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Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis Marshmallow is most commonly used to ease sore throats and dry coughs. The Marshmallow plant, especially the leaves and roots, contains polysaccharides that have antitussive, mucilaginous, and antibacterial properties. Because of this, marshmallow has a soothing effect on inflamed membranes in the mouth and throat when ingested orally, specifically a sore throat. The… Read more
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Licorice
Licorice root is one of the most-used herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is frequently used in small amounts in formulas and is considered to be a synergist or peacemaker in that it helps herbs work together more effectively. This post will look at licorice root benefits when used as licorice tea or as a… Read more
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Violet
Violet Leaves, Viola odorate Violets are welcome in my garden. Not only are they lovely, but they are useful as a medicinal herb. The leaves and flowers of many violets are edible, but the yellow species are questionable by some. Most herbalist say that all violets are serviceable. The leaves and flowers can be used… Read more
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Echinacea
Common Names – Echinacea, Purple coneflower Botanical Name – Echinacea spp Family – Asteraceae It is a simple flowering plant and a member of the daisy family. More commonly known as purple coneflower, many people grow this powerful herb without even realizing it! The name derives from the Greek word ekhinos (hedgehog) because the cone resembles a… Read more
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Elecampane
Common Names – Elecampane, Wild Sunflower, Horseheal, Yellow Starwort, (more below) Botanical Name – Inula helenium Family – Asteraceae Elecampane (Inula helenium) is a perennial herb in the aster family with a long history of medicinal uses. In appearance, it is reminiscent of a sunflower plant, with tall stalks, pale green foliage, and bright yellow flowers… Read more
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Febrifuge Herbs For Fever
Thankfully, fevers aren’t as dangerous as many people fear, but comfort is just a cup of herbal tea away. When a loved one gets a fever, we want to reduce it instantly. When your body temperature rises because of an infection, it’s called a fever. Fevers are caused by chemicals called pyrogens flowing in the bloodstream. The… Read more
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Antiviral Herbs For Viruses
Antiviral herbs inhibit the development of viruses. Many of the best antiviral herbs boost the immune system, which allows the body to attack viral pathogens. This can be even better than attacking specific pathogens, which antiviral drugs are designed to do, because pathogens mutate over time and become less susceptible to treatment. Not only do… Read more
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How To Brew Herbal Tea
Herbal tea making is just as much of an art as it is a science. Herbal infusions provide the best way to get acquainted with a new herb. You take note of the texture and color of the leaves and flowers as you measure and breathe in the aroma as the herb is unfurling in… Read more
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Alfalfa
Alfalfa has impressive health benefits, including its ability to lower cholesterol, improve digestion and protect heart health. It also helps improve respiratory conditions, detoxify the body, boosts immune system, speeds up healing, improves bowel movements, and reduce inflammation. Apart from this, it has anticancer properties. It’s naturally high in many essential vitamins and minerals, including A, D,… Read more
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Benefits of Nettle Tea
The most important health benefits of stinging nettle include its ability to detoxify the body, improve metabolic efficiency, boost immunity, increase circulation, improve energy levels, manage menstruation, minimize menopausal symptoms, and aid in skin care. It has the power to protect the health of the kidney and gallbladder, lower inflammation, increase muscle mass, regulate hormonal… Read more
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Hot Cocoa Mix
Mix a batch or two of our delicious Hot Cocoa. You’ll want to keep this mix on hand for your family and visitors. Easy to make! Ingredients:2 cups Confectioners Sugar1 cup Dutch Processed Cocoa1 teaspoon Salt (Do not skip this ingredient! Himalayan salt is great to use) Directions:Sift the confectioners’ sugar into a large bowl.Sift… Read more
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Herb Cookies
Never thought about baking cookies with herbs? Well, you’re in for a real treat! These cookies are easy to make and tastes delicious. I made Lavender cookies at an herb class I gave, and everyone loved them. Serve Rosemary or Sage cookies with your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Rose Petal or Lavender cookies would be… Read more
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Herbal Hair Highlights
Herbal teas won’t dye your hair permanently like commercial dyes do, but over time, with regular use, your hair will have tinted highlights. Herbal teas are safe to use, and there’s no harmful chemicals. As an added bonus, herbal tea will get your hair in great condition. See our post on Hair Treatment Herbs. Please… Read more
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Hair Treatment Herbs
One of the easiest ways to get beautiful healthy hair, is to use herbal teas in your hair. Herbal tea doesn’t only increase hair growth. It makes the hair stronger because of the rich vitamins and minerals. Herbal Tea Rinses will reduce breakage and shedding by strengthening your hair from the root. They cleanse and condition the scalp. Keeping the scalp detoxed is… Read more
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Cleansing Grains
Create a cleansing experience so luxurious, leaving your skin so beautiful, that you may never cover your skin with makeup. A cleanser rooted in ancient ritual, Cleansing Grains are powered by earth and plants; the perfect cleanser to start and end your day with. This incredibly gentle, deliciously luxurious water-activated powder brings together the gentle cleansing… Read more
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How To Make An Oil Infusion
What is herb-infused oil? Herb-infused oil is a result of steeping dry or fresh herbs in carrier oil for several days to weeks. The plant matter is then discarded, leaving just the oil, which has been infused with the medicinal properties of the herb. You can use easily accessible plant oil such as olive oil,… Read more
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Cold Sore Lip Salve
Lemon balm is a powerful antiviral, proven to banish cold sores. Use this homemade super healing cold sore lip salve recipe to help fight & prevent cold sores. Cold sores — also called fever blisters — are a common viral infection. They are tiny, fluid-filled blisters on and around your lips. Cold sores are caused by certain strains… Read more
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Herbs For Kidney Support
If you consume adequate fluids, vegetable and fruit juices, and especially water, the kidneys are self-cleansing. But, many herbs can improve kidney function. Most herbs do so in preventing common kidney and urinary-tract infections or by acting as a diuretic to flush out excess fluid and kidney stones. Some herbs act in more of a… Read more
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Oil Cleansing Method
Clean your face with oil? We’ve been taught all these years to remove the oil from your face if you want a clean face. Sorry, but that’s not the truth, your skin needs oil to be soft, healthy, and beautiful. Here’s how to cleanse your face using your favorite oil or oil blend: In the… Read more
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Herbal Bath Salts
You can create many homemade gifts from our lavender, rose, or chamomile flower for your friends and yourself. You can make bath bags, bath salts, bath fuzzies, bath oils, soap, sachets, salves, lotions, tea bags, dream pillows, and so many more. One of my favorite is bath salts. It’s super easy to make, and it… Read more
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Natural Body and Foot Powder
Body Powder is refreshing and keeps your dry. But, with all the harmful ingredients in store- brought body powder, one is afraid to use it. Make your own safe and natural body powder in a few minutes with a few ingredients you may have on hand. This is all you need to make your own natural body powder:… Read more
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Violet Leaf Oil and Balm for Fibrocystic Breasts
My fibrocystic breasts have become a big problem for me since I’ve reached pre-menopause. Especially certain times of the month. According to the Mayo Clinic and many other sources, these signs and symptoms of fibrocystic breasts may include: Breast lumps or areas of thickening that tend to blend into the surrounding breast tissue Generalized breast pain… Read more
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Sweet Basil Mosquito Bug Spray
Fall is finally here, but sadly, that means summer is over. All my herbs are going to seed and clean up has begun. I decided to harvest the rest of my basil this morning. They are now tied in cute bundles hanging on my porch. I’m lucky to have a large porch that stays shady… Read more
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Herbal Face and Sinus Steam
Weekly herbal face steaming is very beneficial to your skin, and it’s easy to do at home. Forget the expensive facial treatments, and opt for this herbal face steam instead. With all of the dirt, pollution and toxins we’re exposed to on a daily basis, our skin can really take a beating. The nutrients from… Read more
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Salt Glow Body Scrub
Rejuvenate your body and remove dead skin with this easy to make body scrub. Glowing skin is always in. Ingredients 3 cups finely ground kosher salt, Dead Sea salts, or salt of your choice 1 cup of a dried herb (see below), finely chopped or crumbled (opt.) 1 1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil or oil… Read more
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Rose Petals Face Care
Lovely rose essences do far more than just add their light scent to your products. This fragrant flower helps rejuvenate and replenish skin. Discover how this lush blossom can make your skin feel as velvety soft as a bed of roses. Roses provide these benefits for your skin: Antibacterial – help treat acne and other… Read more
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Basic Lip Balm
This is my favorite lip balm recipe. You can make it basic or make any changes your wish. Basic Recipe: • 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil or other oil • 2 teaspoons grated beeswax • 1 Vitamin E capsule (400 IU) or 1/4 teaspoon oil • essential oil or variations (opt.) (see below) Place the… Read more
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Mineral Blushes
There’s a lot of interest in natural makeup lately. I’ve already shared my Plant Powder Foundation, Mineral Eye Shadow, and now I will share my mineral blush recipe. You can get mica in matte or sparkle if you want a little glitter. Ingredients: Arrowroot Powder Mica or Iron Oxide in your favorite color Carrier oil (opt.)… Read more
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Plant Powder Foundation
Store-brought foundations have words listed in the ingredients that normal people can’t pronounce. Not to mention what it does to our skin and eyes. This all natural herbal and plant powder foundation is beautifully sheer, but good for your skin too. You don’t have to worry about itchy red eyes and skin, and inhaling harmful… Read more
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Mineral Eye Shadows
There’s a lot of interest in natural makeup lately. I’ve already shared my Plant Powder Foundation and now I will share my mineral eye shadow recipe. You can get mica in matte or sparkle if you want a little glitter. Ingredients: Arrowroot Powder Mica or Iron Oxide in your favorite color Carrier oil (opt.) such as Sweet… Read more
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Motherwort Tincture
This is one of the tinctures I’m making today. Motherwort is a favorite of mine and I use it everyday. It has many uses, but these are reasons I use it: cramps heart palpitations nervousness insomnia high blood pressure It’s very bitter, and a tea is hard to swallow, so, I make a tincture. Here… Read more
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Rose Clay Facial Mask
Rose clay, often referred to as pink clay, is a gentle, natural clay that contains kaolinite. Rose clay is fabulous for most skin types; including sensitive skin. Rose clay provides gentle exfoliation, helps to draw toxins from the skin, helps to increase circulation, reduces skin irritation, and helps to reduce inflammation. Most rose clay facials… Read more
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Spa Bath At Home
My favorite way to relax, treat aches and pains, insomnia, and my fibromyalgia, is simple soak in the tub. But by adding two or three ingredients, they turn my bath in a private retreat. Choose one or more of the following salts and oils to create your own spa: Salts Epsom Salt In water, it… Read more
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Ginger Syrup
Just the name, Zingiber Officinale promises a great surprise. But, it’s no secret that ginger works well for motion sickness. But, there’s must more to this rhizome than you think. Ginger is one of the most ancient spices worldwide. It has become well-known for its health benefits, which include its ability to boost bone health, strengthen the immune system, increase appetite,… Read more
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Garlic Onion Honey, Cold and Flu Cough Syrup
Garlic, onion, and honey are a powerhouse of combined healing naturals. When you feel a sore throat, cold, runny nose, and body aches coming on, your immune system is probably running on empty. You can mix up this easy remedy for fast relief. This syrup is all natural, and it tastes yummy too. All you… Read more
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Elderberry Syrup
Many symptoms connected to colds and flus are effectively treated with this tiny berry. Coughs, fevers and sinus infections all bow to elder’s healing touch. This makes elderberry a rare herb as it not only prevents infection but also treats the infection after it’s taken hold. Elder is an important herb for the immune system,… Read more
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Black Nettle Syrup
I make this dark healing syrup for myself, for two reasons. First, I suffer from anemia. My iron levels, Vitamins B12 and D are often low. Second, I have allergies. Nettles (Stinging Nettles) help both of my problems in one delicious syrup. And with the added Black Strap Molasses and honey, I receive even greater… Read more
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Navel Therapy
Many diseases can be cured through the belly button. It is an amazing fact that putting oil on the navel has unbelievable health benefits. In some countries putting oil in the belly button before going to sleep is considered a tradition. When we put oil in the navel, the vein detects and carry oil to… Read more
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37 Herbal Remedies For Colds & Coughs
It’s a fact of life, everyone gets a cold sometimes. Along with colds comes cough, chest congestion, sinus infection, headache, body aches, stomach aches, and other complaints. You could reach for over the counter drugs, or better yet, try some of the herbal remedies listed in this post. If you can make a tea, than… Read more
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Cloves
CLOVES are a pleasant, sweet spice like cinnamon, but have a stronger flavor and a sharp aroma. Whole cloves are the buds of the evergreen clove tree. Stewed fruits benefit from a handful of whole cloves while they are simmering, and fragrant pilafs are made even more so by addition of some whole cloves. You may… Read more
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Sweet Basil
Basil is available in many varieties. Choosing which basil to grow and use is the hardest part, but using them is very easy. There’s cinnamon, dark opal, holy, lemon, lime, spicy bush, purple ruffles, sweet thai and many others to choose from. But sweet basil is my favorite. It has the classic basil flavor we’ve all come… Read more
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Milk Thistle Seeds
Milk thistle seeds has many benefits to the liver! Your liver is what does a great deal of the detoxing in your body and when your liver isn’t in top notch condition, this can affect the whole body. Any detox plan you undertake should always have your liver in mind. Milk thistle is also great for your… Read more
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Chamomile
Scientific Name: Matricaria recutitaCommon Names: German chamomile, Roman chamomile, wild chamomileFamily: Asteraceae-Daisy FamilyPart Used: flower headsProperties: analgesic , anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, diuretic, sedative Uses: indigestion, gas, bloating, heartburn, peptic ulcers, to calm nervousness, insomnia, spasms in stomach and muscles, diluted for children (colic, insomnia, upset stomach), hair rinse for blonds, herb pillow… Read more
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Cilantro or Coriander
Cilantro is an herb that is never available in dried form, since its pungent flavor and aroma seem to dissipate almost entirely when dried. Sometimes referred to as Spanish or Chinese parsley. Fresh cilantro is becoming more widely available in produce markets. Cilantro has a unique flavor and aroma that some savor and others dislike.… Read more
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Elder Flowers
Scientific Name: Sambucus nigraCommon Names: elder, mother elder, elderberries, elderflowersFamily: Caprifoliaceae-Honeysuckle Family Uses: sweat-inducing for fevers encourage circulation, colds and flu bronchial and upper-respiratory allergy and hay fever eye wash tonsillitis and sore throat mild laxative rheumatism and gout inflammation The Elder, with its flat-topped masses of creamy-white, fragrant blossoms, followed by large dropping bunches of… Read more
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How To Make Tea From Roots
Decoctions are preferred for harder herbs like roots, barks, and seeds, it takes longer to release the healing properties. It’s best, but not necessary, to mash or grind the thick herb before use. To make a decoction, you just need the following steps: Use 1 tablespoon dried herb per 1 1/2 cup of cold, filtered water… Read more
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Shepherd’s Purse
Common Names – Shepherd’s Purse , Pickpurse, Casewort, Lady’s PurseBotanical Name – Capsella bursa-pastorisFamily – BRASSICACEA What a curious name for a plant. It was probably called this because of the resemblance of the flat seed pouches of the plant to an old fashioned leather purse. From Europe this little plant found its way around the globe, and… Read more
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Uva Urse
Common Names – Uva Ursi , Bearberry Botanical Name – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Family – ERICACEAEUva Ursi, is a small groundcover shrub distributed throughout northern latitudes and in high altitudes further south. The plant produces small; stiff evergreen leaves that last 1-3 years before falling. In late spring, white to pink flowers bloom, eventually producing ¼- to ½-inch red… Read more
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Rosemary
Native to the Mediterranean region, rosemary is one of the most commonly found herbs in a spice rack, and for good reason – not only does it have a wonderful taste and aroma, but also a wealth of beneficial health effects if regularly added to our diet. The scientific name of this perennial woody herb is Rosmarinus officinalis. Similar to many… Read more
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DIY Natural Powder Foundation Video
In this video, learn to make natural powder foundation with five ingredients you may already have. No harmful chemicals or dyes.
