I hope that everyone enjoyed their holiday and was able to spend it with good friends and family. Speaking of family, I found a great article thanks to my Brother, Chad Disbennett, of Disbennett Financial Services. It's all about making money doing what you love to do. Check it out here! Of course, after you have made your money and need help with financial planning, you should check out the services available from Disbennett Financial Services!
This is an email that I received last night from Mountain Rose Herbs. If you have never visited their web site, please do, it is awesome! Aside from selling great herbs and oils, they have a wealth of information for you to read and learn from! This is an important subject, so please take a minute or two and visit the links that they have provided. I am not in the pacific north, but we can all support their project, and we can do the same type of project wherever we live. After all, we live in one world!
"Mountain Rose Herbs has gotten together with our long term partner Beyond Toxics on their most recent project called 1000 Friends of Bees Campaign. As most of your know, a large percentage of our honeybee colonies are being threatened by habitat loss, introduced diseases, the spread of parasites, and worst of all, the widespread use of pesticides. Many biologists agree that without the simple honey bee, our entire food system would collapse as would other essential plant systems.
"Mountain Rose Herbs has gotten together with our long term partner Beyond Toxics on their most recent project called 1000 Friends of Bees Campaign. As most of your know, a large percentage of our honeybee colonies are being threatened by habitat loss, introduced diseases, the spread of parasites, and worst of all, the widespread use of pesticides. Many biologists agree that without the simple honey bee, our entire food system would collapse as would other essential plant systems.
The problem is that pesticides poison the bees by direct contact with the plants and flowers they pollinate and from here the compound chemicals eventually contaminate the honey, pollen, and entire hive. Entire bee colonies have been collapsing at an alarming rate and the latest research points to pesticides as being the biggest culprit of these declines.
But don’t let this shocking news get you down! Mountain Rose Herbs and Beyond Toxics are addressing the impacts that pesticides cause to honeybee populations and we need your support! 1000 Friends of Bees Campaign is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood and city-by-city project dedicated to the preservation of the honeybee. The goal of 1000 Friends of Bees Campaign is to create pesticide-free zones in communities throughout the Pacific Northwest so that we can live together with our pollinators in a healthy and safe environment free of harmful chemicals.
There are numerous ways that you can help us spread the message and it will only take you a mere 2-3 minutes of your time.
Our goal is to have 1000 new friends of bees and you can do this 2 ways….
- Take the Honeybee Friend Pledge at www.friendsofhealthybees.org
- Like Beyond Toxics on Facebook which will give you up to date information, action alerts, and essential bee information. Please seehttp://www.facebook.com/
beyondtoxics
Many thanks for helping us spread the word on pesticide free living and many cheers for a happy and healthy future!"
What to Make Wednesday- Creamy Fragrance Balm
Have you ever fallen in love with a scent but hated the price of it? Well you can easily make your own perfume for a lot less than the store bought ones, and you will know every ingredient!
All you need is;
1 ounce castor oil
0.1666 oz. beeswax, the white is best for this (this is about 1 teaspoon if your scale doesn't go this low)
And the fragrance oil or essential oil(s) of your choice. Make sure that they are skin safe, no potpourri oils or others that don't specifically state that they are skin safe. And then, make sure that you only use the appropriate amount that is recommended or you will run the risk of it damaging your skin. The supplier usually posts or will provide this amount when asked.
Just dissolve the beeswax with the castor oil. Most people use a double boiler, which will ensure that you do not burn the mixture, but I like to live dangerously and heat it in a pan, over a low setting. If you choose to live it up, just be cautious! Once it's completely melted, remove it from the heat and stir it. Allow it to cool a bit (but not so much that it begins to skin over) and then add in the fragrance or essential oil(s) and stir well. Pour into a jar and allow it to set up. If you want to use a twist up tube dispenser you may need to add a tad more beeswax. Try it this way and then remelt and add a bit of beeswax if you need too. If you want yours creamier, add a tad more oil. Simple! Then enjoy your solid perfume! This is so economical that you can make a different one for every day of the month!
And how's this for versatility? If you'd rather have a lip balm, you can use the same recipe and just add a lip safe essential oil, fragrance oil, or flavored oil. Just make sure that you only use a lip safe one. Most body safe oils are not also lip safe, so it specifically must say that it is lip safe!
All you need is;
1 ounce castor oil
0.1666 oz. beeswax, the white is best for this (this is about 1 teaspoon if your scale doesn't go this low)
And the fragrance oil or essential oil(s) of your choice. Make sure that they are skin safe, no potpourri oils or others that don't specifically state that they are skin safe. And then, make sure that you only use the appropriate amount that is recommended or you will run the risk of it damaging your skin. The supplier usually posts or will provide this amount when asked.
Just dissolve the beeswax with the castor oil. Most people use a double boiler, which will ensure that you do not burn the mixture, but I like to live dangerously and heat it in a pan, over a low setting. If you choose to live it up, just be cautious! Once it's completely melted, remove it from the heat and stir it. Allow it to cool a bit (but not so much that it begins to skin over) and then add in the fragrance or essential oil(s) and stir well. Pour into a jar and allow it to set up. If you want to use a twist up tube dispenser you may need to add a tad more beeswax. Try it this way and then remelt and add a bit of beeswax if you need too. If you want yours creamier, add a tad more oil. Simple! Then enjoy your solid perfume! This is so economical that you can make a different one for every day of the month!
And how's this for versatility? If you'd rather have a lip balm, you can use the same recipe and just add a lip safe essential oil, fragrance oil, or flavored oil. Just make sure that you only use a lip safe one. Most body safe oils are not also lip safe, so it specifically must say that it is lip safe!
Today was delivery day for my last commercial order. There are to be 75 guests, each receiving a gift bag, and then there were 3 gift sets for special awards, and then I did a [smaller] set for a door prize. The pictures turned out rather orange, but it was late and I was tired, and I think that you can see well enough to get the idea. It was a lot of work, but I thought everything turned out very well. More importantly, the client was pleased, so I am pleased!
Here are pictures of the display tables for the show that I did a few weeks back. My other soap displays were up North, so I had to make due with what I had. While I love the metal trays, I prefer the tables less cluttered, so the soap displays are great for helping with that issue, and help to make the trays look nicer too. Oh well, it's the first show of the season, so there's lots of time to get it right! Lol It didn't seem to slow business down though, so all was good!
Teaching Tuesday- Caring for your Feet
Yesterday's recipes made me think that it was time to discuss foot care again. While our feet may not show age like the hands do, they do work hard supporting our body weight, pounding the pavement, basking in the sand at the beach, and walking in ridiculous shoes. Sometimes they have circulation issues, sometimes they are cold and wet, other times they are overheated and sweaty. But, unless they are swollen and achy, or perhapse stinking, they are generallyi ignored.
Our hard-working feet should never be ignored, but should be cared for routinely, just as other skin is cared for on a daily basis. Just a few simple steps will ensure the health of the feet, the body's support.
As with all other skin care, good health begins on the inside. Simply making efforts to eat right, drink plenty of water, and to get adequate sleep will go a long way to maintaining good skin health and good foot health too!
Common sense is important too. Things like, making sure that you wear properly fitting shoes, and that you wear shoes that are appropriate for the activity, will impact your foot health tremendously. It is not healthy to cram your feet into those tight-fitting, pointy toed shoes, no matter how hot they look with that new dress. Don't sacrifice your health for fashion!
And here is something that you may not know, the best time to buy a pair of new shoes is in the middle of the day. This is usually when your feet have swollen slightly, so buying shoes at this time will help to ensure that you get a comfortable fit. And here are a few more tips that will contribute to good foot health.
-Make sure to dry the skin/area in between your toes completely after bathing or swimming. Moisture can lead to yeast infection/athletes foot, so it is important to eliminate any possibility of that.
-Inspect your feet and take appropriate care of any small cuts or nicks. Some diseases, age, and some skin conditions [may] impact the feeling in your feet. It is imperative that you take care of small cuts before they become large infections, so visually check your feet on a daily basis at minimum.
-Keep toe nails and cuticles away from soaps, detergents, and hot water as much as possible, and avoid frequent use of nail polish remover, as it dries out the nail bed and leads to splitting.
-Massage and moisturize your feet as often as possible, but at least on a daily basis. The feet are subject to issues of poor circulation, massaging not only feels good, but stimulates and increases the blood circulation.
-Give yourself, or get a pedicure at least once a week to maintain good foot and nail care.
-Do not use a sharp object to remove dirt from under the nails, instead, use a nail brush with baking soda as a cleanser. If your nails are dull and /or yellowed you can brighten them with white vinegar!
-Never cut the cuticles or use cuticle removers on them, instead, soak the toes in warm water to soften the cuticles, then gently push them back, using a soft, moist towel, or by gently applying pressure with an orange stick.
-Keep your toe nails trimmed, making sure that you always cut straight across to prevent hang nails.
-Soak the feet in a warm foot bath for 20 minutes before exfoliating the skin.
-A couple of drops of peppermint essential oil in a foot bath will help to stimulate blood circulation in the feet.
-Treat your feet with the same care and consideration that you treat your face and your other skin, after all, your feet work hard for you every day, and they deserve a bit of pampering!
Our hard-working feet should never be ignored, but should be cared for routinely, just as other skin is cared for on a daily basis. Just a few simple steps will ensure the health of the feet, the body's support.
As with all other skin care, good health begins on the inside. Simply making efforts to eat right, drink plenty of water, and to get adequate sleep will go a long way to maintaining good skin health and good foot health too!
Common sense is important too. Things like, making sure that you wear properly fitting shoes, and that you wear shoes that are appropriate for the activity, will impact your foot health tremendously. It is not healthy to cram your feet into those tight-fitting, pointy toed shoes, no matter how hot they look with that new dress. Don't sacrifice your health for fashion!
And here is something that you may not know, the best time to buy a pair of new shoes is in the middle of the day. This is usually when your feet have swollen slightly, so buying shoes at this time will help to ensure that you get a comfortable fit. And here are a few more tips that will contribute to good foot health.
-Make sure to dry the skin/area in between your toes completely after bathing or swimming. Moisture can lead to yeast infection/athletes foot, so it is important to eliminate any possibility of that.
-Inspect your feet and take appropriate care of any small cuts or nicks. Some diseases, age, and some skin conditions [may] impact the feeling in your feet. It is imperative that you take care of small cuts before they become large infections, so visually check your feet on a daily basis at minimum.
-Keep toe nails and cuticles away from soaps, detergents, and hot water as much as possible, and avoid frequent use of nail polish remover, as it dries out the nail bed and leads to splitting.
-Massage and moisturize your feet as often as possible, but at least on a daily basis. The feet are subject to issues of poor circulation, massaging not only feels good, but stimulates and increases the blood circulation.
-Give yourself, or get a pedicure at least once a week to maintain good foot and nail care.
-Do not use a sharp object to remove dirt from under the nails, instead, use a nail brush with baking soda as a cleanser. If your nails are dull and /or yellowed you can brighten them with white vinegar!
-Never cut the cuticles or use cuticle removers on them, instead, soak the toes in warm water to soften the cuticles, then gently push them back, using a soft, moist towel, or by gently applying pressure with an orange stick.
-Keep your toe nails trimmed, making sure that you always cut straight across to prevent hang nails.
-Soak the feet in a warm foot bath for 20 minutes before exfoliating the skin.
-A couple of drops of peppermint essential oil in a foot bath will help to stimulate blood circulation in the feet.
-Treat your feet with the same care and consideration that you treat your face and your other skin, after all, your feet work hard for you every day, and they deserve a bit of pampering!
Make it Yourself Monday-Foot Wash and Foot Mask
The warm weather is upon us, and that means it's time for the feet to be exposed. Whether bare, in open-toed shoes, or in sandals, your feet are sure to be on display. This means that it is time to pay a bit of attention to your hard working feet. These easy recipes will not only get your feet looking nice, but they will make you feel great!
FOOT WASH
You will need
1/2 cup of dried lavender flower buds
1/2 cup of fresh sage, finely chopped
2 cups of water (I like to use Spring water or distilled)
8 drops Bulgarian lavender essential oil
Pour the water into a pan and add the lavender and sage, cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. When the time is up, strain the infusion through cheesecloth, toss the solids, and allow the liquid to cool. Once it's cooled, add the essential oil and stir well. It is now ready. Use this to pat onto or pour over your feet (also great to use on the hands too). You can repeat as frequently as you like. This recipe is great for relieving tired, swollen, achy, and red feet.
If you'd rather a bath than a splash, use 2 cups of fresh lavender or 1 cup of dried lavender. Steep the lavender in 2 gallons of boiling water for 20 minutes, then strain the liquid and toss the plant material when the time is up. Allow it to cool slightly, then place the liquid into a foot tub and soak your feet for 20 minutes, then pat dry and don't forget to moisturize.
Foot soaks are easy to prepare and are ideal for sore, tired and/or swollen feet. A foot soak is a great way to pamper yourself. It doesn't cost a lot, yet it is of great benefit and truly makes you feel renewed. You can use other herbs besides lavender if you wish, or a combination of herbs. Try using comfrey, elderberry, pine, rosemary, chamomile or sage.
FOOT MASK
You will need;
1/2 cup (powdered) green clay
1/2 cup Spring or Distilled water
This recipe pulls impurities from the skin, restores minerals (directly into the skin), and gently exfoliates at the same time. Since clay is also an effective heat conductor, this treatment is also very soothing and effective as a muscle relaxing treatment for tired, aching feet. To get the most out of the treatment, make sure that you use the green clay and do not substitute another. The green clay is especially rich in magnesium and silica, is highly absorbent, and makes a good deodorant.
To make it, simply mix the green clay with the water. You don't need to use all the water, and may not need too. You just need a paste consistency. Try for a medium thickness, one that is easily spread while not too thin and watery. Coat your feet with the clay paste and allow it to dry, then rinse your feet clean with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize.
Fearless Friday
I was behind the times due to watching my Grandson, my Son's 29th birthday, a large commercial order that I am trying to get finished up, as well as just a general tiredness that seems to be following me around lately! Lol So my apologies for not getting the photographs up yesterday, but they are here now.
I hope that everyone enjoys this Mother's day weekend, and is able to spend time with dear Mom, your children, or someone that you love. If not, how about visiting a nursing facility or senior center and spending an hour with people who don't usually have visitors? Try it, and you may just find that you are as blessed by the visit as the people you go to see!
I took my Mother out to lunch last Sunday afternoon and these pictures are along the way back home. We are truly live in a beautiful area and I am constantly reminded that God pains pretty pictures!
I hope that everyone enjoys this Mother's day weekend, and is able to spend time with dear Mom, your children, or someone that you love. If not, how about visiting a nursing facility or senior center and spending an hour with people who don't usually have visitors? Try it, and you may just find that you are as blessed by the visit as the people you go to see!
I took my Mother out to lunch last Sunday afternoon and these pictures are along the way back home. We are truly live in a beautiful area and I am constantly reminded that God pains pretty pictures!
Teaching Tuesday- Sea Buckthorn Oil
I just reformulated my facial serum to include meadowfoam seed oil and Sea Buckthorn, so I thought we'd review the benefits of sea buckthorn oil in today's Teaching Tuesday post. To view more information about Meadowfoam seed oil, see this previous post.
Sea Buckthorn's botanical name is Hippophae rhamnoides. It is a shrub that grows anywhere from one and a half feet tall to twenty feet tall, but some of the plants in central Asia have been known to reach as high as thirty-three feet. While the plant is native to Russia, Mongolia and China, over ninety percent of the world's sea buckthorn plantations are located in China, where the plant is used for soil and water conservation, as much as its fruit. In the last twenty years experimental crops of sea buckthorn have been grown in Canada and a few US states, thanks to the efforts of Russian and East German horticulturists who worked to develop new varieties of sea buckthorn. These new cultivars have different ripening months, larger berries, more nutritional value, and branches that make harvesting easier.
Sea buckthorn oil is extracted by cold pressing the entire fruiting body, the seeds and the berries of this shrub. Getting to the fruit to harvest it though, is fairly difficult because there is a pretty dense arrangement of thorns all around the berries on each branch. One harvesting technique is to remove the entire branch and freeze it, making it easy to then shake off the berries. This does help to avoid the thorns while getting at the berries, but it is destructive to the shrub, and it reduces future harvests as well.
It takes about ten pounds of the thorn surrounded berries to produce just one pound of oil. Because of the labor intensive harvest, as well as the amount of berries needed to produce a small amount of oil, this cost of this oil is on the pricey side. Most would say though, its benefits are worth the cost.
The oil itself is fairly viscous, a syrupy consistency. It comes in a deep amber to a nice red color palate. It is liquid at room temperature, but when it gets cold it tends to solidify. When properly stored, at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, it generally has a shelf life of about two years. This oil is one that must be used diluted though, as it will stain clothing, counter tops and even your skin when undiluted.
Sea buckthorn oil contains about fifteen times more vitamin C than an orange, a very high amount of vitamin E, beta carotene, anti-oxidants, carotenoid, and contains many other vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. The fruit of the sea buckthorn, the berries, are edible, but are pretty acidy and oily, so they aren't very tasty. But since they are ultra high in nutrients, they make a super food, and used in many foods. In fact, the fruit is quite popular overseas, where you will find it in jellies, jams, pies, liquors, even baby food, as well as lotions and other skin care products. By using just one part sea buckthorn to five parts water and sweetening to taste, you can blend it, strain it, and have an orange or peach tasting juice, with more vitamins than the other fruits would provide. When you allow the berries to frost (called bletting) before gathering them, the cold helps to decrease the tartness enough that they can be eaten raw, however most people still think they are better when mixed into a juice, with other juices, or made into other products.
The sea buckthorn has long been recognized as a wonderful skin repairing, skin regenerating and skin conditioning oil. It has been used to heal wounds, burns, lesions, eczema, abrasions, wounds, and to repair sun damage and other skin injuries for centuries. In fact, its amazing skin healing properties have led to (further) studies which support the use of this oil internally for healthful purposes. Generally speaking the recommendation is to take 2000-2500 mg daily (in capsules), or one tablespoon of raw oil daily in order to promote healthy blood circulation, as a soothing agent for the gastro- intestinal tract, or to treat colitis, stomach ulcers. More studies are needed, but they are currently exploring the benefits of this oil for treating inflammatory disorders, certain cancers, and even for improving the health of bone marrow after chemotherapy.
For centuries, this shrub has been used to relieve coughs, aide digestion, alleviate pain, and invigorate blood circulation. It has been used to treat diarrhea and dermal disorders. It has been taken orally and applied topically. It has also been added to medications for pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiac, blood and metabolic disorders in Indian, Chinese and Tibetan medicines. So, while we may use it primarily for its skin benefiting properties, the other implications certainly bare more investigation. Make it Yourself Monday- Tasty Chicken
Today's recipe is for a nice, easy, and good for you meal. This one is for the crock pot, so it is perfect when you want to avoid the oven in Summer heat, or you have little time at home before you need to hit the baseball diamond. Want to spend the day at the park and have dinner ready when you get home? Try this one, you won't be disappointed! And, on top of the convenience, it is good for you. It only has 154 calories and 4.7grams of carbs per serving (one breast halve).
You will need;
*for a bit of spice you may add red pepper to taste.
**You may also add a medium diced onion if desired.
Directions
You may serve over a bed of noodles or rice if you wish, but to keep the carbs low I just serve with a salad, a steamed vegetable and half of a small baked potato. However you serve it, I hope you enjoy it!
- More Under the Radar EO's- Manuka
Have you ever heard of Manuka essential oil? If not, then this EO has flown under your radar until now. But no worries, because today we are going to change that!
Botanically known as Leptospermum scoparium, this is a small tree, or shrub, that is considered native to New Zealand, although Australia also has an abundance of it, and is one of the chief exporters of the EO made from the leaves and branches. It does also grow in New Guinea and Southeastern Asia. The Eo is steam distilled, and gives off a rich, but sweet, woody and herbaceous middle note fragrance. It is warmer and richer than tea tree EO, but is the New Zealand cultivar of the tea tree.
While the leaves of this plant have primarily been used in remedies for urinary complaints, congestion, and muscle aches and pains, every part of the plant has been used by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, when making their [natural] medicines. In fact it is still widely used today. Historically, a decoction of the leaves was drunk for urinary complaints and fevers, while the leaves were boiled in water and the steam inhaled for relief from head colds. The leaves and the bark were also used to make a decoction where the warm liquid was used to rub into aching joints and muscles. They also used the emollient white gum, called pai manuka, to give nursing babies, as well as to treat burns. And even the bark was chewed to relax and to enhance sleep. It truly was, and is, an all around useful plant.
As an interesting side note, it is believed that both the manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and the Melaleuca alternifolia, were mixed, made into a tea, and drunk by Captain Cook, which is how the Melaleuca alternifolia got its name, [the] Tea Tree.
Manuka possesses analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, deodorant, expectorant, immune stimulant, nervine, sedative, and vulnerary properties, as well as being an immune stimulator.
Because of the above properties this essential oil will be a beneficial additive in remedies for; acne, arthritis, asthma, athletes foot, burns, candida, colds, cold sores, cough, cracked skin, dandruff, eczema, fever, infections, insect bites and stings, intestinal infections, muscular pain, rheumatism, ringworm, sinus congestion, sinusitis, sore throats, sunburn, thrush, urinary infections, wounds. While it is not recommended for internal use at all, it may be used in a steam inhalation treatment, where it will act as an expectorant.
According to one source found in my research, the concentration of the components in this oil will vary with the height of the tree that the leaves were taken from, but I was unable to confirm this claim. While it is very similar in qualities to the Australian tea tree eo, several sources report that it is stronger in its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal actions. There is research, from both Britain and New Zealand, that indicates that this eo posses a broad spectrum antibiotic action. While it is considered generally safe for healthy tissue, the claim by some vendors that it is non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-toxic, is debatable. I have found growers that caution that, in some people, it can be mildly irritating to the skin, and that acute toxicity can occur when it is used in amounts above the recommended dosages. So, as with everything, caution and moderation is advised.
This EO is also used to treat wounds and cuts, seedy toe, thrush, mudfever, and rainscald in horses. When mixed with lavender, it offers a treatment for hives and skin reactions to insect bites, and when diluted, it is applied for a once a week skin conditioner, after the bath.
It also makes a good treatment (when diluted) to use on the hot spots that dogs get when they are bit by fleas, or in a spray for flea repelling, or even added to a dogie shampoo for general cleansing.
This EO should be in the medicine cabinet for sure. And now that it is no longer under your radar, you can put it there!
Botanically known as Leptospermum scoparium, this is a small tree, or shrub, that is considered native to New Zealand, although Australia also has an abundance of it, and is one of the chief exporters of the EO made from the leaves and branches. It does also grow in New Guinea and Southeastern Asia. The Eo is steam distilled, and gives off a rich, but sweet, woody and herbaceous middle note fragrance. It is warmer and richer than tea tree EO, but is the New Zealand cultivar of the tea tree.
While the leaves of this plant have primarily been used in remedies for urinary complaints, congestion, and muscle aches and pains, every part of the plant has been used by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, when making their [natural] medicines. In fact it is still widely used today. Historically, a decoction of the leaves was drunk for urinary complaints and fevers, while the leaves were boiled in water and the steam inhaled for relief from head colds. The leaves and the bark were also used to make a decoction where the warm liquid was used to rub into aching joints and muscles. They also used the emollient white gum, called pai manuka, to give nursing babies, as well as to treat burns. And even the bark was chewed to relax and to enhance sleep. It truly was, and is, an all around useful plant.
As an interesting side note, it is believed that both the manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and the Melaleuca alternifolia, were mixed, made into a tea, and drunk by Captain Cook, which is how the Melaleuca alternifolia got its name, [the] Tea Tree.
Manuka possesses analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, deodorant, expectorant, immune stimulant, nervine, sedative, and vulnerary properties, as well as being an immune stimulator.
Because of the above properties this essential oil will be a beneficial additive in remedies for; acne, arthritis, asthma, athletes foot, burns, candida, colds, cold sores, cough, cracked skin, dandruff, eczema, fever, infections, insect bites and stings, intestinal infections, muscular pain, rheumatism, ringworm, sinus congestion, sinusitis, sore throats, sunburn, thrush, urinary infections, wounds. While it is not recommended for internal use at all, it may be used in a steam inhalation treatment, where it will act as an expectorant.
According to one source found in my research, the concentration of the components in this oil will vary with the height of the tree that the leaves were taken from, but I was unable to confirm this claim. While it is very similar in qualities to the Australian tea tree eo, several sources report that it is stronger in its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal actions. There is research, from both Britain and New Zealand, that indicates that this eo posses a broad spectrum antibiotic action. While it is considered generally safe for healthy tissue, the claim by some vendors that it is non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-toxic, is debatable. I have found growers that caution that, in some people, it can be mildly irritating to the skin, and that acute toxicity can occur when it is used in amounts above the recommended dosages. So, as with everything, caution and moderation is advised.
This EO is also used to treat wounds and cuts, seedy toe, thrush, mudfever, and rainscald in horses. When mixed with lavender, it offers a treatment for hives and skin reactions to insect bites, and when diluted, it is applied for a once a week skin conditioner, after the bath.
It also makes a good treatment (when diluted) to use on the hot spots that dogs get when they are bit by fleas, or in a spray for flea repelling, or even added to a dogie shampoo for general cleansing.
This EO should be in the medicine cabinet for sure. And now that it is no longer under your radar, you can put it there!
Tripod Thursday- Scenery
I really had intended to show these photos a while back, but I guess its better to be late than never show them! So here are some shots from a few weeks back. Now it is completely green, with many of the Spring flowering bushes and trees having already lost their pretty blooms. In deed, most of the trees are already full of opened leaves. Next week I will try and get shots of the area now, so that you can compare. This year has been a very strange weather year for sure!
While I have posted on this topic before, it is quickly becoming that time of year again, so it bears repeating. If you have ever spent the night scratching away after you have been camping, out for a walk in the country, or even after petting you dog, you may know what I am getting at. The dreaded poison ivy (poison oak or poison sumac are very similar). You can also get a reaction to poison ivy if a log that had it growing on it (at one time) is burned in a fireplace or a bonfire. Don't ask me how I know this! Lol
But nature has given us the perfect antagonist for poison ivy. It is often called the "touch me not" impatient, botanically known as Impatiens Capensis, and commonly known as Jewel Weed. Jewel weed produces trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom from early summer to fall. They are under an inch in length and have three petals. One of the petals curls, to form a long slipper, or sack shaped spur. They come in a variety of colors and like to grow near water or in shallow ponds. It's been said that jewel weed grows wherever Poison Ivy is found, but that isn't true. Poison ivy can grow well under most any condition (just like a pest, aye?), be it sunny or shady. However, jewel weed is a shade loving plant, that prefers valleys with rich soil and moist bottom lands. It may sprout in a sunny area, but it will not survive for long in the light.
There are many ways to utilize jewel weed, but drying it is not practical, as it has a very high moisture content. For this reason, the soaps, salves and sprays that are made from this herbal, are made from fresh or frozen jewel weed.
One of the simplest ways to benefit from this flower is simply to take the stem, slice it, and slather the juice onto skin that has come into contact with poison ivy. If you get it applied before a rash appears, it generally will prevent any from developing. If you already have a rash, it will help to ease the irritation. In fact, many people use the stem juice as a preventative treatment for poison ivy reactions, and it seems to work well.
You can also make jewel weed ointment. Simply simmer a small amount of jewel weed in a light vegetable oil (do not use olive oil) for 10-15 minutes. Use only a small handful of jewel weed stems per quart of oil, or bubbles of the juice will form in the ointment, and they will cause mold. When time is up, strain out the herb and add a handful of beeswax, to thicken it, and heat until it is melted. Take out a spoonful and allow it to cool, to test the thickness. Add either more oil or more beeswax until it is the consistency that you prefer. Once it is just right for you, remove from the heat and pierce 2 gel caps of vitamin E, and add the contents of one oil-soluble vitamin E capsule, pour into a jar, and allow it to completely cool (with the lid off).
Whatever you do, do NOT make alcoholic tinctures from Jewel weed. Some people have had very bad reactions when mixing and using jewel weed with alcohol.
But nature has given us the perfect antagonist for poison ivy. It is often called the "touch me not" impatient, botanically known as Impatiens Capensis, and commonly known as Jewel Weed. Jewel weed produces trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom from early summer to fall. They are under an inch in length and have three petals. One of the petals curls, to form a long slipper, or sack shaped spur. They come in a variety of colors and like to grow near water or in shallow ponds. It's been said that jewel weed grows wherever Poison Ivy is found, but that isn't true. Poison ivy can grow well under most any condition (just like a pest, aye?), be it sunny or shady. However, jewel weed is a shade loving plant, that prefers valleys with rich soil and moist bottom lands. It may sprout in a sunny area, but it will not survive for long in the light.
There are many ways to utilize jewel weed, but drying it is not practical, as it has a very high moisture content. For this reason, the soaps, salves and sprays that are made from this herbal, are made from fresh or frozen jewel weed.
One of the simplest ways to benefit from this flower is simply to take the stem, slice it, and slather the juice onto skin that has come into contact with poison ivy. If you get it applied before a rash appears, it generally will prevent any from developing. If you already have a rash, it will help to ease the irritation. In fact, many people use the stem juice as a preventative treatment for poison ivy reactions, and it seems to work well.
When foraging, make sure that you are looking for the orange flowering jewel weed, not the yellow, as the yellow is less concentrated and will probably not offer you the relief you are looking for.
The fresh plant lasts about a week in a sealed container, in the refrigerator.
You can make an infusion by boiling the leaves of the plant, and can even freeze it for later use. Brew chopped jewel weed leaves in boiling water, until you get a dark orange liquid in your pot. Then strain the liquid, and pour it into ice cube trays. Then, when you have a skin rash, just grab out a cube and rub the affected area with your "jewel cube". It will keep in the freezer for up to one year, or you can preserve the infusion by canning it (in a pressure cooker).
You can make a tincture with witch hazel and the jewel weed juice or the infusion previously described. Preparing the tincture in witch hazel will help to prevent mold growth, if you want to keep some jewel juice unfrozen.
If you want to make soap with the jewel weed, either make an infusion to incorporate as your liquid, or you can just use the jewel ice in place of all or a portion of your liquid.
Whatever you do, do NOT make alcoholic tinctures from Jewel weed. Some people have had very bad reactions when mixing and using jewel weed with alcohol.
While most people use jewel weed to neutralize the poison Ivy's oily antigen, urushiol, it is also an effective remedy for poison oak, okra spines, stinging nettle, bug bites, heat rash, and other irritating plant reactions and other skin disorders. For more than a hundred years, a poultice made from this plant was frequently used to treat burns, cuts, sores, sprains, warts, eczema, and even ringworm. SO try it for the poison ivy and get back to nature's remedy!
Make it Yourself- Baby Balm
This past weekend I was at a show and was approached by a Grandma who needed some type of balm for her two year old Grandson's terrible skin. Fortunately I make a wonderful Baby Bum and Body Balm, so she was able to get that, but for those of you that want to make your own, here is a recipe for you to try! While it is not the same one I sell, it is a good one.
You will need;
1 cup olive oil
3 Tbs. dried lavender
1 Tbs. dried calendula
1 Tbs rose petals or 3 Tbs dried rose petals
4 vitamin E capsules
1 1/2 tsp. jojoba oil*
8 Tbs. beeswax
4 drops lavender EO (optional)
You will need to grind 3 tablespoons of dried lavender, 1 tablespoon of dried calendula, and 1 tablespoon of rose petals (make sure that you use organic roses, ones not sprayed with pesticides or aroma enhancing chemicals. Know that most florists carry chemically treated roses!) into a powder, then place in a pan and cover with 1 cup of olive oil (do not use the extra virgin). Simmer the oil, making sure not to boil it or burn it, for at least an hour and a half. Remove from heat and strain the oil through a coffee filter, throwing away the botanical particles. Put your oil back into the pan and add in 8 tablespoons of beeswax, stirring until melted. Once the beeswax is melted, add in 1 1/2 teaspoons of jojoba oil and 4 drops of lavender essential oil (you may omit the EO if you want), then at the very last, puncture the vitamin E caps and squeeze the oil out and into the pan. Stir well.
When everything is mixed well, pour into a jar and leave sit until completely cooled. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, put the lid on the jar and store out of direct light, keeping from heat fluctuations as well. It should remain good for at least 6-8 months when properly stored.
*If you do not have any jojoba oil and do not want to purchase any (it is extremely expensive right now, when you can find it), you can add in another non-nut carrier oil, such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil, or just use additional olive oil, whichever you prefer.
You will need;
1 cup olive oil
3 Tbs. dried lavender
1 Tbs. dried calendula
1 Tbs rose petals or 3 Tbs dried rose petals
4 vitamin E capsules
1 1/2 tsp. jojoba oil*
8 Tbs. beeswax
4 drops lavender EO (optional)
You will need to grind 3 tablespoons of dried lavender, 1 tablespoon of dried calendula, and 1 tablespoon of rose petals (make sure that you use organic roses, ones not sprayed with pesticides or aroma enhancing chemicals. Know that most florists carry chemically treated roses!) into a powder, then place in a pan and cover with 1 cup of olive oil (do not use the extra virgin). Simmer the oil, making sure not to boil it or burn it, for at least an hour and a half. Remove from heat and strain the oil through a coffee filter, throwing away the botanical particles. Put your oil back into the pan and add in 8 tablespoons of beeswax, stirring until melted. Once the beeswax is melted, add in 1 1/2 teaspoons of jojoba oil and 4 drops of lavender essential oil (you may omit the EO if you want), then at the very last, puncture the vitamin E caps and squeeze the oil out and into the pan. Stir well.
When everything is mixed well, pour into a jar and leave sit until completely cooled. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, put the lid on the jar and store out of direct light, keeping from heat fluctuations as well. It should remain good for at least 6-8 months when properly stored.
*If you do not have any jojoba oil and do not want to purchase any (it is extremely expensive right now, when you can find it), you can add in another non-nut carrier oil, such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil, or just use additional olive oil, whichever you prefer.
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