* 1 part comfrey root
* 1 part mullein
* 1 part chickweed
* 1 part marshmallow
* 1 part lobelia.
I make this into a tea.
I find this is exceedingly helpful in discharging mucus secretions from the bronchopulmonary passages.
Suggested use: for adult.
As a tea: 1 cup 2-3 x a day
Capsules:2-3
gylcerin based extract: 2-3 times a day with a cup of comfrey tea.
By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Care2 Green Living; http://www.care2.com/
During fluctuations of weather, everyone seems to get sick. People that were healthy all winter now have sniffles and sore throats—for which we have the perfect little secret weapon. These homemade throat lozenges are soothing beyond belief, a snap to make and omit the artificial colorings, flavorings and sugar found in many store-bought versions.
The beauty of homemade is that you know exactly what you’re getting. Even natural products bought from the store depend on larger-scale production and often rely on ingredients that you can avoid when you do it yourself. Case in point: Homemade throat lozenges.
Skip the refined sweeteners and coloring and make your own with this very simple recipe. I go for the flower petal version because they remind me of the violet pastilles that my grandmother used to get, but adding some mint is nice, too, if you are feeling sniffly. The trick here is to use 1/2 cup total of whatever combination you think sounds soothing to your ails.
One of the key ingredients is marshmallow root, which you can order online or purchase at health food stores. Marshmallow root has been used since antiquity to tame sore throats because it has a soothing effect on inflamed and irritated tissues.
1/2 cup total:
* Dried peppermint
* Dried spearmint
* Violet petals
* Rose petals
* Powdered ginger
* Honey
* 1 teaspoon dried marshmallow root
1. With a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, crush dried herbs/petals to a fine powder. Mix with enough honey to form a ball, and add marshmallow root.
2. Shape into small balls or ovals and allow to dry on a baking sheet at room temperature for 24 hours. Wrap in wax paper, or store in a jar, refrigerated for up to 8 weeks.
Recipe courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs
This is a great, economical way to combine a plethora of fine botanical products into one easy to administer shaker bottle where it can be applied to several of your favorite dishes.
The recipe is done in parts, and this is determined exactly on the quantities you wish to make.
We have found it easy make 1 pound then decant it accordingly into a spice jar and sprinkle on food when needed.
Healthy, affordable to make, and incredibly easy to use.
* 4 Parts Onion Powder
* 3 Parts Astragalus Powder
* 3 Parts Kelp Powder
* 3 Parts Eleuthero Powder
* 3 Parts Burdock Powder
* 2 parts Garlic Granules
* 2 Parts Marjoram
* 2 Parts Thyme
* 2 Parts Basil
* 2 Parts Lemon Peel Powder
* 1 Part Schisandra Berry Powder
* 1 Part Black Pepper (ground)
European children were once given “dilly pillows” filled with aromatic herbs such as lavender and dill to send them off to dreamland. The scent was also considered a digestive. Add chamomile and thyme to prevent nightmares.
Dilly Pillow
(prepare one cup total)
* lavender flowers
* hops strobiles
* lemon-balm leaves
* chamomile flowers
* dill seeds
Fold a 5″ x10″ piece of cloth in half and sew up the edges, leaving just enough room to stuff the herbs inside. Combine the herbs in equal parts to make 1 cup. Stuff the herbs into the material, then finish sewing it up. Place beside or under the child’s regular pillow.
* 1 oz. lemon peel (cut and sifted)
* 1 oz. orange peel (cut and sifted)
* 1 oz. chamomile flowers
* 1 oz. comfrey leaves (cut and sifted)
* 1 oz. almond meal
Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar. When you want to bathe place the herbs in a Muslim bag or a perforated metal ball or just loose in a tub of hot water
The postpartum herbal bath is wonderfully healing for both mom and baby. The recommended herbs have astringent and antiseptic properties which soothe and heal sore bottoms, help dry up the baby’s cord stump, and prevent infections. You and your baby can take a minimum of one bath per day for the first five days postpartum. If you have stitches or any lacerations, you may want to take two baths per day for two to three weeks, or until healing is complete. Hydrotherapy on its own is widely recommended for pain relief; add the herbs and you speed the healing process.
* Calendula flowers (1/4 pound)
* Comfrey leaves (1/4 pound)
* Lavender flowers (1/4 pound)
Combine the herbs and store in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard. Boil approximately a gallon of water or just use a large stock pot. Once the water boils, turn off the heat and add a large handful of each herb (children love to help with this part). Cover and let steep for at least one hour (longer is better). When ready, pour the herb water directly into the bath water through a strainer and discard the herbs. Your herb bath can be made in early labor so that it will be nice and strong when you’re ready for it. The mixture can sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours. If not used within 24 hours, strain out the herbs and refrigerator the fluid. It will keep for 2-3 days. You can brew up the next batch just after the current bath. Then, whenever you’re ready for the bath, it’s ready for you!
It’s a good idea to have a helper if you are bringing your baby into the bath. Mom can get in first while the bath is hot and then bring baby in once it cools down a bit. Most newborns love the bath but will startle when first brought in. Have your helper hand the baby to mom and simply support the baby’s head with both hands, allowing the body to immerse and float between your legs. Watch your baby relax and unfold as they settle in. Enjoy!
* 1 cup Nettles
* 3/4 cup Oatstraw
* 3/4 cup chamomile
* 1/4 cup St. Johns Wort
* 1/4 Scullcap
* 1/4 cup Passion Flower
Mix dried herbs together and store in a glass jar in a cool, dark place. Use 1 tsp - 1 tbls. per cup of tea.
Me, my family and most people of our culture do make their own very simple toothpowder at home. It is effective but takes some time getting used to it, especially for those not familiar with spices or the ‘hot’ pungent sensation. Maybe some of you would like to make this into a paste!
This is very effective in pyorrhea (not sure of the spelling) or bleeding gums, as a disinfectant and throat gargle.
Equal parts of black pepper corns and whole cloves and half part rock salt. Mix 3 ingredients together and grind with blender to a fine powder. Would be better if lightly roasted without any oil before grinding. It helps to bring out the oils, especially clove.
“This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth…”
Most effective way to use this, is to throw into mouth a tablespoon full and swish powder around inside of mouth, gums and tongue. Massage gums with finger tips, in and out top and bottom. Then brush teeth and gums (if brush is soft) with mouth closed. For by this time the powder would have been well mixed with the saliva but let that remain in mouth for as long as possible before brushing. The spicy and ‘hot’ feeling will activate the salivary glands actively. Before spitting out, I usually gargle with whatever is in the mouth and finally use a metal tongue scrapper to scrape and clean tongue and rinse with water.
I usually do this as I am taking my shower. It clears the throat of any soreness almost immediately and also the mouth will feel a little ‘numb’ with the spices for a few minutes. It helps with clearing the cigarette stains.
I do not grind the ingredients fully as I prefer to chew on the bigger pieces of the ingredients as it helps penetrate into inaccessible areas in the mouth, especially. Besides it gives the jaw muscles some work do to chew hard, as no body seems to bother chewing their food before swallowing or gulping or washing it down.
Stress Reduction
* 3 parts lavender
* 2 parts chamomile
* 1 part hops
* 1 part passion flower
* 1 part lime blossoms
Sore Muscle Relief
* 4 parts lavender
* 1 part juniper
* 1 part rosemary
* 1 part marjoram
* 1 part peppermint
Skin Conditioning and Rejuvenation
* 2 parts rose petals
* 2 parts chamomile
* 2 parts orange blossoms
* 1 part rosemary
* 1 part angelica
Sleep Inducing
* 2 parts chamomile
* 2 parts passion flower
* 2 parts lavender
* 2 parts St. Johns wort
Spirit Uplift
* 2 parts orange peel
* 2 parts St. John’s wort
* 2 parts peppermint
* 1 part lemon peel
* 1 part rosemary
Ingredients:
* 1 bag Any soft fabric-8inches by 3 inches
* 1 cup flax seeds
Directions
Make a simple bag. Leave 1 inch open. Fill bag with seeds with a funnel. Stitch opening closed. Store in the freezer or refrigerator in a small plastic bag. Use to relieve stress or just to feel great! Can also be used on forehead or behind your neck for headache relief. Use for 20 minutes and rechill. Some prefer room temperature-experiment to see what you like best. Add herbs and flowers if you want a scent. Note:Migraine sufferers should not add scent.
