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Spice Up Your Life
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When people say they want
to "spice up" their lives, the way to do so might literally
be found in the kitchen cabinet. Many herbs and spices have uses
beyond spicing tonight's dinner.
Ginger "came out of
the closet" when this tuberous root appeared in stories about
sexual performance, and was claimed as a "cure" for male
impotence. No wonder, then, that ginger reputedly promotes confidence,
courage, assertiveness, as well as a good memory!
Not for the faint hearted,
other spices, such as black pepper, whose oil is extracted from
the plant's berries, come on as powerful, lusty essences; they are
famous for their staying power--on the battlefield and in the bedroom.
Basil's self-controlled sweetness, vanilla's rich softness, and
sandalwood's round woodiness are often added to spicy fragrances
to keep things on the civilized side. |
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Fill your bathtub with warm water and add the following:
Combine these Fredericksburg Herb Farm essential oils with Epsom Salts or Dead Sea Salts.
Relaxation Formula: 6 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Invigorating Formula: 6 drops each Peppermint Essential Oil and Eucalyptus Essential Oil.
Enjoy a cup of Fredericksburg Herb Farm Herb Tea, before and during your bath, or your favorite glass of wine, light one of the Herb Farm's famous candles, relax and you'll leave the bath refreshed. |
Forget About Your Trouble Bath Recipe
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Rose Milk Bath Recipe
Relax and unwind at bath time
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Your bath time is a time to relax and unwind. A private world where yo can let all your stresses go, play some relaxing music, light a candle and enjoy a nice glass of wine.
2 cups of Powdered Milk
1/2 cup colloidal Oatmeal
15 drops of Rose Geranium oil
5 drops of Peppermint oil
1/3 cup Rose Flower Water
1/2 cup of clean Organic Rose petals
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Draw your bath water and pour in the mixture, stirring until it is all dissolved, except for the rose petals which should be floating in the bath. Slowly lower yourself in the bath, and enjoy the silky moisturizing bath while relaxing and taking deep breaths and slowly exhaling. |
| Some homemade products
can be used effectively to keep unwanted pests at bay. They are inexpensive
and safe if used properly. Here are a few homemade recipes to try: |
Garlic
Spray Soap
| 18 pureed garlic cloves |
| 5 tsp. mineral oil |
| 1 quart water |
| 8 TBS. liquid dish soap |
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Soak garlic in mineral oil for
24 hours. Add water and soap, stirring well. Strain through
cheesecloth or other filter to remove particles. Store this
concentrate in a glass jar until ready to use. Dilute at a rate
of 30 parts of water to one part of mixture. Effective on many
common garden pests. |
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Hot Pepper
Spray
| 1 cup cayenne peppers |
| 1 cup water |
| 3 TBS. liquid soap |
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Puree peppers, mix well with water
and liquid soap. Strain mixture through filter such as cheesecloth
and store in a glass container until ready to use. Dilute at
a rate of one part mixture to 30 parts of water. Spray mixture
directly on all leaf surfaces of infested plants. |
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For
a relaxing moment to reduce puffiness to the eyes try this
home remedy: |
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This toner reduces the puffiness of tired eyes. Rosewater
tones skin and tightens pores while chamomile reduces inflammation.
Store in a glass container and store in a cool dry place.
1 bag of chamomile tea
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup rosewater
Steep tea bag in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove
bag and allow tea to cool. Add rosewater to the tea. Soak 2 cotton
balls in preparation and place over eyelids. Leave on for five minutes. |
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Mosquito
Bite
Relief! |
3 tablespoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
6 tablespoons water
In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients
together by stirring until a paste forms. Apply paste to the areas
that mosquitoes have bitten and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse
with warm water and pat dry.
Purpose to soothe areas swollen and irritated by
mosquito bites.
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Valentines
Tussie-Mussie |
Much of the earth’s bounty – from endive
to mint, burdock to houseleeks, basil to coriander – has
been claimed at one time or another to have magical powers of
attracting love. The Victorian Age claimed the herb garden as
their dictionary of love. With tussie-mussie (a bouquet composed
of appropriately chosen herbs and flowers) in hand, man or woman
could communicate tender thoughts that they wouldn't dare speak.
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The following herbs
may be used for a Valentines tussie-mussie, all with a central bunch
of rosebuds as the motif:
Rosemary for remembrance,
your presence revives me.
Myrtle for love.
Ivy for constancy
and friendship.
Rose Geranium for
preference.
Marjoram for blushes
and happiness.
Sage for domestic
virtue and immortality.
Rose Buds for young
love.
Statice for everlasting
emotions.
Viola tricolor
or Johnny Jump Up for thoughts
of you or heart’s ease (St. Valentine’s herb) |
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Relaxing
Massage Oil
The warm,
sweet scent
of this oil
relaxes the mind
while the
anti-inflammatory
qualities of the
cinnamon and the
sesame oil
soothe
skin and
muscles.
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1/4 C. sesame oil
2 T. almond oil
1/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1 fresh rose geranium leaf
Combine ingredients with whisk or fork, then let
stand for at least 3 hours. Strain mixture into jar through paper
coffee filter, or paper towel to remove ground spices and herb
leaf. Use liberally during massage.
After use, store mixture in a glass or plastic
container and keep in a cool, dry place.
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Recipe
for Facial Massage |
1 cup jojoba or almond
oil
1 cup glycerin (vegetable is possible)
10 drops tea tree oil
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients together and keep in a tinted
glass jar. Use one to two teaspoons of the facial cleanser with
1 fl. oz. (30 mil.) of warm water and splash the diluted mixture
on your face, massaging your skin as described. Wash off with cool
running water. |
Herbal
Self Massage
Self massage is an excellent
way to nurture your self. Imagine that you are sculpting our body
into your desired form. The advantage of self-massage are many:
from improving your circulation to toning up your muscles.
For facial massage, use jojoba
or almond oil that has been warmed in your hands, and apply it to
your face with gentle but firm fingers. Massage the contours of
your face, starting from the middle of your face and following the
line of your eyebrows, sinus passages and chin to the side of your
face. Use both hands to perform the action on both sides of your
face at the same time. When you have finished the massage allow
the oil to stay on our face for at least five minutes, then wash
it off with cool running water. |
Herb Garden Holiday
Potpourri
1 ounce orris root chips
6 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops orange essential oil
2 1/2 cups dried lemon verbena leaves
1 1/2 cups dried lemon balm
1 cup dried rosemary
1 cup dried lavender
1/2 cup dried thyme
1/2 cup dried sage
1/2 cup dried rose petals
1/2 cup dried yarrow blossoms
1/2 cup dried bay leaves
1/4 cup cinnamon sticks broken
1/2 cup lovage root
6 tablespoons dried orange peel
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Make
the potpourri, combine orris root and oils in small bowl.
Combine all of the other
ingredients and stir in the orris root and oil mixture in a large
bowl. Cover the bowl.
Let stand out of direct
sunlight for 5 days, stirring occasionally.
Package in decorative
bags and tie with a festive ribbon and give as gifts for the holiday
season. |
Headache
Pillow
2 parts lavender
1 part each lemon, thyme,
lemon verbena and woodruff
Add a pinch of rosemary to each pillow. |
Feeling tired, wilted? |
A Parsley or Tansyfoot
soak can help perk you up. Brew a strong herb tea by steeping half
a cup of bruised fresh leaves in two cups boiling water, cover for
twenty minutes, then strain and stir into bath.
After a hike, long day of gardening, demanding workout,
take a Santolina foot bath. Pick
four fresh 10-inch branches of santolina, and bruise them lightly
with the back of a spoon to release their aroma. Add them to a basin
filled with two quarts hot water and a splash of olive oil. Put
your feet in the basin and cover with a towel. Relax for ten minutes,
dry feet and apply lotion. |
"This month let thy kitchen be thy
apothecary"
--Neve's Almanac, 1633 |
Herb
Vinegar Bath Splash
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Mix together
2 ounces fresh or 1 ounce dried, each:
Thyme sprigs and leaves
Lavender sprigs and flowers
Spearmint sprigs and leaves
Rosemary sprigs and leaves
Sage sprigs and leaves
Steep with 4 cups apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar for several
weeks, then strain.
Mix together until dissolved:
1/4 ounce gum camphor
1/2 ounce gum benzoin
3 T grain alcohol
Stir into vinegar, cover and let stand for three days.
Strain, bottle, garnish with fresh sprigs if desired, cap tightly
and label. |
Forever
Young Facial
Mash 3 large strawberries into 1/4 cup vinegar and
let it sit for 2 hours. Then strain the vinegar through a cloth.
Pat the strawberry infused vinegar onto the face and neck. Wash
off in the morning. Skin will soon be smooth and free of blemishes. |
"The
smell of basil is good for the heart and the head, that the seed cureth
the infirmities of the heart, taketh away sorrowfulness which cometh
of melancholy...maketh a man merrie and glad."
--John Gerard,
1597 |
Essential
Oil Tune-Up |
...For
Mind & Body |
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| State
of Mind/Body |
Altered
State Desired |
Tune-up
Oil |
| Groggy, Stupid |
Sharp, Focused |
Rosemary |
| Stuffy Nose & Head |
Breathe |
Eucalyptus, Thyme, Pine, Camphor, Tea
Tree |
| Woozy Tummy |
Anchored |
Peppermint, Ginger |
| Irritable/Stressed |
Calm, Confident |
Chamomile, Basil, Lavender, Jasmine, Patchouli |
| Depressed/PMS |
Well & Wonderful |
Lemon Balm, Clary, Sage, Rose Geranium |
| Up-Tight/Can't Sleep |
Relaxed, Sleepy |
Marjoram, Lavender, Chamomile |
| Hung Over |
Better |
Peppermint, Lavender, Fennel |
| Sleep-Deprived |
Human |
Lemongrass, Rosemary |
| Brrr!!! |
Toasty |
Juniper |
| Sweltering |
Really Cool |
Peppermint |
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