Merry Christmas all. Do you see what I see?! Taken just now ✨

And, one more herb for the heart to soften your Sunday 🤍 ⠀⠀ 〰️ ⠀⠀ L.

Obsessed with taking photos of plants! Admiring Hawthorn’s blossoms this morning and they smell amazing. Considered a weed in some places here in NZ but a powerful herbal medicine for the heart, both physically and emotionally. ⠀⠀ 〰️ ⠀⠀ L.

Winter nourishment ✨ Turkish Red Lentil Soup, best drizzled with a little chilli 🌶 oil, a squeeze of lemon 🍋, topped with fresh mint 🌿 and mopped up with a good toasted pide. ⠀⠀ He’s full of goodies - 18g fibre per serve (gut microbes rejoice!), plenty of plant protein 💪, anti-inflammatory spices, loads of antioxidants (particularly lycopene). ⠀⠀ Swipe for the recipe otherwise find it on the blog for full nutrition info and step by step instructions. ⠀⠀ 💓 ⠀⠀ 〰️ ⠀⠀ L. X

Sunday self-care - this is the most DELICIOUS facial scrub - using almond meal with a little sea salt makes it much less abrasive for the sensitive skin on the face, and Manuka honey of course is rich in enzymes, balances the skin's pH and is anti-inflammatory. Use fractionated coconut oil or jojoba if you don't have calendula infused oil - but you all know how easy that is to make right?! Or shall I post a recipe? ⠀⠀ Essential oils of choice - lavender, geranium, sandalwood 🐝 ⠀⠀ Mix into a paste, stir before use, and enjoy! ⠀⠀ 〰️ ⠀⠀ 🌻L.

Online workshops are back 🔥 Join me for a zoom call on all things essential oils and sleep 😴 We’ll have a chat about diet, key nutrients, lifestyle, oils and evening rituals to help you relax, calm those adrenals, and get a restful night’s sleep. I’ll even send you out a sample to try beforehand 🌸 ⠀⠀ Swipe for more info or book yourself in a spot below, ⠀⠀ 🎟 https://bit.ly/3dwXCL2 ⠀⠀ L. ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist

When you find a tray of organic home grown calendula in the dehydrator you’d completely forgotten about 🌼💃 ⠀⠀ Time to make a winter skin repair cream! ⠀⠀ These flower heads are pure joy ✨ ⠀⠀ L. ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist

The broth of all broths - recipe is now live on the blog! ⠀⠀ Nothing is as nourishing as a hot mug of broth in winter, and the ingredients in here make it extra therapeutic. We've got organic vegetables, mineral rich seaweed, medicinal immune-boosting herbs and 'shrooms, and digestive-stimulating, warming, anti-inflammatory spices. 100% plant-based and better than bone broth (so much myth around the nutritional claims - swipe to read). ⠀⠀ L. ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist

Ok Friday, I'm done with you. This is my current diffuser situation, equal parts calming lavender and sweet grapefruit. Yes, it's heaven 🍊 ⠀⠀ L. x ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist

It’s starting to rain Feijoas 🍃 This beautiful recipe is on the blog - plant-based + gluten free feijoa and toasted walnut cake. Mix it up in one bowl, add chopped fruit + nuts, bake, devour! ⠀⠀ Also great with added sultanas 🍇 Swipe for the recipe my little Iso-bakers (or find the full post on my site)💃 ⠀⠀ L. ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist

Did you see the last episode of @outlander_starz? (Spoiler alert🚨stop here if you haven’t seen it!). ⠀⠀ I thought Jamie was a goner for a moment there - where was echinacea when Claire needed it? Surely she would have had her some echi on hand! 🌸 ⠀⠀ It's a herb native to North America traditionally used to treat venomous snake bites among other things (abscesses, wounds, septicaemia, swollen glands) by inhibiting an enzyme (hyaluronidase) that breaks down the extracellular matrix and connective tissue. ⠀⠀ The cool thing is, it doesn't just inhibit hyaluronidase, it also stimulates hyaluronic acid (HA) production - which is why it's often used in skin care products today. HA if you don't know, is a substance produced in the skin that holds water in - it's the secret to fading wrinkles! ⠀⠀ I'm spotlighting this herb today though because it's such an effective preventor of infection, a great prophylactic for winter ailments, stimulating cells of the innate immune system. It's also effective for the treatment of colds + flu, but only if you get in early and dose frequently. ⠀⠀ The main actives in the plant are alkylamides – which give a characteristic tingle on the tongue while making your mouth water – a great indicator of potency! ⠀⠀ Echinacea purpurea is an easy herb to grow at home - the flowers are stunning and you can pick the aerial parts 🍃🌸 to enjoy as an immune-supportive tea. ⠀⠀ If you want to read more about it, there's a post on the blog here; ⠀⠀ https://bit.ly/2XZU93n ⠀⠀ L. X ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist

I can't believe I missed Earth Day! 🌏🌿 Here is a photo I took on one of my favourite bush walks, up at Wenderholm Regional Park. Everytime I walk through that forest I feel like it's the equivalent of taking my body and aura for a car wash, I come out light, sparkly and clean on the other side. ⠀⠀ Forest bathing has clinical therapeutic effects and is part of preventative healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine. A 2017 review found that immersion in Nature reduces modern-day stress and 'techno-stress'. ⠀⠀ It also - ⠀⠀ 🌿Promotes immune health, increasing natural killer cells 🌿Supports cardiovascular health, reducing blood pressure 🌿Reduces circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones 🌿Lowers cortisol 🌿Lowers blood glucose 🌿Improves general sleep-wake cycles 🌿Supports mood disorders, relieves anxiety, reduces depression 🌿Decreases pain and the accompanying psychological distress 🌿Promotes mental relaxation 🌿Promotes a sense of gratitude ⠀⠀ Thank you Mama Earth 🙏🌏 ⠀⠀ 📚Study referenced doi: 10.3390/ijerph14080851 ⠀⠀ L. X ⠀⠀ _______________________________________________ AscensionKitchen.com #ascensionkitchen LaurenGlucina.com #naturopath #herbalist #nutritionist