Herbal remedies are intended as a complement to medical treatment. Consult your healthcare provider about medication interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
What are the benefits of herbal remedies?
Psycho-emotional: Relieve stress, elevate mood, improve sleep, improve concentration
Respiratory: Clear congestion, soothe coughs, relax air passages
Immunity: Kill germs, stimulate the immune system
Muscular: Relieve arthritis pain, calm inflammation, alleviate muscular aches and spasms
Skin: ClHowear oily skin, relieve eczema, alleviate itching, kill fungus, heal scars
Digestive: Calm nausea, promote digestion, relieve gas, ease cramping
First Aid: Soothe burns, reduce fever, heal cuts and wounds
Household: Repel insects, disinfect, deodorize, add to laundry, clean surfaces
What is an herb?
Herbalists define an herb to be any plant used to promote health, a much wider definition than used by a botanist or chef.
How are herbs used as remedies?
Herbs can be:
—eaten
—made into a poultice
—infused in water to make a tea
—infused in vinegar
—infused in alcohol to make a tincture or liniment
—infused in oil
—infused in honey
—infused in glycerin to make a glycerite
—powdered
—made into supplements.
At Golden Age Wellness, I grow herbs exclusively for topical use (except for vinegars that I sell at local markets).
Are herbal remedies safe?
The herbs that I grow are generally safe to use, but everyone has their own reaction to individual herbs. To stay safe:
—Check your medications for any potential interactions.
—Start with a small amount and slowly increase the amount you use.
—Get regular checkups and develop a good health care team.
Which Golden Age herbs are recommended for topical use?
Anise Hyssop > Eases sunburn and itchy skin
Basil > Repels flies and mosquitos
Bee Balm > Clears acne, resolves scars (see Bee Balm Acne Clear)
Calendula > Eases itchy, irritated skin, resolves scars, reduces wrinkles (see Wrinkle Reducer and Calendula Mousse)
Comfrey > Relieves joint pain, resolves old scars (see Joint Relief Warming Cream)
Cramp Bark > Relieves abdominal muscle pain, such as belly aches or menstrual cramps (see Menstrual Mender)
Dandelion flowers > Reduces wrinkles, moisturizes skin (see Dandelion Body Butter)
Lavender > Eases sunburn and itchy skin, resolves scars, repels mosquitos and ticks
Lemon Balm > Eases sunburn and itchy skin, resolves scars, calms muscles (see Sleepytime Foot Balm)
Meadowsweet > Relieves muscle and joint pain caused by inflammation (see Headache Relief and Menstrual Mender)
Plantain > Eases irritated skin, resolves scars (see Stop the Sting)
Roman Chamomile > Eases itchy skin
Rose > Tightens skin, moisturizes skin, brightens skin, reduces wrinkles (see Baby Skin)
Saint John’s Wort > Relieves nerve pain, eases sunburn (see Sore Muscle Solution)
Thyme > Reduces wrinkles, brightens skin, reduces snoring (see Wrinkle Reducer and Snore Stop)
Valerian > Promotes sleep (see Peaceful Slumbers)
White Clover > Eases itchy skin
Yarrow > First aid for bleeding and bruises, repels mosquitos (see Bug Off and Stop the Sting)
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are oils found in microscopic sacs in the leaves, flowers, rind, or bark of aromatic plants. Essential oils play a biological role in the life of the plant by attracting pollinators, deterring parasites, and protecting the plant from fungal attacks.
How do essential oils enter the body?
Through the nose: When we inhale a scent through our nose, the molecules travel to the back of the nasal cavity to the olfactory nerve. The olfactory nerve is the only nerve in the body to run directly to structures in the brain referred to as the “limbic brain” which controls our instinctive behavior, memories, and emotions.
Through the skin: When essential oils are applied to the skin with a carrier oil or lotion, they penetrate the skin through pores and hair follicles and are absorbed by capillaries. Once they enter the bloodstream, they affect adjacent organs and circulate through the body until they are excreted.
Orally: The Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) does not endorse ingesting essential oils due to the risk of overdose, gastric irritation, and interactions with medications.
How do I safely apply essential oils topically?
Every essential oil with the exception of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) should be applied to your skin with a carrier—a vegetable oil, lotion, water, etc. Since essential oils are so strong, it is important to use them in the correct dilution. A dilution of 3% (3 parts essential oils to 100 parts of the carrier) is considered safe for most people, but skin sensitivities and allergies must be taken into account. Children under 5 and Babies under 2 require a smaller dilution (.5% for children and .25% for babies) and only Lavender is considered safe for children that young.
What is a carrier?
Carriers are used to dilute the potency of essential oils to make them safer.
Aloe Vera: Known for its medicinal properties for more than a thousand years, Aloe cools skin reactions resulting from sensitivity or allergies, heals skin that has been affected by eczema, psoriasis, or shingles, and eases burns and sunburn. The shelf life for Aloe Vera is 6-12 months. At Golden Age Wellness, we blend 91% pure Aloe Vera gel with Jojoba oil for a Sensitive Skin Lotion to treat these conditions.
Coconut oil: A conditioning and protective oil, Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, but melts easily on the skin. It is used for general moisturizing and is suitable for those with skin sensitivities. Coconut oil has an indefinite shelf life.
Jojoba oil: Similar in composition to sebum, the skin’s natural oil, Jojoba oil is absorbed easily by the skin and acts as a protectant. It strengthens sensitive skin, balances oily skin, clears acne and long-term scars, soothes and heals skin damaged by eczema or psoriasis, and in general, softens and moisturizes dry, dehydrated skin. Jojoba oil has an indefinite shelf life.
Shea butter: High in vitamin E, Shea Butter is extremely moisturizing and hydrating. It acts to heal and protect the skin while relieving sunburn, dermatitis, winter dry skin, and diaper rash. The shelf life of Shea Butter is 2 years.
Sunfower oil: A non-comedogenic oil that can be used on all skin types, sunflower oil contains vitamin E and oleic acid which protects and softens skin. It is ideal for healing dry skin and eczema. The shelf life is 1 year.
What are the best essential oils?
All essential oils have multiple uses, but there are a couple stars that treat a multitude of conditions. Of course, the best essential oil for you is the one with an aroma you can’t resist!
Lavender - Considered the universal healer, Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia) is the only essential oil that is safe to apply directly to skin without a carrier, and can safely be used with babies in the correct dilution (see “How do I apply oils topically?” above.) Lavender is best known for its sedating properties but it is also good for treating minor cuts and burns, relieving muscle aches, and treating troubled skin.
Peppermint - Along with Lavender, Peppermint (Mentha piperita) can cover all your medicine cabinet needs. Peppermint is an excellent remedy for digestive and respiratory issues and can also be helpful for headaches and menstrual cramping. Need to cool off on a hot day? Peppermint is the oil for you! Be sure to dilute Peppermint essential oil as it can have a burning sensation if applied directly to skin, and do not use with children under 3 years of age.
Eucalyptus - If you have any kind of respiratory issue, you must have Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) in your medicine cabinet. It an antispasmodic, decongestant, expectorant, mucolytic, and cough suppressant. As an anti-inflammatory, it is also helpful for muscle aches. Eucalyptus should not be used by those with epilepsy or children under 5 years of age.
Ginger - The perfect essential oil for digestive issues and muscle stiffness, Ginger (Zingiber officinale) combats nausea, assists with digestion, alleviates gas, and stimulates the appetite. It also stimulates circulation and calms inflammation, so it is also an excellent treatment for stiff, aching muscles.
Cedarwood - Another oil that is good for coughs and colds is Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica). It is an antispasmodic, a decongestant, and an expectorant as well as antibacterial. It is also sedating with a rich woodsy aroma that is lovely to diffuse into the room. Not for children under 5.
Lemon - The fresh, invigorating aroma of Lemon (Citrus limon) is enough to make it a favorite oil, but Lemon has some powerful antibacterial and fungicidal properties that makes it a preferred oil for cleaning. Lemon is phototoxic, which means it will attract the sun and cause sunburn if applied to the skin. It can also be irritating to sensitive skin.
Marjoram - Marjoram (Origanum majorana) does a little bit of everything—it’s good for digestion, relaxation, PMS, muscle aches, coughs, and wound healing. It is a gentle oil with a sweet, herbal aroma.
Orange - Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) has an uplifting aroma and is often blended with other oils. It also has a couple helpful therapeutic properties as a digestive, anti-inflammatory, fungicidal, and circulatory stimulant.
Rosemary - Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an excellent oil for muscle aches and arthritis. It is an anti-inflammatory and circulatory stimulant that creates a warming sensation when massaged into the affected area. Rosemary should not be used by those with uncontrolled high blood pressure, epileptics, or during pregnancy.
Tea Tree - Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is often used for troubled skin and healing of wounds because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities as well as its ability to prevent tissue degeneration. It is a gentle oil that can also be used to treat itchy skin.
