How to make holistic and Herbal Remedies, with full Recipes

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal balance
in some way. When faced with a threat, whether to our physical safety or emotional equilibrium,
the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-orflight”
response. We all know what this stress response feels like, heart pounding in the chest,
muscles tensing up, breath coming faster, and every sense on red alert. 

The “fight-or-flight” stress response involves a cascade of biological changes that prepare us
for emergency action. When danger is sensed, a small part of the brain called the
hypothalamus sets off a chemical alarm. Stress hormone races through the bloodstream,
readying us to either flee the scene or battle it out. 

Heart rate and blood flow to the large muscles increase so we can run faster and fight harder.
Blood vessels under the skin constrict to prevent blood loss in case of injury, pupils dilate so we
can see better, and our blood sugar ramps up, giving us an energy boost and speeding up
reaction time. At the same time, body processes not essential to immediate survival are
suppressed. The digestive and reproductive systems slow down, growth hormones are switched
off, and the immune response is inhibited.

The biological stress response is meant to protect and support us. It’s what helped our
ancestors survive the life-or-death situations they commonly faced. But in the modern world,
most of the stress we feel is in response to psychological rather than physical threats. Whether
we’re stressed over a looming deadline, an argument with a friend, or a mountain of bills, the
warning bells ring. And just like a caveman confronting a sabretooth tiger, we go into automatic
overdrive.
If you have a lot of responsibilities and worries, you may be running on stress a good portion of
the time

Chronic stress wears you down day after day and year after year, with no visible escape. Under
sustained or severe stress, even the most well-adjusted person loses the ability to adapt. When
stress overwhelms our coping resources, our bodies and minds suffer.
Health Effects
Recent research suggests that anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of illness is stress-related. The
physical wear and tear of stress includes damage to the cardiovascular system and immune
system suppression. Stress compromises your ability to fight off disease and infection, throws
your digestive system off balance, and makes it difficult to conceive a baby, and can even stunt
growth in children.

Stress and Your Health
Many medical conditions are caused or exacerbated by stress, including:
• Chronic pain
• Migraines
• Ulcers
• Heartburn
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• PMS
• Obesity
• Infertility
• Autoimmune diseases
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Skin problems 

Chronic stress grinds away at your mental health, causing emotional damage in addition to
physical ailments. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to
everyday pressures and less able to cope. Over time, stress can lead to mental health problems
such as:
• anxiety
• depression
• eating disorders, and
• substance abuse. 

Severe stress reactions can result from sudden, catastrophic events or traumatic experiences
such as a natural disaster, sexual assault, life-threatening accident, or participation in combat.
After the initial shock and emotional fallout, many trauma victims gradually begin to recover from
its effects. But for some people, the stress symptoms don't go away, the body doesn’t regain its
equilibrium, and life doesn’t return to normal. This severe and persisting reaction to trauma is
known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Common symptoms of PTSD include:
• Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares about the trauma
• Avoidance of places and things associated with the trauma
• Hypervigilance for signs of danger
• Chronic irritability and tension
• Depression.
PTSD is a serious disorder that requires professional intervention

“A toxin is a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation.”

Simply put, a toxin is harmful matter. The reason for this ambiguous language is due to the many types of toxins, all with different and potentially detrimental effects. For the purpose of clarity and consistency in our detox articles, we break down toxins into three categories: internal toxins, external toxins, and toxic behaviors.

Many store bought products contain so many ingredients, that are not safe, are irritants, ect...

These, usually synthetic ingredients are usually added to either get longer shelf life- like preservatives, or create more bubbles like slsa or sls, You really need to do your own research to see where your comfort levels lay. For others it's about getting clean due to reactions with products, auto immune diseases felt internally, and so many more!

So, we know that Aging occurs when the body undergoes a biological process known as senescence, when healthy cells become damaged and lose their ability to divide. Over time, these damaged cells accumulate in the body, consuming resources and unleashing hormones with inflammatory properties.

The ability of the body to respond to physiologic challenge imposed by potentially toxic substances in the environment is dependent upon the health of the organ systems that eliminate those substances from the body.” (2010, Reviews of environmental contamination and toxicology)

And unfortunately, from the age of 30, a number of your body’s systems begin to decline. Everything from your endocrine system to your gut become more dysfunctional the older you are.

This decline changes both what your body does to the chemical toxins you're exposed to and what the toxins do to your body.

So, looking at just the changes listed above, you can see just how harmful toxin exposure can be as you age. You’ve got a liver that isn’t breaking down toxins as efficiently and kidneys that aren’t filtering the break down products as well as they used to, which means toxins hang around in your body longer.

Plus, toxins can now enter your brain and your skin more easily and your lack luster endocrine system is taking daily hits from endocrine disrupting chemicals. What this all means is it is very likely that toxin exposure contributes to the diseases that become more common as you age.

There are several important things you can do to protect yourself (besides a healthy diet and exercise). These changes support your body’s ability to deal with toxins by reducing the toxin levels in your body. This can be accomplished through a combination of detoxing, supporting your body's ability to break down and eliminate toxins and reducing your future exposure to toxins through less toxic living.

Detox

The build-up of toxins that are in your body are tough to get rid of. And contrary to all the hype, most detox programs don’t work or only work for a few toxins.  

There are a few ways to eliminate some toxins from your body. The most effective is sweating using sauna therapy or exercise.

Support Your Body

You want to do everything you can to support your body’s ability to break down toxins. And supporting glutathione levels in your body is a great way to do this.

Embrace Less Toxic Living

The second thing you need to do is reduce your future exposure to toxins. The toxins that can age you prematurely are found in the lotions, potions, pesticides and cleaning products you use, the furnishings in your home and the food and water you consume.

Now pick 10 things in your home that you can replace with clean living ingredients!

*hint -Cleaning supplies, try the limonene recipe!

My favorite cleanser is an oil cleanser;

2oz glass dropper bottle

4Tbsp carrier oils , jojoba is great!

10 drops of Frankincense

5-10 drops Vit E

5 drops of Lavender

5 drops of Chamomile

Combine all the ingredientsin the glass bottle

Label and use as needed by applying 2-3 drops morning and evening

Cleanser #2

Foaming Face Wash

3/4 cup distilled water or hydrosol(I love lavender or chamomile)

3 Tbsp of castille soap( handmade or organic store bought)

1 tsp vitamin E

1/2 tsp Sweet almond oil

5 drop  Frankicense essential oil

5 drops geranium essential oil

Combine ingredients in a foaming dispenser

Labe and use as needed.

Cleanser #3

100ml Liquid Castille soap( homemade or store bought all natural castile soap

add 2 tbsp of your favorite oil, like tamanu for healing, or rosehip and jojoba for mature skin.

10 drops essential oil of choice

use a small amount to wash your face as normal.

This toner is so amazing after a bath, shower or for even a sunburn. This toner is so gentle it can be used on a baby's bum  for diaper rash or as an anti inflammatory spray.

1 oz glycerine

1 oz witch hazel- alcohol free

1 oz Aloe Juice

1 oz lavender hydrosol

1 oz chamomile hydrosol

1 oz rose geranium hydrosol

1/2 oz peppermint hydrosol

5 drops each of Frankicense, helichrysum, roman chamomile, myrrh, & sandalwood 

Just add all the ingredients into the a 120ml bottle and shake before use.

Possibilities are Endless when it comes to making soap!

Lye

First don’t be scared! Be careful and mindful and have fun because warning once you start, soap making is addictive.

Fatty Acids and Soap Making

So what’s the deal with fatty acids and how do fatty acids and soap making relate? Well, the fatty acid content of your ingredients will largely determine the characteristics found within your finished product. It’s that important! Whether your bar ends up with a creamy lather or a bubbly lather, turns out hard or soft, has conditioning properties or great cleansing abilities depends largely on what fatty acids make up the ingredients you are using.

Remember that your acids (soap making oils) are made up of a combination of different fatty acids.

Keep in mind that not all soap makers care to learn about this information. In fact, some like to stay far away from any hint of the chemistry side of soap making. If that’s you… it’s OK. Other soap makers love to learn all they can about their art! Although understanding fatty acid values used to be more important for creating successful recipes, with the use of a soap calculator you can now squeak by without this knowledge. So here we are going to skip most of the chemistry of why soap makes soap!

But in order to make soap with your desired results knowing the type of oils and their properties ca be very beneficial in the outcome of your soap. Different oils are made up of different fats which saponify with the lye to make soap!

The fats are:

Lauric Acid will add hardness to your bar, promotes a fluffy lather and cleans very well… almost too well. Large amounts of lauric acid will create an excessively drying product as your natural skin oils will be stripped because of its amazing cleansing abilities. Just try not to go overboard with ingredients like coconut oil, Babassu oil or palm oil that have large amounts of lauric acid in them.

Linoleic Acid will add conditioning and moisturizing properties to your soap bar. Some also report that a silky feel is added to their product when using ingredients high in this acid. The only thing to really watch out for is DOS (dreaded orange spots) as it tends to go rancid more quickly then the other fatty acids. Just be leery of using too much of an ingredient that has a high content of linoleic acid, especially if you want your bar to last a long time. Sunflower oil, sesame and grapeseed oils

Linolenic Acid will add conditioning properties and moisturizing properties to your soap creating a very mild finished product. Rosehip, hemp and sesame oils

Oleic Acid will also add conditioning properties and moisturizing properties to your soap. It will not produce a very good lather though. Some say that oleic acid is what gives your bar that slippery feel. Sweet almond oil, avocado, apricot kernel, marula,  argan

Palmitic Acid will add hardness to your bar and a creamy/stable lather. Careful though… too much can be over drying! Cocoa butter, palm Kernel quite a bit in Almond, sunflower, and grapeseed

Ricinoleic Acid will add conditioning properties, a fluffy lather and some creamy/stable lather! This fatty acid is prominent in castor oil and is great for adding a luxurious lather to the finished product even if only used in small amounts.

Stearic Acid will offer many of the same characteristics as palmitic acid. Once again, you’ll gain hardness to your bar and add a creamy/stable lather. plant butter, cocoa, and shea

Myristic Acid will add hardness to the bar, offer good cleansing properties and adds a nice fluffy lather. Again, because of its cleansing abilities, too much myristic acid will produce somewhat of a drying product. Mostly coconut and Palm kernel oils.

You can have endless fun making soap because the possibilities are endless with colors, additives ect

Additives

LOVE natural botanicals and the beautiful colors that they produce in soap.  That’s right; you can actually combine colorful natural botanical blends in soap making to achieve various hues within your finished product!

These blends include madder root powder and Moroccan red clay, paprika powder and safflower powder and finally, comfrey leaf powder and spirulina powder. possibilities are endless.

attached is the soap calculator and you can play with this to see the results of various recipes. 

you can make castile soap- all olive oil soap

coconut soap- can be drying though, so you could add extra oil that would not sapponify and create more moisture in your soap that way. 

A combination of many oils until you reach your favorite recipe.. usually in trial and error.

Now using the soap calculator, play with the different oils you have on hand and create your own soap!

One of my favorites is so silky and bubbly and clients love it.

50g castor oil

50g sweet almond oil

50g fractionated coconut oil

150g vegetable oil

200g rice bran oil

200g coconut oil

200g lard

50g Mango Butter

Total 1000g

Now add this to the lye calculator to get proper amount of lye and water portions needed!

I add about 60g of Aloe juice to my Water portion, and I add silk protein peptide 1/4 tsp) (powder) to my lye solution, prior to adding to the oils. 

From here I will show you in the video by the heat transfer method to make the easiest soap of your life!

This first recipe is one of my favorites for sunscreen, but again you can customize the oils in this recipe as well.

Ingredients- oil based 

1/2 cup sweet almond oil or infused olive, sunflower oil.

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 Tbsp of Shea Butter

1/4 cup beeswax

2-4 Tbsp Zinc oxide

1 tsp of red raspberry seed oil

10-15 drop of carrot seed essential oil

you can add some lavender, chamomile or vanilla essential oil or extract here as well.

For best results you will want to use an immersion blender and blend until completely smooth.

Melt all the hard oils down then add the liquid oils, then put in fridge to cool for 5-10 mins.

Remove from the fridge and add the zinc oxide and essential oils, raspberry seed oil, and blend as described, repeat a few time as it cools.

cheat version- lotion version

You can use the lotion recipe or buy an organic unscented all natural lotion

1 cup all natural lotion, melted down so becomes more runny, but not too hot. You could do in microwave at 10 sec intervals.

2-4 TBSP Zinc oxide and raspberry seed oil, essential oils and blend with immersion blender 

This is a very easy lotion recipe using beeswax rather than emulsifyers. This will take a bit more mixing as beeswax is not a true emulsifier!

The key to emulsifying water and oil well is to have them at the same temperature when they are
blended. 

For a thicker cream, increase shea butter by 1-2 tablespoons.
1 1/3 cup water, herbal infusion, or decoction
3 tablespoons unrefined shea butter
2 tablespoons grated, tightly packed beeswax
1 cup sweet almond or olive oil
10-30 drops essential oils (optional)

Have a one-quart mason jar and an immersion blender at the ready.
Place liquid in a saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Heat just until it begins to steam, but you
can still hold your pinky finger in it comfortably. If it exceeds this temperature, remove from heat and let
cool to proper temperature.
Meanwhile, melt shea butter and beeswax in a double boiler. Once they're both fully melted, stir in
almond oil and allow hardened oils to melt again. Remove from heat. Place your pinky finger in the oil
mixture as well - when it's warm but you can still hold your pinky in it comfortably and the water and the
oil mixture are about the same temperature, pour both the oil mixture and the water into the mason jar.
Place immersion blender at the bottom of the jar, THEN turn it on. Blend for 15-30 seconds without
moving the blender. Once the liquid at the bottom is emulsified, slowly raise the immersion blender up
through the liquid until you reach the top.
Turn off the blender and set aside nearby. Continue to blend starting at the bottom every 5-7 minutes
until the lotion has cooled to room temperature. Because water, wax, and oils cool at different rates, the
lotion can separate if not mixed periodically while cooling.

Oil-water emulsions present two basic challenges.

#1 is getting the oil and water to hang out peaceably. That's what the emulsifying wax does for us: problem solved. 

Challenge #2 is preventing spoilage. When we introduce water, we create an environment that molds and bacterias don't mind so much. Commercial lotions are loaded with preservatives, but taking a couple precautions and using your lotion within a few months should keep the icky stuff at bay. We are going to use rubbing alcohol to disinfect everything that will touch our lotion, add vitamin E oil, and stuff it into a squeeze tube or pump bottle so we aren't dipping grubby fingers into the pot and introducing hungry little microbes.

Challenge #3- Finding and using the most effective preservative with the least amount of risk or side affects. 

Emulsifying wax can be made from either vegetable wax or petroleum wax mixed with a detergent, so do ensure that you know which you are getting. I always use the vegetable derived one which is what most herbal suppliers will be selling. It comes as a flaky white which melts at fairly low temperatures and helps to thicken and emulsify fats and waters to make a cream. 

Lotions is where you can get super creative! All the herbal infusions we talked about, creating new ones and herbal tinctures which is basically infusing herbal plant into alcohol. You can then use this extract into your recipes for the benefits of that matter.

Ingredients: basic lotion

Waters:
200ml of spring water, floral water or herbal tea.

Oils and Waxes:
20g emulsifying wax
10g beeswax
50ml herbal infused oil or plain base oil

Extras
2.5ml vitamin E
1 ml essential oils
Preservative of choice according to instructions// do not leave this out!!!! 

Method:
First melt the beeswax and emulsifying wax in a double boiler adding the oil and waiting until it is all completely melted. Whilst that is happening place the waters in another pan and heat until fairly hot but not boiling. When both are ready turn the oils off the heat and place the waters in a heat proof jug and begin to pour very slowly into the oil mixture whisking vigorously as you go.

And another recipe without beeswax and herbal infusion added! You could use any liquid oil here.

Makes approx two 100ml pots The cups and teaspoons measurements are approximate — it’s advised to use the gram measurements when making this recipe

Oil Phase

• 35g sweet almond oil  infused with calendula flowers -------It involves seeping dried calendula flowers in a carrier oil
• 20g  emulsifying wax

Water Phase

• 140g  Water** infused with oats

Cooling Phase

• 2g (1/4) tsp Vitamin E
• 5g (1/2tsp) honey
• 20 drops of Rose geranium essential oil(optional)
• Broad spectrum cosmetic preservative such as Liquid germall plus (optional). Read the manufacturer’s instructions.

Heating the Oil Phase

Place your oil and emulsifying wax in a heat proof container and melt them using the double boiler method — a pan set within another pan filled with hot water. When they’re completely melted, take the temperature — you need them melted and at around 150F / 66°C.

While the oil phase is melting, make the oat infused water. Pour one cup scalding water over 1 teaspoon quick oats and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Strain the liquid out and discard the remaining oats. Weigh 140g of the liquid and use it for this recipe. Keep the oat water warm by setting the container it’s in inside another container filled with hot water. You want to keep it at within a few degrees of 150F / 66°C.

Mixing the Phases

When the oils and water are at the right temperature, submerge the milk frother in the water and slowly trickle in the oil. Use the frother to gently stir the ingredients together. Next, turn the frother on and blend the lotion until it begins to thicken slightly — it will take around 30 seconds. While you’re frothing, try to keep the head of the frother completely submerged so as to avoid air bubbles and foam in your lotion. Set your lotion aside to cool.

The cooling phase is the part of the process that heat-sensitive ingredients are added. When the calendula lotion has cooled to about 122˚F (45˚C ), stir in the honey, vitamin e oil, and optional ingredients.- essential oils.

If you’re using a specific preservative, the manufacturer’s directions will tell you at what temperature you can add it. Spoon the cream into an air-tight container and use within a week if you have opted to not use a preservative. A preservative can extend the shelf-life for eighteen months or longer.

The lotion shown in the video is this one!

 Raspberry seed oil

Absorbs UV-B and UV-C so useful as a broad-spectrum sunscreen*.

Anti-aging benefits due to its ellagic acid (an anti-oxidant). Studies show that ellagic acid “reduced the destruction of collagen and inflammatory response, both major causes of wrinkles”. 

Very high levels of phytosterols that can help reduce trans-epidermal water loss thereby helping to keep skin moisturized and repair skin damaged by environmental factors including sun damage.

*Please note, its reported sunscreen-like characteristics need to be further studied and concluded before being relied upon. 

Jojoba oil

Balancing, softening, soothing, light and well absorbed, leaves a silky feeling on the skin.

Glycerin

Humectant: draws water into the skin from the atmosphere to increase skin hydration.

Hydrolyzed silk protein

Humectant, emollient and occlusive; draws water into the skin from the atmosphere to increase hydration and softness of skin; smoothes and softens the look of wrinkles/fine lines; provides silky-soft feel.

 Neroli (orange blossom) hydrosol

Healing and regenerating; toning; provides light aromatic scent.

 Panthenol (Provitamin B5)

Humectant; draws water into the skin from the atmosphere to increase hydration level of skin; maintains skin softness and elasticity.

 Coenzyme Q-10

Powerful antioxidant, promotes collagen and elastin synthesis, a great anti-aging ingredient.

 Grapefruit essential oil

Toning, helps to clean and cleanse the skin, unclog pores; sweet, fresh, uplifting scent that is softer than you may think. (Should be used in low dilutions in leave-on products due to its potential to cause phototoxicity.) 

 Geranium essential oil

Regulates sebum production, tones and firms; heals and encourages cell renewal; provides light floral scent. (Avoid during first trimester of pregnancy and use in low dilutions thereafter. May irritate sensitive skin.)

OIL PHASE 

4% emulsifier eg Olivem 1000 (INCI: Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate) 5% raspberry seed oil 5% jojoba oil  

WATER PHASE

2% glycerin 2% hydrolyzed silk protein 15% aloe vera (liquid) 10% neroli hydrosol 49% distilled water

COOLING PHASE
2% panthenol (provitamin B5) 2% coenzyme Q10 0.5% vitamin E 1% preservative* 0.5% grapefruit essential oil 0.5% geranium essential oil

* As this product contains water, a broad-spectrum preservative is necessary (Vitamin E, rosemary extract and grapefruit seed extract are NOT preservatives). Use your preservative according to the manufacturer’s instructions and adjust the recipe accordingly. We like using Preservative Eco (INCI Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerine, Sorbic Acid) from Aromantic (UK) as it is an Ecocert-certified preservative. This is also sold as Geogard™ ECT available from Voyageur Soap and Candle Company (USA) and Plantaserv M available from New Directions (Australia). 

Use only clean equipment and tools, and always follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making any skincare products.  

Step 1) Measure all of the oil-phase ingredients into a double-boiler or water bath (according to the recipe above), and bring the temperature to 70 C.

Step 2) Measure all of the water-phase ingredients into a double-boiler or water bath (according to the recipe above).  Bring the temperature to 70 C.  

Step 3) Pour the oil phase into the water phase.  Use an electric stick blender to blend at high shear until the cream has emulsified. 

Step 4) Allow to cool, blending periodically. As the cream cools it will thicken.

Step 5) Once the cream is cooled (below 40 C), you may add the cool phase ingredients and mix well.

Step 6) Distribute into an air-tight pump or jar.

Store the lotion in an airless pump dispenser for easy and clean dispensing.  If preferred, you may use a jar, however, ensure users have clean, dry hands or a spatula to remove the product from the jar.

As this lotion contains a broad-spectrum preservative, the shelf-life is approximately 12 months (perhaps less if stored in a jar where exposed to more contaminates).  Label clearly and store in a cool, dry place.

Herbal salves are probably one of the most commonly used herbal preparations on
the market today. Not only are they easy to make, but they store well and can be
used in a variety of ways.
Like ointments, salves are a combination of oil and wax that form a solid
substance. A salves should be firm, but not hard.

Once you understand the basics of making a salve you can customize it to a wrinkle cream to a first aid cream!

You’ll need:
• 1 TBSP each rosehip seed, pumpkin seed, argan, and sweet almond base oils
• 1 TBSP  beeswax
• 1/2 tsp  vitamin e oil (optional)
• 6 drops each neroli (Citrus aurantium), helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum), and
frankincense (Boswellia carteri) essential oil

To Use:
Dab a small amount to under-eye area nightly, being careful not to get too close to eye.
Use nightly for best results.

Directions:
Melt beeswax over low heat. Once everything is completely melted, turn off heat and stir in
base oils until thoroughly combined. Pour into tin, let slightly cool, add in vitamin e oil
and essential oils, and mix well with a toothpick. Label and store. Tip* add the essential oils to the jar or tin before adding the salve oil base.

You can also use any oil of your choice based on the characteristics of the carrier oil from the attached worksheets. With this knowledge the possibilities are endless!

****To make a larger base of salve ** 

1 cup of liquid oil to 1oz of beeswax- works everytime!

An easy basic salve:

All Purpose Salve:

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Plantain (Plantago major)

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

This is a pretty classic formula used for infused oils and salves for a long time. Can’t beat it

First aid salve or pain salve:

Wound Healing: I mentioned this briefly earlier on, but this is Calendula’s primary claim to fame. No other remedy truly surpasses Calendula in it’s ability to effectively keep wounds clean, facilitate healing, and prevent infection. From the run of the day cuts and scrapes and road-rashes, to more intense wounds like lacerations, puncture wounds and traumas, Calendula is your go to topical first aid remedy. Once again, it’s major benefits is that it is not just healing the wound, nor is it “killing the bacteria,” but it is operating on the level beneath the skin and the wound itself, maintaining a healthy flow of lymphatic fluids and thus keeping a consistent supply of immunological components and preventing any infection from spreading. As with all things Calendula related, it is best for wounds which are swollen, puffy, red, inflamed, and filled with pus and fluids. Now you can of course use Calendula in all manner of wounds, but those with a marked dampness are particularly benefited by it.

To make the most amazing all heal salve to use as a base in many recipes use

1/8 cup each of herbal infusions in olive oil or grapeseed oil 

Arnica Infused oil

holy basil Infused oil

calendula Infused oil

chickweed Infused oil

horsetail Infused oil

chamomile Infused oil

st johns wort Infused oil

dandelion Infused oil

plantain Infused oil

comfrey Infused oil

 2 TBSP face serum base

2 TBSP shea butter

1tsp Vita min E

1.75 -2 oz beeswax for desired consistency

Melt all the oils and beewax together and pour into jars and let cool. use as needed! This can be the base of a sleep salve, pain salve, anti inflammatory salve, so much more!

Eczema salve:

1 oz All heal base (above)

10 drops lavender

5 drops carrot seed essential oil

5 drops geranium essential oil

5 drops vitamin E

Cracked skin

1 oz of all heal base

3 drops Myrrh

3 drops chamomile

3 drops patchouli

foot balm salve 

1 oz all heal base

4 drops eucalyptus

4 drops peppermint

4 drops teatree

4 drops vitamin E

Infused oil/salve: The other primary way in which herbs are extracted is through oils. Again, this is because the resins, volatile oils and triterpenes are insoluble in water, and thus soluble in high alcohol and oils. The freshly dried flowers yield nicely to all manner of carrier oils, such as cold-pressed olive oil. These oils can be used directly on the skin, or prepared into a salve with beeswax, other infused oils, and/or essential oils to create a nice broad spectrum topical medicine.

Herbal infusions are powerful additive to your homemade skin care and remedies.\

So, An easy and energy efficient way to make tea.

1 qt. Water
3 T. herb

Fill jar with water, add herb tea, and let it sit out or in the refrigerator overnight. Strain into a clean pitcher.

Infusion: Because the flowers are light and delicate, some herbs are best prepared as an infusion if doing an aqueous extract. But it’s important to remember to cover it with a lid, as the volatile oils and resins will evaporate off with the water and you will loose a portion of the medicine in the steam.

Some common infusions include:

• Arnica flowers (external use only) 

• Calendula flowers - whole flower- sunshine herb

• Cayenne peppers 

• Cedar leaf 

• Chickweed 

• Comfrey root and leaf 

• Goldenseal leaf 

• Lemon balm 

• Mullein flowers 

• Myrrh gum resin 

• Oregon grape root 

• Peppermint leaf 

• Plantain leaf 

• Poke root 

• Rosemary leaf 

• St. John's Wort 

• Thyme leaf 

• Yarrow leaf and flower 

Use the sun to naturally infuse oil with the goodness of herbs!

Directions:

1. We always recommend using dried herbs. If you desire fresh herbs, wilt them first for 12 hours to remove the moisture (too much water will cause your oil to go rancid), cut into small pieces, and crush with a mortar and pestle before adding to the jar.

2. Place herbs in a clean, dry quart jar. 

3. Fill remaining space in jar with oil of choice, making sure to cover herbs by at least 1 inch. If your herbs soak up all of the oil, then pour more oil on top to ensure the herbs are well covered.

4. Stir well and cap jar tightly.

5. Place jar in a sunny, warm windowsill and shake once or more per day. You can also cover the jar with a brown paper bag if you prefer that to direct sunlight. 

6. Use a cheese cloth or a mesh strainer. Make sure and squeeze out every precious drop of oil!

7. Pour into glass bottles and store in a cool dark place. The oil should keep for at least a year. Vitamin E oilmay also be added to prolong shelf life.

The quick method utilizing heat is sometimes necessary when herbal oils need to be created in a pinch. Much care needs to be taken when crafting herbal oils this way because you don't want to deep-fry your herbs! 

Directions:

1. Place herbs in crock-pot, double boiler, or electric yogurt maker, and cover with organic extra virgin olive oil(or other carrier oil of choice), leaving at least an inch or two of oil above the herbs. 

2. Gently heat the herbs over very low heat (preferably between 100 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 1-5 hours until the oil takes on the color and scent of the herb. Some texts recommend heating the oil 48-72 hours at a controlled temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

3. Turn off heat and allow to cool.

4. Once oil is cooled, strain using cheese cloth, and bottle into dry and sterilized amber bottles. 

5. Store in a cool, dark, dry place. Vitamin E oil  may also be added to prolong shelf life.

You can add these infused oil, tictures in your recipes. Herbal infusions can be used as the oil or water percentage of your recipes depending in whether you did an infusion in oil, water or alcohol.

Also, The Difference Between Tinctures, Infusions & Decoctions. ...

An infusion is really just a very strongly brewed tea. Infusions are made with 1 ounce of dried herb and 1 quart of boiling water that is covered and allowed to steep for at least four hours. ...

A tincture is made by infusing herbs in alcohol. 

Decoction is when you reduce the infusion by approximately half in order to make it even more concentrated. A herbal syrup is a good example of a decoction.

Tinctures are concentrated form of a herb, which are formulated in an alcohol solution and can be applied directly on your skin, mixed with food or beverages, or placed in small amounts under your tongue. Because of their potency, you need to be extra careful with their dosage. You can do this with marijuana as well. BOTTLE THE TINCTURE AND KEEP IT IN A COOL, DARK PLACE.

To get a little bit more specific, every type of plant has different sets of alkaloids and water soluble properties in it. The process of creating a tincture pulls those medicinal properties from the inside of the plant and preserves them in a liquid form that we can easily ingest.

Most of the time a Western Herbalist will give you a tincture made with more than one herb. Each of these herbs is first made into a simple tincture, then added to the formula with a very specific number of milliliters. Each formula is designed to work synergistically to treat your ailment.

POUR YOUR ALCOHOL OVER YOUR HERB SO THAT IT IS COMPLETELY COVERED.

If you’re using arial parts of the plant, they might float. I like to put pretty rocks or crystals on top of the plant material to hold it down.

LET SIT FOR 2-4 WEEKS.

Look at it, talk to it, shake it—make sure you give your medicine attention and love.

STRAIN OUT THE ALCOHOL AND COMPOST THE MARK (THE SPENT PLANT MATERIAL).

The alcohol has the medicinal properties in it, so that’s your tincture!

Calendula is one of my favorites!

•Tincture: 1:5 at 70% alcohol from freshly dried material. Due to the presence of triterpenes, as well as the volatile oils and resins, Calendula best yields to a high percentage alcohol extraction. I use around 70% alcohol and strongly recommend using the freshly dried plant material. While I usually always prefer fresh plants over dried, the fresh flowers of Calendula have a very high water content which tends to dilute the menstruum significantly to a point of either risking the preservation of the extract, or at the very least diluting it to where it will not properly extract the major constituents. A 1:5 (grams:mL) ratio is generally acceptable for Calendula, though I always say if you can make it stronger, why not?

Internal Use

Tinctures are traditionally used as herbal medicines and taken internally. This can be done by adding the tincture to a tea or even taking it straight. The most common way of taking an herbal tincture is to add the proper dose to a glass of water or juice and drink the entire contents.

IMPORTANT: The dose will vary, depending on the tincture!

A very general rule for internal use of tincture is: 14 drops for every 25 kilos (approx 55 pounds) of body weight.

Lets talk about Calendula for Internal Use:

Because I just finished a calendula tincture, I've done a bit of targeted research on this particular plant. Calendula tincture is referred to as 'liquid sun for the woes of winter', helping to stimulate circulation and offering antibacterial help for colds and sore throat.

Living in Canada, the winters here can get pretty dark, wet, cold, so I use in many ways.

Also, Tinctures can also be added to finished products such as a basic cream or lotion to create a targeted use product. Make a skin soothing cream by adding 1-2 ml of lavender or chamomile tincture to 100 ml of a basic, unscented cream.

As with internal use, be mindful of the dosage with external use of tinctures. A general rule is to keep the tincture at 1-2% of a product. Again - it is dependant upon which herb is used and which product the tincture is added to.

Dose:For a tincture made from dry flowers (1:5 with 70% alcohol), herbalist Michael Moore recommends using 5-30 drops of calendula at a maximum of 4 times a day. (find more info about dosages of different tinctures in links below).

Calendula is an astringent/vulnerary which knits tissues together and heals wounds. Most people think of this only as a topical action, but in truth our digestive system is our inner skin- what you use to treat the skin topically can be used to the same end internally for the gut. Think of it, essentially the gut is like a big scrape, a wound, a laceration. So first Calendula goes in there and starts to repair these wounds and thus the leaky gut. Secondly, as a lymphagogue Calendula will facilitate in the digestive bloating by cleansing the lymphatic system and providing the immune system with support. As an inflammation modulator it will also help to damp down and overly reactive inflammatory response and on top of that, the polysaccharides will help to sooth the overly irritated mucosal membrane. That was more like 3 in 1!

A little off topic but worth mentioning-

Calendula is a flower/herb anyone can use!

I've been studying Calendula more in depth and wanted to pass it along.  *evolutionary herbalism

*Food Intolerance, Leaky Gut Syndrome and Antibiotic Trauma:

This is a major subject these days and is typically one of the first things I assess in all of my clients because 95% of everyone has some food they are eating that is giving them some troubles. While I cannot get into all of the details on this subject here, I would like to outline some of the general premises and principles here, because Calendula is my #1 remedy for these types of issues. It is unfortunate that most modern humans living in western culture have had to take antibiotics at some point in their life. Even more unfortunate is the lack of education amongst medical professionals as to the adverse impact they have upon our health and fail to educate their patients on some simple things they can do to mitigate those adverse effects. Antibiotics are like atom bombs- they just go in there a nuke every sign of life, both good and bad. After all, the word “antibiotic” literally means anti-life! So they kill the pathogenic bacteria, but also the beneficial bacteria which inhabit our gastrointestinal tract. It is this microbiome of bacterial ecology living in our intestines that are a critical facet of our immune system, nervous system, and of course digestive system. So we get what I call “antibiotic trauma:” impaired digestion, lowered immunity and host resistance, and a heightened sensitivity to everything that comes into contact with the digestive system (IE: almost everything you put into your body). This weakens the gut lining and makes it much more sensitive and prone to an immunological hyper-reactivity to various substances- including those present in food. So what ends up happening when you eat the glutenous breador the proteins found in milk and dairy products , our immune system sees it as a foreign antigen. Meaning, it thinks that it’s a pathogenic bacteria. This sends our immune system into a sort of frenzy, inducing both localized and systemic inflammatory processes, which can lead to a whole slew of symptoms, such as: skin conditions, asthma, all manner of digestive complaints (gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, constipation etc.), musculoskeletal pain, candida, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, depression, ADD, and a lot more. This localized immune and inflammatory reaction in the GI tract further weakens the gut wall, making it more permeable to these food antigens and other larger than normal substances that shouldn’t normally be able to cross the gut wall. This is what we commonly refer to as Leaky Gut Syndrome. As this occurs, the web of lymphatic tissue in the gut (called GALT- Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue) becomes inflamed, congested, and overworked, which leads to the classic “bloated belly” associated with food intolerance and GI inflammation. Ultimately as these substances cross the gut wall, they congest the liver, blood, lymph and other tissues in the body leading to an overall damp/stagnation tissue state which is accompanied by heat and inflammation. Thus you get damp/heat- the classic pattern that calls for our major category of herbal actions: alteratives. This is a common pattern we also see in systemic candidiasis, which is honestly more rare than the alternative health industry would lead you to believe, and most people that think they have candida really have Leaky Gut Syndrome- but they do go hand in hand more often than not. In steps Calendula. I know that was a lot of build up, but take a look at the whole pattern on which this plant operates upon and how it is perfectly suited for this symptomatic picture. First and foremost, Calendula is an astringent/vulnerary which knits tissues together and heals wounds. Most people think of this only as a topical action, but in truth our digestive system is our inner skin- what you use to treat the skin topically can be used to the same end internally for the gut. Think of it, essentially the gut is like a big scrape, a wound, a laceration. So first Calendula goes in there and starts to repair these wounds and thus the leaky gut. Secondly, as a lymphagogue Calendula will facilitate in the digestive bloating by cleansing the lymphatic system and providing the immune system with support. As an inflammation modulator it will also help to damp down and overly reactive inflammatory response and teria Medica Monthly Issue 1- Calendula 11 on top of that, the polysaccharides will help to sooth the overly irritated mucosal membrane. That was more like 3 in 1! Next we see that Calendula as a bitter will just help to overall stimulate digestion, but furthermore it will help to move any stagnancy in the liver which is likely overburdened with cellular debris from the GI, blood and lymph, and is overwhelmed by all the “stuff” that it has to deal with from the digestive system (remember it’s getting more than it’s used to because the “gates” are essentially wide open). In this way it increases portal circulation by clearing out metabolic waste products congesting the blood and liver. Lastly, remember that Calendula is a stimulant, thinning and moving stagnant fluids from the core out the periphery for detoxification. By opening the channels of elimination in the liver, skin, lymph, and digestion, it is helping to prevent stagnation of fluids which then prevents possible bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Thus you can see how Calendula is a specific remedy for this all too common pattern in modern life. I’ll show you how I like to put it together in some formulas later on to modulate and amplify these effects, as well as how you can potentially balance out some of it’s properties to make it more suitable for other constitutions. While we are on this note on the digestive system, another important use of Calendula is in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. An ulcer is essentially a wound in the lining of the stomach (gastric) or the small intestine (duodenal) which is inflamed, potentially bleeding, and often quite painful. Now whenever someone has an ulcer, you have to exercise caution because that ulcer is likely going to be quite sensitive to overstimulation of gastric secretions. Remember, bitters stimulate gastric secretions, so you have to be a bit careful here with your dosage. Now, Calendula isn’t the strongest bitter tonic stimulants in the world, but it does work that way, so exercise a bit of caution. But in short, we see the vulnerary/astringent, inflammation modulating properties, bacteriostatic, and lymphagogue properties all come together nicely here in the treatment of an ulcer in which it will help clear infection, cleanse the fluids, reduce the inflammation, and heal the wound. The mucilage will also beneficially soothe the irritated mucosal membrane as well. It also works in this regard as a mouthwash for mouth ulcers (canker sores).

that was a mouthful :/   

*Immune Deficiency and Lymphatic Swelling: This is probably the main way in which Calendula is used internally in modern herbalism, which is great because it works like a charm! As mentioned previously, this remedy is excellent for dispersing stagnant and congested fluids within the lymphatic system- as commonly seen by swollen nodes. The picture here is someone who is run down, weak, tired, melancholic-depressed, and just can’t get over that cough or cold from a few weeks ago. As Matthew Wood notes, it is specific for “lingering unresolved infections.” This could be a respiratory infection, a fever, or simply the common cold.

*Wound Healing: I mentioned this briefly earlier on, but this is Calendula’s primary claim to fame. No other remedy truly surpasses Calendula in it’s ability to effectively keep wounds clean, facilitate healing, and prevent infection. From the run of the day cuts and scrapes and road-rashes, to more intense wounds like lacerations, puncture wounds and traumas, Calendula is your go to topical first aid remedy.

*Liver Detoxification: This was mentioned earlier under the first point in this section of the monograph, but deserves a brief mentioning here again as Calendula is an extremely useful remedy for use in general liver stagnation and detoxification. It has been shown to actually lower liver enzyme levels, which are typically higher in chronic liver disease such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. Obviously these conditions are pretty serious and will likely need much more than just Calendula, but it’s worth being aware of it’s benefit here for the liver and the stagnation that it can experience. In this regard it formulates well with things like Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), Oregon Grape root (Mahonia aquifolium), Artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus), and Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus). As the liver is so connected to the digestive system, and so many people have a leaky gut and antibiotic trauma, it is a beneficial remedy to consider- as it’s global action set operates upon the greater axis of liver issues.

*Female reproductive system-This remedy also has applications as a mucosal membrane tonic and soothing agent when the vaginal wall is overly dry and irritated, especially if there is any bleeding. This is especially applicable post childbirth if the vaginal wall tears at all. As an overall lymphagogue and bitter, it can be used for states of vaginal discharge (leucorrhea) which would be another indication of damp/stagnation tissue states. As a remedy with shown anti fungal actions, Calendula becomes an important remedy in the treatment of systemic candidiasis, which commonly goes along with Leaky Gut Syndrome (actually the leaky gut is usually the root cause). So we can see that Calendula’s net global action set addresses this concern on many levels- lymphatic, gut, immune, and now even the female reproductive system.

Here,  I would like to mention steams!

I have relied on this heavily this winter for my asthma and ears bothering me.

Herbal steams are excellent for addressing issues in the lungs and sinuses, the face, and eyes. The evaporating steam carries light chemicals from the herbs, or Edsentisl oils including some with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, relaxant, and immune-stimulating effects. These get into direct contact with the respiratory tract and skin, exerting their effects strongly.

Administration and Dosage Guidelines Administer a steam whenever you want to stimulate the surface or respiratory tissues with moist heat. For acute illness, it’s best to steam at least twice a day. For ongoing skin or respiratory support, once a day is sufficient. Shelf Life and Storage Guidelines Steams are made on an as-needed basis; they are not stored. Necessary Tools, Equipment, or Ingredients •Herbs •Water •Gallon-size or larger pot •Towel or blanket Preparing Remedies: Step-by-Step Instructions 1.On the stove, boil ½ to 1 gallon of water in a covered pot. 2.Once at a full boil, remove from the heat and place the pot on a heat-proof surface. 3.Make a tent by draping a blanket or towel over your head. 4.Remove the lid from the pot and add ¼ to ½ cup of your herb mixture to the water. 5.Position your face over the steam and remain there for 5 to 20 minutes, catching the steam with your tent. 6.For respiratory issues, inhale the steam as deeply as you can so the medicated steam gets deep into your lungs. 7.Keep a handkerchief nearby—the steam will clear your sinuses and make your nose run. Pros Delivers the medicine where it’s needed. Particularly for antimicrobial effects, steam is the most direct method for getting the herbs in contact with the respiratory tract tissues. Stimulating but soothing. The warmth and moisture of steams help activate immune function in the mucous membranes and at the same time relieve irritation and calm a cough or ease difficult breathing. Cons Takes time. Between preparation and execution, it can take at least 30 minutes to conduct a good, effective steam. Not portable. Steams require some space and a stove to make effectively, so they’re mostly done at home. Additional Considerations After steaming, you can use the leftover liquid—it’s essentially a hot infusion. Drink it, soak your feet in it, soak a cloth and make a compress, or employ it in some other way so nothing is wasted. If nothing else, let it cool and feed it to your garden or houseplants—plants like tea, too. You can also make a good steam using essential oils. Simply boil water and set up your steaming station as directed, but instead of adding dry herbs, tap in 10 to 30 drops of essential oil. (Do not drink the leftover liquid when done steaming; just pour it down a drain.)

This is a very basic body butter, but I will share with you a very decandent version as well!

HOW TO MAKE BODY BUTTER

Other butters and oils may be used, but this basic recipe works well every time.
1/4 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup unrefined shea butter
1/4 cup dried herbs or 10-20 drops of essential oils

THE BASICS

If using herbs, melt the coconut oil and shea butter and infuse the herbs into the oils using one of the
heat methods listed in this section on “How to Infuse Oils.” Meanwhile, place the bowl of an electric
mixer in the freezer.
When the infusion is finished, strain the herbs from the oil (if using the oven method and the mixture
solidifies, simply warm it on the stove until it melts again, then strain) and put the infused oil in the
chilled mixer bowl. Put the oil in the fridge just until it begins to firm, but is not solid, 15-60 minutes.
Using the mixer with the whisk attachment, begin to whip the oils and add essential oils, if using. Whip
the oils until the mixture is cool and holds stiff peaks, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of
the bowl. If the oils don’t seem to be firming, place bowl in the freezer for 5-10 minutes, scrape the sides,
then whip again. Repeat as necessary. Scrape into dark containers and store at room temperature for up
to three months

A more therapeutic and healing whipped butter, that can be used on the face is so decadent, you will wonder how you have ever lived without it. This can also be used on dry & sensitive skin as well. 

Shea++ face and body butter

Shea butter 40g

mango butter 20g

coconut oil 20g

cocoa butter 5g

liquid oils 10g - secret here is I use my face serum and herbal infused oils** :) provided as luxury serum recipe.

vitamin E 2.5 g

fragrance or EO 2.5g

I melt all my hard oils together, then add the liquid oils and mix well.

Then add the oil mixture to the fridge or freezer until it starts to solidify and start to whip it. At this point I will add a bit more apricot seed oil while whipping to get my desired consistency like whipped cream! 

Then add 1-2 Tbsp or arrowroot powder to cut the oil when applied to the skin, it will absorb beautifully!

Enjoy!

Facial Skin Serum is taking the your favorite and best oils for your skin type and adding essential oils to put it over the top!

A basic recipe is 

2oz glass bottle

2 tbsp rosehip oil

2 tbsp sweet almond oil

10 drops of cypress

10 drops frankinsence

10 drops of geranium

5 drops of helichrysum

Luxury serum: This is a very intense serum, but modify as you see fit!

1/8 cup Sweet Almond oil

1/4 cup sunflower oil

1/8 cup camellia oil

1/8 cup argan oil

1/4 cup apricot seed oil

1 tsp borage oil

1 tsp tamanu oil

1 tsp glycerine oil

5 drops seabuckthorn oil

1 Tsp of infused calendula oil ( your oil of choice- grapeseed, olive ect)

1 tsp of infused marula oil

1 tsp vitamin E

10 drops of neem oil

10 drops rose hip oil

10 drops carrot seed essential oil

5 drop geranium essential oil

5 drops of lemon essential oil

5 drops of sandalwood essential oil

5 drops Myrrh essential oil

5 drops of rosemary essential oil

5 drops of Frankincense essential oil

Add some saffron in the warm oil!

There are endless options for making a rollerball. 

A rollerball is the easiest  way to use oils and essential oils.. this is especially awesome way to teach your kids how to use oils and essential oils!

For example Rollerball for a teen with Acne:

1- 10 ml rollerball

witch hazel

2 drops of tea tree

1 drop of orange

1 drops of lavender

Directions;

Add the essential oils to the roller ball

fill the rollerball with the witch hazel

add a label and use as needed, and shake prior to using!

Anti-aging Rollerball

1 rolllerball

Rose hip seed oil or jojoba oil

16 drops of helichrysum

16 drops of Frankincense

8 drops of geranium

8 drops of sandalwood

4 drops of myrrh

Directions;

Add the essential oils to the roller ball

fill the rollerball with the desired oil

add a label and use as needed, and shake prior to using!

This Flea, Tick and Bug Spray has been tried tested and true, My clients love this and even wrote to tell me how well it worked, even for ticks!

1oz Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

1oz Witch Hazel

1/2 oz glycerine

1/2 oz Peppermint Hydrosol

1/2 oz lavender Hydrosol or rose geranium hydrosol

1 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil

1 Tbsp Neem oil

1 Tbsp polysorb 80

5 drops of orange essential oil

5 drops of lemon essential oil

6 drops of geranium essential oil

6 drops of lavender essential oil

10 drops of citronella essential oil

10 drops of cedarwood essential oil

10 drops of terrashield essential oil

8 drops of peppermint essential oil

8 drops of lemongrass essential oil

8 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

8 drops of tea tree essential oil

8 drops of thyme essential oil

mix all the oils with polysorb then add to the water portion. add to a 120 ml container and shake before use!

Always do a patch test

Ok for dogs and children, avoid eyes.

Dilute your essential oils prior to use on the skin and use caution with oils that are more likely to cause irritation and sensitization. Remember that even if you've been using one or more essential oils undiluted to date and you haven't had a problem, that doesn't guarantee that you won't develop sensitization with repeated exposure. Proper dilution is always recommended.

Dosage

•Liquid Extract: depends on therapeutic context. Anywhere from low doses (1-3 drops) up to larger doses (1 tsp/5 mL)

•Powder: 3-6 grams

•Infusion: 2-3 heaping tablespoons in 1 cup of water. I prefer a quart mason jar filled 1/2 way and then filled up with boiling water, covered for 20 minutes.

•Salve: ideal for topical applications, use as needed.

This is such a huge topic, but just want to touch on it to make you aware. When we look to herbs to heal or nourish our skin, it is important to understand that there are many herbs that can" treat" the condition you are trying to cure.

What is important here is you understand what the skin or condition of the skin's constitution is,             is it dry? wet? cold? or hot?  

Then at the same time we decide what herbs  could be used to treat your condition ,     but we have to consider the  energetics of the herbs as well. This is important because you would use the opposite effect of the condition that you are trying to treat. Clear as mud right?

So consider this scenario, If you had a cough.....First we would consider all the herbs good for a cough. 

 If you have a cough and it was a dry cough you would want the herb that is not going to dry it out more, but if someone else has a cough, and it is a wet cough you would want to use the drying herb.. hope this make sense....

A few examples of hot and cold herbs:

Hot herbs
ginger
cayenne
black tea
cinnamon
prickly ash
angelica
osha

Warm herbs
propolis
pine bark
yerba santa
yerba mansa
mugwo

Cool herbs
usnea
feverfew
chamomile
yarrow
echinacea

Cold herbs
golden seal
Oregon grape rt.
false indigo rt.

Generally, hot herbs have constituents that make them stimulating to the blood circulation (resin-containing plants such as ginger) or increase metabolic activity (alkaloid-containing plants such as black tea). Cold herbs have antiinflammatory compounds such as sesquiterpenes (feverfew) or alkaloid-containing antibacterial and antiinflammatory herbs (golden seal).

The various properties and constituents of plant medicine creates a wide range of physiological reactions in the human body. Some examples include:

• Bitters – trigger a sensory response in the CNS that sends a message to the gut:These are herbs that help stimulate appetite and digestion by encouraging the production of gastric fluids and peristalsis. Just a drop of this often shunned flavor on the tongue is effective in activating the production of beneficial digestive secretions. Helpful for occasional constipation, gas related cramping, sluggish digestive movement, and supporting a healthy appetite.  A few bitter herbs: Dandelion, Gentian, Yellow Dock, Hops, Mugwort, Orange Peel, Skullcap

• Diaphoretic – opens the pores to make the organism sweat:These herbs help raise your body temperature to make you sweat and stimulate circulation. This action can also cool the body through increased perspiration. Using diaphoretics may be helpful for breaking dry fevers, erupting skin infections, promoting blood flow to cold extremities, and detoxification.
  A few diaphoretic herbs: Ginger, Garlic, Cayenne, Elder, Yarrow

• Antispasmodic – eases spasms or cramps in the muscles

• Adaptogen – helps the body adapt and moderate the stress response;A diverse group of herbs that help us face and handle stress as it happens – although the classification is often complicated and the boundaries difficult to define. These herbs restore overall balance and strengthen the functioning of the body as a whole without impacting the balance of an individual organ or body system. Adaptogens facilitate these changes by a wide range of actions and energetics, rather than one specific action. Adaptogens can be stimulating and/or relaxing, many help improve focus, support immune system functioning, or provide some other broad-spectrum normalizing influence on unbalanced physiological processes.
  A few adaptogenic herbs: Eleuthero root, Holy Basil, Schisandra berries, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha

• Alterative – alters and improves the body’s metabolic processes from nutrition to elimination;Herbs that support your body's own natural defenses in the presence of illness and help restore proper function. 
  A few alterative herbs: Echinacea, Red Root, Oregon Grape, Yellow Dock, Dandelion, Red Clover

• Anticatarrhal – eliminates excess mucus

• Anti-Inflammatory – soothes inflammation;Tumeric

• Antimicrobial – destroys pathogenic organisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses

• Astringent – tightens the tissues;Herbs that are drying, drawing, and constricting help to create a barrier. Look for that "puckered" feeling. Topical astringents can be used to help pull out splinters and tone the skin. Internally, astringents work to help tone mucus membranes and dry up conditions of excess, like occasional diarrhea or too much urine.
  A few astringent herbs: Rose, Blackberry root and leaf, White Oak, Green and Black Tea, Witch Hazel, Willow

• Carminative – eases discomfort caused by gas;These herbs are often aromatic and help expel gas from the digestive system. This action can help ease bloating and gas related cramping.
  A few carminative herbs: Fennel, Caraway, Peppermint, Chamomile

• Demulcent – contains mucilaginous properties that soothe inflamed and irritated tissues;Herbs that are mucilaginous and produce a slime that coats, soothes, and protects mucus membranes, as well as eases dry conditions. This slime action triggers a reflex that helps promote natural moistening secretions within the body systems. Best extracted as an infusion in water rather than in alcohol tincture form. Helpful for supporting normal respiratory health and coating otherwise dry internal conditions.
  A few demulcent herbs: Marshmallow Roots, Chia Seed, Mullein (lungs), Violet, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Plantain, Flax

• Emmenagogue – stimulates menstrual flow and function

• Expectorant – stimulates the removal of mucus from the lungs;Herbs that encourage productive coughing by breaking up mucus in the lungs and expelling it more effectively.
  A few expectorant herbs: Elecampane, Mullein, Lobelia, Horehound 

• Diuretic – aids the body in ridding excess fluids;Herbs that help you urinate. They help promote the elimination of fluid by increasing the amount of urine expelled by the kidneys. This can be helpful for water retention and urinary tract flushing.
  A few diuretic herbs: Dandelion, Juniper, Green Tea, Uva-Ursi, Cleavers

• Hepatic – supports liver function and increase flow of bile

• Immunomodulator – modify and regulate the immune system

• Nervine – eases anxiety, relax and restore the nervous system;Nervines are herbs that specifically support the nervous system, so not all calming herbs are nervines. Calming herbs have a range of actions including tonic nervines to mildly or strongly calming effects. They are used to relieve muscle tension and spasms, some kinds of pain, circular thoughts, sleeplessness, and the occasional worry we all experience from time to time.
  A few calming herbs: Skullcap, Chamomile, Valerian, Hops, Lemon Balm, Catnip, Oat Tops, Passionflower, California Poppy 

Emollients;Similar to demulcents, these herbs are also mucilaginous, but used as topical applications to help soothe, condition, and protect the skin. Aloe Vera, Comfrey, Marshmallow, Violet, Plantain

Tonics:These herbs are nutritive and can be taken regularly to help strengthen a system without harmful side-effects.Skullcap, Oat Tops, Nettle leaf, Dandelion, Milk Thistle Seed 

When we understand the reactions natural remedies can create, we can use them to support the body’s physical needs and start the process of healing.

With herbal remedies, it’s essential to keep in mind that this is gentle medicine with long-term benefits and effects. Gentle does NOT mean ineffective. Gentle simply means that there are little or no toxic side effects. It also means that healing may not happen overnight. It’s vital to practice patience with the human body’s natural healing process, as it receives the deep nutrients it needs.

Take one of your skin issues and work with it, starting with it's constitution and figure out what herbs you should be using! 

This is a huge topic so if you are interested in this, check out some courses, as it is fascinating! The attached sheets can be used to help you along your way!

A little more info on Calendula

•Effects upon Doshas:

•Knowing that Calendula is warming and primarily drying remedy, we see that the primary dosha it is used to treat is kapha, which manifests primarily in the body as coldness, dampness, and heaviness. The kapha constitution typically manifests in people who tend to be larger framed, tending towards weight gain and obesity, fluid and organ stagnations, slow and steady rhythms, and accumulation of waste products. Because it is a primarily warming agent, we want to exercise caution in using Calendula is pitta type constitutions and to also be aware of using it with vata constitutions as it may excessively dry them out. That being said, the warming quality of Calendula would benefit a vata, though oftentimes someone with a predominance of vata will be much less likely to have the lymphatic stagnation that is the typical hallmark for the use of this plant. From an energetic perspective, Calendula is said to stimulate the upana vayu, which is considered the downward baring wind element in Ayurveda. This force is associated with essentially all bodily actions which force things down and out (menstruation, defecation, etc.). This is revealed to us through Calendula’s bitter taste as well as it’s emmenagogue action.

Next we see that Calendula as a bitter will just help to overall stimulate digestion, but furthermore it will help to move any stagnancy in the liver which is likely overburdened with cellular debris from the GI, blood and lymph, and is overwhelmed by all the “stuff” that it has to deal with from the digestive system (remember it’s getting more than it’s used to because the “gates” are essentially wide open). In this way it increases portal circulation by clearing out metabolic waste products congesting the blood and liver. Lastly, remember that Calendula is a stimulant, thinning and moving stagnant fluids from the core out the periphery for detoxification. By opening the channels of elimination in the liver, skin, lymph, and digestion, it is helping to prevent stagnation of fluids which then prevents possible bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

It's interesting how we programme ourselves. We decide our outward appearance fits or misfits a social norm and then proceed to use our imagination to live up to our own belief or decision about how acceptable or unacceptable we therefore are. And other people then respond to us accordingly.

So let's say that at some stage (this often occurs in teenage years) you decide that you are too ugly, skinny, fat, tall, small, broad, narrow, dark, light, or whatever. This might be based on how you compare yourself with air-brushed images in the printed media. Or it might be the result of a few comments from other people. Or you may have decided that your appearance is the reason for his being unpopular (and that this unpopularity had nothing to do with you being an uninteresting, self-absorbed, and withdrawn youngster).

Then you unintentionally set about programming to live up to this image or decision or belief about how you look. Each time you catch sight of yourself in the mirror you silently criticises how you look. Or you wince at your appearance. If you see someone attractive you'd say “They wouldn't be interested in me – they're too attractive for that!” And each time you do you-  get rejected – in love, in friendship, or in his career it's further proof of your flawed appearance.

So this relentless self-programming continues and you develop a personality to match what you think that looks like. And gradually people begin responding to this personality that you portray. You are then caught in a self-built vicious circle.

Happily there are many exceptions to this trend. Most of us come to accept ourselves as we are – and even learn to thrive on being uniquely ourselves. And then along comes age! Just a few short years after getting over the teenage angst about our appearance the wrinkles begin appearing or the grey hairs or the lack of hairs! And the process begins all over again – unless we are careful…

We create our reality

We create our own reality – 

Could it be that the reason people look old on the outside is because they have grown old on the inside? Maybe ageing begins with our attitude towards ourselves and towards life.

There's a saying “Act your age!” which is used in many societies to keep people from being different. It's backed up with other sayings and other subtle social mores about how people at certain stages and of certain ages 'should' behave.

Happily these social control mechanisms have less and less influence thanks to the variety of role models now available for just about anyone with just about any lifestyle. Yet they can still have a quite subtle influence at a subliminal, unconscious level unless we are alert.

The different ‘ages’

For a start you might begin differentiating the different types of age. Why stick to boring old chronological age. Try out a few other age-standards….

What is your Chronological Age – i.e. the number of years since your birth? Now compare yourself with others in terms of a few other ‘ages'…

(1) Take your Physical Age – how fit and supple are you compared with the norm for your (chronological) age?

(2) How about your ‘Health Age' How does physical health compare with the norm for your age?

(3) How about your ‘Emotional Age'? Do you act like a 30 year old or a 50 year old or a 15 year old?

(4) How's your ‘Vitality Age' – have you more or less vitality than others of your age. We've all met 21 year olds who had the vitality of a 60-year olds – and vice versa!

It’s about attitude

So take a no-nonsense business-woman, the charming host or the playful flirt, I just couldn't imagine her slapping on layers of anti-wrinkle creams, or thumbing through cosmetic surgery catalogues, or looking at herself in the mirror and worrying about her chronological age. She seemed much too involved with enjoying and getting the most from each moment...

Age is mainly about attitude. Assuming you look after your physical health, age is very much connected with what you believe about yourself and the degree to which you allow the beliefs that other people have about age to influence you…

Six Steps to a Long and Vital Life: 

You can do this! 

1. Look at the bright side and have a good sense of humor.

2. Keep moving but never leave a part of yourself behind.

3. Stick to who you are and what you want.

4. Value relationships and learn from different people.

5. Move towards a positive future.

6. Sing.

What is important here, is that no one can change you..... you can gain help for some guidance but you must want to change your mindset of the aging process, and well that goes for anything! 

You may have great idea's and dreams in life but you must be mature enough to take responsibility for your life and thoughts and grow to accept your body! This is maturity in accepting you.  This is a huge topic, creating our reality, as we usually believe our perceptions. To further review this concept I have attached an article for you. 

Foundations of Mindfulness-

Non Judging- This is the act of not getting caught up in ideas, thoughts, opinions, and dislikes.

Patience- A form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that some things must unfold in their own time.

Beginners Mind- A mind that is willing to see everything for the first time.

Trust- Developing a basic trust in yourself and your feelings.

Non Striving- The invitation is to simply embrace it and hold onto it in awareness. You do not need to do anything about it.

Acceptance- Seeing things as they are really in the present.

Letting Go- A way of letting things be.

Sit with yourself in a quiet area and, feel the issue at hand and try to put into perspective, in it's real reality, not your beliefs, opinions, and think of the positive's of the situation. Even if it seems there is none. An Example is a funeral, a horrendous event, but you may have family and friends their to support you. That is the positive of an extreme negative event.

Try this each day as you feel overwhelmed, sad, upset in a particular situation.  Write them down! take one negative event a day and write down what's positive about it. This is how we change our perspective, and become mindful. We remain aware but reflect in a different way.

PLAIN & SIMPLE ELDERBERRY SYRUP for colds and flus
1 cup dried elderberries
2 cups water
1/2 cup raw honey
Place the elderberries and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, then
reduce heat to medium and simmer until the water is reduced by more than half, 20-30 minutes. Strain
well and press on the berries to release their juices. Wipe out the saucepan, return the liquid to the pan
along with the honey, and heat gently over medium-low heat until the honey has melted and you can stir
the mixture together.
Dosage: At the onset of symptoms, give 1-3 teaspoons once every hour until symptoms subside.

ELDERBERRY GINGER SYRUP
2/3 cup dried elderberries
3 1/2 cups water
2 inches fresh ginger, sliced into coins
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 cup raw honey
Add all ingredients except honey to a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Let simmer until reduced by more than half, 3-4 hours,
stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and strain liquid.
Wipe saucepan clean, then return liquid to pan. Place over low heat, add honey, and whisk until honey
has melted and the mixture is homogenous.
Store in airtight container and refrigerate for up to one month.
Dosage: For cold and flu prevention, take 1/2-1 teaspoon daily for kids and 1/2-1 tablespoon daily for
adults and children over 13. When fighting cold or flu, take the prevention dosage every 2-3 hours.

CALAMINE LOTION
The calcium hydroxide called for in this recipe is often referred to as “cal” and can be found in Latino
grocers.
RECIPE #1
1/4 cup zinc oxide
1/2 teaspoon iron oxide
4 teaspoons bentonite clay
4 teaspoons baking soda or 2 teaspoons
calcium hydroxide
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon glycerin (optional)
3-4 drops lavender, peppermint, camphor, tea
tree, or other antibacterial/antipuretic essential
oil (optional)

RECIPE #2
1/4 cup zinc oxide
4 teaspoons pink Kaolin clay
4 teaspoons baking soda or 2 teaspoons
calcium hydroxide
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon glycerin (optional)
3-4 drops lavender, peppermint, camphor, tea
tree, or other antibacterial/antipuretic essential
oil (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
If you'd like to store it for longer, store it as a dry powder and wet at the time of use. Whisk together all
powdered dry ingredients and store in a bottle or jar indefinitely. When needed, place only as much as
you need into a bowl and add water, glycerin, and essential oils. This way it's fresh and effective!

BUMPS, BRUISES & SPRAIN CREAM
This recipe calls for the oil to be infused with both arnica and St. John's Wort. You may use all arnica if
you prefer.
Firm Oils & Waxes:
20 grams beeswax
25 grams coconut oil
25 grams shea butter
1/4 teaspoon (about the size of a pea) lanolin
Liquid Oils:
3/4 cup arnica and St. John’s Wort infused oil
Waters & Alcohols:
2/3 cup helichrysum hydrosol OR water
1 tablespoon willow bark extract (preservative)
Essential Oils:
40 drops of lavender essential oil OR 20 drops helichrysum essential oil
Several days or weeks before you make the cream, infuse your oil. Once it is infused, you are ready to
proceed.
When you're ready to make the cream, have the infused oil set aside at room temperature and at the
ready. Next, weigh out each of the firm oils and the beeswax and place them in a double-boiler. Third,
make sure the hydrosol and essential oils are at the ready. Lastly, have a blender or food processor ready.
Heat the firm oils and wax together over low heat until completely melted, stirring frequently. Remove
from the heat and lightly dip your finger in to verify that the mixture is warm but not hot - you should be
able to let your pinky finger sit in the mixture comfortably for at least 10 seconds. If it's too hot, let it sit for
a minute or two to cool. Once it's at temperature, pour in the liquid oil. If some of the firm oils reharden
slightly, simply place the pan back over extremely gentle heat and whisk while it warms.
When all ingredients are liquid, pour the mixture into your mixer. Let stand just until it cools enough to
be clouded and opaque and the top begins to harden, 2-20 minutes depending on the temperature of
the room.
When the mixture has become opaque, place the lid on the mixer and turn the mixer on to high speed.
Slowly drizzle in the hydrosol, then add the essential oils. Blend until a luscious, well-emulsified cream
forms, 1-2 minutes, then scrape into clean jars or tubs and store for up to three months (six months if
stored in the refrigerator). If you do not use the willow bark extract, use within two weeks or watch for
signs of bacterial growth.
Apply only to closed-skin wounds. May be applied multiple times per day.

All natural all purpose cleaner.. you will love this.. this is my daily cleaner!!!

Limonene Oil cleaner- I buy at -New Directions 

1/3 cup vinegar

1/3 cup water

3 TBSP Limonene oil

3 TBSP polysorb 80

i like to add .5 % preservative.. just to be safe, I don't want to take chance of spreading bacteria around my house!

Mix ingredient water ingredients and oil ingredients in a large spray bottle and use to clean everything!

This smells so amazing and fresh.. yummmm

Happy Cleaning!

Updated.. More on Calendula:

Wound Healing : we did tak about this but have more to add :)

Pair Calendula (Calendula officinalis) 50% Plantain (Plantago major) 50% This is an excellent starting point for both topical applications in salves and infused oils, but also works well as a starting point for a gut restoration formula or for ulcers. Let’s take a look at how it can be modulated in different ways for that purpose. You can add a basic digestive carminative herb to enhance it’s digestive affinity and to alleviate the many GI symptoms that are associated, such as Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). If you wanted a stronger bitter component to it, you could add some Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinalis). Say the person has some nervousness and anxiety associated with it, you could add a nervine herb like Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata).

But wouldn’t it make more sense to use a herb that has all of these properties in one? Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) stands proud here as it has all of these actions: it’s a great aromatic carminative remedy, a digestive bitter, and a nervine. So rather than adding some Fennel, Dandelion root, and Passionflower, you could get it all done in one with Chamomile.

That is strategic formulation- getting the most out of each herb selected. But say this person has some pretty intense anxiety and Chamomile just isn’t going to cut it, and you actually do want something that’s a bit stronger on the bitter side and another carminative to round it out better. Well you could select one bitter that is nervine, say Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) or Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca).

Upon further investigation we find out this person feels their anxiety in their heart rather than their head, so in that case Motherwort would be a much better option.

Then you could add some Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), whom is also a nice heart oriented nervine sedative, as well as a nice aromatic carminative.

So now our formula could look something like this:

Gut Restoration Formula :Calendula (Calendula officinalis) 30% Plantain (Plantago major) 30% Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) 20% Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) 10% Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) 10%

That’s a pretty sweet formula. Looking at it, we see there’s a good wound healing pair (Calendula, and Plantain), a bitter triplet (Chamomile, Motherwort, and Calendula), a carminative pair (Lemon Balm and Chamomile), and a nervine triplet (Lemon Balm, Motherwort, and Chamomile). You see the strategy there?

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Any information associated with this info should not be considered as a substitute for prescription suggested by beauty and health care professionals. Readers are subjected to use these information on this info on their own risk. This course doesn’t take any responsibility for any harm, side-effects, illness or any health or skin care problems caused due to the use of our content or anything related on our these recipes.