollissimus, and others. However, these species of astragalus are usually not found in dietary supplements used by humans. Most astragalus supplements contain Astragalus membranaceus.
How does it work?
Astragalus seems to stimulate and increase the immune system.
Proven Effective for
- Reducing side effects of chemotherapy. Early research suggests that giving astragalus intravenously (by IV) or using Chinese herbal mixtures containing astragalus might reduce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bone marrow suppression (a decrease in the cells that provide immunity) that is associated with chemotherapy treatments.
- Diabetes. Early research suggests that astragalus, given intravenously (by IV) or taken by mouth as a combination product, might help control blood sugar and insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Resource: WebMD
by The Happy WAHM
Siberian ginseng is a plant. People use the root of the plant to make medicine.
Siberian ginseng is often called an “adaptogen.” This is a non-medical term used to describe substances that can supposedly strengthen the body and increase general resistance to daily stress.
In addition to being used as an adaptogen, Siberian ginseng is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels such as high blood pressure, low blood pressure, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), and rheumatic heart disease.
It is also used for kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, flu, colds, chronic bronchitis, and tuberculosis. It is also used for treating the side effects of cancerchemotherapy.
Some people use it to improve athletic performance and the ability to do work. They also use it to treat sleep problems (insomnia) and the symptoms of infections caused by herpes simplex type 2.
It is also used to boost the immune system, prevent colds, and increase appetite.
In manufacturing, Siberian ginseng is added to skin care products.
Don’t confuse Siberian ginseng with other types of ginseng. It is not the same herb as American or Panax ginseng. Be careful about which product you choose. American and Panax ginseng can be a lot more expensive. It is said that years ago, the Soviet Union wanted to provide its athletes with the advantages offered by ginseng but wanted a less expensive version. So, Siberian ginseng became popular, and this is why most studies on it have been done in Russia.
You should know that the quality of Siberian ginseng products varies a lot. It is often misidentified or contains “adulterants,” which are other ingredients that do not contribute to the benefit of the product but take up space in the product. Silk vine is a common adulterant of Siberian ginseng.
Before taking herb, talk with your healthcare provider if you take any medications. This herb interacts with many prescription drugs.
How does it work?
Siberian ginseng contains many chemicals that affect the brain, immune system, and certain hormones. It might also contain chemicals that have activity against some bacteria and viruses.
Proven Effective for
- Bipolar disorder. Taking Siberian ginseng plus lithium by mouth for 6 weeks appears to induce a similar response rate and remission rate as taking lithium plus fluoxetine in people with bipolar disorder.
- Relieving symptoms of the common cold, when used in combination with an herb called andrographis. Some clinical research shows that taking a specific combination product containing Siberian ginseng plus andrographis (Kan Jang, Swedish Herbal Institute) by mouth improves symptoms of the common cold when started within 72 hours of symptom onset. Some symptoms can improve after 2 days of treatment. However, it generally takes 4-5 days of treatment for the maximum benefit. Some research suggests this combination of Siberian ginseng and andrographis relieves cold symptoms in children better than echinacea. Also taking a specific product containing Siberian ginseng, echinacea, and malabar nut (Kan Jang, Swedish Herbal Institute) for 6 days appears to improve coughing and congestion better than taking the drug bromohexine.
- A viral infection called herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2). Taking a specific Siberian ginseng extract, standardized to contain a specific ginseng ingredient called eleutheroside 0.3% (Elagen), seems to reduce the number, severity, and duration of herpes simplex type 2 infections.
Resource: WebMD
by The Happy WAHM
Schisandra berry, also spelled schizandra, is a vining shrub native to Northern and Northeast China, areas of Korea and Russia. In Chinese, the berries of Schisandra chinensis are called Wu Wei Zi, translated as the “five-flavor fruit”, based on it’s salty, sweet, sour, pungent and bitter flavors, It has been used as a natural medicine for thousands of years and prescribed by physicians in China.
The use of schisandra berry in North America is limited; only small number of studies have currently been published in English. Most of the published research is in Chinese, Japanese and Russian. In the 16th century, the largest description of materia medica in traditional China was written in a pharmaceutical book titled Bencao Gangmu (Guidelines to Roots and Herbs). In Traditioanal Chinese Medicine, schisandra berry has been widely used as a kidney tonic and lunch astringent. Schisandra helps promote the production of body fluid, increase the body’s resistance to a broad spectrum of adverse biological, chemical and physical effect and help the body handle stress.
Schisandra fruit has been found to have a variety of active constituents including essential oils, vitamins A, C and E, flavonoids, triterpenic acid, citric acid, ganwuweizic acid, and more.
Health Benefits of Schisandra Berry
Antimicrobial Effects and Liver Health
Scientific studies have found that schisandra berry works as an antibacterial, a stimulants and it protects the liver against toxins. Liver problems lead to immune disorders because of the build up of toxins. In vitro and in animal models, schisandra extract has been examined for its anti-inflammatory effects. A constituent of schisandra has been shown to inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration in animals with liver injuries. In vitro, schisandra chinensis extract has also shown antibacterial activity.
Other Benefits
Schisandra is used as an “adaptogen” for increasing resistance to disease and stress, increasing energy, and increasing physical performance and endurance.
Schisandra is also used for preventing early aging and increasing lifespan, normalizing blood sugar and blood pressure, stimulating the immune system, and speeding recovery after surgery.
It is also used for treating liver disease (hepatitis) and protecting the liver from poisons. The Chinese have developed a liver-protecting drug called DBD that is made from schizandrin, one of the chemicals in schisandra.
Other uses for schisandra include treatment of high cholesterol, pneumonia, coughs, asthma, sleep problems (insomnia), tiredness and irritability associated with emotional disturbance (neurasthenia), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), chronic diarrhea, dysentery, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, involuntary discharge of semen, thirst, erectile dysfunction (ED), physical exhaustion, excessive urination, depression, irritability, and memory loss. It is also used in children to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks of fever associated with an inherited disease called familial Mediterranean fever.
Some people use schisandra for improving vision and muscular activity, protecting against radiation, preventing motion sickness, preventing infection, boosting energy at the cellular level, and improving the health of the adrenal glands.
Common Name:
Schisandra Berry
Botanical Name:
Schisandra chinensis
Part of Use:
Berry
References:
1. Natural Standard: The Authority of Integrative Medicine
2. Louise Tenney (2000). Today’s Herbal Health. 5th Edition
3. WebMD
by The Happy WAHM
In 11 days, I’ll be conducting the second run of my#hobbiestobusiness workshop. A workshop on making money out of a hobby, which I conducted for the first time in August 2016.
Last night, as I was cleaning up my digital folders, I came across an old photo. The one where it all started. My first crochet project.
From this sampling of stitches that was made into a purse and several failed attempts to hand-knit, to creating a brand and registering as a business, I can proudly say that I’ve come a long way. The flower button in the photo was not by me, but something that my daughter – the one who inspired me to start crocheting – made for me, just so I could post a finished project. This was in May 2015.
After that simple purse, I went ahead and made myself a tablet pouch. I was able to start and almost finished it while lining up for my daughter’s enrollment at De La Salle. This was still in May 2015.
To practice, I made this ribbed scarf for my dear friend in Canada, and proudly posted it on my social media accounts.
From then on, inquiries started to come in. And I started accepting orders. Scarf in the photo below was my first official order, but alas, I could not charge for it, because I got the pattern from a site that expressly states that projects from the pattern cannot be sold. So I just asked for reimbursement of the cost of yarn used and the shipping fee.
In June, I launched my Crafted Crafts website.
I bought the domain name for another purpose, but when I started crocheting, I just went ahead and set up the site.
The project that followed was a simple scarf. I got two skeins of yarns from my daughter’s collection from Gantsilyo Guru. I used the stitch that I was most comfortable with, the mighty DC, and used the redundant stitching to practice my tension. I was able to sell this scarf to a friend, and she ordered one more. I made her a two-toned infinity scarf, which I named after her. 🙂
Other “practice” projects followed. Including a scoodie…
… a mesh scarf…
… and a pair of slippers.
Before 2015 ended, I have served about 7 more paid orders. Among those orders is this chakra scoodie.
And this Minimalist Scarf for men. For this one, I used the awesome SC all throughout, 7.5 inches wide, 72 inches long. I was really making money out of my hobby!
Turns out, men dig scarves, as I received 4 more orders of that Minimalist Scarf afterwards. I was on a roll!
Everything just got better from there. I have since graduated to making projects using multistrand yarns (which is really a challenge for a newbie crocheter) and have sold a number of lacy projects in the past months and several more on queue.
I registered the business in July 2016, and got verified by Facebook just a few months after that.
My story can be your story, too.
You may have a hobby that is actually sucking up a portion of your family budget, so why not make it self-sufficient? Or better yet, turn it into a business, just like I did.
Or you may have a skill that could be income-generating, but have been doing for friends and family for free. Like organizing events, scheduling travels, designing invitations… Those are skills that properly packaged, can be launched into a business.
The challenge is where and how to start. And this is where I can help you.
It has not been easy for me. I learned to crochet at the time that there are about a thousand crocheters competing for projects already. The industry is filled with skilled crocheters and artists, and neither of those descriptions aptly apply to me.
What I did have was a process. That was is my skill. I know how to build a personal brand, and I used that to build my own following that is not based on quantity, but on quality.
Join me on January 21 and find out how you, too, can earn by doing what you love, and create a brand with who you are.
And of course, the learning will not end on that day. All attendees of the workshop – past and future – will become members of the Hobbies to Business Community that we already have on Facebook, where like-minded individuals get to lend support to each other.
Read what some attendees of the first run have to say…
For this second run, we are grateful for the support that we have from the following brands:
The Parenting Emporium, for providing a fabulous venue for learning.
Faber-Castell Philippines, for loot bag items, and they will also set up a booth at the venue.
Cool-C, for providing healthy and refreshing drinks for both sessions.
VASupportPro and The Techie Mom, for offering a 50% discount on web hosting (first year) to be avaialble within 3 months from date of workshop.
Katsa Co., for loot bag items.
Mrs. Gee’s Homemade Goodness, for providing mouthwatering cupcakes for both sessions.
JinStitches, for sponsoring crocheted bears for raffle to early registrants.
More sponsors are coming in, so stay tuned as I update this post, and the workshop’s homepage.
Register now!
by The Happy WAHM
Early this year, I wrote about personal branding and why it is something that any entrepreneur should seriously consider having. It’s not about a business brand. Not yet, at least. But a personal one.
But what is personal branding, really?
According to Wikipedia, personal branding is essentially the ongoing process of establishing a prescribed image or impression in the mind of others about an individual, group, or organization.
If I am to put it simply, personal branding is that image created in a person’s mind when they connect with your name, specific skills and reputation. When people see or hear The Happy WAHM, what comes to mind?
In online fora, particularly the groups on Facebook, I would get tagged when someone asks about virtual assistance, WordPress, time management, independent homeschooling, and even WAHM-ing without a helper and working bra-less.
Yes, that happens.
When attending conferences and I get introduced as Marge Aberásturi, I’d be greeted with a polite smile and a handshake. But when The Happy WAHM gets tacked on to my name, it’s a different story. There’s an instant recognition, and even a feeling of connection. And then the questions begin… 🙂
This year, I can’t count the number of times I got tagged, or someone posted a link on my timeline, for things related to crochet.
So yes, I have established that recall in people’s minds about who I am, what I do, and what I’m good at.
But this did not happen overnight.
This is something that I worked hard for over time. I worked hard on establishing my core purpose. For years, I stayed consistent with my message. Until finally, I was ready to have a visual representation. Wasn’t it just last month that I finally had my visual branding done?
I’ve always been about walking the talk, leading by example, creating opportunities and all that jazz. I don’t talk about topics that do not resonate. That’s why I had, on several occasions, turned down sponsored posts. I don’t want to get paid publishing articles I did not write. I want to stay true to my personal brand, so I would only agree to a paid post if my conditions are met. Like, I have to personally write the whole article (no copy-pasting of media kit), it has to be written in my voice, and it has to be for a brand that I have actually used, or will use. Like who would believe me if I write an article about make up?
When I first created the module for the Hobbies to Business Workshop, I was only thinking about how I could help my fellow crafters gain confidence in starting a business by simply doing what they love. I never thought I’d go as far as including personal branding in the series. And yet, here I am, preparing workshop materials for the second run of Hobbies to Business, happening on January 21.
And the progression makes sense. An attendee of the first Hobbies to Business workshop asked me: “How do I convert the likes that I get on Facebook to real sales?” Good question!
An inexperienced soul would likely jump into marketing strategies and conversion. But… and that’s a big BUT… what will you market? Your product? What about your product? I can buy that same product you are selling from another seller.
And this is where your personal branding comes in. Again, this is different from business branding. Personal branding is all about you. And this is not limited to having products to sell. The product may be the service you provide, and so the personal aspect is even more important, because it is you, your skills, your values, your attitude.
Your skill and your passion make up your values. Your skill and your experience make up your strengths. Your passion and your experience make up your ideals. Your values, your strengths, and your ideals make up your brand.
I have this on Kindle, Over The Top by Zig Ziglar, and while he is not really talking about personal branding per se, to me it kind of resonates that way. Your personal brand will take you from merely surviving to a position of stability, and from stability to success, and from success to significance.
So will you join me on January 21?
I sure hope so!
Remember, you don’t have to be a crafter or a hobbyist to attend the Hobbies to Business workshop. All you need is an idea that you want to create a business on, and I can help you make it happen.
Oh, by the way…
Some attendees from the first run of the workshop in August will be joining me in this second run, not as attendees, but SPONSORS! They have taken up the courage to act on their ideas, and are now well on their way to establishing their businesses and their brands.
See, learning does not stop on the day of the workshop. All attendees of the Hobbies to Business workshop series continue to receive guidance and coaching from me through an online forum that I have created exclusively for them. Because really, I cannot expect people to absorb what I share and hit the ground running in just one day. Some may still dilly-dally. Some may still be afraid. Some need a longer time to let the ideas sink in. And that is totally okay. It has to be done intentionally and purposefully, so I continue the coaching after the workshop and get to know my attendees on a more personal level.
So if you’re ready to join the fun, register now!
Do you have questions, comments or feedback about this post?
Please leave me a message, or post them, at my Facebook Page.
