Two Perfect Herbs for Calming Coughs

As we enter cold and flu season, my thoughts turn to respiratory herbs that can relieve coughs and congestion. Two tasty herbs that are uniquely suited to treating coughs are bee balm and peppermint.

Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is also known as wild bergamot for its citrus-like flavor. Its reputation as the most powerful antimicrobial in the garden means that it can fight external as well as internal infections.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is rich in menthol compounds that help clear airways to help you breathe freely. Both herbs are cough expectorants and antispasmodics that can clear mucus from airways while relaxing air passages.

Combining the two herbs into a looseleaf tea helps relieve your cough in a tasty way. The longer the tea steeps, the more healing properties are infused into the tea. A super decoction is infused for four hours or longer. Enjoy hot or iced!

Sweet Melissa Encourages Sweet Dreams

Sweet melissa, also known as lemon balm, is known for calming nerves while lifting the spirit. It has the rare quality of helping with sleep without being over-sedating.

In addition to its nervine qualities, sweet melissa quiets inflammation, lowers blood sugar, and stimulates digestion. As a tea, it’s perfect to start the morning or as an after-dinner refreshment.

I use sweet melissa in my Sleepy Tea alongside valerian to promote restfulness and to enhance the flavor.

Topically, sweet melissa can be infused into an oil where it’s anti-inflammatory properties help relieve itching and resolve cold sores. For an itchy scalp, simmer sweet melissa into water, then massage into your scalp after it cools. It will keep in the refrigerator for several days. Add witch hazel or essential oils to keep it for a month or two.

Sweet melissa is a member of the mint family, so it can take over your garden if not contained. It is a perennial that likes full sun. To harvest, wait until flowers start to bloom, then cut stems just above a pair of leaves. Cut to within 6-8 inches of the soil, but do not remove more than two-thirds of growth. It can be used both dried or fresh.

Unsung gems: Cilantro and Coriander

Cilantro is one of the first plants up in Spring and appropriate as the subject for our May article. They flower quickly, so you need to harvest the leaves as soon as they appear and enjoy their fresh flavor in foods right away.

Dried cilantro leaves are not as tasty, so to preserve that fresh taste, freeze them in ice cubes. Then, in the dead of winter, melt a cilantro ice cube into your favorite dish.

For those who don’t like the taste of cilantro, the seeds have a warm, subtle flavor. Known as coriander, the cilantro seed also has a greater nutritional impact and is used dried, so is easier to use in home remedies.

Stop cutting the flowers when you are done harvesting the leaves and let the plant go to seed. When the seeds appear, harvest by drawing your hand along the stem. Most of the seeds will be in your hand and others will fall to the ground, which will provide next year’s plants. After they go to seed, the plants are done, so pull them out and cover with mulch.

Topically, coriander helps boost collagen production with its high levels of vitamins A and C. I infuse coriander into jojoba oil and add it to my wrinkle reducer oil.

Coriander also has vitamin K, folate, potassium, and maganese which contribute to its anti-inflammatory and antioxident properties. Include it as part of a daily tincture* for system-wide benefits.

*See earlier articles on infusing oils and tinctures.

Natural Remedies for Coughs and Congestion

It’s that season again—coughs and congestion come back with the cold, dry weather in the north.  If you’re looking for a natural route to clearing air passages, you have to investigate the cause.

For episodic congestion as occurs with a cold, a vapor rub with eucalyptus and peppermint should do the trick.  Eucalyptus contains a compound called 1,8-cineole that reduces mucus and has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritation.  Menthol is the active constituent in peppermint which helps your nasal passages feel more open by its cooling effect.

Golden Age makes Cough Be Gone vapor rub with eucalyptus and peppermint and other airway-clearing essential oils. Rub it on your chest of the soles of the feet where pores are the largest.

Coughs that extend beyond the time of a cold call for multiple approaches.  One of the most common causes of continual cough is postnasal drip, extra mucus that drips from the nose down the back of the throat, also known as Upper Airway Cough Syndrome (UACS).

Here are some ideas for combatting UACS:

·       Drink hot fluids to thin mucus and moisturize the nasal lining.  Use herbs in your tea that specifically target a cough:  Mullein, which soothes irritated tissues; Thyme, with its anti-inflammatory compounds; Peppermint; Ginger, a potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory; Marshmallow root, used as an expectorant and to coat the throat; and Horehound, an effective expectorant for loosening mucus. 

·       Use steam therapy with camphor-containing essential oils.  Camphor is a decongestant, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic that will relax the chest muscles.  Essential oils that contain camphor include white camphor, rosemary, lavandin, and spike lavender.  You can diffuse the oils using a diffuser, a shower steamer, or by putting a towel over your head and leaning over a bowl of steaming water.

·       Daily irrigation of the nasal cavity helps clear out dust and microbes that have settled there.

·       Elevate your head while lying down to use gravity to drain mucus from nasal passages.  Pay attention to ergonomics to avoid neck and shoulder pain, keeping the spine in a straight line with natural curves.

Chronic skin conditions? Look to the universal healing herb

It is known as the universal healer.  With lovely flowers and heavenly scent, lavender has relaxing properties, but is primarily a skin herb.

 Lavender calms skin irritations because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Applied to itchy, rashy skin, lavender relieves the itch and redness.

Lavender essential oil is added to calendula salve to assist with calming itchy skin

 The antimicrobial qualities of lavender essential oil make it an excellent addition to topicals aimed at healing broken skin. Lavender heals cuts and wounds faster than other antimicrobials because it encourages the growth of new skin cells.

stop the sting! acts as a healer of all open wounds, not just bug bites

 In addition to being an antimicrobial, lavender is an analgesic.  It relieves the pain of cuts, stings, and burns. Lavender essential oil is the only essential oil that can be applied directly to the skin without dilution, and is safe enough for babies.  For safety reasons, follow a .25% dilution for babies 0 to 2 years of age.

Most importantly, a lavender-infused jojoba oil is the best thing for chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. Lavender soothes the skin and jojoba oil is so similar to our own skin’s molecular structure that it is readily absorbed and doesn’t cause a reaction.

lavender mousse combines lavender-infused jojoba oil with aloe vera to provide a soothing treatment for sensitive skin

 There is a reason for all the hype around lavender. Every medicine cabinet should have the essential oil for first aid purposes. If you have access to the plant, collect the flowers just as they are about to bloom and infuse them in a good skin oil, such as jojoba or olive, for 2 weeks before straining. Your skin will thank you.

See my previous article for directions on infusing a herbal oil.

Super Skin Tea to Build Collagen

Collagen is the key to keeping skin smooth and resilient. It is a major structural component of skin that decreases as we age, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. There is no evidence to show that consuming collagen will increase its levels, so we are left to ingest foods and herbs that stimulate the production of collagen.

Minerals such as silica as well as vitamins A, C, and D encourage the body to create its own collagen. Although there are foods that contain these constituents, the best way to consume them is in a tea, where minerals and vitamins are extracted at a higher concentration.

Last summer I wrote about applying vitamins A, C, and D topically because those vitamins can work their magic through the skin.  Silica, on the other hand, must be consumed internally to do its work.

Calendula provides 100 times more vitamin A by weight than a sweet potato

The following tea recipe contains herbs that have the highest amounts of silica, vitamins A and C.  Peppermint, an antioxidant,  is thrown in for flavor, but it also contains vitamins A and C. Antioxidants combat oxidation (aging) of our skin.

 Super Skin Tea Recipe

1 part horsetail (highest concentration of silica of any source)
3 parts nettle (silica, vitamins A and C)
3 parts rose hips (more vitamin C by weight than any other source)
2 parts calendula (highest source of vitamin A)
1 part raspberry leaf (vitamin C, antioxidant)
3/4 part peppermint (antioxidant, vitamins A and C)

For a typical tea, steeping 10 minutes is adequate, but the constituents will be extracted to the maximum with a super-decoction—four hours or more.  You can make a pot to store in the refrigerator and drink it iced or warm it up as a hot tea.

How to Deal with Bug Bites

The best thing you can do for a bee sting or mosquito bite is to grab a couple leaves of plantain, mush them up (some people chew them up), and apply it to the bite immediately. It takes away the pain and soothes the injury, helping it heal.

The problem is that we can’t find a plantain plant when we need it.

A plantain-infused oil is the next best thing. You can easily infuse plantain leaves into the oil of your choosing. Just stuff as much fresh plantain into a jar, fill it with the oil of your choice, and leave it for 2 weeks, shaking it every so often. If you are using dried plantain, fill the jar only halfway.

Where do you find plantain? It’s a common weed in the Midwest, often found in driveway or sidewalk cracks. Select leaves that are in good shape, and if the leaves are dirty (which they often are because the plant grows so close to the ground), wash them before you pick them and allow them to dry so that you don’t introduce water to the oil.

At Golden Age Wellness I mix plantain oil with yarrow liniment for our Stop the Sting bug bite formula. Yarrow is an herb that has been used for centuries to stop bleeding while it heals open skin. With yarrow included in the formula, Stop the Sting can be used as a general first aid ointment as well as a bug bite reliever. A splash of lavender essential oil enhances the antimicrobial action.

Stop the Sting is sold in a small bottle (10 ml) with a roller ball applicator, so you can take it with you on the go.

Roses Are the Key to Beautiful Skin

When we moved into our house six years ago, we had several healthy rose bushes next to the front door, which were beautiful and I was grateful to the previous owner for planting them. Regarding them only as a beautiful flower, I never considered using them for my topical herbal remedies when I planted my herb gardens a couple years later. Now I know better.

I have since learned that rose petals and rose hips offer an abundance of benefits for skin when used as topical agents. For one thing, both are antioxidants which neutralize free radicals to slow aging of skin tissues. They are also anti-inflammatories, combating redness, pain, itching and dryness.

Rose hips are well-known for their high vitamin C content. In fact, rose hips have more vitamin C by weight than any other source. Vitamin C as a topical is absorbed through the skin to induce collagen production, the main structural component of the skin. Collagen decreases as we age, causing skin to lose its elasticity and increase the formation of wrinkles. Vitamin C also brightens darker patches of skin, leading to a more even skin tone. An interesting fact about topical vitamin C is that if it is exposed to light, it oxidizes into erythrulose, which is a substance used to darken skin in tanning products.

Due to their high vitamin C levels, rose hips are the perfect candidates to be infused into jojoba oil and included in our Wrinkle Reducer, which consists of herbs high in vitamins A and C, such as thyme, lavender, and calendula. Jojoba is the best oil for all skin types because it has a molecular structure very close to our own skin’s sebum and is readily absorbed.

Rose petals have both emollient and astringent qualities, giving them the ability to impart softness to skin while tightening and toning. The petals strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier and also provide vitamins C and A, another collagen booster.

Rose petals are perfectly used in a natural toner due to their astringent properties. The fact that they are emollients makes a toner that also protects the skin’s moisture balance. Collagen-boosting vitamins A and C are an added benefit. I make Baby Skin by steeping rose petals in hot water, adding some witch hazel, also an astringent, for a preservative, then adding a drop of rose damascena essential oil for scent. I also infuse rose petals in jojoba oil and include the rose petal oil in Wrinkle Reducer.

Rose hips and petals are beneficial in a drinkable tea for the same reasons as above and then some. The petals’ astringent properties help strengthen the inner linings of the digestive system, while rose hips contain quercetin, which reduces plaque in arteries, and catechins that lower cholesterol and blood sugar.

Getting a Good Night's Sleep with Valerian

I meet many people in my booth who are struggling with sleep, especially as we approach the winter months.  Getting to sleep and staying asleep is all about how we deal with stress in our waking lives, but there are herbal solutions that can help without becoming addictive.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is the go-to herb for sleep.  It contains gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), one of the main neurotransmitters responsible for sleep regulation, as well as valerenic acid and valerenol which act on GABA receptors in the body.  All of that means that valerian improves the quality of sleep as well as the ability to fall asleep.

 I make Peaceful Slumbers, an oil infused with valerian root, for topical use at bedtime. It helps relax the muscles and calm the nerves in a gentle way. I make it as a roll-on because the root of the plant has a skunky odor which you don’t want to get on your hands.

 Many of my customers report good results with Peaceful Slumbers, but there are those who need a little more help getting or staying asleep. In these cases, a valerian tea, tincture, or capsule is the way to go.   The tea usually combines valerian with other herbs to make it more palatable.  A tincture can be made at home or found in an herbal shop while capsules are usually found at a vitamin store.  Valerian is not addictive, so can be used indefinitely.

 Valerian is not for everyone.  It can have the opposite effect in about five percent of the population, causing agitation rather than relaxation. It can also interact with anti-anxiety or pain medications. Alternatives include passionflower, skullcap, and California poppy.

 If you’re looking for non-drug solutions for sleep, you can look to herbs to help in soothing the nervous system, flipping the switch so that you can feel less stress and get a good night’s rest.

Stiff Joints? Try this Herb for Relief

I was delighted to find an herb that not only relieves pain, but actually repairs tissues.

Comfrey

Comfrey is well-known in folk medicine as “knitbone”.  Now scientific studies have verified that comfrey, when applied topically, penetrates so deep into the tissues that it can even heal bone fractures.

Comfrey owes its healing powers to allantoin, a compound that stimulates the regeneration of connective tissue, and rosmarinic acid, which reduces inflammation at the cellular level.  As a result, comfrey heals bruises, pulled muscles, and torn ligaments in addition to relieving the pain of those conditions.

Infusing herbs

Comfrey also has many applications for rejuvenating and protecting skin. In addition to its tissue-regenerating powers, comfrey contains collagen-stimulating vitamin C and anti-aging antioxidants. It  heals scars, hydrates skin, reduces fine lines, and protects skin from irritants.

Comfrey can be dangerous if taken internally.  It is banned in the U.S. and many other countries for internal use due to alkaloids that can cause liver damage.  It also should not be applied to broken skin. Comfrey can heal so quickly that it can seal an infection into a wound.

At Golden Age Wellness, we use comfrey in our Joint Repair Warming Salve. It contains essential oils that warm up stiff joints and shea butter to moisturize skin.

Aloe Vera: A Must-have Herb for Skin and Hair Care

One of the most beneficial plants for skin and hair health is aloe vera. Easy to make your own and inexpensive to buy, aloe vera gel should be a key component in every skin and hair care routine.

Benefits of Aloe Vera

The plentiful benefits for skin and hair arise from aloe vera’s many nutrients and therapeutic properties:

• Smooths fine lines by stimulating collagen production—vitamins A and C

• Softens skin by preventing moisture loss—vitamins B12 and E

• Promotes healthy skin cell growth and recovery—vitamin B12

• Improves the elasticity of skin—antioxidant properties

• Unplugs blocked skin pores—salicylic acid

• Reduces dandruff—selenium

• Eases an itchy, flaky scalp—anti-inflammatory properties

It is easy to make your own aloe vera gel if you have a plant and I give directions to do that below. One of the limitations of a home-made gel is the short shelf life. Once the gel is exposed to air, the oxidation process starts and nutrients start to lose potency. It lasts only about a week in the refrigerator and up to two months if you add a preservative. It’s a lot of work to go to for a daily routine, so if you’re not into that, purchasing a high-quality gel is the best option.

Use caution when selecting a commercially-produced aloe vera gel, as the gel you find in most stores has a low percentage of aloe vera and has added alcohol to preserve it. Look for high quality aloe vera in health food or vitamin stores or online that is at least 90% aloe vera. The other 10% of the ingredients will be antioxidants that help preserve the gel and add to its benefit.

I add a touch of aloe vera gel to most of my skincare products, but the product that features it most prominently is Lavender Mousse, made with lavender-infused jojoba oil and aloe vera gel. Lavender is a classic skin herb that calms inflammation and stimulates collagen production, while jojoba is so close to our own skin’s sebum that it is readily absorbed and acts as a protectant and cleanser. In addition to being a lovely face cream, it can also be used for sunburn relief, as aloe’s anti-inflammatory properties helps to cool minor burns.

DIY Aloe Vera Gel

To make your own aloe vera gel, follow these steps:

1. The plant should be a few years old before you harvest the leaves. Choose thick leaves from the outer sections of the plant and remove no more than four leaves at a time.

2. Cut the leaves close to the stem. Most of the beneficial nutrients are at the base of the leaves.

3. Wash the leaf, removing any dirt.

4. Cut off the tip of the leaf and stand it tip-side-down in a cup or bowl for 10-15 minutes to drain the latex-containing resin which is irritating to skin.

5. After draining, wash off any resin that remains on the outside of the leaf.

6. Cut off both of the leaf’s serrated edges, then using a small knife or vegetable peeler, peel off the thick outer skin on one side of the leaf.

7. Scoop the gel out of the leaf, being sure not to include any pieces of the skin.

8. If you want a smooth gel, blend it until frothy and liquified. It will keep for up to a week in the fridge.

9. To keep it for up to two months in the refrigerator, add a preservative—either powdered vitamin C or E. For every 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel, add 500 mg of powdered vitamin C or 400 iu of powdered vitamin E directly to the blender.

Sources:

Gladstar, Rosemary, Medicinal Herbs: A Beginners Guide, 2012

Healthline.com, “How to Make Aloe Vera Gel”, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-make-aloe-vera-gel, 2019

Create Your Own Natural Mosquito Repellent

Why should you make your own mosquito repellent?

• The chemicals in the commercial repellents can be harmful to some if inhaled or cause skin irritations.

• It is less expensive to create your own repellent, even when using essential oils.

• You can create your own personalized aroma, blending your favorite essential oils.

Why are mosquitos attracted to some people more than others?

Granted, there are some people for whom homemade repellents don’t work (my husband is one). We all know at least a couple people like this—you’re sitting right next to them and they’re getting eaten alive while you’re only getting one or two nibbles.

 Mosquitos are attracted to sweat and those who have a high metabolic rate, releasing more carbon dioxide.  A floral fragrance (other than lavender and geranium) can also interest mosquitos.

For people who are loved by mosquitoes, a natural option is a repellent containing OLE, a synthetic derived from lemon eucalyptus trees.  (It is not the same as lemon eucalyptus essential oil.) OLE is just as effective as DEET for repelling mosquitos and more effective for tick protection.

Lemon balm is a natural repellent

Which herbs repel mosquitos?

A mosquito repellent can be made into a spray or a skin oil. To make a spray, infuse fresh or dry plant material in 80-proof vodka for a month.  For an oil, infuse dry herb in an oil of your choice for two weeks. For those with sensitive skin, infuse lavender, lemon balm, or yarrow.

Basil repels mosquitos, ticks, flies, ants, spiders, wasps, and cockroaches.  It is an annual that needs full sun.  Harvest the leaves by cutting the top of the plant when it is at least eight inches.

Catnip repels mosquitoes and flies and is reported to be as effective as DEET. It is a perennial that needs full sun but can be planted in nutrient-depleted soil. Harvest the leaves in moderation before the plant blooms.

Lavender repels mosquitoes, ticks, flies, ants, and moths.  It is a tender perennial that requires full sun. Harvest the leaves, buds, and stems when buds have formed, but flowers are not fully open.

Lemon balm (aka sweet melissa) repels mosquitoes, gnats, fleas, and wasps.  A member of the mint family, lemon balm is a perennial that likes full sun and can get away from you if not contained. Harvest the leaves when flowers start to bloom. Cut the top two-thirds of the stem just above a pair of leaves.

Oregano repels mosquitoes and ants. Oregano is a perennial that needs full sun. Harvest the leaves just before it blooms. Cut the stems just above the lowest set of leaves to keep it growing.

Peppermint repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, spiders, fleas, and mice. It is a perennial that can tolerate partial shade and spreads rapidly. Keep it contained in a pot or raised bed. Harvest leaves before it flowers just above the second set of leaves.

Sage repels mosquitoes, spiders, ants, and moths. Sage is a tender perennial that needs full sun. Harvest leaves by pinching off or cut a small spring from the plant.

Thyme repels mosquitos, ants, spiders, and cockroaches.  It is a perennial that can be planted in partial shade. Harvest leaves throughout the season from the top.

Yarrow repels mosquitoes and ticks. It is a perennial that can tolerate some shade. Harvest leaves and flowers at full bloom. Deadhead flowers to get another round of blooming.

Which essential oils repel mosquitos?

The essential oils of the previous herbs also act as repellents for the insects listed with the following precautions:

• I do not recommend using oregano essential oil in any preparation for the skin as it is a very “hot” oil, causing a burning sensation.

• Basil essential oil should not be used by children under 5, during pregnancy, or by those with sensitive skin. 

• Peppermint essential oil should not be used with children under 3 or those with sensitive skin.

• Sage essential oil should not be used during pregnancy.

These additional essential oils work well to repel mosquitos and other insects:

Cedarwood essential oil repels mosquitos, ticks, ants, and fleas.  It is not to be used by children under 5.

Citronella essential oil repels mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas. It should be avoided by those with sensitive skin.

Clove bud essential oil repels mosquitoes and mice. It should not be used by those with sensitive skin.

Eucalyptus essential oil repels mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies. It should not be used by children under 5 or those with epilepsy.

Geranium essential oil repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, moths, lice, and gnats.

Lemongrass essential oil repels mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas. It should not be used by children under 2 or those with sensitive skin.

Sweet orange essential oil repels mosquitoes, flies, ants, spiders, and fleas.

Rosemary essential oil repels mosquitoes, ticks, and white flies. It should not be used during pregnancy or by those with epilepsy.

Tea tree essential oil repels mosquitoes, flies, and ants.

Make your own repellent

Pouring liniment into a spray bottle

How do you make a natural insect repellent?

1. Pour your infused oil or liniment into an appropriate bottle. Oils work best in squeeze bottles, liniments in spray bottles. If you do not have an infused oil or liniment, you can choose any oil or lotion for a squeeze bottle. For a spray, pour one part 80-proof vodka to two parts water into your container. Essential oils don’t mix with water alone, so the spirit acts as an emulsifier.

2. On paper, create a blend of essential oils according to your aroma preferences. Citrus aromas blend well with all other aromas—floral, herbal, spicy, woodsy. Keep in mind the scent of the herbal liniment or oil that you are using as the base of the repellent. You don’t have to use essential oils, but they will have a stronger repelling effect than the liniment or oil alone. Blends that I like include:

   • Basil and lemongrass

   • Lavender, geranium, and lemon balm

   • Cedarwood, eucalyptus, and citronella

   • Clove bud and sweet orange

3. Add your essential oils according to the following dilution guidelines:

Adults (12 and older):  5% dilution (30 drops of essential oil per ounce)

Pregnant, elderly, children 5-12:  1% dilution (6 drops per ounce)

Children 2-5:  .5% dilution (3 drops per ounce)

Babies 0-2:  .25% dilution (1.5 drops per ounce) Lavender only

What bug-related products does Golden Age Wellness sell?

Bug Off is our repellent spray that comes in 2- or 4-ounce sizes with variations in the herbal liniment base and essential oil blends. It can be customized according to allergies or aroma preferences.

Stop the Sting! is our bite relief formula made with plantain oil to soothe the itch, and yarrow liniment to heal the wound.

Powerful Pain Herb: Saint John's Wort

What is Saint John’s Wort?

Saint John’s is a beautiful flowering bush with tiny yellow flowers loved by bees. I often find my bushes abuzz when I go to harvest.

Saint John’s Wort is a miraculous herb. Used as a topical, it can:

—soothe inflamed and irritated nerves
—block pain signals to the brain
—heal cuts and scrapes, strengthening skin tissue integrity
—relieve rashes and burns

Saint John’s is considered a common weed and I see it in empty lots and along the roadside. It blooms from June to August.

How Do You Harvest Saint John’s Wort?

An unusual aspect of Saint John’s Wort is that it must be prepared fresh. It is almost useless as a dried herb. I can’t speak to how it is prepared as a supplement since I only use my herbs topically. It is possible that when it is consumed internally, the fresh rule doesn’t apply or that supplement makers have found a way to retain the freshness in their preparations.

I harvest the tiny flowers and buds during prime blooming time right into a jar and prepare to infuse it immediately. Pack the jar as much as you can and fill it right to the top.

How do you prepare Saint John’s Wort?

I infuse Saint John’s into alcohol that acts as a preservative to the fresh flowers and prevents spoilage.

Step One: Infuse as a liniment

Add 80-proof vodka to cover the herb. Vodka is the best spirit to use for a liniment because it is colorless and odorless. 80-proof is the strength used for a topical to avoid harsh skin reactions.

Step Two: Set Aside

Place on a shelf out of the sunlight for one month. As Saint John’s infuses, the liniment becomes a lovely shade of red.

Step Three: Strain

Place a cheesecloth or piece of muslin into a strainer set over a bowl or large measuring cup. Pour contents of jar into strainer, straining out the herb and leaving the infused liniment in the bowl or cup.

Step Four: Store

Using a funnel, pour infused liniment into a glass bottle. Label it with the contents and date, then store it in a cool, dark place. Liniments should keep for up to 10 years.

Sore Muscle Solution

Saint John’s Wort is the ideal herb for our Sore Muscle Solution liniment.

Saint John’s Wort is perfect in Sore Muscle Solution because it works directly on the nerves to block pain signals to the brain. Whether you have overworked muscles or a strain that needs rest, Saint John’s will provide the needed pain relief. Combined with menthol-rich essential oils that calm inflammation, Sore Muscle Solution is an effective topical remedy for everyday muscle aches. I make it as a roll-on or as a lotion to suit individual preferences.

Beautiful Skin with Calendula

Do you want to reduce wrinkles? Soothe an itchy rash? Calm sensitive skin? Then look to Calendula, the best herb for skin that is virtually unknown to many people.

Calendula is a cheerful flower with bright yellow and orange blooms that grows enthusiastically in Northern Wisconsin and throughout the world. It is my favorite herb because of its beauty and its bountiful benefits.

Packed with Collagen-Stimulating Vitamin A

Calendula is known as a “nutritive herb” because of its high amount of vitamin A—100 times more vitamin A (by weight) than a sweet potato! Consuming calendula through a tea or tincture can improve your eye, bone, and skin health as well as boost your immunity. Topically, vitamin A stimulates collagen production, reducing fine lines and plumping sagging skin.

Good for Sensitive or Irritated Skin

In addition, calendula contains powerful anti-inflammatories, making it the perfect herb for itchy skin, irritations, and rashes. Calendula is a member of the daisy family, however, so anyone with allergies to daisies should avoid it.

Calendula blooms in the dehydrator

Growing Calendula

Calendula grows from seed planted in the cool months of spring. It reseeds itself readily, so you should get a bountiful crop every year without having to replant. It is also drought-resistant, so requires little maintenance other than weeding to achieve those beautiful blooms. The only problem I’ve had is bugs that eat the leaves and flowers. I use the hose to knock them off and encourage beneficial insects to come eat them by not using pesticides. (I would also not be able to use the plant if it was treated with pesticides or herbicides.)

Calendula Products

Wrinkle Reducer takes advantage of the collagen-stimulating abilities of the vitamin A packed into calendula’s flowers. I infuse the flowers in jojoba oil, the oil that most closely resembles our own skin’s sebum, then combine it with thyme-infused jojoba oil. Thyme has large amounts of Vitamin C which also stimulates collagen production and lightens dark patches. I add a dash of skin-loving lavender essential oil for scent.

Calendula Mousse highlights calendula’s anti-inflammatory properties in this cream for sensitive skin. It also works well for those experiencing itchy, irritated skin, including babies with diaper rash. Once again, I infuse the flowers in jojoba oil, then combine it with hypoallergenic candelilla wax and shea butter to create a creamy consistency.

Sensitive Skin Lotion consists of three ingredients: calendula, jojoba oil, and aloe. It is designed for those with extremely sensitive skin that would not be able to tolerate the candelilla wax and shea butter in Calendula Mousse.

Calendula Soap for sensitive skin is created using calendula-infused olive oil. Calendula’s anti-inflammatory properties combined with emollient-rich olive oil soothes sensitive skin and keeps it soft and moisturized.

If you would like to make your own calendula-infused oil, see my article on making an infused oil.

The Most Important Herb in Your Garden: Dandelions!

Your lawn holds a gold mine that can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in skin care lotions and creams. I’m talking about the lowly dandelion, which most people regard as a weed, but was brought to the new world intentionally as a medicinal herb.

Dandelions can grow strong and healthy without herbicides

While this article focuses on skin care, dandelions are an herbal pharmacopia from root to flower—the roots work as a liver tonic and the leaves provide a kidney detox when made into a tincture, vinegar, or glycerite.

Dandelions offer so many health benefits

 Dandelion flowers promote healthy skin.  They contain a significant amount of vitamins A, C, and D and are antioxidants as well. That means you are boosting collagen production, supporting skin cell regeneration, reducing oxidative damage, and preventing itchy, flakey skin.

a bountiful harvest

It is simple to pick the bright yellow blooms of the dandelion, infuse them in oil, and create a nutritive, moisturizing salve or cream that will do wonders for your skin. 

Freshly-picked dandelions in the dehydrator

 To make an infused oil:

 1)     Pick flowers:  Pick the bloom off the stem, including the bract. You can use the flowers fresh or dried, but fresh flowers have water content that will introduce spoilage.  Spoilage can be countered after infusion by adding antimicrobial essential oils, keeping the oil in the refrigerator, or using it within a year.

2)     Add oil:  Pack a mason jar halfway with dried blooms or all the way with fresh blooms.  Push them down to make sure they are packed tightly.  Add an oil of your choice to the top of the jar and store in a warm place out of sunlight for two weeks.

3)     Strain:  Place a cheesecloth or piece of muslin over a measuring cup and pour the dandelion mixture through the cloth.  A piece of muslin will strain all the tiny bits out of the oil, so is more effective than cheesecloth, but will take a longer time to strain.  A measuring cup is the best receptacle because of its spout for pouring the strained oil into its final bottle.  Label the bottle with the contents and date.

dandelion blooms ready to be infused

 An infused oil works well as it is, but if you prefer a different consistency, you can make a salve or cream.

To Make 5 Ounces of Salve: 

1)     Melt 2 tablespoons of beeswax or a plant wax in a double boiler.  I usually put a glass measuring cup in a large pan of water.

2)     Add 4 ounces of your infused oil.  Stir until completely melted.

3)     Remove from heat and stir in essential oils if desired. 

4)     Pour into glass jars and allow to cool before capping the jar. Keeps for about a year.

Dandelion salve

To Make 6 Ounces of Cream:

1)     Melt 1 tablespoons of beeswax or a plant wax in a double boiler.  I usually put a glass measuring cup in a large pan of water.

2)     Add 3 ounces of your infused oil and 2 tablespoons of a solid oil such as shea butter, coconut oil, or cocoa butter. Stir until completely melted.

3)     Remove from heat, pour into a blender, and let cool to room temperature.

4)     Pour 2 ounces of room-temperature water, and essential oils if desired, into the blender and blend until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.  You can substitute a hydrosol, liniment, or gel for water.

Note:  to avoid separation, add the oil mixture to the blender first, then the waters, and both should be room temperature.

pouring cream into jars

How to Make Healthy Hair Tea

I discovered this “beauty potion” in one of Rosemary Gladstar’s books. It’s easy to make with a variety of herbs that are readily found.

Healthy hair begins with healthy hair follicles. This herbal rinse involves steeping nutrient-rich herbs into a tea, then adding essential oils that prevent dandruff, reduce itchiness, and promote growth.

Step One: Gather Herbs

Scalp-loving herbs include bee balm, lavender, calendula, lemon balm, roman chamomile, thyme, and yarrow to name a few, but unless you grow these herbs, this tea might be difficult to make. Fortunately, there are several plants that are easily found growing in your yard or nearby parks that no one will mind if you pick: dandelion, white clover, plantain, and heal-all.

Step Two: Make Herbal Tea

Measure the freshly-picked herbs into a pot using a cup measure. If you are not able to make the tea right after you pick the plants, dry them in a hot, dry location out of the sun—garage, attic, or a paper bag put on the dashboard of a closed car. Add one quart (4 cups) of water for every two cups of herbs. Bring the water to simmering temperature—bubbles will just begin to form on the bottom and side of the pot. Do not boil. Turn down the temperature and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the herbs steep an additional 20 minutes.

Step Three: Strain the Tea

Strain the herbs out of the tea using a colander set in a bowl large enough to hold the amount of water you used. Remove the colander. If there are large bits of herb still in your tea, you can strain again by putting a coffee filter or paper towel into the colander, placing it into another bowl, then straining again. Let the tea cool.

Step Four: Add Essential Oils

After the tea cools, you can add essential oils in a 3% dilution (18 drops per ounce). If for a child or an elderly person, use a 1% dilution (6 drops per ounce). You do not have to add essential oils, but they add extra oomph to the tea by reducing dandruff (Tea Tree), soothing itching (Lavender and Tea Tree), and promoting growth (Rosemary and Cinnamon). There are other essential oils that address these same concerns, but this is my favorite blend in terms of aroma and safety.

Step Five: Bottle Your Tea

Find a bottle that you can use in the shower. If you have made several quarts, store the extra tea in a large container and refill your shower bottle when it runs low. You may want to hold off on adding the essential oils until you refill your shower bottle so that you don’t have to use such a large amount. Place a funnel over the bottle opening and ladle or use a measuring cup to pour the tea into the bottle. Stir up the mixture right before you bottle it—the essential oils separate from the tea.

Step Six: Use Your Tea

1) Shake up your bottle right before you apply the tea—the essential oils will rise to the top and you want an evenly-mixed application.

2) After shampooing, conditioning, and rinsing, apply about a tablespoon of the tea to your scalp.

3) Massage into scalp and leave in—do not rinse.

Create an Herb-infused Oil in Five Easy Steps

A simple salve is made of oil and wax, and is a lovely moisturizer on its own, but add some healing herbs to the mixture and you have a pain treatment, a sedating balm, or a rash-clearing ointment.

To create a healing salve, you first need to make an herb-infused oil to use in the recipe. Here’s how:

Step One:  Choose an herb

Excellent herbs for infusing into oil to calm itchy, rashy skin include Calendula, Heal All (aka Self Heal), Lavender, Lemon Balm, Plantain, Roman Chamomile, and White Clover.  For topical pain relief look to California Poppy, Catnip, Comfrey, Cramp Bark, Meadowsweet, St. John’s Wort, and Valerian.  Valerian and Catnip also have sedating properties.

Fresh Calendula flowers

Step Two: Harvest fresh or use dried herbs

An herb-infused oil will keep longer if made with dried herb, but fresh herbs extract the most medicine.  Introducing moisture from fresh plants will increase the risk of spoilage, however, so dried herbs are generally used for oils.  Milky oat seed, St. John’s wort, and motherwort are nearly useless when dried and should always be used fresh. 

Calendula flowers on a hydrator rack

 You can dry herbs yourself, or purchase dried herbs.  See the purchasing information at the end of this article if you are looking to buy dried herbs.

 The equipment you will need includes two jars, a strainer, a measuring cup, and  a square of muslin or coffee filter.  In addition, if using dried herbs to make your infused oil, you will need a grinder (a food processor or blender will work), kitchen scale, and 100- to 190-proof vodka.

Step Three: Infuse the herb into the oil

  Maceration method for fresh herbs:

• Loosely fill a jar with fresh herb and cover with the oil of your choice (see the carrier oil descriptions at the end of the article). 

• Label the jar with the herb and the date.

• Put the jar on a shelf for two weeks, shaking the jar or stirring it daily. You can put a cheesecloth lid on the jar to allow moisture to escape, just be sure to stir it every day.

Weighing dried herb on a scale

Alcohol-Intermediary technique for dried herbs

(From “Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies” by Maria Noel Groves)

• Grind herb coarsely and weigh it on a kitchen scale.   Choose the size of the jar based on the amount of herb:

1 ounce of herb              8-ounce jar

2 ounces of herb            16-ounce jar

3-4 ounces of herb         Quart jar

•  Add 1/2 ounce of 100- to 190-proof alcohol (vodka works best because it is odorless) for every ounce of herb and stir or shake to mix it thoroughly with the herb.  Cover tightly and let sit for about a day.

• Pour the prepped herb in a blender or food processor and add 7 ounces of oil (see the carrier oil choices at the end of the article) for every ounce of herb. Blend for about 5 minutes.

Straining herb-infused oil

Step Four: Strain Oil

Place a strainer over a measuring cup. Make sure the measuring cup is large enough for the amount of oil you are going to strain. Line the strainer with a square of muslin or a coffee filter. This allows the tiniest speck of herb to be strained out of the oil. It will take an hour or longer for the oil to strain, so get comfortable. After all the oil has been strained, pick up the muslin or coffee filter and squeeze out the last little bit of oil. (Have a hand towel ready—your hands will get oily!)

Step Five: Store the Oil

Pour the strained oil into a clean glass jar. Label the jar with the type of oil and date, cover it tightly, and store in a cool, dark place.  The cooler the temperature, the longer the oil will keep.  Dried herb oils can keep for a year or two.  Fresh herb oils will last several months to a year.

 Dried herb purchasing information:  Purchase from local organic sellers first, then look to the Internet.  Raven Moon Emporium (https://ravenmoonemporium.com/) and The Grower’s Exchange (https://thegrowers-exchange.com/) are two online producers that I have used.

 Carrier oils:  Good skin oils readily available from your local store include avocado oil, fractionated coconut oil (that is an oil at room temperature rather than a solid), olive oil, and sunflower oil.  If ordering online, the best oil for your skin is Jojoba, which closely resembles your own skin’s natural oil and is readily absorbed.  Apricot oil and grapeseed oil are also good choices.  Coconut oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil have indefinite shelf lives, so are preferred for long-term uses.  I avoid almond oil because of the California almond industry’s misuse of water resources.