Nature's Healing Arts: 1977

Finding hidden treasure in your own home is always a treat. I think this book was either my grandmother's and left behind when she passed away since we live in her old house. She had a lot of National Geographic books. It was published in 1977. It turned up when the kids rearranged some book shelves. The pictures are just so nostalgic in it. Some of the medical data in is outdated but the age old herbal information is godd as always through the generations. It even cites Middle Eastern practices from Biblical times...

Annika's brain on herbs

What a difference....

After a talk with Annika's neurologist we are making some changes. Her last EEG showed that she has abnormal brain activity just about all the time. Her sleep patterns are like an infant's. All of this seems to be caused by her documented brain damage. Solution? Well, we need to see about adjusting her sleep patterns and to decrease her anxiety and help her organize her thoughts better. Socially and cognitively she is operates on about a 4 to 6 year old level. She does really well in school (straight As for 4th grade)  but she has a lot of trouble with abstract thought and seeing the world through other people's eyes. She is starting a melatonin and herbal supplement treatment plan. Her neurologist is all on board and excited to see the results. We started this week and WOW!!!! I have a new child. Even my mom who watched her some on Thursday saw a huge difference. I have taken Annika out on her own several times including the grocery store and her processing skills show a lot of improvement. the daytime herbal supplement she takes in the morning seems to have the biggest impact. I so wish we had started this sooner. Of course this is all new and I hope it isn't just a honeymoon stage. We will see how it all works. So far she has not had any nighttime "episodes" that we always thought were seizures this week. She has been having several a week for the past few months. Fingers crossed that we may have found a solution to some of her challenges. In the least I have had a happier more well adjusted child this week who has been able to use more complex thought during the day.

Comfrey (comphrey) is awesome....

This herb just seems to pop up a lot lately. I am going to share my recipe for comfrey oil that I use to make my lotion and salve. It is great for rashes, especially diaper rash. A friend of mine told me recently that it works wonders on cradle cap also. This is the easy version. Comfrey is the main herb I use but I usually add healing herbs to the mix for soothing and extra healing purposes. Comfrey is the herb though that is responsible for speeding the skin and tissue renewal.

I use an 8 ounce mason jar to infuse the oil. I fill a quarter of the jar with dry comfrey leaves, then I put in a quarter of dried calendula petals, a quarter of dried arnica flowers, and then another quarter of dried comfrey leaves. If you want you can throw in some dried lavender flowers for scent and slight soothing properties. Comfrey has a strong smell so lavender can help mask that. I pour almond oil into the jar till it permeates at least half of the jar. I then add coconut oil till the jar is full. It helps to heat the coconut oil first so it will be a liquid when you add it. I place a lid on the jar and set it into water in my crock pot. I heat it on low for 2 days. I then strain the herbs out of the oil and there you go... I add some vitamin E or grapefruit seed extract to help preserve the oil but it is not necessary if it is to be used right away. When I want a salve I add a little beeswax to it. If I want a balm I add MORE beeswax to it. Try and make your own or just head over to my Esty store (Motherly Creations) and order some.... I have the oil and the salve available. I can make up some balm easily if needed.

An herbal bath for ant bites.....

Eliot had a lot of fun playing outside two days ago. She rolled down the small hill in the backyard with her 5 year old brother. Later that night we realized she must have rolled through a small ant bed. She has a lot of bites on her legs and some on her arms. I waited till they were actually bothering her before I treated them. I figured if they did not bother her then they didn't need any attention. Well, they started to itch and swell a little. The first thing I did was make a paste of baking soda and water and let it sit on the bites. That helped a lot. We then moved on to a special bath. I put some more baking soda in the water. I then added some Epsom salt, sea salt, coconut oil, and plenty of dried calendula petals and flowers. The calendula turned the water a nice golden yellow. My daughter felt much better and what girl doesn't enjoy a flower bath!!!!

Eliot holding a handful of calendula petals. You can see the baking soda paste on her leg....

Now that's homeschooling

Making, homemade toothpaste, chocolate pie, and an hebal remedy for Daddy, now that is homeschooling.

Elderberry juice on a sunny Winter day

 The weather today was way too warm for February. It made me in the mood to start making some Spring tonics even though Spring is way in the future. To balance out I made a more Winter related drink. I made an elderberry juice mix to help protect against viruses and because it just plain tastes good. I started with dried elderberries. (I just don't have a good source for fresh or frozen berries in my area.) I simmered the berries and then drained the liquid. I added the elderberry juice to hibiscus tea and added apple cider, water, and some organic cane sugar. It turned out GREAT! Elderberries are a great source of potassium and vitamin C. And talk about the antioxidant punch... watch out. 

For my headache last night...

One of the best natural remedies for a headache is lavender. I had a slight headache that would just not go away last night. Into the bath I went with some lavender essential oil added to my bath. I also added sea salt and about a teaspoon of coconut oil.  I relaxed as best I could with the three youngest children in and out of the bathroom. (Ben in and out of the tub.) All of that soaking helped. And the best part is that I came out of the tub super moisturized and smelling great....

What to do when your baby has a cold.....

When you have an infant under a year old and usually even with a child under two years old it can be just torture when you just cannot offer them any relief. Over the counter medications are not safe or recommended for little ones and a lot of families try not to use medications at all for the common cold and other winter time viruses. A friend of mine has a baby who is 8 and a half months old and he is just plain suffering from congestion. As a Family Herbalist I offered her some of my simple remedies. As I was researching a new homemade vapo-rub I came across a post from one of my favorite bloggers. Here it is with full credit.....

I think I will make up a batch......

Homemade "Vapo-rub" Recipe

  Best of all, this is completely natural and safe for people of all ages. Here's what you need:







■5 tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil (a natural anti-viral)


■1 tbsp. evening primrose oil (could use sweet almond, olive, etc. if you want)


■2 tbsp. beeswax


■8 - 10 drops tea tree essential oil (also a natural anti-viral)


■15 - 20 drops rosemary essential oil (aids breathing)


In a small pan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and evening primrose oil. Add the beeswax, chopped up or in granules (mine was in a large chunk, so I chopped) and stir until melted. Add the essential oils and stir to combine. Pour into a 4-oz. glass jar and allow to cool. This mix is not completely solid even when cool, so be careful of that when you open the jar.






Before bed, put this mixture on the feet and then put socks over it. When it's put on the feet, it's absorbed quickly into the body and it goes through the whole system. That's why it works. You could follow this up with a spoonful of raw honey, and the same essential oils in a humidifier (which I did). Worked great, and we all got sleep!


Blogger who posted this information
Modern Alternative Mama
http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2011/1/31/monday-health-wellness-homemade-vapo-rub-recipe.html


Another one of my herbal remedies for this viral season is my homemade elderberry and fennel syrup. I make it to help soothe sore throats and help boost the immune system. I have it for sell on my Etsy site. Feel free to go check it out......

Herbal Diaper Rash (or any kind of rash for that matter) Salve anyone?

You know you need some! This herbal salve is great for diaper rash but it works for any scrape, rash, or small injury. I make it from herbal infused oil I make myself. Check out my Etsy site Motherly Creations for ordering information. It works wonders on chapped winter skin too. I take custom orders. Don't be afraid to just ask.....

Ahh, Comfrey again....

Click on the picture to learn more about comfrey....

Comfrey can really smell but it can't be beat for its healing properties. It's not called knitbone for nothing. I usually add it to other oils and lotions I make for healing reasons. Today I set out some oil to be infused with comfrey alone. I set it outside in the hot Alabama sun. I know it will come out very green. Since I am getting ready for Babypalooza my crock pot is taken by other oils being infused. I will add some lavender essential oil to the comfrey to help mask the smell. It may make the best ouchy medicine yet.

(By the way, I never recommend comfrey for internal use. It can cause liver damage. Externally though it ROCKS!)



Babypalooza here I come!!

OK here WE come! Me and two friends of mine are participating in a booth at the baby extravaganza August 27th that is Babypalooza. There will be a wonderful henna artist, Heera, there promoting her art and applying henna designs of your choice then and there.Think about it. How cute would a mom to be's beautiful belly look with a henna design on it? What about matching small henna designs for mom and baby.... I know you can't wait! I will be there promoting my in home Lactation Support Services and my Motherly Creations items. You can't miss us. My other partner and crime is our business and sewing guru. She will be luring you to our table to see all the things you never knew were missing in your life.

Natural Baby Rash Salve (yes it is supposed to be green)

Henna Design on Pregnant Belly

Mother Meditation or Worry Beads

Breastfeeding Meditation Beads

The Etsy plunge!!!

I have done it. I now have an Etsy page. Head on over to see what my family has been making. All of the kids have helped in one way or another. We have been making necklaces, bracelets, herbal remedies, and other odds and ends. I have only placed a few things on Etsy so far. I have lots for sell but not all of it has made it on Etsy yet.

My poor baby...

Poor Ben got either bitten by something or stung by something on the playground this evening. It may just be an ant bite but I am not sure. His finger started to swell and turn red. We went home and I put him in a cool bath with powdered chamomile and a drop of lavender essential oil to help sooth his hand. After the bath I rubbed some oil infused with calendula and arnica on this whole hand. It did not seem to be bothering him so I hoped all my TLC helped.