Herb Gardens blog

Hello,

I guess I haven't posted to the Herbal Apothecary site in awhile. I've been doing TONS of writing for my other sites.

I just started a Herb Gardens blog on the Today.com site. The blog went live a couple of days ago so there are only a few posts on the site so far.

I'll be adding lots of herb profiles and pictures of herbs to the site. Please stop by and visit my Herb Gardens site when you get a chance.

Take care,
Lynn

Health Tonics

Tonics
A substance that stimulates or restores your system to a state of balance. Tonics are meant to be drunk and are for internal use only. Tonics have the consistency of water.

Daily tonic:
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
12 ounces spring water

Add the cider vinegar to a large glass. Add the honey and stir until the honey is thoroughly dissolved. Then stir in the spring water. Drink one glass of this tonic everyday, preferably first thing in the morning before breakfast.

Bladder tonic:
1 tablespoon honey
Juice from 1 lime
12 ounces cranberry juice

Add the lime juice to a large glass. Add the honey and stir until the honey is thoroughly dissolved. Then stir in the cranberry juice. Drink a glass or two of this tonic, as needed, to help get rid of a bladder infection.

Homemade Tinctures

Tinctures
A powdered or finely chopped herb is added to either alcohol, cider vinegar or glycerin and left to soak or macerate for up to 4 weeks. The herb is then strained from the liquid and discarded. The resulting liquid is stored in dark glass bottles away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.

The ratio for making a traditional tincture is usually 4 ounces of powdered herb, 4 ounces of water and 12 ounces of alcohol. A layer of glycerin may be added to the top of the filtered and strained tincture to act as a preservative.

Basic tincture method:
Fill a quart size canning jar with coarsely chopped fresh herb
Fill the jar with 100 proof alcohol
Place the lid on the jar
Place the jar in a dark cupboard for 1 month
Shake the jar every few days
Strain out and discard the herb
Store the tincture in dark glass bottles
To administer the tincture add 20-30 drops to 1 cup water

Herbs to tincture:
Echinacea for cold and flu season
Red clover for woman’s complaints

Natural Beauty Products Vendors

Supply Sources
The vendors listed below offer a variety of bulk herbs & spices, essential oils, base ingredients, bottles and containers for sale which you can use when creating your own natural beauty formulas.

Essential Wholesale
PO Box 33761
Portland, OR 97292
503-722-7557
E-mail: customer service@essentialwholesale.com
Website: www.essentialwholesale.com

Mountain Rose Herbs
PO Box 50220
Eugene, OR 97405
800-879-3337
E-mail: customer service@mountainroseherbs.com
Website: www.mountainroseherbs.com

San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Co.
47444 Kato Road
Fremont, CA 94538
800-227-2830
E-mail: customer service@herbspicetea.com
Website: www.herbspicetea.com

Lavender, Lemon & Lemon Grass Essential Oils

Image: morgueFile

Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia - this is a harmonizing and rejuvenating oil. It blends well with most citrus and floral scents in addition to clover, patchouli and rosemary.


Planet=Mercury
Element=air
Magical uses=dream work, healing, love.

Lemon - Citrus limonum - this is a energizing and refreshing oil which blends well with lavender, tea tree and ylang ylang. This essential oil can be used in moderation in your culinary creations to add a light and refreshing scent and citrus taste to your food.

Planet=sun
Element=fire
Magical uses=healing, leadership, mood elevator, prosperity, purification.


Lemon grass - Cymbopogon citratus - this essential oil blends well with lavender, tea tree and ylang ylang.


Planet=Mercury
Element=air
Magical uses=mood elevator, prosperity, purification.

Herbal Cough Syrups

© Thea Olsen 2007 - MorgueFile

Syrups
Syrups are a sweet, thick liquid which are ingested in small quantities. They are used for medicinal purposes to help surpress coughs and sooth a sore throat.

John Gerard in his 1597 book The Herbal is quoted as saying: “Thyme, with honey is good against the cough and ye shortness of breath.”

Herbal cough syrup:
To make a homemade syrup, choose from one or more of the following herbs:

hyssop

thyme

marshmallow root

licorice root

horehound

wild cherry bark

Basic herbal syrup:

Add 3 cups of water to a pan then add 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh herb, or 1/2 cup dried herb, to the pan.

Let this mixture cook down until approximately 1 ½ cups of liquid remains.

Strain out and discard the herbs.

Add 1 cup of honey to the pan and stir until thoroughly dissolved.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool down to room temperature.

Take a spoonful of the syrup whenever necessary to help suppress a cough.

You may store the syrup in dark glass bottles at room temperature for up to one month.

Sweet Basil, Bay and Benzoin Essential Oils

Sweet basil - Ocimum basilicum - this is an energizing and uplifting oil with a very refreshing, clean scent. I often use this oil in my essential oil diffuser to scent my home office. This oil blends well with lavender and thyme.

Planet=sun

Element=fire

Magical uses=mood elevator, leadership, prosperity, protection.

Bay - Laurus nobilis - this oil is calming and grounding and blends well with all citrus based oils, lavender and rosemary.

Planet=sun

Element=fire

Magical uses=divination, meditation, purification.

Benzoin - sweet, vanilla scent, can be used as a scent extender with other essential oils.

Planet=Sun

Element=fire

Magical uses=leadership, love magic, magic ability.