Karen Tyson ND, MS: Naturopathic Medical Doctor, Nutritionist, Herbalist, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Practi Let this practice, be part of your “medical home”.
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Passiflora Holistic Health and the Naturopathic Medical Practice of Dr. Karen Tyson are inextricably linked, the science and research combined with the healing power of Nature. Our mission is to:
• Support the health, wellness and vitality of each patient with a range of foundational personalized “wholistic” healthcare options, including but not limited to “food as medicine”, botanical medicine, mind-body medicine, Ayurveda, hydrotherapy, homeopathy and counseling.
• Be YOUR DOCTOR who gets to the root of your health imbalance and creates a sustainable plan to enable you to keep moving in the direction of health, wellness and vitality.
• Empower, you the patient, with knowledge and agency to keep yourself well and prevent imbalances before they turn into “dis-ease”.
• Play a key role in being part of the local community in “giving back” knowledge and education, realizing the key role the community has in creating health.
• Supporting businesses that play a role bettering health, wellness and vitality which in most cases is linked to the health of our environment and planet
• Nurturing you with our high-quality botanical medicine selection of loose bulk herbs and powders, custom tea blends (tisanes), and botanical medicine tinctures. It all started in 2003, with a deep love of a simple cup of herbal tea. The overarching goal is that after you participate in some way with Passiflora Holistic Health that you are moving your life in the direction of health, wellness and vitality, and, of course, happiness.
01/03/2024
A beautiful post from The School of Evolutionary Herbalism about herbs that can bring a bit of lightness and ease at this time. Contact passifloraholistichealth@gmail.com if you would like me to make a tincture or tea with these herbs to your specific wellness goals. Light a candle, take an epsom salt bath, drink a cup of warm herbal tea, read a good book...and savor Wintering.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Once it passes, the days grow brighter and longer. However, the long winter nights can still weigh heavy on the hearts of many. By using herbs that uplift the heart and soothe the mind, you can diffuse a bit more suns...
12/30/2022
I was first introduced to Fire Cider about a decade ago by a friend who had been making it for four years and in that time had not had a single cold. I personally have a “hot” constitution so I am not one of those people who can take it daily. But if I feel a wet, cold condition coming on (fire cider is very drying), I will take it a few times and usually within a day it knocks out the infection.
I make it fresh every fall with my students and they say its one of their favorite classes. When the yearly batch has finished steeping, I strain out the vegetables and spices and I use them in a stir fry with carrots and cabbage. I have used fire cider to baste chicken and have added it to salads in the dead of winter as a spicy and warming vinegar.
Here is my basic recipe. Note that with astragalus, you should look for the yellow roots (not the pale white or beige ones) those are the good ones.
Ellen’s Adaptogenic FIRE CIDER
• ½ cup grated ginger root, including the peel
• ½ cup grated horseradish root
• 4 fresh turmeric roots, chopped
• 1 burdock root, chopped
• 2-3 slices (lengthwise) astragalus root
• 2 tablespoons cut-and-sifted Siberian ginseng (eleuthero)
• 2 tablespoons elderberries
• 2 tablespoons rose hips
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 onion, chopped
• 12 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 hot peppers, minced
• ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
• ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• Apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup honey (preferably raw and local)
Put all the roots, fruits, herbs, and spices in a glass jar and pour in enough apple cider vinegar to just barely cover everything. Screw on a non-metallic lid (or a metal lid covered with waxed paper to keep the vinegar away from the metal), shake well, and let the jar sit in a cool, dark place. Shake every few days to distribute the ingredients. After the fire cider steeps for a month, strain out the solids and stir in the honey.
12/28/2022
Here's the last group of my essential items to have in your home medicine chest for the winter time!
Falls/Sprains/Trauma:
❤️🩹 Rescue Remedy
❤️🩹 Arnica homeopathic pellets – 30 C;200 C
❤️🩹 Arnica topical (in oil or Homeopathic creams)
❤️🩹 Turmeric and ginger to make Golden Milk
❤️🩹 Herbal Styptics – stop bleeding: yarrow; cayenne, cinammon – put on wound and wash out with water (never near face or mucus membranes)
❤️🩹 Epsom salts baths with 2 cups of epsom salts
❤️🩹 Topical for wounds: calendula cream
Anti-Viral – Other Prevention and Treatment
🦠 Vit D3 – 5000 IUs in the winter for most people
🦠 Liposomal Vitamin C
🦠 Zinc rich foods and Zinc at a maintenance dose of 30 mg for most people
🦠 N-acetyl cysteine
🦠 Quercetin Phtyosome – also great for allergic reactions
🦠 Antiviral cough tincture – designed for each patient from a fully stocked and curated tincture apothecary
🦠 Viracon by Vital Nutrients
🦠 Astragalus or Jade Windscreen- to prevent or recover
🦠 A high-quality probiotic such as those by Klaire, Udos or Megafood
Don’t forget anti-inflammatory diet (no sugar or alcohol); extra sleep and rest (even after better), sleep, deep breathing (and gargling, steaming, water treatments as described above). Food as medicine is powerful with lots of probiotic rich foods, healthy full fats, blue and purple foods rich in proanthocyanins (blueberries etc); and simple teas such as lemon balm, milky oats and chamomile.
Continuing my list of essential items you should have in your Winter Home Medicine Chest!
Essential Oils:
🌸 Lavender is a powerhouse: anti-microbial, relaxing and can applied to cuts and scraps
🌸 Eucalyptus
🌸 Rosemary
🌸 Pine, Spruce
🌸 Cleansing of the air: White sage, Palo Santo
🌸 Uplifting: Grapefruit, Lime, Lemon, Mandarin Orange
🌸 Most essential oil companies make a version of the anti-microbial 4 thieves blend that supports anti-microbial compounds in the air
🌸 Invest in a good diffuser that will hold up over years and is easy to clean
🌸 Alex Bailey, LMT, is a good resource to purchase high quality essential oils
Foods:
🍲 Fire Cider – see a recipe on our website or purchase our latest batch
🍲 Ginger
🍲 Garlic (can chop and let sit in the air for 15 minutes; combine with honey or applesauce at the first sign of illness)
🍲 Elderberry syrup- make your own or purchase wonderful brands such as Gaia from out apothecary
🍲 Broths: Chicken, Bone broth, Miso, Veggie (or create your own immune broth containing dried mushrooms and herbs- ask us how to do it
Digestive:
🍵 Peppermint, Fennel, Ginger as described above
🍵 Activated charcoal or carob powder (if you have a diarrheal imbalance)
🍵 Trace Mineral Packs or Emergen-Cs (or know how to make a home electrolyte solution)
🍵 Applesauce
🍵 Goldenseal tincture
Reflecting and feeling very grateful for this past year, our new office space, the incredible holistic health team at 7 Church Street, our fantastic clients and our wonderful community! Thank you - we could not do it without you.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!
12/23/2022
Here's some of my winter medicine chest essentials:
Tea and Tea Bags go a Long Way:
☕️ Chamomile – Bitter; Digestive; Calming; a “go to” for every kind of imbalance in kids and digestive/stress related imbalances in adults. Can be cooled and applied to the eyes for dry eyes or non-bacterial inflammation.
☕️ Peppermint: Lowers fevers; soothes the tummy; for headaches – soak a wet washcloth; apply to back of neck and put feet in hot water
☕️ Ginger: Soothes digestive upset; warms in the case of colds; combine with lemon and honey
☕️ Throat Coat Tea by Traditional Medicinals- original with Slippery Elm. Soothes a sore throat and prevents gastric reflex symptoms when eaten before the meal.
☕️ Lemon Balm: cooling; in the mint family; Soothes irritability in fever. New research has pointed to its role as a brain tonic
☕️ Echinacea/Elderberry or Passiflora’s “Fight Those Germs”
☕️ Favorite children blend for illness: Lemon Balm, Chamomile Catnip- to relax and reduce fever
☕️ Favorite blend to reduce fever: peppermint, yarrow, elderflower
☕️ Favorite brands: Rishi Organic, Gaia, Traditional Medicinals; Organic India; Harney and sons; Pukka
Remember, fever is important and kills pathogens
Or, check out our bulk herb apothecary; and let us recommend the teas for your family wellness this winter
Let’s Venture to the Spice Cabinet:
🍃 Rosemary, Thyme- great for steams for colds
🍃 Fennel, Cumin, and Coriander- to reduce digestive upset
🍃 Thyme, Sage- great tea or gargle for sore throats
🍃 You do have time to cut an infection off at the pass:
Gargle; Steam; hot/cold foot soak; Rest; Nutritive Fluids- veggie/miso broths; bone broths
💧Water Plays a Powerful Role in Our Wellness in the Use of Hot and Cold Water:
💧To increase heat shock protein and cut any viral illness in its tracks – alternate 20 minutes at 101 degrees F and 30 seconds in an ice bath
💧Wet sock treatment- Ask us about the whys and hows.
It's the first day of Winter! ❄️⛄️ What better time to stock up your home medicine chest with natural remedies to get you and your family through the winter?
It’s so important to have a natural medicine apothecary on hand at home or while you travel. This is typically an eclectic mix of herbs, teas, essential oils, supplements, homeopathy, and topicals. I love the idea that I have this “toolbox” that can prevent and treat common imbalances, pathogens, and accidents so that they don’t turn into emergencies; or stabilize a situation before seeking more triage-oriented care. And, I would love to share some of these strategies with you, such as:
❄️ Spices that can help with respiratory support steams
❄️ Elderberry syrup – make your own to prepare for the winter cold and flu system
❄️ Simple teas to soothe a fussy feverish child
❄️ Assessing, evaluating, and treating home falls and accidents
❄️ What herbal capsules, powders, and teas are my must-haves
Winter is upon us, which means viruses and pathogens abound in full force. Take a breath first… nothing good happens when we are anxious and confused. Instead, let’s learn how to prepare your home with simple items to treat common imbalances and sometimes prevent disease processes from progressing. It’s fun and empowering to be prepared.
THIS SATURDAY! Join us for a festive holiday open house at the office of Passiflora Holistic Health in downtown New Hartford!
Shop our fully stocked apothekary with bulk herbs, 182 tinctures and assorted teas.
Purchase products to keep you well during the winter season.
Meet Dr. Karen Tyson, Naturopathic Medical Doctor and ask for guidance in building your family's winter wellness plan.
And also meet the amazing holistic health team that is part of the beautiful 7 Church Street North location: Randi Camirand- Licensed Professional Counselor; Practitioner of EFT, EMDR, CBT, and yoga therapy; Alex Bailey- LMT and cranial sacral massage therapist; Sharon Fortier- LMT and practitioner of Arvigo Mayan Uterine Massage.
Buy a gift card for family and friends to use towards wellness services or in our apothekary - the gift of health is the gift that keeps on giving!
Come together as a community and have fun!
Enjoy healthy gluten free/vegan holiday treats, warming teas and cider. This event is free to attend and open to the public.
12/14/2022
Looking for a great gift? ✨🎁
Buy a gift card for family and friends to use towards wellness services or in our apothekary - the gift of health is the gift that keeps on giving!
You can purchase them at our office at 7 Church Street North in downtown New Hartford, or simply buy them online through our Jane patient portal!
Join us for a festive holiday open house at the office of Passiflora Holistic Health in downtown New Hartford!
Shop our fully stocked apothekary with bulk herbs, 182 tinctures and assorted teas.
Purchase products to keep you well during the winter season.
Meet Dr. Karen Tyson, Naturopathic Medical Doctor and ask for guidance in building your family's winter wellness plan.
And also meet the amazing holistic health team that is part of the beautiful 7 Church Street North location: Randi Camirand- Licensed Professional Counselor; Practitioner of EFT, EMDR, CBT, and yoga therapy; Alex Bailey- LMT and cranial sacral massage therapist; Sharon Fortier- LMT and practitioner of Arvigo Mayan Uterine Massage.
Buy a gift card for family and friends to use towards wellness services or in our apothekary - the gift of health is the gift that keeps on giving!
Come together as a community and have fun!
Enjoy healthy gluten free/vegan holiday treats, warming teas and cider. This event is free to attend and open to the public.
11/12/2022
If you'd like to have organic, local, nourishing made-from-scratch soups and juices and don’t have time to cook yourself, Christie Caters can help! 🥗🥤✨
Laura Christie of Christie Caters LLC & Christie Caters Farm to Truck utilizes the beautiful Passiflora Commercial Kitchen to create goodness for your body and soul. 😍
You can order these products directly from Laura and pick them up at our 7 Church Street North, New Hartford location during our business hours.
The best way to lean into the Fall Season is by favoring foods that are warm, moist, slightly oily, and building 🍎🥬🍠🫘
✨ Make the slow cooker your friend and lean into slow-cooked soups and stews
✨ Consume warm food and drinks. Avoid skipping meals and do not fast.
✨ Root veggies, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets, and winter squashes
✨ Cooked cold-weather greens, such as sea vegetables, collards, kale, and Swiss chard
✨ Warming spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, cumin, fennel, and salt
✨ Warm, spiced milks (can be non-dairy): Chai lattes, Golden milk
✨ Warming teas: Ginger, Turmeric/ginger
✨ Raw or fresh-roasted seeds and nuts
✨ Rich cold pressed oils, such as coconut, sesame, ghee, avocado
✨ Moist grains, such as wheat, brown rice, and oats cooked with veggie stocks or extra water
✨ Sweet or heavy fruits such as bananas and mangos; apples, pears, and cranberries
✨ Proteins from small legumes, such as red lentils, mung beans, split peas, and aduki beans, tofu, eggs, most meats
✨ Establish regular mealtimes
✨ Amalaki is a rejuvenating herb that is rich in Vitamin C
✨ Moringa is a cleansing herb to relieve accumulated heat
✨ Ghee is a clarified butter that has no casein and is ideal for roasting Fall veggies
Foods to reduce:
💥 Dry foods such as chips and crackers
💥 Coffee
💥 Carbonated drinks
💥 Larger beans (cannellini, kidney, pinto), which may cause wind
💥 Raw foods
🍲 I encourage you to start a big pot of warming soothing nourishing soups and stew a couple of times a week. Some of my favorite cookbooks: The Clean series by the amazing local author, talented chef, and educator, Terry Walters; The Oh she glows series by Angela Liddon; Sea, Salt, and Honey; and The Ayurvedic self-care Cookbook by O’Donnell.
✨ We are here to support your wellness journey. Don’t forget to make appointments with our amazing holistic health team, or drop in the say hello and buy your supplements, teas, or tincture.
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Passiflora Holistic Health is blending up healing herbal teas and nourishing food, although the cafe no longer has a physical location in New Hartford! Our wonderful, yummy “made with love” food can still be “special ordered”, and picked up from our commercial kitchen in Pleasant Valley, Ct. Savor our homemade, organic soups; soul soothing desserts, with the best of ingredients (made from scratch) and other of your favorites. Check out our offerings at www.passiflora.blogspot.com. Or, contact me via e-mail at passifloratearoom@gmail.com.
I am a student of Naturopathic Medicine (currently in the 3rd year of ND Medical school); a core of that philosophy is the body’s natural power to heal and be well. That is why I continue to put on one to two pots of homemade soups for you each week. and mix up a soul soothing homemade desserts for you to share with your friends and family. Check out our “Souper Tuesday” postings.
And, a simple cup of herbal tea is a great “nature cure”. Our custom tea blends and curated bulk herbs are currently housed in my home apothecary, until they can find a retail home. You can also special order any custom tea blends or bulk herb in 2 ounce packages; as well as have a private Ayurveda/Nutrition/Consult with me,or attend one of our community gatherings focused on vital health and happiness at my home. Contact me at passifloratearoom@gmail.com.
Nutrition, vital health information, the core role of nature/plants and education is the core of my mission. The main mission of Passiflora is still shining bright: that you are a bit happier with what we offer, in your life. I know I am grateful to have been able to serve and make products for each of you. Knowing each of you that entered my life through Passiflora has brought me and my family so much joy.
