Thyme Salve

Salves are amazing for minor skin damage, burns, bruises, sprains, rashes and much more.  They are made with the plant, olive oil, beeswax and I usually use Lavender Essential Oil.  They are a topical application that you can take with you anywhere.  I choose to make thyme salve this month as it is great to apply to your chest when you are suffering from a cough.  A good alternative to vicks vapor rub and kids love it!

Thyme Salve Recipe
Ingredients (rough estimates)

• a handful of fresh thyme
• 1.5 cups Olive Oil (enough to cover thyme)
• 1/2 round of Beeswax- about 12onces melted
• 20 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

Thyme Oil-

• Cut fresh thyme
• place in small mason jar
• cover thyme with olive oil
• let sit 4-6 weeks covered with a paper towel and elastic
• stir with a wooden spoon the first few days and check periodically for mold
• after 6 weeks- strain the olive oil out and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the salve

Thyme Salve-

• use the thyme oil you made and place in double boiler with beeswax
• use 3oz of oil to 1oz of beeswax
• wait until beeswax has thoroughly melted into the oil, stirring with a chopstick or spoon
• to test salve consistency, drip a small amount of melted salve onto a saucer and place it in the freezer for 1 minute.  You may choose to experiement and change the oil-to-beeswax ratio if you prefer either a harder or softer salve
• poor mixture into a glass jar or several small tins
• add essential oils immediately 
• cover and let cool
• store salves tightly capped and away from heat and direct light

Thyme salve is for sale at the studio among other salves, tinctures and teas.

Ginger Tincture

If you could have an all natural quick fix for nausea, vomiting and stomach aches would you make it today?  Ginger tincture can be life saving and it so easy to make.  When you are tossing your cookies for hours or just ate something that did not settle well- Ginger is your answer!

What is a tincture?
"Tinctures are concentrated extracts of herbs made with a mixture of alcohol (sometimes water), which acts to extract the constituents of the plants and also as a perservative."  Anne McIntyre

Recipe for Ginger Tincture

• chop up ginger root (you can get this at most grocery stores)

place ginger in a small mason jar- 1part fresh root to 2 part liquid

fill the mason jar with vodka or brandy (make sure it covers the ginger) I prefer brandy for this  

     tincture.

LABEL THE JAR- you may forget what is in there:)

cover and let sit 4-6 weeks- shaking the jar once a day in the beginning

Strain the ginger root and store the infused vodka/brandy in a dark bottle

Seal, label and date the new bottle and store for up to 2years

This is your Ginger Tincture

How to take Ginger Tincture?
For nausea/stomach ache: take a dropperful (1tsp) in a little water and drink. Take more if needed
For vomiting/fainting: place the tincture directly on the tongue and wait

For children?
You can poor hot water over a tsp of the tincture, let it cool and add juice.

Also good for:
Nausea, sore throat, high cholesterol, cramping, arthritis pain and the common cold. Pregnant women and those with biliary disease are advised against using ginger tincture.

Top 5 foods to take when you feel you are getting sick

In the past I have misused antibiotics.  The result was problems with digestion, breakouts on my skin and an overall tiredness.  My journey to herbal medicine began because my doctors said I was fine, but I knew I did not feel well.  Two years later, I am healthier, happier and my digestion has improved.  So what do you do when you are sick? In the past, my first response was to call the doctor and get antibiotics.. knowing I had a sinus infection.  I now know there are alternate ways. 

The CDC states that antibiotics will not cure viral infections like:

•  The common cold
• Flu
• Most coughs and bronchitis
• Most sore throats (not strep)
• Most ear infections 
• Runny noses

Also, taking antibiotics for the viral infections will not:

• Cure the infections
• Keep others from getting the illness
• Help you feel better
• (http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/know-and-do.html)

Any cold is a viral infection and can take 7-14days to complete.  It can be exhausting and depressing.  Here are my top 5 foods/herbs to take when I feel a cold coming on.

1. Echinacea- "Echinacea has been found to contain substances that stimulate our immune system and help fight off infections".  Take echinacea tincture 2-3xday when you feel a cold coming on and up to 7-14days if you feel it is an infection.   
1. "People are more likely to experience allergic reactions to echinacea if they are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, which includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies. Also, people with asthma or atopy (a genetic tendency toward allergic reactions) may be more likely to have an allergic reaction when taking echinacea." http://nccam.nih.gov/health/echinacea/ataglance.htm
2. Ginger tea- it is a diaphorectic which means it promotes sweating.  Have a cup of tea, wrap yourself up and go to bed:)
3. Burdock Root- an alterative which restores the proper functioning of the body.  I add dried and cut burdock root to homemade chicken soup!
4. Raw Garlic- Anti-microbial.  When eaten raw it may be just as effective as anti-biotics!  Yes the breath is a little rough but hopefully your friends will understand. Cut up the garlic into little pieces, toast some bread and cover with olive oil and place the garlic on top.  Yum! 
5. Raw Honey-Anti-bacterial, Anti-viral and Anti-fungal.  Take a tablespoon a day for good health!