Monthly Archives: January 2017

Fresh and Cool

herbs-and-lemon

This combination of lemon and mint makes a great summer cooling body spray and/or facial toner.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce. peppermint leaves (dried), or handful fresh
  • 1/2 cup witch hazel
  • 2 drops lemon essential oil

Pour 1 cup boiling water over the peppermint leaves turn off the heat and steep in a covered container until cool. Strain. Add witch hazel and lemon.

Found at Annie’s Remedy

Cure For A Sick Headache

seattle-chiropractor-that-treats-migraine-headaches-538x218This cure has three simple steps.

First:
Brew a cup of peppermint tea, adding lemon and honey to taste..

Second:
Sip tea slowly while soaking in a bath spiked with 8 drops of peppermint essential oil and 2 drops of lemon ( or use herbs in muslin bag).

Third:
After your bath massage your temples, forehead and neck with the following essential oil blend, (carefully keeping out of eyes).

  • 2 drops peppermint oil
  • 1 drop lemon oil
  • 1 teaspoon olive or vegetable oil

Elder Flower and Peppermint For The Flu

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An almost infallible cure for an attack of influenza in its first stage is a strong infusion of dried Elder Blossoms and Peppermint. Put a handful of each in a jug, pour over them a pint and a half of boiling water, allow to steep, on the stove, for half an hour then strain and sweeten and drink in bed as hot as possible. Heavy perspiration and refreshing sleep will follow, and the patient will wake up well on the way to recovery and the cold or influenza will probably be banished within thirty-six hours. Yarrow may also be added.

Here’s another variation of this same cure:

Mix 1 oz dried Elder Flowers and 1 oz dried Peppermint leaves. Boil 1 pint of distilled water in a saucepan large enough to hold a quart and while boiling, add the herbs. Cover them and let step (not boil) in a hot place for 10 or 15 minutes. Do not raise the lid or you will lose some of the strength.

When ready, strain through muslin or a thin cloth into a glass or enamel pitcher. Before taking, the patient should be in bed and well covered with blankets to retain the heat.

The dose for severe colds and fevers is drink one pint as hot as possible. Then, remain in bed well covered. It may be sweetened if desired. It will be found beneficial to have a hot water bottle, covered  with a towel dipped in vinegar, applied to the feet and allowed to remain there.

The dose for children is from one half to one teacupful. In all cases, the patient should be kept in bed for at least 12 hours after taking, and kept well covered to promote free perspiration.

There will be free perspiration starting in from 20 to 40 minutes after taking and sometimes sooner. This will soothe the patient to sleep and the perspiration will continue for several hours.

The next morning if the fever or cold is completely normal, the patient should be sponged with warm water, put into a clean bed, and be given some light nourishment such as fruit juices (pineapple, orange), or prunes. Care must be taken to keep the body quite warm for a day or two.

If one does does not completely break up the fever, another should be given 24 hours latr. It will be found that, not only the 7,000,000 sweat glands discharge the poisons from the body, but the bowels and kidneys are also activated and will materially help in the recovery of the patient.

Sources: An Elementary Course in Herbology and A Modern Herbal

 

Elderflower Bath

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Elder Flowers, if placed in the water used for washing the hands and face, will both whiten and soften the skin-a convenient way being to place them in a small muslin bag. Such a bag steeped in the bathwater makes a most refreshing bath and a well known French doctor has stated that he considers it a fine aid in the bath in cases of irritability of the skin and nerves.

From: A Modern Herbal

Elder Flower Water

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Elder Flower Water (Aqua Sambuci) is an official preparation of the British Pharmacopoeia, which directs that it be made from 100 parts of Elder Flowers distilled with 500 parts of water (about 10 lb. to the gallon), and that if fresh Elder flowers are not obtainable, an equivalent quantity of the flowers preserved with common salt be used. The product has at first a distinctly unpleasant odor, but gradually acquires an agreeably aromatic odor, and it is preferable not to use it until this change has taken place.

Elder Flower Water is employed in mixing medicines and chiefly as a vehicle for eye and skin lotions. It is mildly astringent and a gentle stimulant. It is the Eau de Sureau of the Continent, Sureau being the French name of the Elder.

Elderflower Water in our great-grandmothers’ days was a household word for clearing the complexion of freckles and sunburn, and keeping it in a good condition. Every lady’s toilet table possessed a bottle of the liquid, and she relied on this to keep her skin fair and white and free from blemishes, and it has not lost its reputation. Its use after sea-bathing has been recommended, and if any eruption should appear on the face as the effect of salt water, it is a good plan to use a mixture composed of Elder Flower Water with glycerine and borax, and apply it night and morning.

Here is a recipe that can be carried out at home:

Fill a large jar with Elder blossoms, pressing them down, the stalks of course having been removed previously. Pour on them 2 quarts of boiling water and when slightly cooled, add 1 1/2 OZ. of rectified spirits. Cover with a folded cloth, and stand the jar in a warm place for some hours. Then allow it to get quite cold and strain through muslin. Put into bottles and cork securely.

From: A Modern Herbal

Green Elder Ointment

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Elder leaves are used in the preparation of an ointment, Unguentum Sambuci Viride, Green Elder Ointment, which is a domestic remedy for bruises, sprains, chilblains, for use as an emollient, and for applying to wounds. It can be compounded as follows:

  • 3 parts of fresh Elder leaves
  • 4 parts of lard
  • 2 parts of prepared suet

Heat the Elder leaves with the melted lard and suet until the color is extracted, then strain through a linen cloth with pressure and allow to cool.

Source: A Modern Herbal

Elderberry Insect Repellant

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Elderberry leaves, bruised, if worn in the hat or rubbed on the face, prevent flies settling on the person. In order to safeguard the skin from the attacks of mosquitoes, midges and other troublesome flies, an infusion of the leaves may be dabbed on with advantage. Gather a few fresh leaves from the elder, tear them from their stalks and place them in a jug, pouring boiling water on them and covering them at once, leaving for a few hours. When the infusion is cold, it is fit for use and should be at once poured off into a bottle and kept tightly corked. It is desirable to make a fresh infusion often.

From A Modern Herbal

Elderberry Healing Ointment

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Here is an old but excellent herbal cooling and healing ointment:

  • 1/2 lb fresh Elder leaves
  • 4 oz fresh Plantain leaves
  • 2 oz Ground Ivy
  • 4 oz fresh Wormwood

Cut small and heat in 4 lb of petroleum jelly until the leaves are crisp. Strain and press out the ointment for storage.

Source: The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal

Sauerkraut Juice For a Sore Throat

homemade sauerkraut

Europeans and early Americans gargled with sauerkraut juice – the fermented juice of the cabbage plant.

This refers to the  traditional fermented homemade Sauerkraut which is an excellent source of probiotics and enzymes for gut health. Commercial sauerkraut is not the same.

To make homemade sauerkraut, layer scores of chopped cabbage leaves in a Crock-Pot, sprinkling salt over each layer. Alternatively, you can knead the salt into the chopped cabbage leaves instead of layering it. Cover it with a clean cloth and tightly weigh it down with a stone or heavy plates. Let it sit for six weeks or more. Draw off the juice and gargle as needed to alleviate a sore throat.

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I think it's time to go shopping... maybe even buy some really cool stuff at my online shops!!

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