Mother Earth Hearth & Apothecary

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Clinical Roots Week 1

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The Human Microbiome in Health and Disease

By Lisanne King-Rogers, MSHA, CPT, N.D. Candidate | August 2025

Abstract

The human microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms living on and inside the body, is increasingly recognized as a vital player in human health. Recent research highlights its significant influence on metabolism, immunity, hormonal regulation, mental health, and disease development. This article explores the microbiome’s role in health and disease, identifies vulnerable populations, and discusses emerging therapeutic and preventive strategies.

Introduction

Far from being passive passengers, the trillions of microbes inhabiting the human body actively shape numerous physiological functions. The human microbiome, particularly that of the gut, plays an essential role in digestion, nutrient synthesis, immune defense, metabolic regulation, and neuroendocrine signaling.

Microbiome and Chronic Disease

Gut dysbiosis—an imbalance in microbial populations—has been linked to chronic conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), prediabetes, and inflammation (Zhang et al., 2025). A systematic review by Li et al. (2023) found reduced microbial diversity in PCOS patients, suggesting a direct link between gut health and hormonal disorders.

The Microbiome’s Systemic Influence

Microbes play essential roles in digestion and immunity. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate support intestinal health and reduce inflammation (Koh et al., 2016). Microbiota also communicate with the immune system through pattern recognition receptors, influencing autoimmune disease risk (Belkaid & Hand, 2014).

In conditions like PCOS, dysbiosis is associated with increased gut permeability and hormonal imbalance (Lindheim et al., 2017; Jiao et al., 2023). Additionally, the gut-brain axis links gut microbes to mental health and stress regulation (Cryan & Dinan, 2012; Chen et al., 2025).

Nutrition and Lifestyle Interventions

Diet strongly influences microbiome composition. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can help restore balance. Personalized diets based on gut profiles have been shown to improve glucose control in prediabetic patients (Zeevi et al., 2023). In contrast, overuse of antibiotics can lead to long-term damage (Xu et al., 2023).

At-Risk Populations and Equity

People with metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, or limited access to nutritious foods are more vulnerable to microbiome imbalances (Miao et al., 2021). Early-life exposures and underrepresentation in clinical research highlight the need for inclusive, equitable studies (Wang et al., 2023).

Emerging Therapies and Considerations

Treatments such as synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and microbiome-based diagnostics are in development. However, unregulated commercial supplements and testing present ethical concerns (Xu et al., 2023).

Conclusion

The human microbiome plays a critical role in health and disease. From metabolism to mental health, maintaining microbial balance may become central to future medical practice. Continued research, public education, and responsible innovation will be key to unlocking its full potential.

References

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Lughnasadh Blessings

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Honoring the First Harvest

As the wheel of the year turns once more, we arrive at Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-nah-sah), the ancient Celtic festival of the first harvest. Celebrated around August 1st, this sacred time marks the beginning of the grain harvest—a moment to honor the Earth’s abundance, give thanks, and reflect on the fruits of our own labor, both literal and spiritual.

At Mother Earth Hearth, we recognize Lughnasadh as a time to reconnect with the rhythms of nature. It’s an invitation to pause and notice what is ripening in our lives. What seeds planted in spring are now bearing fruit? What needs tending before the final harvest in autumn?

Ways to Celebrate Lughnasadh

  • Bake bread with freshly harvested grains
  • Craft corn dollies or wheat weavings
  • Gather with community for shared meals and storytelling
  • Offer gratitude to the land and its cycles

Whether you’re lighting a candle in quiet reflection or dancing barefoot in a field, Lughnasadh reminds us that we are woven into the tapestry of nature. As the sun begins its gentle descent toward the darker half of the year, may you find sustenance in both body and spirit.

Blessed Lughnasadh from our hearth to yours.

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Announcement! Strength Training Programs are Here!

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Sacred Strength is Here — and She Lifts

Our 8-Week Root & Rise Personal Training Program is now open for booking! Designed by certified coach @thatfitwitchliz, this program blends breath, ritual, seasonal rhythms, and soulful strength training to honor your whole self.

Personal training updates, tips, and movement magic will be shared on both Instagram pages — please follow @motherearthhearth and @thatfitwitchliz to stay connected.

Book Your Session Now

Coming soon:
– Lunar-aligned mobility rituals
– Sacred strength bundles
– Herbal fitness support

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✦ Witchy Ritual of the Week ✦

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Shadow Work Ritual: Transition from Full Moon to New Moon

✦ Energetic Insight

As the bright light of the Full Moon begins to fade, we enter the waning phase—a sacred time for turning inward. This is when we do the deep, personal work of release and reflection. The veil is thinner now, not between worlds, but within ourselves. Shadow work—meeting the hidden or uncomfortable parts of us with love—is a beautiful practice during this time.

This week’s ritual is about being honest with yourself, in a gentle way.

✦ Simple Ritual: “Meet Your Shadow”

Time Needed: 15–30 minutes
Best done: 2–4 days after the Full Moon

✦ What You’ll Need:

  • A quiet space
  • A notebook or scrap paper
  • A pen or pencil
  • A moment of privacy
  • (Optional: a candle or something soothing like a cup of tea, a scarf or blanket for comfort)

✦ Ritual Steps:

  1. Set the Space
    Find a quiet spot where you won’t be interrupted. Sit or lie down comfortably. Take three slow, deep breaths. If it helps, whisper:
    “I am safe to explore all parts of myself.”
  2. Free Write with Honesty
    Ask yourself this question:
    “What am I afraid to admit right now?”
    Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and write without stopping, without editing, without judgment. Let your thoughts flow.
  3. Notice What Comes Up
    Read over what you wrote. Circle any patterns, feelings, or words that stand out. Ask:
    • “Where does this come from?”
    • “What does this part of me need?”
    • “Can I meet it with understanding instead of shame?”
  4. Release
    Tear up the paper or fold it and place it in a drawer to revisit later. Whisper or say:
    “I see myself clearly. I release what I no longer need to carry.”
    Take a few deep breaths, imagining space opening up in your body.

✦ Journaling Prompt:

  • What part of me did I meet today that I usually avoid?
  • How can I show up for that part with more compassion?

✦ Optional Visualization:

Close your eyes and imagine your shadow self not as something dark or scary—but as a younger version of you, sitting beside you, wanting to be heard. What would you say to them?

🌒 This ritual can be done weekly during the waning moon to slowly peel back the layers of self. You don’t need to fix anything—just listen, hold space, and be present with your own truth.

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Hearthcraft Recipe ✦ Moon Milk for Serenity & Strength

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Kitchen Witchery Meets Wellness

Last night’s full moon cast her silver light across the hearth and heart—an invitation to soften, reflect, and realign. If you gathered moon water, you now hold in your hands a potent tool of lunar energy—perfect for transforming your nightly ritual into a deeper act of magic and mindfulness.

This week’s Hearthcraft recipe brings together soothing herbs and nourishing roots to create a bedtime brew that calms the nervous system, supports immunity, and helps the body transition gently into sleep. Whether you make a traditional Moon Milk or choose a lighter moon water infusion, this blend is designed to connect body and spirit.

✦ Seasonal Health Focus: Calming + Immune Support

  • Support the nervous system with calming herbs
  • Strengthen immune function before seasonal transitions
  • Restore energy reserves through quality rest

Chamomile offers anti-inflammatory, calming properties, while ashwagandha supports the adrenals and helps regulate stress responses.

✦ Hearthcraft Recipe: Chamomile + Ashwagandha Moon Milk (or Moon Water Infusion)

Ingredients (makes 1 cup):

For Moon Milk:

  • 1 cup milk of choice (oat, almond, or whole milk)

OR For Moon Tea:

  • 1 cup full moon water (charged under the full moon’s light)

Then add:

  • 1 tsp dried chamomile flowers (or 1 chamomile tea bag)
  • ½ tsp ashwagandha powder
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 tsp raw honey (infused if possible)
  • 1 tsp coconut oil or ghee (optional – for milk version)

Instructions:

  1. In a small pot, gently heat your milk or moon water. (If using moon water, just bring it to a warm, steeping temperature—not boiling—to preserve its energetic charge.)
  2. Add chamomile, ashwagandha, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir gently.
  3. Simmer on low for 5–7 minutes.
  4. Strain if using loose herbs.
  5. Stir in honey and coconut oil once cooled slightly.
  6. Pour into your favorite cup and sip with intention.

✦ Ritual Use: Full Moon Wind-Down

Tonight, as the full moon begins to wane, is the perfect time to release stress, anxiety, and overactivity—both mental and energetic.

Simple Ritual:

  1. Light a candle and sit quietly with your cup.
  2. Speak aloud or silently what you are releasing from this moon cycle—fears, patterns, or tension.
  3. As you sip, visualize the moonlight infusing your body, bringing serenity and soft strength.
  4. Close the ritual with a gratitude or affirmation like:
    “As the moon wanes, so does my worry. I rest in peace and power.”

✦ Energetic & Spellwork Component

This drink is especially powerful with moon water, aligning your energy with the lunar cycle. You may use it for:

  • Dreamwork or lucid dreaming
  • Protection during sleep
  • Energy cleansing after ritual or emotional release

☽ “Moon above, moon within, bring me rest and soothe my skin.
Herbs that heal and root that holds, guide me softly through the folds.” ☾

Enhance your spellwork by:

  • Stirring clockwise for calm and clarity
  • Charging your cup with a sigil or placing a moonstone nearby
  • Whispering your intention with each sip

🌕 Closing the Circle

The full moon may have passed, but her magic lingers in every drop of water and every breath of steam rising from your cup. Let this Moon Milk (or Moon Tea) be more than nourishment—let it be a ritual of alignment, a whisper to your body that it is safe to rest, to heal, and to dream.

Would you like a printable recipe card or Pinterest graphic to share this post? Reach out and we’ll craft one with your aesthetic in mind.

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✨ Plant-Based Potion: Nature’s Guard

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Natural beauty + energetic care from herbs and oils

This week, we’re beyond excited to introduce something we’ve been lovingly crafting behind the scenes: a new all-natural bug spray that blends plant-based protection with energetic care.

Meet Nature’s Guard, our limited first batch botanical spray—designed to repel insects and support your energetic field. 🌿🛡️

🐞 What It Is

Nature’s Guard: Botanical Bug-Repelling Spray
A herbaceous, skin-safe mist made from cosmetic-grade essential oils and witch hazel. Strong enough to keep bugs at bay, yet gentle and grounding for your energy.

🌿 Ingredients (and their energetic benefits)

Base:

  • Witch Hazel – Cooling and purifying; helps anchor the blend in both body and spirit

Essential Oils:

  • Camphor – Clears mental fog and energetic congestion
  • Lavender – Calms and balances, a gentle protector
  • Vanilla (Select) – Sweet and comforting, adds a softening touch
  • Litsea Cubeba – Bright and clearing; lifts heavy moods and energy
  • Tea Tree – Sharp, clean, and fiercely protective
  • Peppermint – Refreshes the skin and sharpens awareness
  • Rosemary – Stimulates clarity and focus
  • Eucalyptus – Purifying and uplifting
  • Clary Sage – Balances emotional energy and intuition

All oils are 100% cosmetic grade and chosen for both their natural and energetic properties.

🔮 Ritual Use & Energy Benefits

Use as a daily protective mist when venturing outdoors—or any time you feel the need to clear your field.

Before misting, take a deep breath and set your intention:

“I am shielded by Earth’s medicine. I walk in peace.”

A perfect companion for nature walks, garden rituals, camping, or late-night stargazing.

✋ How to Apply & Store

  • Shake well before each use (natural separation will occur)
  • Spray on exposed skin and clothing, avoiding eyes and sensitive areas
  • Reapply as needed
  • Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sun
  • Best used within 6 months of opening

🌕 More Thoughts for Our Altar This Season…

Exploring more intentional plant-based potions:

  • Aura Mist with lavender + vetiver for grounding
  • Love Oil with rose + ylang ylang for softening into self-love
  • Lunar Face Spray with moon water + chamomile for hydration + moon syncing
  • Root Chakra Roll-On with patchouli + ginger to anchor and empower

🌿✨ Our first batch of Nature’s Guard is small, sacred, and almost ready to fly.
🛎️ The purchase link will go live on our Instagram next week—make sure you’re following us @MotherEarthHearthso you don’t miss it.

With grounded magic,
– The Mother Earth Hearth Team

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🌿 Herb of the Week: Mint (Mentha spp.)

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As summer heat waves ripple across the U.S., mint rises to the occasion — a time-honored herbal ally for cooling the body, lifting the spirit, and refreshing the senses.

✦ Folklore + Magickal Associations

In ancient Greece, mint was sacred to Persephone, and later associated with Hades, symbolizing transformation and protection in the underworld. Roman banquet tables were adorned with mint to stimulate the mind and digestion. In folk magick, mint has been used to attract abundance, clear negative energy, and protect the home — often tucked into sachets or sprinkled at thresholds for energetic purification.

Mint is also linked with clarity, mental stimulation, and prosperity, making it a favorite in spellwork for focus, travel protection, and fresh beginnings.

✦ Practical Uses

Mint is a generous plant with many forms of application:

  • Tea: Steep fresh or dried leaves for a cooling, digestive tonic. Add lemon for brightness or nettle for added minerals. Iced mint tea is a summertime essential.
  • Facial or Room Spray: Infuse mint in water, strain, and store in the fridge. Spritz on the face or around the space for an instant refresher.
  • Herbal Salve: Mint-infused oil blended with beeswax makes a cooling balm for sore muscles or hot feet.
  • Tincture: Mint tincture can aid digestion, ease nausea, and help with mental fatigue when used in small doses.

Tip: Combine peppermint and spearmint for a rounded energetic profile — peppermint brings sharper stimulation, while spearmint adds softness and sweetness.

✦ Energetic Meaning

Energetically, mint is:

  • 🌬 Cooling – helpful for overheated emotions or inflammation
  • 💨 Clearing – dispels mental fog, stress, and stagnant energy
  • 🛡 Protective – creates boundaries while keeping energy flowing
  • 🌱 Invigorating – boosts clarity, focus, and motivation

Working with mint in ritual, meditation, or daily self-care invites clarity, resilience, and lightness. It’s a beautiful plant to call on when you’re burned out or overwhelmed.

✦ Contraindications / Safety

  • Pregnancy: Avoid high doses of peppermint (especially essential oil) during pregnancy — can be too stimulating.
  • Heartburn / GERD: Mint can relax the esophageal sphincter, possibly worsening reflux symptoms.
  • Essential Oil Use: Always dilute essential oil (never apply directly to skin), and avoid using near the eyes or on infants/young children.

As always, consult a trusted herbalist or healthcare provider when introducing a new plant ally, especially in concentrated forms like tinctures or oils.

✨ Whether in your cup, your spritz bottle, or your spell jar, mint is a reminder to stay cool, clear, and connected. Let it soothe and stir you — just like a breeze through a shaded garden.

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🌞 Witchy Ritual of the Week: Celebrating Litha (Summer Solstice)

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At the height of summer’s light we honor abundance and acknowledge the gentle shifting toward renewal.

What is Litha?

Litha—also known as Midsummer—is the Summer Solstice celebration in pagan and Wiccan traditions, honoring the sun at its most powerful peak. This longest day of the year holds deep significance: it’s a moment of vigor, fertility, and abundant light—even as the sun begins its slow descent into the waning cycle.

In Celtic myth, the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King symbolizes this shift, with the Holly King taking the crown at Litha. This duality teaches us about embracing achievement while honoring impermanence.

✨ Incorporating Indigenous Wisdom: The Sioux Sun Dance

For the Sioux (Oglala, Lakota, and other Plains peoples), the Sun Dance is an intensely sacred ceremony tied deeply to their spirituality. Held during the summer solstice, this ritual involves fasting, drumming, dance, and sometimes piercing, offered as a communal prayer and sacrifice for renewal and healing. These ceremonies are deeply sacred, born from ancestral traditions that reconnect dancers and community to spiritual and natural cycles.

💬 Note: We share this respectfully, honoring the Sioux traditions while acknowledging their sacred, ceremonial context—not appropriating or replicating it.

🔥 Litha Ritual Guide: Sunfire & Abundance

StepPractice
1. Dawn AltarAt sunrise, set up a small altar with sunflowers, yellow/gold candles, and your favorite seasonal herbs (lavender, chamomile, St. John’s Wort) — all symbols of abundance and vitality.
2. Fire ElementIf safe, light a candle or small fire. Circle it three times or (symbolically) jump over the flame to purify and invite prosperity.
3. Solar Gratitude & IntentionsSit in sunlight and reflect on things you’ve accomplished since Beltane. Speak aloud or journal: “I honor this peak of light—and the potential of what’s next.”
4. Water BalanceUse a bowl of sun-charged spring or rainwater to wash your hands or face—honoring the dance between fire and water elements .
5. Herbal FeastShare seasonal foods (berries, greens, honey, early fruits). Offer a small portion back to nature—leave it outside or in a community garden—as a token of reciprocity .

🌀 Reflection & Integration

  • What did this ritual awaken?
  • What gratitude arose during your sun meditation?
  • What intentions feel ripe to carry forward?

Golden hours of Litha offer profound clarity and deep nourishment. This weekly ritual echoes your brand’s ethos: anchoring wellness in nature’s cycles, ritual presence, and mindful intention.

🌿 Next Week: Herb of the Week—Stay tuned!

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Here’s What’s Cool

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Always a Student, Forever Learning – A Reflection for 2025

Tonight I stumbled upon the photo below, and it sparked something—a moment of pause. A decade ago, I asked a question that still lingers today:

What happened to the simplest ways of connecting with one another?

In 2025, our world is more digitally connected than ever. Algorithms shape how we interact, and the next “like,” “follow,” or viral post still carries weight. While these platforms can create community and spark real dialogue, they also feed a cycle of validation that often comes at the cost of sincerity.

I’ve been lucky to witness genuine civility in smaller, intentional online spaces—and I admit, I too can be pulled into chasing numbers and milestones. But it’s worth asking: Are we showing up as our best selves, beyond the screen, in everyday moments?

Do we still hold the door open for the mom juggling bags and wrangling toddlers? Do we pause to help someone who’s dropped their belongings? These gestures seem small, but they hold real power—reminders that kindness isn’t outdated, just under-practiced.

One of the most troubling trends I’ve noticed in our digital lives is a reluctance to admit when we’re wrong. We’re quick to argue, slow to listen. Being passionate and informed is powerful—but humility is transformational.

It takes strength to say, “You were right—I was misinformed. I’m sorry.” That simple act can shift the tone of a conversation and spark growth on both sides. Yet, pride—especially when inflated by the visibility of social media—too often stands in the way.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself these same questions over the years. I hope we all can, especially in moments of disagreement, step back and ask:
Is this a chance to grow? Am I listening to understand—or just waiting to reply?

In the constant noise of online life, may we carve out space to learn, unlearn, and evolve. Reaffirm your beliefs with truth and openness—or have the courage to reshape them.

Don’t resist change just because it’s uncomfortable.

A phrase I’ve always carried with me:
Always a Student, Forever Learning.

There’s always something to explore, a skill to build, or someone to support. As I reflect on this now—years after first writing it—I realize I’m still learning from my own words.

So, as we look toward a new season, maybe even a new year, let’s challenge ourselves:
To grow. To lead with kindness. To be open. To be better in all the ways that matter.

Photo reposted from: @Lost_Nowhere on Instagram

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Welcome to Wellness Wildcrafted: Roots, Rituals, & Remedies

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This is more than a blog—it’s a living journal for the curious and the conscious.

Wellness Wildcrafted is where age-old plant wisdom meets everyday intention, where self-care is sacred, and where we honor both science and spirit in the pursuit of balance.

Here, you’ll find reflections on healing, herbal recipes, seasonal rituals, and mindful ways to reconnect—with yourself, your community, and the earth. Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or simply seeking slower, more rooted ways of living, there’s space for you here.

Let this be a place to learn, to grow, to question, and to remember:
We are always students. And wellness, when wildcrafted, is as much about the journey as the remedy.

Pour a cup of tea, stay a while, and let the wild wisdom bloom. 🌿

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