erenic acid. When the weather turns and the vegetative part of the plant dies, it’s easier to dig up the root. Each valerian root has a “heart” with many fine roots that require thorough yet gentle cleaning to remove the dirt and keep the root intact. The roots are then dried for three days and sent to Naturex to be extracted.
How it may benefit you
Valerian is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine for its calmative and sedative properties. “Most people require seven to nine hours of sleep per night,” says Antoinette Barnardo, technical manager of innovations at Swisse. “Getting that sleep helps you to operate the following day.” Long hours at the office, shift work and stress can all contribute to a less-than-refreshing sleep.
Find it in
Swisse Ultiboost Sleep and Swisse Ultiboost High Strength Valerian
DESTINATION: SPAIN
INGREDIENT: GLOBE ARTICHOKE
Why you should visit
Globe artichokes are sun worshippers; if the temperature drops below zero, they won’t survive. The region of Murcia, on Spain’s south-eastern coast, has 300 sunny days a year, making it the perfect place for them to thrive – and for you to thaw out during the Australian winter. The 252-kilometre coastline features scores of fishing villages, lively ports, bays and beaches, while the inland cities are full of historic monuments, such as the Fortress of the Sun, a 13th-century castle that overlooks the city of Lorca.
How the globe artichoke grows
Globe artichokes quickly develop a strong, deep root system so cut stems are planted directly into the fertile soil from September to May. Every two weeks, the fields are flooded with water from nearby reservoirs to ensure the plants receive nutrients from the soil. In October, the artichokes are harvested by hand by farmers who have worked the crops for decades. Then juice that is rich in the phytonutrient cynarin is extracted from the plants and spray-dried into a powder by Naturex, a global leader in botanical extracts.
How it may benefit you
Artichokes have long been thought to assist with digestion. In traditional Western herbal medicine, the globe artichoke has been used to help relieve symptoms such as indigestion and abdominal discomfort. It has also been used in traditional Western herbal medicine for its choleretic properties, helping to increase the liver’s production of bile. “There are so many things in our daily life that can impact the liver, like alcohol and processed foods,” says Antoinette Barnardo, technical manager of innovations at Swisse.
Find it in
Swisse Ultiboost Liver Detox and Swisse Ultiboost High Strength Globe Artichoke
DESTINATION: ITALY
INGREDIENT: BLOOD ORANGE
Why you should visit
Blood orange orchards thrive in the rich soil near Mount Etna, which is ideal for you, too, if you enjoy exploring medieval streets, climbing the craters of an active volcano or indulging in Sicilian food and wine. Stay in Taormina, on the east coast, and venture into the village of Castelmola for excellent views of Etna and the Strait of Messina before stopping for a glass of almond wine – made with almonds, orange blossom and spices – at Antico Caffè San Giorgio.
How the blood orange grows
The Sicilian climate provides ideal conditions for blood oranges, which require a significant temperature drop between hot days and cool nights to develop their signature pigment (the hue can change, depending on the temperature as the fruit matures, with colder winters creating a deeper red). Farmers use specialised scissors – smaller than the hands that wield them – to collect the fruit, which is extracted by Bionap. Manual harvesting ensures only ripe fruit is picked and unripe oranges are left to mature.
How it may benefit you
Blood orange extract contains antioxidants that help to reduce potential free radical damage. Free radical damage is believed to affect the proper functioning of cells. Antioxidants are thought to counteract its effects.
Find it in
Swisse Ultiboost Hair Skin Nails Liquid
DESTINATION: FRANCE
INGREDIENT: LEMON BALM
Why you should visit
Dotted throughout farmland in north-western France are vast fields of lemon balm with some 40,000 plants per hectare. Brittany and Normandy are the most well-known regions in the area, both famed for their craggy coastlines, historic battle sites and unspoilt countryside. Spend time in both, taking in must-sees such as the Alignements de Carnac standing stones, the white cliffs of Étretat and Le Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in the bay where Brittany and Normandy meet.
How lemon balm grows
Lemon balm is a long-lasting crop of six years’ duration. The seedling is planted in autumn and the leaves are harvested up to three times a year between June and September from its second year of growth. Once picked, the plant material is sent to Naturex to be spray-dried, extracted and tested extensively to ensure it meets strict specifications before formulation.
How it may benefit you
Lemon balm is a multitasking member of the mint family. Here are just some of the ways it’s used in traditional Western herbal medicine: to help relieve mild symptoms of mental stress; to calm the mind during times of stress and support a restful sleep; to ease mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating and flatulence; and to support normal, healthy digestion and soothe and settle the stomach. While this seems like a wideranging list of benefits, many processes in the body work in tandem. If you’re not sleeping well, things can be out of sync so it’s important that all these processes are working to support general health.
Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare practitioner.
CHC72470-0817Are you thinking it’s time to let your children stay home alone this summer? If you are, planning in advance is vital for this huge decision to work out for parents and children alike.
How safe is your neighborhood? If you don’t feel your children would be safe enough to be outside without you, then don’t leave them home alone.
Have your children stayed at home by themselves at all yet? The best case scenario is that you have already left them for short periods of time and assessed the outcome. How comfortable were you? How did your kids react? Was everyone ready for this to happen?
Is there a legal age when kids can be left home alone? Michigan does not have a law pertaining to this issue; it is left up to parents to determine if the circumstances, and their children’s maturity level, warrant letting them stay home unsupervised. This does not mean that infants and small children should ever be left alone for any amount of time. As a general rule, the thought is that most children under the age of 12 are not mature enough to deal with possible emergency situations. The National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends this age also. For more information on this specific topic, and to view a state by state comparison to the legal issue of leaving children home alone, visit http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm. You may also want to contact your local Department of Human Services.
What topics should be discussed with our kids?
Your children need a list of written rules and responsibilities; rules help children feel secure. Include your children in this discussion, keeping the final decision yours.
Someone needs to be in charge while parents are gone. Appoint one child to be in charge and explain the expectations as to what this means for each child.
What to do in case of emergencies such as fire or injury. Conduct a fire drill or two.
What to do if the electricity goes out?
Who will take on the role of adult back-up person?
Guidelines for how to spend the day. Give children chores to accomplish during the day, make clear expectations regarding internet use, TV time and phone time.
Determine if friends will be allowed to visit and if your kids are allowed to visit friends.
Will quick trips to the grocery store or library be allowed?
Give kids guidelines for what can be cooked and eaten.
Let children know what situation demands a call to parents.
Parents need to check in with kids during the day. Don’t make this a “check-up call.” Use this as a means of letting your kids know you are thinking about them.
Determine what the procedure is for someone arriving at the door or how to answer the phone and what to tell a caller asking for parents. If there is no landline, kids need a cell phone to use.
Hold ongoing discussions throughout the summer and tweak as needed. Maybe you change which child is in charge or one of your kids isn’t adjusting well and needs to go into childcare instead. Whatever the issue, the goal is for this situation to work for everyone.
What’s a good way to help my kids remember what we’ve discussed?
Creating a notebook with all the information your children will need is a great way to remind adults and children alike. Enlist the help of your kids to create the notebook and they’ll be more invested in its contents.
The end of another school year is fast approaching and you may have been wondering if this is the summer your kids can stay home alone. With planning, with spouses/partners in agreement