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How to make your own air freshener!

Room sprays and air fresheners are costly, and contain many synthetic ingredients. If you would like to create an inexpensive, natural air freshener, then you are in the right place. All you will need is an essential oil, some 100 proof vodka or rubbing alcohol, a spray bottle, and water. Making your own air freshener is similar to making a perfume, so first we will look at how perfume is made.
Essential Oils are the oils from herbs, flowers, or leaves that have been separated from the plant. This is usually done using a method called steam distillation. The oil is bottled and sold as an essential oil. Essential oils are sold individually, such as lavender, sage, and mint, or as blends. Essential oil blends are harmonious mixes of oils. Essential oils are different from fragrance oils. Fragrance oils are synthetic fragrances, which are usually made to recreate smells that are not found naturally. Ocean, rain, and grass scents are usually synthetic. Both essential oils and fragrance oils are mixed to create perfumes. You can also use either or both to make your own air freshener and room spray.


First, you need an essential oil. Essential oils (and fragrance oils) are commonly found in health food stores, although you may find them cheaper online. I use a lot of essential oils, so I buy them online in larger bottles. I recommend that you start out with a simple oil, such as lavender, or a blend that has already been mixed for you. Take advantage of the samples in the store and smell them all. Mixing your own scents can be a little tricky at first, and you should learn more about blending perfumes before giving it a try.
Once you have the oil, you will need an alcohol. An alcohol will break down the oil while leaving the scent intact, allowing you to mix it with water. Otherwise, your oil will just float on top of the water. For this, you can use 100 proof vodka or rubbing alcohol. I tend to use vodka for perfumes that I use on my body, and rubbing alcohol when making room sprays and air fresheners, just because I like to spray it all the time without worrying about the cost. The smell of the rubbing alcohol will not be noticeable once it is diluted. Finally, you need a spray bottle and water, and you are ready to go.
The great thing about making your own air freshener is that you don't have to worry about following a recipe. Pour some alcohol or vodka into the spray bottle - about one to two tablespoons. Then put your essential oil or fragrance oil drops in. You can experiment with how strong you want it to smell. I usually put 25 - 35 drops. Put the lid on, and shake it up for a few seconds for the oil to dissolve. Then, fill it all the way up with water. You now have your own all purpose room spray and air freshener.

Lip Balm How To!

How to Lip Balm?

Ingredients:
2 oz. + 1 heaping Tablespoon Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1.5 tsp vitamin E Essential Oil (You can use the gel caps or the dropper formula)
2 oz Cosmetic Grade Beeswax
Plastic Lip Balm Containers
Optional: 25 drops vanilla essential oil or peppermint essential oil (or whatever scent you prefer, just make sure to use an essential oil for fragrance)

Other Items:
Sauce pan & metal mason jar lid ring
wooden Spoon

Step one: The first step is to place your coconut oil, beeswax, and vitamin E oil into a glass measuring cup. The vitamin E will act as a moisturizer and preservative, the coconut oil is our moisturizer, and the beeswax will hold everything together.

Step two: Next, get a pan and fill it about half way with water and bring it to a boil. I also put a metal mason jar lid inside of ours to create a homemade double boiler type contraption. You do not want to place the glass measuring cup right in your pan as it may crack from the heat.

Step three: Once the water is at a slight boil, place your glass measuring cup into the water to melt the oils. After all of the oils are melted together, the beeswax will take the longest, you should have a nice golden liquid.

Adding Fragrance & Flavoring to Your Balm: (Optional)

Do this while your balm is still over the heat so that the cooler oil doesn’t cause your balm to solidify again. Add either a vanilla essential oil or peppermint essential oil scent to it using essential oils. You can also add in flavoring.

Fragrance: Keep in mind some oils are stronger than others, so you might consider adding a few drops at a time until the scent is to your liking.
Flavoring: To test the flavor of your balm, you can dab a small amount onto your lips. Keep in mind that the flavors get a bit stronger as the balm solidifies.

Once the balm is scented & flavored to your liking, carefully pour it into your containers and allow to cool fully.

This is a nice simple way to whoop up your own lip balm! If you have issues with cold sores or things like that consider taking a bit longer and infusing your own fresh herbs into your oils like we do with our Herbal Lip Healing Balm!

Natural Hair Spray Recipe

Natural Hair Spray Recipe

 

A super-simple homemade hair spray that is all natural and works well!

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups filtered water (boil if you can’t filter)
• 2 Tablespoons white sugar (darker ones don’t really work here)
• 1 tablespoon of high proof alcohol like vodka (I actually like spiced rum for the scent)
• 10-15 drops of essential oil of choice

Instructions

1. Boil water and dissolve sugar in it.
2. Allow to cool to room temp and add alcohol and essential oils.
3. Store in spray bottle and use as regular hair spray.

Notes

This recipe lasts indefinitely if kept in an air tight container. Adjust the sugar up or down for more or less stiffness/hold (more sugar=stronger hold) but don’t add too much or hair will feel sticky.

Update! Where have I been???

As some of you know we have been making a transition in our household from home school to private school. From no extra curricular activities to oh my goodness its practices and games every day! The kids are adjusting fine... mom on the other hand has been a bit lost in the transition! We are going to be changing a few thing here at WWA! We will no longer have the web site up. We will be direct selling through our facebook page only and email, telephone orders. We feel like this will allow us to speak with each individual and make sure the product is proper for that individual. We will not be reopening the store. We will however take pick up calls and have your order ready if you would like to pick it up here at my house! We will not be accepting any more consignment items due to not having the store area. We are planning on vending around and about again really soon! If you need a particular product please feel free to email or call us!

Happy Herbal Healing!

Ashley

You can however find plenty of DIY recipes on our site still!!!!!!!!! 

Lets Make Vanilla Extract!!!

 Lets Make Vanilla Extract!!
Supplies needed:
Vanilla Beans (http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/vanilla_bean.php) About 3-4 whole beans per jelly jar
80-100 proof Vodka
and a jar!

 I start by cutting my vanilla beans in half then slitting the been length wise.

 Place the vanilla beans in the jars!

Fill the jar with Vodka!

Then Shake Shake Shake!!
I try and shake daily for at least a week then once every other day!

Make now for an awesome Christmas gift!

Running low? No problemo the beans are good for years just add vodka and you have more extract!!!




Happy Herbal Healing!!

Ashley

Super Q... Allergy relief!!!!

I have been so sick of allergies! Drinking nettle tea really helps but after about 4 days it irritates my stomach. I have found something I am trying now called Super Quecertin. Its completely natural! I took 6 yesterday it was the first day I have taken it. Today I will take two. Yesterday I didn't get the usual allergy headache in the evening! Fingers crossed!! You can find Super Q at any natural health food store! I was told that children can also take this for seasonal allergy if they can swallow the pill... make sure you check out the size of the pill though bf buying for your kid! They are really large capsules!

Happy Herbal Healing!

Prepping with herbs- Echinacea Tincture

So we are going to be doing a bit of talking here on WWA about prepping for disasters today! You never hear a lot about preppers and herbs? I have to ask myself why? Seems like this would be a natural connection since preppers are prepping and storing food indefinitely? If your a prepper you should start learning herbs!
Tinctures!! Yes lets talk tinctures!!!
In truth, I use very few tinctures for my family and myself these days. I prefer to add herbs to my food or drink them in teas, enjoying their continual nourishment when added to our diet.
But I do however store them!
I suggest your first tincture for your SHTF stockpile to be Echinacea! Here is where you find it: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=Echinacea+purpurea

So during a stressful disaster time people are more likely to get sick due to lack of cleanliness, dehydration, and stress!

Use your echinacea tincture once a month for two weeks on each individual of your group to keep your community healthy during SHTF!

Echinacea has long been used to boost immunity to all sorts of nasty germs including flu and the common cold!! It also is an excellent wound cleaner for people and animals!

So I ordered this dry herb that looks like grass what do I do with it now?
Well, you will need a ½ pint jar, ½ cup of dried echinacea, and 100 proof vodka to fill your jar. (I have ran into quite a few people that are all anti booze to make your meds and prefer glycerine... and Ill address you people later)

STEP 1:Fill the jar ½ way with dried echinacea
STEP 2: Pour 100 proof vodka over the leaves until the jar is full.
STEP 3: Stir and cap your tincture in progress.
STEP 4: LABEL your tincture!!!!!
STEP 5: Shake daily for 6 weeks! If you forget one day no biggie just shake when you remember!
STEP 6: Strain through cheese cloth into dropper bottles (dark colored!)

Shelf Life? Indefinite! Make sure you label the dropper bottles and seal them tightly! Keep out of sunshine and in a cool dark place!

  I have found that this formula will knock out even the most stubborn illnesses. To prevent illness, you’d take 3 full dropperfuls once a day, but in a crisis mode, you could take a 3 dropperful dose every 30 minutes. I’ve gotten rid of many flu’s in 4 hours dosing every 30 minutes. This is also great for tooth abscesses and can be dropped directly in the ear for ear infections.
Uses: Colds, Flu, Strep, coughs, sore throat, ear infections, abscess, itching, congestions, pink eye, fever
Application: Internally, or as an external wash for wounds Substitute for: antibiotics, OTC cold medications, antibiotic ointments, Neosporin

Homemade Natural Hand Sanitizer!

Ingredients

1 cup pure aloe vera gel (I bought Organic at Mt. Rose Herbs)

1 tablespoon witch hazel

30 drops (1/4 tsp) tea tree oil

10 drops lavender oil (or essential oil of choice)

3-4 drops vitamin E oil (optional)

 

Instructions

In a small glass dish, add the essential oils and stir.

Add the witch hazel and vitamin E oil and stir again.

Add the aloe vera gel and mix very well.

Using a funnel, pour the mixture into your container of choice.

Shake well before using.

 

 

Notes

The vitamin E oil helps to soften hands and will extend the shelf life up to 3-4 months. In either case, the sanitizer should be discarded after 6 months.

 

How Much?

This recipe filled 3 travel size (3 oz) squirt bottles. To fill just one 3 oz bottle, use 1/3 cup aloe vera, 1 teaspoon witch hazel, 10 drops tea tree oil, and 3 drops lavender oil.

 

Containers?

Sally's Beauty Supply has empty containers! 

Herbal Mouthwash How to with Video

Here's the Recipe

1- handful of peppermint leaves
1- handful of plaintain
15- cloves
3-cinnamon sticks
1- quart mason jar
1 fifth of vodka
1 tincture bottle any size as long as it has a dropper and is cobalt or amber

Mix all together shake daily ready in 3 weeks!

To use:
40 drops to one glass of water swish 30 seconds.

Here's the Vid
http://youtu.be/Hj0YDjV6px4

Washing Your Washing Machine on Wed! :) I have a fettish with the letter W :)

Good Morning! Its Wed!! Lets talk about washing your washing machine naturally!
So if your married to a welder you learn very quickly just because it washes doesn't mean its clean!
To clean your washer:
4 cups distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup of baking soda

Put your washer on the hottest, largest setting.
Pour the vinegar in and start the water in the washer.
Let the water fill to the top and agitate 5 mins.
Stop the machine and add the baking soda.
Let the machine set for 30 mins then pop the top and let it finish its cycle!

SHTF Diseases and Herbal Help!

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS! ALWAYS SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT BY A LICENSED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IF AVAILABLE. ALL INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!!!

1. Tuberculosis- Why? I worked for the state for many years before coming home and in that time I realized just here in MS TB (tuberculosis) runs ramped! People suffering with TB will die, if not given medical treatment. Lets face it Big Pharma can't even provide drugs that really do the trick, They take a long time to work even if they do work. So if a loved one contracts TB first and foremost STOP THE SPREAD!!!!!! How to stop the spread of TB (google it!)
There are no sure fire ways to prevent it but increase your intake of Vita D that will definitely help! Certain herbs and supplements are becoming increasingly important in the fight against TB, especially in the case of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. These alternative supplements help to boost the body’s immune to fight the disease. Ironically, exposure to sunlight is the best way to fight TB.
In a SHTF scenario try to have at least 2 of the following TB herbs on hand
A. Barberry
Barberry or Berberis vulgaris is highly effective in relieving TB symptoms and is used to complement conventional treatment. The active ingredient in barberry is berberine which has bacterial properties and aids in killing the tuberculosis bacteria.
B. Horsetail
The scientific name of Horsetail is Equisetum arvense, and is available as an extract, powder or capsule. TB reduces silica content in the bones and horsetail can replenish this depletion as it contains large amounts of silica and smaller amounts of calcium. Fifteen types of bioflavonoids are also present in horsetail.
C. Garlic
Garlic has anti bacterial properties – it inhibits the mycobacterium tuberculae through the active ingredient Allicin. It also has anti fungal, anti parasitic and anti bacterial properties. One good way to prepare it is by boiling the garlic cloves in water and milk and drink it.
D. Ginseng
Ginseng contains compounds that strengthen pulmonary function, reduce coughing as well as strengthen the immune system. Ginseng has adaptogenic properties, which means it increases the body’s resistance to stress, fatigue and infections, and there are few side effects even if the dosage is exceeded.
E. Pineapple juice
This mixed with a dash of salt, pepper and honey, should be consumed once a day. This concoction helps dissolve the mucus in the lungs.
F. Licorice
Licorice soothes throat pain and alleviates coughing in TB patients. Licorice contains 10 antioxidants, at least 25 fungicides and 9 expectorant compounds!
G. Orange juice
A glass of orange juice with a spoonful of salt, a table spoon of honey and 3-4 mint leaves and be drunk each day, to help reduce expectoration and halt secondary infections. Vita C also helps to boost the immune system. Mint helps dissolve sputum and cleanses and nourishes the lungs. It detoxifies and cleanses the body from all the metabolites of anti-TB drugs as well.
Prepare yourself mentally to lose this member of your tribe.   These herbs will help but there are no guarantees.

2. Hepatitis A- Why? Poor sanitation... easy as that! WASH your hands with soap after pooping!! Hand Sanitizers should be stocked in your bags! Learn how to make soap and stock pile it!!!
No specific treatment exists for hepatitis A. Your body will clear the hepatitis A virus on its own. In most cases of hepatitis A, the liver heals completely in a month or two with no lasting damage.
REST!!! NO ALCOHOL!!!! NO FATTY FOODS!!!!
Herbs to help... Lemon Balm Tea and St. John Wort Tincture (both I will be making very soon!)
GARLIC!!!!!!! Fresh or cooked
To help rebuild the liver
Cool Liver Tea Recipe:
Dandelion root, raw or dried not roasted, 1 part
Artichoke leaves 1 part
Oregon grape root 1/2 part
Licorice 1/4 part
Turmeric 1/4 part
Ginger root 1/8 part
Gentian root 1/8 part

If you do not have all use which ones you have! You can dry prepare this tea mixture and seal which I will be doing on my business page within the next month!

3. Cholera- Why? Bad water! Poor sanitation, poor waste disposal!
First and foremost there will be a lot of pain... and that sucks!!!!!!!!The first thing you should do with a cholera patient is start giving them fluids!! Dehydration is the killer here! Fluids, Fluids, Fluids, Fluids and more Fluids!!!
If a person has dysentery or cholera, the water is likely to be contaminated. Do not consume additional microorganisms by drinking contaminated water!! Learn now how to provide yourself with clean drinking water!!!
Do not consume drinks containing added sugar, or drinks containing a significant proportion of natural sugar, such as fruit juice, as these feed the microorganisms, and make the condition worse.
The juice from fresh coconuts is very good for dehydration, as it contains water and many of the nutrients lost during dehydration. Where fresh coconuts are available, these are ideal.

So I began to think what herb would control pain and help with the bowels and it hit me like a huge green leaf :D
Marijuana.... blahhh on the legalities I don't want to go into all that but if you happen to have a stash of or run across some Mary Jane it would be an excellent SHTF herb to store. I wanted to back up my theory on this so I began a bit of research and wallah! Google Mary Jane and Cholera!
If you don't have a hippy friend :D or refuse to partake in the herb then I have a few other tips and tricks that could help but imo MJ is the tip top of the lists for Cholera herbal treatments! blackberry leaves (Rubus fruticosus) are a astringent herb! This will help to remove the bug!
Rice and Tea (no sugar) If you happen to have some tea and rice your in business!! Tea contains tannins, and is used in China for treating diarrhea. Tea needs to be consumed in significant quantities, without milk or sugar, as tannins are made inactive by reacting with the milk, and sugar feeds the microorganisms.
Tea and Rice
In some parts of the world, people are poor and do not have access to many of the things available to more affluent people. In many places, appropriate herbs grow, and may be used. For example, guava and okra are grown in many places.
Where other herbs are not available, dysentery or cholera may be treated with tea and rice, which are readily available and economical in most parts of the world.
A suggested dose for an adult with dysentery or cholera is 1 to 2 liters or more tea, without milk or sugar, two or three times a day. This should be taken half an hour or more before eating boiled rice or other high fiber, low calorie food. Tea contains caffeine.

Mucilaginous Herbs
Once detached from the internal lining of the intestines, the microorganisms need to be carried out through the bowel. Mucilaginous herbs are ideal for this, as they provide a physical mass to carry them out, without providing them with nutrition. Mucilaginous herbs also absorb toxins and carry them out through the bowel.
Psyllium (Plantago species) is a mucilaginous herb ideal for this purpose. Other mucilaginous herbs may also be used. Examples include slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) and marshmallow (Althaea officinalis).
Those not familiar with mucilaginous herbs, may put a spoonful of dried psyllium in a large glass of water, stir, leave to stand for awhile, and observe what happens. The mucilage absorbs the water and swells, and the whole glass of water becomes a mass of mucilage. When this passes through the intestines, it forms large stools.
Okra is food containing a large proportion of mucilage. Okra may be cooked and eaten. It should be chewed well.
A person who has had dysentery or cholera for some time, may also have damage to the internal lining of the intestines. Mucilaginous herbs promote healing of any damaged area. Mucilaginous herbs are also used in the treatment of ulcers in the gastrointestinal system, where they are very effective for promoting healing.

Info from Creepy World Health Organization (I swear their symbol looks creeeepy!!!)
http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/treatment/en/index.html

4.Typhoid- Why same reasons as Cholera bad sanitation bad hygiene! Keep it Clean with Hand Hygiene!!!
BAM! Echinacea !!! In a SHTF scenario you need Echinacea seed, tincture, herb, powder all the EC you can get in your BOB (bugoutbag)
Why? EC is like the Penicillin of herbs I swear!! If you have a good supply keep your tribe on EC 2 weeks out of every month to prevent a ton of stuff. With the lack of great food etc... colds and flu's can be a problem.
Echinacea: Drink sufficient of the hot tea to induce diaphoresis, and administer hourly thereafter until the system is relieved of stagnated wastage.
It is an intestinal antiseptic, although it may not have a direct chemical effect on bacteria, but destroys germs by building the resistance and cleansing the system so that the body itself can resist the germs. It therefore is excellent in the treatment of the serious fevers-typhoid, malaria, and the eruptive fevers, such as measles, chickenpox, and scarlet fever. It is similarly useful in influenza.
Boneset: It is a bitter herbal aid, and in addition to its use in fevers and infections it is taken to improve digestion and assimilation. It was recommended during the Civil War to replace quinine in cases of malaria, as well as for typhoid pneumonia 
Bugleweed: It has been used frequently to reduce the high temperatures of typhoid fever without apparently weakening the patient.
Garlic: It is very well known that garlic contains all the elements except Vitamin D. It is also known that garlic essence warms the body and promotes better circulation of the blood .... Aillin, an oily substance contained in garlic, diluted as much as 200 times can kill typhoid germs.

5. Upper Respiratory Infections- Why? inadequate nutrition, being exposed to elements.
This includes whooping cough, flu, etc... etc....
Over the counter drug to help fight this and stockpile Mucinex!!! Stock it religiously!! Rotate to keep fresh on hand!
A. MMMk! Here is this herb again:::: Echinacea 
Herbal teas prepared from echinacea, licorice root, elm bark
Echinacea is an herb widely used for the prevention or treatment of upper respiratory tract infection.
B.Taking ginger tea several times in a day is one of the most effective natural home remedies for Upper Respiratory Infection. Prepare the tea by boiling one or two teaspoons of freshly ground ginger in water for about ten minutes. Add some honey in it to make this home remedy more effective.
C. Drinking a combination of garlic oil and onion juice mixed in water is one of the most therapeutic natural home remedies for Upper Respiratory Infection, particularly head cold. You can also have garlic soup.
D. Taking a combination of lemon juice extracted from one lemon and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water is a highly beneficial in healing Upper Respiratory Infection naturally. Follow this therapy for a few days by taking this mixture about one or two times in a day.

In conclusion if I had 5 herbs I could take with me in my BOB they would be;
1. Echinacea!!!!
2. Garlic
3.Lemon balm
4.Marijuana
5. Ginger

Empower Yourself to Rely on Yourself!!!!
www.facebook.com/wickedwishesapothecary

Forgot to Add for Cholera
Basic hydration recipe is this:
in 1 liter of boiled water add 4 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Raw Honey Coconut Oil Face Mask!

I am so excited to share with you how to make your own Raw Honey Coconut Oil Face Mask! 

The many benefits of Raw Honey:

First thing that you should know is that that not all honey is created equal. Unfortunately, most of the honey found in grocery stores has been processed with heat, which kills off healing enzymes and destroys a lot of the nutrient-rich content. Raw honey on the other hand is full of healing enzymes and nutrients that are very beneficial for healing your skin.  So what is the definition of “Raw Honey”?  Raw Honey is honey as it exists in the beehive or as obtained by extraction, settling, or straining; and that has not been heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit during production or storage; or pasteurized.
Why Raw Honey is good for your skin:
Did you know that Raw Honey has the ph of 4.5.?  This means that it raw honey falls within skin’s naturally healthy pH range.  It is also contains antiseptic and antimicrobial properties making it great for healing the skin.  It is especially great at healing cuts and burns by killing bacteria and fungus. Raw honey also contains gluconic acid, a mild alpha hydroxy acid that brightens the complexion, evens out skin tone, and lightens scars and age spots.  Here are a few skin issues that raw honey does wonders for:

• Acne and enlarged pores
• Rosacea
• Eczema
• Hyperpigmentation
• Sensitive, mature, and dull lifeless skin

Now let’s talk about Virgin Coconut Oil and how it benefits your skin:

 Virgin Coconut Oil has small molecular structure which allows for easy absorption through the skin –  helping to soften and smooth the texture of your skin.  Coconut oil has an anti-oxidant property which helps your skin fight against free radicals making it  an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough and wrinkled skin.


Here is what you are going to need:

1. Virgin Coconut Oil
2. Raw Honey
3. Mixing Bowl
4. Spoon

yes that’s it folk…. simple & easy!
Here is what you do:

1. Mix Virgin Coconut Oil with Raw Honey using a spoon and a mixing bowl (make sure you mix till it is fully incorporated and looks like cloudy honey)
2. Take your fingertips and apply mixture to your face softly because the raw honey may have crystallized and can be kinda rough on your skin if you use too much pressure.
3. Let mixture rest on your face for 15 min and then rinse off gently with lukewarm water – patting face to dry.

Go Herbal! 

Three Simple Ways to Freshen Up Your Garbage Disposal!

Three Simple Ways to Freshen Up Your Garbage Disposal

1. Use the power of citrus
Citrus is coming into season, and it’s the perfect time to stock up on oranges and grapefruits. As a general rule, I usually gorge myself on grapefruit over the winter months. (During the winter I was pregnant with Prairie Baby, I had horrible cravings for grapefuit and I consumed approximately 60 pounds all.by.myself. For real.)
Before you toss those orange peels (or lemon, or grapefruit, or lime) into the garbage, place a couple pieces of peel in your garbage disposal, and run some water down the drain as you turn on the diposal.
The rough peels help to clean the blades, and the citrus oils do a fantastic job of naturally freshening things up.
2. Ice Cubes
Place a handful of ice cubes into your garbage diposal, turn on the water, and allow it to run for a minute or two. This can help to “de-gunk” the blades and remove odor-causing food particles.
A variation on this idea is to freeze vinegar in your ice cube trays and grind it up instead. You can also try adding some rock salt in with your ice cubes for extra cleaning power.
3. Make a volcano 
(Also known as the baking soda/vinegar method)
Sprinkle some baking soda down your disposal (I usually use  1/4 to 1/2 cup).
Pour  vinegar (approximately one cup) down the disposal, and allow the two ingredients to foam and bubble (this is a great time to get the kids to help!).
Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, run hot (or even boiling) water down the disposal as it is running to flush everything through.
Baking soda and vinegar are my favorite cleaners for many areas of the home, and they do a great job of deodorizing a garbage disposal as well.

Earache Relief!

Recipe
1 cup Mullein (organic is best!)

1 cup Olive oil

Optional  clove of garlic

Mix together all ingredients and put into double boiler for 4 hours on lowest temp on stove! Strain thru cheesecloth and there you have it! Earache Relief!

Why choose goat milk soap?

Here are several excepts from different places online outlining the benefits of goats milk soap!
All these wonderful things is why we makes the soaps that we do!


Skin

• 
  
  Goats milk has many vitamins and other essential elements to help nourish skin. These include vitamins A, E, C, some of the B vitamins, amino and citric acids, unsaturated fatty acids and zinc.
  

Acne

• 
  
  Goats milk soap has the proteins of milk products. These proteins kill acne producing bacteria.
  

Read more: Goat Milk Soap Benefits | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5033199_benefits-goat-milk-soap.html#ixzz28NpcTxhf

Moisturizes

• 
  
  Natural creams in goat's milk soap help keep moisture in skin better than commercial soaps. This is because the commercial brands are mainly chemicals.
  

pH Level

• 
  
  Goat's milk soap contains caprylic acid which makes the product a low pH level because it is an alkaline product. This brings the pH closer to human skin and prevents dryness while allowing nutrients to enter the skin.
  

Irritation

• 
  
  Goat's milk soap benefits include the lack of alcohol, petroleum or preservatives. This helps reduce skin irritation and itchiness for people with sensitive skin or eczema.
  

Goat Milk has been used since ancient times as a natural cleanser. It is one of the finest moisturizers and has excellent emollient properties and contains vitamin A, and several B vitamins including riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12.
Alpha-hydroxy acids contained in goat milk are believed to have rejuvenating effects on skin cells and the rich butterfat softens and moisturizes. Alpha-hydroxy acids penetrate the top layers of the skin, epidermis and upper dermis, to achieve exfoliation (sloughing of old skin cells). Exfoliation stimulates the skin and healthy cells are regenerated. The effect essentially is "anti-aging." The skin is smoother and softer with an overall lessening of fine wrinkles and skin discoloration. The hydroxy acids are also used to improve scaling, precancerous growths (actinic keratoses) on sun-damaged skin. In addition, there is also great benefit with acne. Dead skin cells are exfoliated, opening the pores. Alpha hydroxy acids have been used for thousands of years as a skin rejuvenating product.
Goat milk actually 'feeds' the skin and permeates through the cell walls delivering calcium similar to patches applied to the skin. The PH of goat milk is closer to skin's own natural PH which reduces the surface tension of skin, allowing it to absorb the moisturizing effects of goat milk and the glycerin which is a natural by-product of soap making. In hair care, goat milk replenishes the moisture in every strand by penetrating the hair shaft. It nourishes the scalp which adds life, luster and body to the hair.

Cream. Fat molecules are an important part of making good soap. The cream that is present in goat milk helps boost the moisturizing quality of goat milk soaps. Since many people suffer from dry skin, particularly in the winter months, this is an important quality for soap. Goat milk soap will not dry your skin out like many other soaps. This is important because keeping skin naturally moisturized helps keep skin healthy.

What is what?!? GMO VS HEIRLOOM VS HYBRID

What is what?!? Well lets try and get the facts strait!
Bonnie Plants (widely sold here in MS) states

A hybrid vegetable is created when plant breeders intentionally cross-pollinate two different varieties or species, aiming to produce an offspring (hybrid) containing the best traits of the two parents.
A classic example is the Bonnie Original tomato developed in 1967. It offered (and still does) great taste and productivity along with improved disease resistance to increase your success in the garden.
In general, hybrids offer some combination of these favorable traits: dependability, lower care, early maturity, better yield, improved flavor, specific plant size, or disease resistance. Hybrid vegetables typically look like the veggies you’d find at a supermarket.
Some very strict gardeners will hint that a hybrid is taboo, inferring that it’s a genetically modified plant (GMO). That is incorrect. Cross-pollination is a natural process of crosses within the same plant species. In hybridization, pollination is carefully controlled to ensure that the right plants are crossed to achieve a combination of characteristics, like bigger size and better disease resistance, etc. The process of developing a hybrid typically requires many years.
GMOs may mix genes from other species. None of our plants are GMO.

A Heriloom Plant

Heirlooms come from seed that has been handed down for generations in a particular region or area, hand-selected by gardeners for a special trait. Heirloom vegetables are open-pollinated, which means they’re non-hybrid and pollinated by insects or wind without human intervention. Heirlooms are usually pre-WWII varieties and they remain unchanged.
Many gardeners agree that most heirloom varieties boast greater flavor, especially among tomatoes. Bonnie’s Heirloom Tomato Varieties are clearly marked on the plant tags and trays.
While hybrid plants typically yield a crop that is uniform in both appearance and timing, heirloom vegetables produce a “mixed bag” harvest. The harvest may come in less predictably, and produce size can vary greatly even on the same plant.
Heirlooms typically bear a tale that’s as tasty as the produce. The Amish heirloom tomato Brandywine yields fruit with an unbeatable flavor in shades reminiscent of a glass of Cabernet. Arkansas Traveler tomato is a Southern favorite, originating in Northwest Arkansas prior to 1900 and finding its way across the South to North Carolina. Resistant to cracking and disease, this beauty yields delicious tomatoes under Southern summer conditions: high heat, high humidity, and drought.

What's a GMO?
A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process of taking genes from one species and inserting them into another in an attempt to obtain a desired trait or characteristic, hence they are also known as transgenic organisms. This process may be called either Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM); they are one and the same.

What is a gene?
Every plant and animal is made of cells, each of which has a center called a nucleus. Inside every nucleus there are strings of DNA. Short sequences of DNA are called genes. These genes operate in complex networks that are finely regulated to enable the processes of living organisms to happen in the right place and at the right time.

But haven't growers been grafting trees, breeding animals, and hybridizing seeds for years?
Genetic engineering is completely different from traditional breeding and carries unique risks. In traditional breeding it is possible to mate a pig with another pig to get a new variety, but is not possible to mate a pig with a potato or a mouse. Even when species that may seem to be closely related do succeed in breeding, the offspring are usually infertile—a horse, for example, can mate with a donkey, but the offspring (a mule) is sterile.

With genetic engineering, scientists can breach species barriers set up by nature. For example, they have spliced fish genes into tomatoes. The results are plants (or animals) with traits that would be virtually impossible to obtain with natural processes, such as crossbreeding or grafting.

How is genetic engineering done?
In order to breach these natural barriers and make possible the introduction of DNA from a different species, genetic engineers have to find ways to force the DNA from one organism into another. These methods include:

• Using viruses or bacteria to "infect" animal or plant cells with the new DNA.
• Coating DNA onto tiny metal pellets, and firing it with a special gun into the cells.
• Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs with a very fine needle.
• Using electric shocks to create holes in the membrane covering sperm, and then forcing the new DNA into the sperm through these holes.

What foods are GM?
Currently commercialized GM crops in the U.S. include soy (94%), cotton (90%), canola (90%), sugar beets (95%), corn (88%), Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%), zucchini and yellow squash (over 24,000 acres).

What are other sources of GMOs?
Products derived from the above, including oils from all four, soy protein, soy lecithin, cornstarch, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup among others.  Also:

• meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed (and the majority of the GM corn and soy is used for feed);
• dairy products from cows injected with rbGH (a GM hormone);
• food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses;
• and honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen.
• Non-food items that may contain GM ingredients include cosmetics, soaps, detergents, shampoo and bubble bath. Pharmaceutical companies use Aspartame in some laxatives, supplements and children’s vitamins.

read more http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/about-gmos.html
Monsanto GM corn caused tumors in rats
http://rt.com/news/monsanto-rats-tumor-france-531/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57517377-10391704/study-says-genetically-modified-corn-causes-tumors-but-other-scientists-skeptical-about-research/

Make informed decisions! Grow your own when you can!!

What's in YOUR product?

What's in YOUR product?
9 Synthetic Ingredients Commonly Found in Personal Care Products
and Why You Should Avoid Them


What you don't know could be hurting you. If you are using body products that are widely available in most department, drug, and grocery stores, chances are they contain at least one-but more likely several-ingredients that can potentially harm you. Even most of the so-called "natural" body care products out there contain at least one synthetic ingredient. What's the big deal? Well, those of us who seek out natural body care products do so because we are concerned about our health and about adding additional toxins to our bodies that are constantly exposed to various environmental pollutants daily. And it is difficult to find true, 100% completely natural body care products. You have to be a diligent label reader to filter through everything that is out there. To help you on this quest, I've assembled a list of synthetic ingredients commonly found in most body care products, and why they should be avoided.

1. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Parabens: Probably the most common synthetic ingredients found even in so-called "natural" products are these chemicals broadly referred to as "parabens". Considered "food grade" preservatives, they are also unfortunately found in products we consume. They are typically used as preservatives to inhibit the growth of microbes and to extend the shelf life of products. Parabens are known to cause various allergic reactions and skin irritations and rashes, especially with prolonged or repeated exposure.

2. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Also known as Sodium laurel sulfate or SLS. This synthetic substance can be found in almost any kind of industrial cleaning agent, and is widely used in products like shampoo, toothpaste, and mouth rinses as a foaming and cleansing agent, because it produces the foamy, bubbly texture we have come to expect of these products. It causes irritation on contact with skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, and can cause allergic reactions. Tests on lab animals indicate that long-term exposure may cause mutagenic effects. SLS is rapidly absorbed and retained in the eyes, brain, heart, and liver, which may result in harmful long-term effects. Some pseudo-natural products containing this substance try to mislead the consumer with the phrase "derived from coconut", but don't be fooled.

3. Propylene Glycol (PG), Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), Butylene Glycol (BG), & Thylene Glycol (EG): PG, PEG, BG and EG are all petroleum derivatives that act as solvents, surfactants, and wetting agents. They can easily penetrate the skin, and are noted to inhibit skin cell growth and damage cell membranes in human tests. In fact, PG penetrates the skin so quickly that the EPA warns factory workers to avoid skin contact to prevent brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. Propylene Glycol is what is used to carry the "active" ingredients in transdermal patches into the body. Propylene Glycol is used in anti-freeze, brake fluid, de-icer, paints, floor wax, laundry detergents, and tobacco, in addition to cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoos, deodorants, lotions, processed food, and many personal care products. It is known to cause eye, skin, and gastro-intestinal irritations, allergic reactions and rashes, nausea, headache, vomiting, and central nervous system depression. It also causes dry skin, which is ironic since it is commonly used as a humectant (to help retain moisture). Other side effects in animals exposed to PG include heart arrhythmia, stunted growth, decreased blood pressure, and even death. Butylene Glycol is now being used to replace PG in some personal care products, even though it is the only one of the glycols that has not been able to get on the FDA's GRAS List (Generally Recognized As Safe).

4. Petrolatum and Mineral Oil: Mineral oil is a derivative of crude oil and petrolatum is mineral oil jelly. Both are used industrially as lubricants. They are also widely used in lotions, creams, and other body care products. Mineral oil actually smothers the skin. It forms an oily film on the skin to lock in moisture, but traps in toxins and wastes, and clogs pores. It hinders normal skin respiration by keeping oxygen out, so it is actually drying to the skin. It can promote acne and skin photosensitivity, and slows down normal cell development, resulting in premature aging of the skin. Products that contain mineral oil and petrolatum actually create the very conditions they are intended to treat.

5. Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea: These are the second most commonly used preservatives next to parabens. They have long been recognized as a primary cause of skin irritations. In addition, they release formaldehyde, a toxic chemical, at very low temperatures (just over 10°). Neither one is particularly good at inhibiting the growth of fungus, so they need to be combined with other preservatives, which just adds to the potential toxic load in a product.

6. DEA (Diethanolamine) MEA (Monoethanolamine) & TEA (Triethanolamine): Some alias names: Cocamide DEA or MEA, DEA-Cetyl phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 phosphate, Myristamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Oleamide DEA, TEA-Lauryl Sulfate. These chemicals and related ingredients are emulsifiers and foaming agents, widely used in a variety of cosmetic products, particularly bubble bath, bodywash, shampoo, soap and facial cleansers. Ethanolamines are eye and skin irritants. DEA is easily absorbed through the skin, and accumulates in body organs, even the brain. Animal tests show it causes damage to the liver, kidney, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, and skin. Contact with the eyes can cause impaired vision. In 1998, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) did a research study showing a link between cancer in lab animals and DEA and certain DEA - related ingredients, when applied topically.

7. Butylated hydroxianisole (BHA) & Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): BHA and BHT are preservatives very commonly used not only in cosmetics and personal care products, but in food products. BHA is absorbed through the skin and stored in body tissues. BHT is harmful if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through skin. It causes eye and skin irritation, and is irritating to mucous membranes & upper respiratory tract. Effects may vary from mild irritation to severe destruction of tissue.

8. Phthalates: Phthalates are chemicals commonly found in cosmetic and personal care products; especially nail polish, perfumes, hair sprays, and lotions, as well as in clothes, household cleaners and deodorizers, baby toys, shower curtains, insect repellants, toothbrushes, food packaging, aspirin, medical tubing and fluid bags, gum, candy, biodegradable tampon injectors, and prescription medications. Both the CDC and NIOSH have been conducting ongoing studies for the past 5 years to evaluate the potentially hazardous effects of phthalates. Phthalates are regulated as toxic substances under environmental laws that limit their discharge into air, land, and water, but there are NO limitations on the amount of phthalates used in consumer products. Health effects of phthalates include damage to the liver and kidneys, birth defects, decreased sperm counts, testicular cancer, early puberty onset in girls, early breast development in girls and boys, and other reproductive disorders. Phthalates are also suspected to contribute to reduced fertility in males.

9. Synthetic Colors: Synthetic colors are used to make products more attractive, not more functional. They are usually listed on the label as FD&C or D&C, along with a color and number. (e.g. FD&C Yellow No. 5). Synthetic colors are typically derived from petroleum or coal, and are found in a wide variety of food products and pet foods, as well as in drugs, cosmetics, and personal care products. Most do not fade during processing and storing, giving them an advantage over natural coloring agents. In 1960, the Delaney anti-cancer clause was added to the FDA's FD & C Act, which prohibits marketing any color additive the agency has found to cause cancer in animals or humans, regardless of amount. Yet it has been proven in many animal lab tests that high doses of most synthetic dyes approved by the FDA are capable of causing various adverse reactions, including cancer. Regulators have faced a dilemma because technological advances have enabled scientists to identify smaller and smaller concentrations of a substance and conduct more sensitive toxicological tests. Are such tiny amounts a health threat? Scientists have yet to answer this question, and these synthetic dyes remain in many of the products we use daily. The FDA even says on its consumer website: "You may, however, want to avoid consuming huge quantities of any one color additive. Good sense is the best policy. As with many other food ingredients, don't overuse any one product. Practice everything in moderation." That is all well and good, but since most synthetic colors can potentially cause some sort of adverse reaction, even if we avoid heavy consumption of one, we are likely consuming others, which adds to the toxic load overall. It's best to simply avoid synthetic colors altogether.



Shocking, isn't it? You are probably wondering where this information comes from. Well, it is publicly available, folks. I found all of the information to compile this list online. Some of the greatest resources I found are Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's). All manufacturers of hazardous chemicals in the USA are required to file MSDS's by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). An MSDS "contains written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical as prescribed by law," including information "needed to insure the safety and health of the user at all stages of [the chemical's] manufacture, storage, use, and disposal." There are several sites online where you can look up an MSDS (I used this one http://www.setonresourcecenter.com/MSDS/index.htm). Just enter the chemical name into the search and browse the results. The adverse affects are listed on the MSDS under: "Health Hazards Data". I also found information on the sites of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), FDA (Food & Drug Administration), NTP (National Toxicology Program) and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is a division of the CDC).

Hair Conditioner DIY

You can make your own amazing hair conditioners from a few ingredients found in your pantry!!
Here's a basic recipe:

• Pick one: 1 cup organic extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil or jojoba base oil
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 10 drops each of your favorite essential oils: lavender, rosewood, rosemary, clary sage, tea tree, cedarwood, ylang-ylang, palmarosa or geranium are all excellent options.

Put the ingredients in a glass bottle with a top and shake vigorously. Store for 24 hours so the essential oils can synergize or if you are impatient by nature like me, just use it right then. Massage 2 teaspoons of the product into the scalp and comb another 2 teaspoons through to the ends of hair. Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing.

Tuesday's Tip!

Liver and Gallbladder Flush Tea!

Liver Flush Benefits
The liver and gallbladder flush restores the normal functional capacity of the liver to dump toxins into the bile so that they can be eliminated through the intestines and colon. The flush promotes overall digestive health including bowel elimination. Olive oil has been known to increase beneficial HDL cholesterol levels while lowering harmful LDL cholesterol.

Liver Flush Pointers
One of the best times to take the liver flush is in the evening just before bedtime. It is best to eat a light dinner, then just before bed do your liver flush. Taken on an empty stomach is optimal. Have a cup of tea ready to drink immediately after taking the flush.

Liver Flush Recipe
Mix these ingredients in a blender or in a jar and take just before bedtime.
Olive Oil - 3 Tbs. organic and cold pressed
Juice of 2 Lemons organic
Garlic - 1 medium clove organic and minced (beware of garlic breath the next day)
Ginger - small chunk organic and minced (chopped fine in a blender or by hand)
 Cayenne Pepper- just a pinch
Orange - 1 optional for taste

Directions for Liver Flush
1. Drink and follow with a cup of caffeine-free herbal tea, such as  peppermint!
2. Drink the tea immediately following flush.
3. Go to bed and lie on your right side with your knees up to chest, so that the mixture goes directly to your liver and gallbladder. Some people experience moderate nausea but this passes quickly.
4. In the morning you should have a healthy elimination!

Weekly Herbal Tidbit Lemon Balm

I am using a lot of lemon balm this week so I thought yes! Let us do the Weekly Herbal Tidbit on lemon balm! We grow our own lemon balm here and its super easy!! I encourage you to grow your own too!

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), celebrated for its wide range of uses in the garden, kitchen and medicine cabinet.
Previously overlooked due to its aggressive tendencies, lemon balm is currently enjoying a revival by both herbalists and chefs alike, and its calming sensibilities are endearing themselves to our stressed-out, over-taxed bodies and minds. Indeed, as a healthy herbal tea, there can be no better tonic for uplifting spirits and relieving tension.

The mildly sedative tea eases headaches, indigestion and nausea and causes a slight dilation of the blood vessels, thus helping to lower blood pressure.

A History of Healing

Native to the Mediterranean region, lemon balm has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. Its genus name, Melissa, is derived from the Greek word for bee; ancient Greek author Pliny the Elder and 16th-century herbalist John Gerard both observed that lemon balm is useful in attracting and keeping bees. Officinalis refers to its place in the official apothecary. The common name ‘‘balm’’ is shortened from ‘‘balsam.’’
Ancient and more modern herbalists alike were well aware of the plant’s healing and restorative powers. Gerard and the ancient Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist Dioscorides both used the leaves steeped in wine to treat snakebites and scorpion stings. Maud Grieve gave a nod of scientific proof to those ancient uses in her book A Modern Herbal. She wrote in 1931, “It is now recognized as a scientific fact that the balsamic oils of aromatic plants make excellent surgical dressings: they give off ozone and thus exercise anti-putrescent effects. Being chemical hydrocarbons, they contain so little oxygen that in wounds dressed with the fixed balsamic herbal oils, the atomic germs of disease are starved out, and the resinous parts of these balsamic oils, as they dry upon the sore or wound, seal it up and effectually exclude all noxious air.”
Lemon balm’s popularity continued throughout the centuries, and it was enjoyed as a tea to combat mental confusion and as an elixir thought to extend lifespan. So widespread was lemon balm’s reputation for promoting longevity and dispelling melancholy that by the 17th century, French Carmelite nuns were dispensing their Carmelite Water to a faithful following. The lemon-balm infused “miracle water” was thought to improve memory and vision and reduce rheumatic pain, fever, melancholy and congestion.
Introduced into Great Britain by the Romans, lemon balm is now found in both England and North America, brought by colonialists who had come to rely on it for teas and flavoring. American Shakers grew lemon balm as a relief from mild fevers. One of the herbs grown in Thomas Jefferson’s gardens, lemon balm was well established as an important culinary herb, one especially suited to syrups and beverages.

Basic Lemon-balm Tea Recipe

The leaves of this herb have long been appreciated for their flavor. Pour a generous cup of freshly boiled water over 1-2 teaspoons of dried lemon-balm leaves and steep, covered, for 10 minutes. Keep the leaves covered to prevent most of the essential oils from escaping. Drink a total of 3-4 cups over the course of a day, preferably before meals. 

Lemon Balm and Calendula Salve

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Olive Oil
• 3/4 Cup Dried Lemon Balm & Calendula (Just throw in a couple handfuls of each until you get 3/4 cup- try to use equal parts of each.)
• 1/2 Cup Beeswax
• 3 TBSP. Coconut Oil
• 2 TBSP. Shea Butter
• 5 Drops Tea Tree Oil
• 5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

*I do not add preservatives. Many of the ingredients contain natural preservatives, so your salve will have a shelf life of 1-2 years.

Directions:

1. Add dried herbs, olive and coconut oil into crock pot and heat on low for 3-4 hours.
2. Strain oil through cheesecloth and return to (clean) crock pot on low heat.
3. Microwave beeswax and shea butter in 1 minute increments until fully melted.
4. Immediately add melted beeswax and shea butter into crock pot & mix well with wooden spoon. If the wax starts to harden up turn the crock pot up to the high heat setting and stir until completely liquified.
5. Add in tea tree and lavender essential oils and mix well.
6. Pour mixture into small containers with lids and keep lids off until salve becomes solid.

This salve helps with:

• Minor Burns
• Bug Bites & Stings
• Inflammation
• Itching
• Chapped Lips
• Cold Sores
• Dry Skin
• Athletes Foot
• Warts
• Cracked Heals
• Sunburn
• Stretchmarks
• Hemorrhoids
• Shingles
• Muscle Aches & Menstrual Cramps

Yall have a wonderful week! Come out and see us this week in Laurel MS! Sat. May 4th Day in the Park!!!

Happy Herbal Healing! 

Homemade mouthwash!

Tuesday's Tip!
Making Mouthwash

Supplies Needed:
½ cup filtered or distilled water
2 tsp baking soda
2 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil

Baking soda will settle to the bottom of the jar when not in use, so be sure to shake mouthwash before each use. Swish about 2-3 teaspoons of this homemade formula in your mouth for a minute or two. As with any mouthwash, try to avoid swallowing this while gargling.

Feel free to double this recipe for a larger batch. Making really big batches is not recommended because the oils will continue to blend over time and flavors can change.
Save money and get better mouthwash

Store Bought Mouth Wash $0.10/ounce.
Our mouthwash recipe above yields 5 ounces with raw ingredients that cost approximately $0.03/ounce.

Plant ID and Harvest of Plantain!

Okay... So recently I have been working on more than just growing but also wild crafting herbs. Today we hit the jackpot! Please note that plantain - the starchy, banana-like fruit, is completely different and not related to the plantain "weed" we are talking about!

 A wonderful haul of plantain! 

This is the top of the plantain leaf. 

 This is the underside... notice all the veins are running the same way and there are no other veins than these major ones.

Okay do you see these little hairs? Or veins? This is how you definitely know you have plantain! When you break the stem just below the leaf and see these your in the money! We brought them home and washed them good in the sink then dried them with paper towels. Then we lay them out on the dehydrator and set them to 95 degrees. When they are dehydrated they will be crispy! 

So what do you do with plantain? Well if you have it growing in your yard don't pick it all just yet! A spit poultice of this stuff is excellent for wasp and bee stings! 
 Plantain is edible - harvest the young, tender leaves for use in a salad, or steamed and used as a spinach substitute. The leaves do get tough quickly, so make sure to harvest only the youngest leaves. The immature flower stalks may be eaten raw or cooked. If you're really adventuresome, you can harvest the seeds. They are said to have a nutty flavor and may be parched and added to a variety of foods or ground into flour. The leaves, seeds and roots can all be made into an herbal tea. 
 Plantain is not associated with any common side effects and is thought to be safe for children Plantain is classed as "able to be safely consumed when used appropriately" by the American Herbal Retailers Association. Some preliminary research does show, however, that some allergy sufferers may have a reaction to plantain pollen, so if you feel this may be a problem for you, you may want to only use the plantain leaves for your herbal preparations. 
 Plantain infusion (tea) can also be used as a soothing wash for sunburn, windburn, rashes, or wounds. 
 We use plantain-infused oil in just about all of our oil-based products, such as salves, lip balms, body oils, etc. 

Happy Herbing! :D 

Aloe Tonic

To prepare the Tonic Recipe, blend in a mixer or mincer whole leaves to make 300g, add 500g of natural honey and 750ml of red wine. Put the mixture in a dark bottle and keep in refrigerator.

**************Weekly Herbal Tidbit************* Aloe Vera

**************Weekly Herbal Tidbit*************
ALOE VERA

Living First-Aid Plant, Medicine Plant, Wand of Heaven, Burn Plant, Divine Healer

Aloe vera barbadensis F. Asphodelaceae
Description

Erect perennial, originating from North Africa and the Mediterranean, with thick, very succulent, dagger shaped 30- 80cm long leaves, encircling a thick, central stem. The oldest and largest leaves are at the base, with leaves in the centre of the rosette formation being younger and smaller. Mature leaves can be 2-2.5cm thick and 6-10cm wide at the base, gradually tapering to a point at the apex. The upper leaf surface is flat or slightly dish-shaped and the lower surface rounded, with both surfaces being smooth to the touch. However, the margins of the leaf are armed with firm, spreading, triangular-shaped teeth 2-4mm long. Leaves on mature plants are a distinctive grey-green, due to the surface being covered by a greyish bloom, although during summer they can be greener and during winter they can take on a bronze tinge. New young plants, called pups or suckers, develop near the base of the parent plant as it grows to a good size or to maturity, which may take 2-4 years, depending on climate and growing conditions. Leaves of young pups tend to fan sideways and are pale green with white spots. The spots and fan shape disappear as the pups become older.

Actions: antimicrobial, astringent, antibiotic, antioxidant, analgesic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antiperspirant, antipruritic, cathartic, demulcent, fungicidal, germicidal, diuretic, detoxicant, vermifuge, vulnerary, emmenagogue, emollient, cosmetic, aphrodisiac, coagulant, antipyretic

Medicinal Uses

Man has used aloe for over 5000 years. Egyptians first wrote of the healing powers of the plant on their ancient papyrus texts calling it the plant of immortality. Cleopatra and Nefertiti bathed in aloe juice to retain their youth and beautiful looks. Aloe is mentioned several times in the Bible. It was used in the burial of Jesus. History and legend tells that Aristotle convinced Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra in order to collect aloe plants to use as medicine for his soldiers. Greek writer Dioscorides made detailed accounts of aloe’s uses. Aloe’s influence spread far and wide. In our century, we have the opportunity to read numerous books, hundreds of scientific papers and search the internet to discover the many benefits of aloe.

Research studies highlight the tremendous healing powers of aloe when used both internally and externally. Some of the benefits include: as a pain and allergy inhibitor, for inflammation, fluid retention, perspiration odours, itching, hemorrhaging and to close cuts for cell regeneration and healing, to destroy parasites, harmful bacteria and fungi in the intestinal tract, to relieve bowel tension and help produce bowel movements, moisturise skin, increase blood flow, remove toxins and dead tissue, penetrate skin to reach tendons, muscles, joints and the lymph system, and promote the growth of new tissue. It also has a normalising action on fluid levels and the acid/ alkaline balance in the body. Research has shown that aloe vera can increase the proliferation of lymphocytes and stimulate natural immunity through killer cell activity. Aloe has a strong effect on the immune system, by activating and stimulating macrophages, monocytes, antibodies and T-cells, as well as increasing the number of anti-body forming Bcells in the spleen.

One of the most important functions of aloe is to aid the digestive system, as poor digestion can be responsible for many diseases. Our food comprises proteins, carbohydrates and fats that must undergo a process of digestion, which consists of breaking down complex substances into simpler ones so they can be absorbed and used by the body. Aloe is able to assist the body by providing the active properties of a large range of amino acids, monosaccharides, fatty acids and enzymes that act as catalysts in breaking down complex foods so the body can assimilate the nutrients more efficiently. Considerable in-vitro and in-vivo research has been done with the concentration of mucopolysaccharides (MSPs) found in aloe vera. MSPs are long-chained sugar molecules, which are found naturally in every cell of the body, however, around the time of puberty, the body stops producing them. When taken internally, they have been shown to have immune stimulating effects. The MSPs of aloe vera interact with the body’s immune system, enhancing rather than over-riding this system. MSPs interject themselves into the cell membranes of the body resulting in much greater cell fluidity and permeability, allowing toxins to flow out of the cells more freely and nutrients to flow in. These nutrients include electrolytes and water, so the MSPs are able to facilitate absorbtion in the gastro-intestinal tract. The overall effect on the body is a rise in energy and cell metabolism activity which leads to a feeling of wellbeing. MSPs also act to protect cells from invasion by microbes such as viruses by setting up a protective barrier, which forms a lining on the colon and keeps toxic wastes from entering the body. MSPs will also lubricate the joints and relieve pain by dilating capillaries, which increases the supply of oxygen and blood to the area. Aloe vera’s properties are extraordinary and have been used to treat man’s many ailments from A to Z. Its uses and the conditions it may relieve include: abscesses, abrasions, acne, allergies, AIDS, anemia, arterial insufficiency, arthritis, athlete’s foot, asthma, bad breath, baldness, blisters, bed sores, bladder infections, blood pressure, bruises, bronchitis, burns, bursitis, bunions, bed wetting, boils, bone fractures, candida, canker sores, cancer, carbuncles, cataracts, cramps, chilblains, chemotherapy side effects, chapped skin and lips, coughs, colds and cold sores, colic, constipation, cystitis, conjunctivitis, colon cleanser, complexion enhancer, chicken pox sores, lowers serum cholesterol, convulsions, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, dandruff, dysentery, depression, dry skin, dermatitis, denture sores, detoxifier, duodenal ulcers, oedema, Epstein Barr virus, earache, fevers, fungus, frost bite, fluid retention, gastrointestinal problems, genital herpes, gangrene, gingivitis, glaucoma, gynaecological diseases, gall ailments, heat rash, headaches, hemorrhoids, heart burn, high blood pressure, hang-overs, hives, heat exhaustion, insomnia, ingrown toenails, indigestion, insect bites, inflamed joints, jaundice, kidney infections, leprosy, laryngitis, lupus, liver ailments, leukaemia, lacerations, multiple sclerosis, mouth ulcers, moles, migraines, menstrual pain, nausea, nervous stress, nappy rash, obesity, psoriasis, prostatitis, pancreas problems, pimples, problems caused by protozoa (ringworm, fungi, virus), prickly heat, periodontal disease, radiation burns, rashes, scar tissue, skin lesions, stings, styes, sprains, sores, scalds, stretch marks, shingles, staph infections, sunburn, sore throat, stomach ulcers, sports injuries, sinus, sun spots, spurs, tonsillitis, tendonitis, trachoma, tuberculosis, tiredness, tropical ear, ulcers, vaginitis, venereal sores, varicose veins, worms, worts, wounds, X-ray burns, yeast infection and zoster (shingles).

Aloe vera has six antiseptic agents (sulphur, lupeol, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, urea nitrogen and phenol) which act as a team to provide antimicrobial activity thus eliminating many internal and external infections. The pain relieving action is due to the effective analgesics in salicylic acid, magnesium and lupeol. Fatty acids also have a pain reducing, allergy and inflammation relieving effect, and work to lower harmful cholesterol levels.

Researchers have found that aloe vera applied externally has the ability to reach the deepest body tissues, penetrating some seven layers. Research at the University of Texas showed that aloe penetrates human skin almost four times faster than water. Apply the gel from the leaf immediately for burns and scalds, insect bites, nettle stings, chilli burns, pain in general and for quick healing. For external use, a fresh leaf can be cut open with a knife and the gel applied to the skin. When wiping the aloe leaf directly on the skin, all the sap can appear to have been used up, but if you take a knife and score the inside surface of the leaf with a few cuts, more juice will be released.

Dose: As a general tonic, aloe vera can be taken regularly for stamina and well being. Cut one or two large leaves from the base of a plant, and allow to stand half an hour for the yellow sap just under the skin to drain. Take care not to get this sap on clothes, as it can stain. To make an infusion from the leaves, cut them into 2cm chunks and place the pieces into half litre size glass jars with lids (or other containers), filling the jars about one third. Top up the containers with cold water and put them in the refrigerator. Leave to steep eight hours or overnight. Pour off one half to one glass of the aloe infusion and drink first thing in the morning and also the same amount before each meal and at bedtime if desired. After draining the infusion from a jar, refill the jar with water. This is where it is beneficial to have several jars prepared, so that the jar just refilled goes to the back of the shelf in the refrigerator, and the jars are continually rotated. This allows enough time for each jar to steep before being used. The infusion can be drunk whenever you feel thirsty.

If taking aloe vera causes cramping of the bowels, use a little ginger with it. The ginger can be in the form of dried powder, fresh or an infusion made with fresh root. For a laxative effect, in some people, just drinking the aloe infusion or the stabilized juice may be sufficient. For severe constipation, the yellow sap may be left on when blending the gel, as it is this yellow sap that has a strong cathartic action and tastes very bitter. If a person finds the bitterness too unpleasant, the yellow sap can be added to fruit juice.

Sunny Day Cream

Sunny Day Cream

1/8 cup lanolin

¼ cup almond oil

¼ cup coconut oil

¼ cup aloe vera gel

½ cup chamomile tea

¼ cup dried calendula petals

10-15 drops lavender essential oil

In the top of a double boiler or in a

small saucepan over very low heat, melt the

lanolin and almond oil together. Beat in the

coconut oil with a wire

whisk, then add the aloe

vera gel and chamomile infusion, beating until

the mixture is cool and creamy. Stir in the

calendula petals and the lavender oil. Store

cream in clean airtight jars in a cool, dark

pantry or refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Rose Vinegar

Rose Vinegar

Gather enough rose petals and leaves to fill a mason jar

Cover the petals and leaves with apple cider vinegar. Cover the jar with

a plastic lid, or a metal lined with plastic (otherwise the vinegar will

corrode the metal lid).

Let sit two to six weeks, shaking regularly.

Strain. When needed dilute 1/3 cup vinegar with several cups of water

and apply to sunburns using a wash cloth. Kiva recommends using this

for a variety of heated and inflammatory conditions like bug bites and

sprains.

St. John’s Wort Oil

St. John’s Wort Oil

Gather enough fresh St. John’s Wort to fill a mason jar.

Some people like to finely chop the flowers and leaves before infusing

them in oil. Call me silly, but I can’t bring myself to chop these beautiful

flowers. Even placed in whole, my St. John’s Wort oil turns a

magnificent shade of red.

Once the jar is firmly filled with the plant material, pour in enough oil to

cover the plants. I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil. Cover with a lid.

Place in a warm sunny location. (Most oils are kept in a dark place, but

St. John’s Wort’s magic is increased with sunlight.)

After several days your oil will be a deep dark red. I’ve infused St.

John’s Wort oil for as long as six weeks, but I think a week is plenty.

Strain and use.

Red Clover Fritters

Red Clover Fritters

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup milk

One teaspoon baking powder

1/3 cup corn meal

1 egg

Dash of sea salt

Sweet variation add: One tablespoon honey, cinnamon, cloves,

cardamom, nutmeg to taste

Savory variation add: Thyme, rosemary, oregano, or other savory

herbs to taste

Mix the dry ingredients together and then add the milk and egg

mixture. Add either the sweet or savory ingredients. Dip the blossoms

in the mix and fry in hot coconut oil until golden