Seasonal allergies can be a killer. The sneezing, congestion, itchy and watery eyes can leave you feeling worn out and fed up. Over-the-counter allergy medications can make you drowsy and groggy and they are very hard on your adrenals. There are natural options for you that won’t leave you feeling worn down and that actually work. Now each person is unique but I find that a combination of the following suggestions works best.
Read moreHow to Make Garlic Ear Oil
It’s 1:00 in the morning and your child wakes up with an earache. It’s the middle of the night, no doctors are open, what do you do? This usually involves a long night of tears, from both the child and the mommy, but you have a natural earache remedy right in your kitchen and you didn’t even know it.
Garlic oil has saved the day (or night) many times in my house. Garlic is highly antibacterial and the oil is also soothing. In most cases I have been able to completely avoid having to do any antibiotics by using this simple remedy although a few times the infection was already too progressed and a trip to the doctor was needed. In these cases the garlic oil made the earache less painful until we could get medical treatment.
Read moreMedicinal Uses for Catnip
I harvested some fresh catnip from my garden. The soft velvety leaves have such a pleasing fragrance that I couldn’t keep myself from pressing the bunch of leaves to my nose and taking a deep, loving whiff. I then spent time separating the leaves and flowering tops from the stems so that I can dry and preserve this beautiful, fragrant plant to be used in medicine.
You have most likely heard of catnip in relation to its attractiveness to cats, but did you know that catnip has valid medicinal uses for humans? Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a very soothing and sometimes sedative plant, which makes it useful for relieving tension and anxiety and improving sleep. Catnip is best taken in the form of a tea but can also be used as a tincture.
Read moreHerbal Tea
Herbal teas are the oldest form of medicine. Traditional cultures would gather the plants that grew in their area and would steep them for tea as a way to administer medicine for all types of ailments. Herbal tea can be used to nourish the body with vitamins and minerals, to calm the nervous system, to improve focus and energy, to relieve colds and flu, and simply as an enjoyable beverage hot or iced. Herbal beverages can be a delicious beverage tea, also called a tisane, or as powerful medicine.
Types of Tea Brewing Methods
The type of brewing method you will use is based on which parts of the herb you are using. If you are making a tea of flowers or leaves then you will use the infusion method.
Infusion: Steep 2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons of flowers or leaves in boiled water for 5-15 minutes, covered
Herbal Tea for Colds
As winter hits so do colds and respiratory illness. Coughing, stuffy head, fever, and fatigue are all a part of the common cold and respiratory illnesses of the season. The first natural remedy I reach for when someone in my house begins to catch a cold is a good strong cup of hot herbal tea and I share one of my go-to herbal tea recipes below.
Herbal tea is a soothing way to get your medicine and provides many medicinal properties we can’t access in a capsule. The following Immune Tea will relieve respiratory symptoms and stimulate a fever to stimulate the internal immune fire and aid the body in mounting a strong response to viral infections.
Read moreHerb Infused Oils
The recipe for herbal infused oils is simple and fun. There are several methods which can take anywhere from 1-7 days to complete. Which one you choose will depend on your style and preference. I am a believer that your intention when making herbal oils, along with the quality of your herbs, will give you excellent finished results no matter which method you choose.
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