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For those of you who want to put together a Natural Family Health Chest, here are some ideas:
Things to buy:
* Shock Remedy Rescue Remedy, for example (from the Bach Flower range) is a wonderful shock remedy! Can also be used for pets.
* Lavener Essential Oil can be used for burns, wounds, rashes and skin irritations. Can also be used as an inhalent (burners, steams, etc) to reduce stress and heaaches.
* Clove Oil is an analgesic and works wonders for toothaches!
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But for those who haven't use it before be warned as it has a very potent smell & taste.
Things to Make
* Marigold Tincture
In a tinture, the properties of the herb are extracted and preserve in alcohol. Tnctures can be made using dried or fresh herbs. Although some herbs need different strenghts of alcohol )50 - 90% proof) the following ratio is suitable standard for home use: 25 grams (or 1 oz) of dried herbs or 50 grams (or 2 oz) of fresh herbs to 600ml or 1 pint or 2.5 cups) alcoholic liquid.
The nice thing about tinctures is that they keep for a VERY long time (if not indefinitely) and you only need a small dose at a time for it to be effective.
For those who cannot take alcohol - put the dose in 50 ml (or 1/4 cup) of water an leave uncovered for several hours (I woul say about 3-4). The alcohol will evaporate.
Recipe
Ingredients:
makes 200-300ml (or 1.5 cups
15 grams (1/2 oz) of dried marigold
200ml (7/8 cup) vodka (or brandy)
85ml (or 6 tablespoons) of water
Method
1. Bruise the herbs and mix together the spirit and water
2. Put the herb into a large jar and add the alcohol liquid. Label and date the jar and leave t to stand (with the lid) iin a cool, dark place 2 weeks. Shake or turn upside-down daily.
3. After the 2 weeks you will see that the lquid has changed color. This is because all the lovely healing properties of the marigold has been drawn out by the alcohol. Leaving the mixture to stand longer will NOT strengthen the tincture in fact the herb will begin to chemically break down. Strain thru a loose-weave cotton cloth in a strainer.
4. Now, take the cloth and squeeze as much liquid out as possible. This liquid is the tincture and every last drop is precious
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5. Now you need to pour the tincture into a *clean* bottle. If the bottle is clean then the tincture wont perish. (I like to collect bottles of all shapes and sizes for this very reason) Dark bottles work best (so Ive heard). It is a good idea to label your tincture with the name, date and dosage as well as some inication of use.
Dosage
Tonic 5 drops - 1 teaspoon once a day
Standard Treastment 1 teaspoon 3 times a day
Acute Conditions 1 teaspoon 6 times a day
Diluted 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of water to make a gargle or mouth wash (rosemary works wonders for freshening breath!
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)
You can use this marigold tincture externally as an antiseptic lotion for spots, cuts and abrasons. You can also use it in a compress for sprains and swelling.
Use internally to reduce inflamation and to help the body deal with fever.
* General Cough Syrup
This next recipe is my personal favorite and my dd doesnt even complain about the taste :LOL
Onion Syrup
Ingredients
makes about 1.5 cups
1 large onion (or 2 small
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)
1 cup clear honey or brown granulated sugar (I prefer the honey)
Method
1. Peel and slice the onion into cirlces.
2. Put 5cm (or 2 inches) onion at the bottom of a *clean* jam jar. Now, cover it with 5cm (2 inches) honey/sugar. Fill the jar with alternate layers of onion and honey/sugar. Make sure the last layer of onion is covered with a thick layer of honey/sugar.
3. Screw the lid on and leave the jar in a cool, dark place overnight.
4. If the sugar has been used, it will have liquified into a syrup by morning. The honey will have become less stodgy. This is the Onion Syrup.
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Now you need to strain off the syrup and throw away the onion (into the compost bin of course
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) You can also discard any undessolved sugar.
5. Pour the syrup into a bottle then label them appropriately. You can keep it for up to a week in the refrdgerator.
This syrup can be used to help fight off colds and flus. Red onions have a milder taste and children seem to prefer it.
Dosage
Adult 2 teaspoons 3 times daily or up to every 2hrs to help fight off a cold or flu.
Child 1.5 - 1 teaspoon 3-6 times daily.
* A Relaxing Tea Mix for adults and children to help alleviate restlessness, fevers, teething, tummy upsets, etc
~Soothing Tea
Ingredients
25 grams (or 1 oz) chamomile
15 grams (1/2 oz) cloves
8 grams (1/4 oz) aniseed
~Indigestion Tea
take one cup after food to alleviate nausea, indigestion, wind and flatulence
Ingredients
15 grams (or 1/2 oz peppermint
8 grams (1/4 oz) fennel
8 grams (1/4 oz) parsley
8 grams (1/4 oz) chamomile
brew for 4 mins
~Womyns Tea
To balance hormones and water retention, regulate periods (NOT DURING BRESTFEEDING) and ease menopause symptoms
Ingredients
15 grams (1/4 oz) parsley
15 grams (1/4 oz) sage
8 grams (1/4 oz) rosemary
brew for 4 mins
*Gargle for Sore Throats and Gums
Ingredients
25 grams (1 oz) sage
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon salt
Dosage
Gargle twice a day, or every 2 hours when neeed
~*~*~*~
For those of you who want to put together a Natural Family Health Chest, here are some ideas:
Things to buy:
* Shock Remedy Rescue Remedy, for example (from the Bach Flower range) is a wonderful shock remedy! Can also be used for pets.
* Lavener Essential Oil can be used for burns, wounds, rashes and skin irritations. Can also be used as an inhalent (burners, steams, etc) to reduce stress and heaaches.
* Clove Oil is an analgesic and works wonders for toothaches!
Things to Make
* Marigold Tincture
In a tinture, the properties of the herb are extracted and preserve in alcohol. Tnctures can be made using dried or fresh herbs. Although some herbs need different strenghts of alcohol )50 - 90% proof) the following ratio is suitable standard for home use: 25 grams (or 1 oz) of dried herbs or 50 grams (or 2 oz) of fresh herbs to 600ml or 1 pint or 2.5 cups) alcoholic liquid.
The nice thing about tinctures is that they keep for a VERY long time (if not indefinitely) and you only need a small dose at a time for it to be effective.
For those who cannot take alcohol - put the dose in 50 ml (or 1/4 cup) of water an leave uncovered for several hours (I woul say about 3-4). The alcohol will evaporate.
Recipe
Ingredients:
makes 200-300ml (or 1.5 cups
15 grams (1/2 oz) of dried marigold
200ml (7/8 cup) vodka (or brandy)
85ml (or 6 tablespoons) of water
Method
1. Bruise the herbs and mix together the spirit and water
2. Put the herb into a large jar and add the alcohol liquid. Label and date the jar and leave t to stand (with the lid) iin a cool, dark place 2 weeks. Shake or turn upside-down daily.
3. After the 2 weeks you will see that the lquid has changed color. This is because all the lovely healing properties of the marigold has been drawn out by the alcohol. Leaving the mixture to stand longer will NOT strengthen the tincture in fact the herb will begin to chemically break down. Strain thru a loose-weave cotton cloth in a strainer.
4. Now, take the cloth and squeeze as much liquid out as possible. This liquid is the tincture and every last drop is precious
5. Now you need to pour the tincture into a *clean* bottle. If the bottle is clean then the tincture wont perish. (I like to collect bottles of all shapes and sizes for this very reason) Dark bottles work best (so Ive heard). It is a good idea to label your tincture with the name, date and dosage as well as some inication of use.
Dosage
Tonic 5 drops - 1 teaspoon once a day
Standard Treastment 1 teaspoon 3 times a day
Acute Conditions 1 teaspoon 6 times a day
Diluted 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of water to make a gargle or mouth wash (rosemary works wonders for freshening breath!
You can use this marigold tincture externally as an antiseptic lotion for spots, cuts and abrasons. You can also use it in a compress for sprains and swelling.
Use internally to reduce inflamation and to help the body deal with fever.
* General Cough Syrup
This next recipe is my personal favorite and my dd doesnt even complain about the taste :LOL
Onion Syrup
Ingredients
makes about 1.5 cups
1 large onion (or 2 small
1 cup clear honey or brown granulated sugar (I prefer the honey)
Method
1. Peel and slice the onion into cirlces.
2. Put 5cm (or 2 inches) onion at the bottom of a *clean* jam jar. Now, cover it with 5cm (2 inches) honey/sugar. Fill the jar with alternate layers of onion and honey/sugar. Make sure the last layer of onion is covered with a thick layer of honey/sugar.
3. Screw the lid on and leave the jar in a cool, dark place overnight.
4. If the sugar has been used, it will have liquified into a syrup by morning. The honey will have become less stodgy. This is the Onion Syrup.
5. Pour the syrup into a bottle then label them appropriately. You can keep it for up to a week in the refrdgerator.
This syrup can be used to help fight off colds and flus. Red onions have a milder taste and children seem to prefer it.
Dosage
Adult 2 teaspoons 3 times daily or up to every 2hrs to help fight off a cold or flu.
Child 1.5 - 1 teaspoon 3-6 times daily.
* A Relaxing Tea Mix for adults and children to help alleviate restlessness, fevers, teething, tummy upsets, etc
~Soothing Tea
Ingredients
25 grams (or 1 oz) chamomile
15 grams (1/2 oz) cloves
8 grams (1/4 oz) aniseed
~Indigestion Tea
take one cup after food to alleviate nausea, indigestion, wind and flatulence
Ingredients
15 grams (or 1/2 oz peppermint
8 grams (1/4 oz) fennel
8 grams (1/4 oz) parsley
8 grams (1/4 oz) chamomile
brew for 4 mins
~Womyns Tea
To balance hormones and water retention, regulate periods (NOT DURING BRESTFEEDING) and ease menopause symptoms
Ingredients
15 grams (1/4 oz) parsley
15 grams (1/4 oz) sage
8 grams (1/4 oz) rosemary
brew for 4 mins
*Gargle for Sore Throats and Gums
Ingredients
25 grams (1 oz) sage
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon salt
Dosage
Gargle twice a day, or every 2 hours when neeed
~*~*~*~
