27 September, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

During one of my classes, I made a cordial with orange peel for the bitter taste which aids in digestion especially helpful after a large meal. The cinnamon and thyme are both carminitives which help relieve gas. The orange, thyme, and cinnamon are a good balance of flavors and are a bit warming. This is the perfect cordial to make for the fall. Try a shot glass full after a large meal, or a hard day. 🙂 The honey helps…

18 September, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

My heart is heavy and my tears are flowing freely.  My precious boy who I got for my 31st birthday nearly 14 years ago is gone. He had been sick for 4 months and fought a brave fight. I didn’t want to make the decision, but he let me know it was time. He even allowed me a sweet goodbye. Diego, thank you for so many years of love, laughter, and joy. Your antics and cool style will be remembered…

4 August, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

During my “Quality Assessment and Microscopy” class we did an extensive module on detecting the differences between True Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) and Lavandin, a hybrid variety produced by crossing angustifolia with latifolia, better known as spike lavender. In class, we used a microscope in an attempt to detect the minor differences in the bud structure. It was HARD. The best way to distinguish true lavender from lavandin was using our noses. The differences in chemical makeup were apparent. Lavandin has…

29 July, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

Demulcents are soothing herbs that relieve irritation and inflammation. They are moistening and mucilaginous, meaning they create a thick, viscous liquid when dissolved. Demulcents are an excellent choice for an irritated GI tract. Below is my homework assignment testing the consistency of different demulcent herbs dissolved in different liquids. You will see in the results that water extracts the demulcent quality from the herbs much better than alcohol. When using herbs, the extraction method is just as important as the…

28 July, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, I dropped my son off for his driving lesson so after I picked up my cleaning, I decided to stop at the Salvation Army thrift store. Sometimes I don’t find anything, sometimes I find a lot, so I gave myself a $10 budget before I went in. After looking around through the tops and housewares, I headed over to the books. There was a woman there loading her cart with cookbooks.  I had a few…

25 July, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

Just saying…

16 July, 2016 Charlena Edge 0 Comment

Ever since I moved in May, I have been busy making the rental house feel like home. I have been putting together lots of stuff. I used to be intimidated by the instructions that looked like a foreign language. Amazing what you can do when there is no one else to do it for you.

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About Me

Charlena Edge

Charlena Edge

Hi, welcome to my humble abode! I’m middle-aged but still learning and discovering. I have a Master’s degree in Therapeutic Herbalism. In between my disjointed, seemingly unrelated posts, I hope to share some of what I’ve learned about plants and about life. Grab a cup of coffee and stay a while. I’m happy to have you.