How to Grow a Healing Garden at Home

Since the start of the pandemic, gardening has experienced a resurgence in popularity. For one thing, having a vegetable garden can be a great way to deal with some of the food shortages we’ve all experienced. But gardening can also have a number of wonderful benefits for your mind and spirit.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a healing garden, there’s no time like the present! Read on to learn how to start a garden and discover what you should grow in your healing garden.

Benefits of Starting a Healing Garden

Before we dive into all the ways you can start growing a healing garden, let’s talk some about the benefits of starting a garden. For one thing, gardening is great for your health. Not only does it burn a lot of calories, but it can also increase your Vitamin D levels, lower your blood pressure, and encourage you to eat healthier.

Gardening can also be an excellent respite for your mind, soul, and spirit. Gardening relieves stress, restores confidence, improves self-esteem, and can even boost your mood. You may also find a wonderful sense of community through gardening as you connect with other people who also love growing their own food and herbs.

In-Ground Gardens

When you get ready to start gardening, the first thing you’ll need to do is to decide what sort of garden you want to grow. You can choose among indoor gardens, in-ground gardens, raised bed gardens, and container gardens. Each has their own benefits and challenges, and which you choose depends a lot on your space.

If you have a large yard that gets plenty of sunshine, you may want to consider digging an in-ground garden. These can be easier to water properly and may be a little less expensive since you don’t have to buy grow pots or soil. However, you’ll have to contend with weeds, manage irrigation appropriately, and rely on the weather to keep your plants healthy.

Raised Bed Gardens

Raised bed gardens can be a great middle ground between in-ground gardens and container gardens. In this system, you build beds that are a few inches high on top of your yard; some people even choose to build large rectangular beds that sit on legs so they’re accessible from standing height. You fill these with soil and plant your garden there, rather than directly in the soil.

Raised beds can be a great option if you have plenty of space, but not very good soil. These beds generally don’t have as many weeds, and you may find that they produce more abundant harvests since roots can grow in soft soil. However, they do require some woodworking expertise and they do mean buying a large amount of dirt.

Container Gardens

Container gardens are a fantastic option for people who are short on space or appropriate growing weather. As the name suggests, a container garden is grown in, well, a container. This usually involves a grow bag, a large pot, or some other portable vessel that’s large enough to give your plant room to grow.

A container garden is the perfect option if your yard doesn’t get a lot of sun or if you don’t have enough space to set up a permanent garden. You can move your containers around and even bring them inside during dangerous weather. However, these gardens can be relatively expensive and may be a little harder to water appropriately.

Pick Your Spot

If you plan to start an in-ground or raised bedgarden, the first thing you need to do is to find a good patch of land to do it. If you’re planning to grow an in-ground garden, look for a space that will provide good drainage, quality soil, and plenty of room for plants to spread out. You should avoid growing on steep hills or anywhere where water gathers in your yard.

Begin by keeping an eye on how much sun each spot in your yard gets. You can time this manually or set out a sensor that will track how much sunlight falls on a specific spot in an average day. Look for a spot that gets at least eight hours of sun a day, and try to determine which areas get six hours and four hours.

Test Your Soil

Once you’ve picked your garden spot, you’ll need to check the quality of the soil there. You need dirt that is a good mixture of soil types and that offers all the nutrients your plants will need. It’s a good idea to take a sample of your soil and send it to your local agricultural extension for testing.

You can also run a test at home to see what types of soil you have and whether you need to mix in other types. Get a cup or so of soil and place it in a large glass jar. Fill the jar with water and a squirt of dish detergent and shake it for about two minutes.

Set the jar in a window for a few days and allow the mixture to settle back out. The soil will separate into layers based on the density of each component, and you’ll be able to see how much sand, loam, and so on you have in your soil.

Dig In

Now that you know where your garden is going and what your soil is like, it’s time to break out the shovels! If you’re doing an in-ground garden, start by marking out the boundaries of your garden. Put up any fences or barriers you plan to use, and start turning over the soil.

It’s a good idea to dig down about a foot to loosen the soil and get it well oxygenated. Based on your soil tests, decide what amendments you need (compost, nitrogen, calcium, manure, organic fertilizer, etc.) and mix those into your freshly turned soil. Make sure you remove as many weeds and grass as possible and break up any large clods of dirt.

If you’re planning a raised bed or container garden, now will be the time to fill your garden with dirt. You may be able to buy soil in bulk from your local nursery or garden center. Make sure you fill the containers all the way to the top, and consider laying in a layer of rocks at the bottom of the beds or containers to improve drainage.

Research Planting Times

With your garden prepped, you’re almost ready to start putting plants in the ground. But first, you need to do a little more homework – this time about when to plant different things. Your local agricultural extension, co-op, or gardening club can all be good resources for this, as can online almanacs and seed packets.

Different plants want to go in the ground at different temperatures and will be ready to harvest at different times. Often, planting recommendations will be based on your hardiness zone or a certain number of days after the last frost. You can look up your hardiness zone and your average last frost date online.

Gather Your Equipment

Starting an indoor garden may not involve as much soil work as an outdoor garden, but you may need more equipment. Depending on how much sun you get in your home, it may be a good idea to get some grow lights. These lights emit UV rays that mimic the sunshine and are excellent for nourishing indoor plants.

You’ll also need to get containers that give your plants enough room to grow and expand. You may choose to use large pots or grow bags, just like you would with an outdoor container garden. You can also get large trays or troughs, provided they give your plants’ roots enough space to grow.

Decide on a Gardening Style

You’ll need to decide whether you want to do a soil-based garden or grow your plants hydroponically. Hydroponic gardens skip the soil and grow plants directly in water. This can be a great way to give your plants the nutrients they need without having to deal with huge (and expensive) bags of potting soil.

Hydroponic gardens can be grown indoors or outdoors, depending on your light availability. These healing gardens may require a little more setup and equipment, but they require much less maintenance than a traditional soil garden. However, they can be more prone to diseases, especially if you allow algae to grow in your water.

What Is Hydroponics?

So how does hydroponics work, and should you consider it when you’re planning your home garden? In general, plants need a few things to grow and thrive: sunlight, water, nutrients, and oxygen. While traditional healing gardens rely on soil to provide the latter two things, hydroponics add these into water.

Hydroponic gardens grow plants directly in a nutrient-rich water bath that uses an air pump to infuse oxygen into the mixture. Your plants can get everything they need from this water (except sunlight, of course), no soil needed. But it is very important to make sure you get your nutrient mixture right and provide plenty of oxygen to your plants when you’re growing hydroponically.

DIY Hydroponics

There are a number of hydroponic systems you can buy online, but these can get somewhat expensive. Instead, you may want to build your own hydroponics system to nourish your plants. You’ll need to start with a deep, opaque storage container or large bucket, an air pump, and proper nutrients.

Drill a series of holes into the lid of your container for your plants to sit in, and then assemble your air pump outside of the container. Fill your reservoir with water and add hydroponic nutrients according to the directions on the container. Place the air stone of your pump in the reservoir, turn on the pump, close the lid, and get ready to add plants!

Simplest Vegetables to Grow Indoors

When you’re picking vegetables to grow indoors, you want to look for plants that are more shade-tolerant. Leafy greens can be a great option for this, since their large, broad leaves tend to absorb every little bit of light. Kale, leaf lettuce, spinach, and arugula are all great options for beginning gardeners.

Root vegetables can also do well in shadier environments. Beets, carrots, and radishes are all good choice for indoor garden vegetables, and you might even be able to grow some potatoes! You can grow cherry tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, but these plants will likely require grow lights, as they need plenty of sunlight.

Simplest Herbs to Grow Indoors

There are a number of different herbs that can thrive in your indoor herb garden. In general, you’re going to want to stick to some of the leafier herbs, since they can handle a bit more shade. Basil, sage, mint, and parsley are all good options for an indoor herb garden.

Chives, oregano, and thyme are also fantastic options when you’re planning your indoor herb garden. All of these herbs add plenty of flavor to food and thrive in an indoor environment. You’ll want to avoid rosemary, bay leaves, and cilantro, as these can be a little more finicky indoors.

Simplest Vegetables to Grow Outdoors

When it comes to planting a garden outdoors, what you grow will depend a lot on where you live. If you live somewhere very cold, warm-weather crops like squash and melons may not do as well. Likewise, if you live in a warmer climate, you may have a hard time getting your broccoli and lettuce to thrive.

In general, there are a few vegetables that are easy to grow and safe bets for beginning gardeners. Lettuce, green beans, peas, and radishes are all good starter vegetables, as are carrots, cucumbers, kale, Swiss chard, beets, and zucchini. Make sure to check your local agricultural center for recommended planting and sowing dates.

Simplest Herbs to Grow Outdoors

Much like vegetables, there are some herbs that will grow better in warm climates and others that will thrive in cold weather. Looking up hardiness zone recommendations for the herbs you want to grow is a good idea if you’re planning an outdoor herb garden. But there are a few tried-and-true herbs that should be able to thrive anywhere.

Sage, parsley, and oregano are all good options for the beginning herb gardener, especially since oregano comes back every spring. Mint is a famously aggressive plant, and thyme does well even in dry soil. Dill, chives, cilantro, lemongrass, basil, bay laurel, and tarragon are all simple to grow and a great choice for beginning herb gardeners.

Nutritious Foods to Grow

It should come as no surprise that many of the most nutritious foods you can grow are leafy greens. Kale, spinach, Swiss chard, red cabbage, kohlrabi, and collard greens are all packed with vitamins and other nutrients to fuel your body. Other green veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, and asparagus contain plenty of healthy nutrients.

Carrots are a great nutritious option, since just one cup of carrots provides more than 400 percent of your recommended daily vitamin A. You might be surprised to learn that garlic is another great option, as is ginger. And sweet potatoes not only have plenty of vitamin C, but they’re also a complex carb.

Best Herbs for Home Rituals

If you want to grow herbs in your healing garden for home rituals, sage should be at the top of your list. This herb is purifying and cleansing and has been used in ceremonies for hundreds of years. It’s simple to grow, and garden sage provides the same ritual benefits as white sage, which is being overharvested and is at risk in the wild.

Basil is another great option for your home rituals, since it is thought to provide protection and to ward off evil spirits. You may also want to consider peppermint, which can help to repel negative energy and boost your mood. Chamomile can be another fantastic choice for your healing garden, since it promotes friendship, healing, and luck.

Rosemary and lavender are fantastic herbs for home rituals, but they are more challenging to grow either inside or outside. Rosemary can cleanse and purify spaces, as well as bringing newness and clarity. Lavender is said to be relaxing and can help to improve your mood.

Learn How to Start a Healing Garden

Starting a garden can be a fantastic way to reconnect with nature, lower stress, and grow your own nutritious food. You can grow these plants either indoors or outdoors and even in your own DIY hydroponics system! Leafy greens are a great choice to grow, as are sage and basil, since they’re easy to grow and nutritious.

If you’d like to learn more about how to start a garden, check out the rest of my site at PaulWagner.com. I am here to help you awaken and bravely create an inspired life. Learn more about my services today and start changing your life in the most positive way.

REMEMBER!

You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire.

Do you suffer from aches and pains, feel lethargic and fatigued all the time, or just can’t shake off those nagging colds? If so, your body may be fighting a hidden inflammation. With the rise of diet trends like the Paleo Diet and Keto, anti-inflammation diets have become increasingly mainstream. In fact, almost everyone knows that an inflammatory response is bad for you. What most people don’t know is that chronic low-grade inflammation can cause damage over a long period of time — leading to chronic diseases such as heart disease,
diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s. In this article, we are going to look at what exactly inflammation is, why it happens in our bodies when it shouldn’t, its effects on our health, and some anti-inflammation supplements and regimens that may be able to help you.

What Is Inflammation?

When our body’s immune system detects pathogens, it produces chemicals to defend us. These chemicals cause blood vessels to dilate and nearby tissue to swell, which is called inflammation. Inflammation can be thought of as our body’s natural response to fight infection or injuries. White blood cells rush to the site of infection or injury to neutralize the infection or heal the wound. They also release chemicals that cause blood vessels to expand, which increases the flow of white blood cells to the site of infection or injury. At first, this looks like a very good thing. However, after a few days, the swelling and redness caused by the immune system are not desirable.

Why Does Our Body Produce Inflammation?

As mentioned above, it is our body’s way of responding to infections and injuries. Our immune system protects us from pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi). If our immune system detects these pathogens, it responds by sending white blood cells to the infected area. During an inflammatory response, white blood cells rush to the site of infection or injury to neutralize the pathogen and heal the wound. They also release chemicals, including cytokines, that cause blood vessels to expand and nearby tissue to
swell. This increased blood flow brings more white blood cells to the site of infection or injury, allowing them to fight the infection more effectively. This process is very useful when it is only meant to last for a few hours. However, when it becomes chronic, it can lead to serious health problems.

Side Effects Of Chronic Inflammation

Bacterial and viral infections can become more common if your immune system is too active.

– Increased risk of certain cancers. Chronic inflammation can cause DNA mutations that lead to certain types of cancer.

– Increased risk of heart disease. Research shows that high levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) increase the risk of developing heart disease.

– Weight gain. Chronic inflammation can alter hormone levels, which may
cause weight gain.

– Joint pain and arthritis. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. It is estimated that over 50 million people in the US suffer from joint pain and arthritis.

– Brain fog. Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, are associated with chronic inflammation.

Advanced And Effective Anti-Inflammatory Supplements And Regimens

These are some of the most effective anti-inflammatory regimens that have been proven to help reduce chronic inflammation. Concierge doctors suggest supplementing with vitamin D, fish oil, and turmeric for optimal anti-inflammatory benefits. Adding Bioperin (or black pepper) to the turmeric can increase the turmeric’s efficacy by up to 2000%. They also suggest supplementing with coenzyme Q10 to benefit energy production. Concierge doctors also suggest supplementing with probiotics to promote healthy gut bacteria and digestive health. They also suggest supplementing with vitamin C to support a healthy immune system.

Vitamin D Supplementation: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to higher levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6, and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). This makes vitamin D deficiency a risk factor for many chronic diseases. Studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation can help reduce inflammation in the body and can be an effective way to prevent chronic diseases. Vitamin D is not only an effective anti-inflammation agent but it is also crucial for bone health. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our bones and teeth, as well as reducing the risk of developing conditions such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation: Coenzyme Q10 is a compound that is naturally produced in our bodies. It is crucial in energy production, especially in muscle and heart tissue. Studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 supplementation can reduce chronic inflammation and can be an effective treatment for conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Coenzyme Q10 is an anti-inflammatory compound that has also been shown to treat many degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS.

Fish Oil Supplementation: Studies have shown that fish oil (which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids) has anti-inflammatory effects. They have also shown that fish oil supplementation can reduce chronic inflammation, which can be effective against many inflammatory diseases. Fish oil is effective against inflammation because it contains anti-inflammatory fatty acids that have been shown to have a positive effect on our immune system. Not all Fish Oils are the same, so research them carefully.

Turmeric (Curcumin) Supplementation: Turmeric is an ancient Indian spice with many health benefits. It has potent anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to be effective against many inflammatory diseases. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties are due to a compound called curcumin, which has been shown to be effective against chronic inflammation. Studies have shown that curcumin is more effective against chronic inflammation than some conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. Furthermore, it has also been shown to be safe for long-term use. When mixed with Bioperine or black pepper, it
becomes up to 2000% more effective.

These are also vital to an anti-inflammation regimen: CDP-Choline, bioavailable folate, LCarnitine, L-Acetyl-Carnitine, Curcumin, Ginger, Resveratrol, Spirulina, Bromelain.

Anti-Inflammation Foods

Diet is everything. If you can incorporate some of these foods into your daily route, you will drastically reduce your inflammation: Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards; pumpkin seed, and nuts like almonds and walnuts; garlic; fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines; fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges.

You also might consider green tea, mushrooms, peppers, grapes, olive oil, dark chocolate, cocoa, and tomatoes.

Conclusion

Chronic inflammation is a serious problem that many people struggle with. The good news is that there are advanced and effective anti-inflammatory supplements and regimens that can help reduce it. Vitamin D, fish oil, turmeric, and coenzyme Q10 are some of the most potent anti-inflammation supplements that have been proven to be effective. With the right supplements and regimens, you can reduce chronic inflammation and prevent many serious health conditions.

Meet Paul Wagner

Paul Wagner is an Intuitive Life & Business Coach, clairvoyant reader, and a five-time EMMY Award-winning writer. He created “THE PERSONALITY CARDS,” a powerful Oracle-Tarot deck that’s helpful in life, love, and relationships. Paul studied with Lakota elders in the Pecos Wilderness, who nurtured his empathic abilities and taught him the sacred rituals. He has lived at ashrams with enlightened masters, including Amma, the Hugging Saint, for whom he’s delivered keynotes at Her worldwide events.

Paul tours the world lecturing on spiritual liberation. He lovingly offers intuitive readings, inspirational coaching, and illuminating courses to help others with self-discovery, decision-making, healing, and forgiveness. Book a session with Paul: HERE

As the pandemic has swept our world the last two years, one question has been at the front of everyone’s minds: how do we cure COVID-19? Oftentimes, doctors have only been able to provide supportive care, a reality that has left many people inside and outside the medical community looking for better options. During all of this searching, you may have heard the term “lactoferrin” come up.

Lactoferrin is a milk protein found in both breastmilk and cow’s milk. Read on to learn more about this substance and the potential benefits it could provide.

What Is Lactoferrin?

Lactoferrin is a natural protein material found in human breastmilk and bodily fluids, as well as in milk from a number of other animals. In particular, lactoferrin is found in very high levels in colostrum, the first breastmilk produced after a baby is born. This protein serves a number of roles in the body, especially for newborns.

In general, lactoferrin helps to regulate how much iron the intestine absorbs during digestion. It may also help to prevent infections from a variety of sources, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Doctors believe that lactoferrin may help to protect newborns who have been breastfed against infections.

Use During Pregnancy

Lactoferrin has a number of medical uses for adults and newborns alike. Many pregnant people develop anemia, a condition in which a person doesn’t have enough red blood cells. This can be the result of low iron and can cause weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and lightheadedness.

Because lactoferrin helps the body to absorb more iron, some people choose to take it during their pregnancies. Some studies have shown that this is about as effective as taking an oral iron supplement or getting an injection from your doctor. However, as with any supplements, always talk to your doctor before you start taking lactoferrin, especially if you’re pregnant.

Treating Sepsis

Lactoferrin’s ability to fight infection makes it a promising option for treating sepsis, especially in newborns. sepsis is a condition in which an infection sets off a chain reaction of inflammation throughout the body. This can damage multiple organ systems and may even result in death, especially in young babies.

Lactoferrin can help to fight infections due to bacteria, viruses, and even fungi. Because it’s a natural substance, it can be relatively safe to give newborns, as long as it’s administered in the right doses. Giving lactoferrin to premature babies might help to prevent serious blood infections, but it does not seem to prevent death among these babies.

Managing Acne

On a much lighter note, some people found that taking lactoferrin helped to improve their acne. Oftentimes, acne is the result of small infections in the skin, although there can be a number of factors that contribute to these breakouts. Lactoferrin’s antibacterial properties make it a reasonable treatment option for acne.

Studies on this use of lactoferrin are limited, and more research is needed. But one 2010 study showed that patients who took lactoferrin had fewer acne lesions than people who took a placebo. If you’re struggling with acne, talk to your doctor about if lactoferrin can be a good part of your treatment plan.

Preventing Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a serious condition impacting more than 44 million Americans and more than half of those over the age of 50. Osteoporosis causes your bones to weaken and become brittle as calcium levels decrease over time. It can cause even minor falls to be serious threats, as your risk of broken bones goes up significantly.

Because lactoferrin is a milk protein, scientists are hopeful that it could be effective in preventing osteoporosis. Studies on this potential benefit are still in the early stages, and there are no definite answers yet. But the results are promising, and we can hope to see more positive results in the coming years.

Possible Side Effects

As with any medication or supplement, taking lactoferrin can have some side effects, especially depending on the dose you take. In general, the amount of lactoferrin found in food is considered safe. However, if you’re taking lactoferrin as a supplement, overdosing can lead to some unpleasant side effects.

Taking too high a dose of lactoferrin can cause fatigue and constipation, as well as a loss of appetite. Some patients report developing a skin rash, and others experience chills. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking lactoferrin immediately, and call your doctor.

Can Lactoferrin Treat COVID?

So now we get to the big question on everyone’s minds: can lactoferrin treat COVID-19? COVID is an infection caused by a virus, and we know lactoferrin can help to fight viral infections. So it would make sense that lactoferrin could be an important part of treating this terrifying disease, right?

There have been some preliminary studies that have showed promising results for lactoferrin. Doctors know that lactoferrin can fight some coronaviruses in test tube studies, but they don’t know how effective it is in the human body. We need to do more research before we’ll know how effective this really is as a treatment option for COVID-19.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 or you think you may have it, do not try to treat it at home on your own. Your first step should be to test for the virus, either with an at-home test or at a local testing site. If your test is positive, you and anyone you’ve been in contact with during the last two weeks should immediately quarantine.

Talk to your doctor about the best option for managing COVID-19 symptoms as long as you’re well enough to stay home. Ask if lactoferrin is a good treatment option and if you should take it as a potential preventative measure. And if your condition gets serious, go to the hospital immediately, as you may need more intensive support.

At this time, the single most effective way to prevent COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, free, and effective, and they protect both you and everyone around you. You should also wear a mask in all public areas and limit your exposure to the virus as much as possible.

How to Use Lactoferrin

In general, you should not plan to take lactoferrin (except for what you get through food) for more than twelve weeks in a row. Most adults take doses between 100 and 400 mg by mouth every day. You can also find some topical products that contain lactoferrin.

You can also find lactoferrin in a number of different foods, beginning with animal milk. In particular, cow’s milk has a relatively high level of lactoferrin. If you’re lactose intolerant or vegan, you might be able to find lactoferrin supplements that are made with rice protein instead of animal protein.

Learn More About Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a natural milk protein found in breastmilk and cow’s milk that can help to fight all manner of infections. Although it shows some potential for managing COVID-19, there is not enough evidence yet to make it an effective treatment protocol. As always, talk to your doctor before beginning any new supplement or treatment regimen.

If you’d like to learn more about lactoferrin, check out the rest of my site at PaulWagner.com. I am here to help you awaken and bravely create an inspired life. Learn more about my services today and start changing your life in the most positive way.

REMEMBER!

You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire.

Pray for others and the Universe prays for us.

Meet Paul Wagner

Paul Wagner is an Intuitive Life & Business Coach, clairvoyant reader, and a five-time EMMY Award-winning writer. He created “THE PERSONALITY CARDS,” a powerful Oracle-Tarot deck that’s helpful in life, love, and relationships. Paul studied with Lakota elders in the Pecos Wilderness, who nurtured his empathic abilities and taught him the sacred rituals. He has lived at ashrams with enlightened masters, including Amma, the Hugging Saint, for whom he’s delivered keynotes at Her worldwide events.

Paul tours the world lecturing on spiritual liberation. He lovingly offers intuitive readings, inspirational coaching, and illuminating courses to help others with self-discovery, decision-making, healing, and forgiveness. Book a session with Paul: HERE