Dandelions abound in the Spring. They are a first food for bees, and the pretty yellow blossoms create a gorgeous blanket of color among the newly green grass. Dandelions are spring magic to me. Their Latin name is Taraxacum officinale, and they are very beneficial for a variety of healthful functions. Dandelions are diuretic, laxative,… [read more]
DIY Styptic Pencil Melts
Shaving happens…on the legs, pits, face. It is a part of life for a lot of us, but it’s not always our favorite activity. Those memes that depict hairy rabbit legs revealed, proclaiming how glad we are that it’s winter and we don’t need to shave? Yeah, that’s how I like to roll. My daughter… [read more]
Get Your Essential Vitamins from Your Food
Taking a handful of supplements everyday isn’t the most exciting way to get your vitamins and it certainly isn’t the most natural way. However, your body needs essential vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. If you can eat your essential vitamins every day, you can skip the pills and still stay healthy. Plus your body… [read more]
Make a Quick Echinacea Glycerite
When many people think of making herbal extracts, their first thought is to use alcohol. But, what if you don’t use alcohol for any other reason, or you simply want an alternative? You can try using a food grade glycerin to get what is called a glycerite. Glycerin is a great way to extract the… [read more]
Eczema Skin Cream To Help Soothe Flare Ups
Eczema is an itchy skin condition that is more than just dry skin. It can look like patches of dry, red, inflamed skin anywhere on the body. While what causes eczema outbreaks is different for each person, it is thought to be linked to an auto-immune response in the body. Sometimes dairy, gluten or other… [read more]
The Difference Between a Tincture, Glycerite, and Infusion
Herbal tinctures, glycerites, and infusions are a great way to get the medicinal properties of herbs into a usable form. Your herbal medicine cabinet is probably already full of different herbs in each of these forms. You will get some of the best qualities from each herb, depending on how you use them. So, what… [read more]
Cold Relief Tincture
A tincture is an herbal extract that uses an alcohol menstruum to extract the medicinal qualities. To make a good quality tincture, the highest alcohol by volume (80%) is most often used. This may be brandy, vodka, or everclear. The cheapest, bottom shelf alcohol is fine for this. The alcohol does the job of pulling… [read more]
Gardener Salve {perfect for rough, dry hands or feet}
Gardening and digging in the dirt is one of the most enjoyable activities I’ve ever known. However, the constant dirt and subsequent washing of my hands can dry them out in no time. Even with gloves, my hands get so dry after gardening. This gardener salve is soothing to the skin and can ease rough, dry… [read more]
How To Make Fire Cider
When the seasons change, colds and sickness can occur. Even if you eat a real foods diet, get proper rest and fluids, you can still get sick. One way to combat those symptoms is by making fire cider. What is fire cider? It’s a spicy hot, deliciously sweet vinegar tonic. First concocted in the kitchen… [read more]
How To Make Elderberry Syrup {and why you want to}
When the seasons change, does someone in your family get sick? Does the idea of scouring the cold and flu section at the drugstore have you screaming into the night with all the choices there are? Are you wondering if there is a better way at helping your family deal with cold or flu symptoms?… [read more]