pH Balancing Salt Mouth Rinse

Salt is an essential element with endless uses and significance. One of my favorite ways to utilize it is to make a pH balancing mouth rinse. Combined with boiled water to create a brine, the following salt rinse has become a staple in my oral hygiene routine. After making and using it consistently for about 2 years, the health of my mouth, teeth and gums has improved so much!

Salt Mouth Rinse & Gargle
Yield: 16 oz
Recipe adapted from: Holistic Dental Care By: Nadine Artemis

Supplies Needed
1 – quart size mason jar
1 – 16 oz glass jar w/lid
spoon or chopstick
kitchen scale
permanent marker & label

Ingredients
1 oz sea salt
16 oz boiled water (filtered or distilled is best)
12 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
4 drops clove essential oil (optional)

Bring water to a boil. Place the quart mason jar onto the scale and tare the weight. Weigh 1 oz of sea salt into the jar, tare the weight. Pour 16 oz of boiled water into the jar, remove it from the scale and stir until salt is dissolved. Allow the salt rinse to cool. Add the optional essential oils, pour it into the 16 oz jar, seal with the lid and slap a label on it. Use this rinse before or after brushing and whenever you see fit. It will help neutralize oral acidity, eliminate harmful microbes and freshen your breath. Shake well before each use. Enjoy!

Book Recommendation: Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums
By: Nadine Artemis

Cannabis Root: A Hidden Gem of Healing

In this video I share a quick run down of some of the healing medicine found in cannabis root. I also share a little bit about DMSO and how it can be paired with this valuable yet under-appreciated root medicine.

Thanks for watching!

Herbal Folklore: The Elder Tree

My boyfriend and I collaborated to make a video about the Elder tree for his Project Symbolic Studies. This is our first collaboration of this kind and we are very excited to share it. Enjoy!

If you’re interested in symbolism, mythology and astrology check out Symbolic Studies on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

IG: @symbolic.studies
TikTok: @symbolicstudies

A "True" Blue Moon in Aquarius

Left/Above: paining by Goutami Mishra

I never really knew what a Blue Moon was until there was a full Blue Moon last Halloween. A full Moon on All Hallows Eve is quite rare but being a Blue Moon made it even more unique. Turns out the most common interpretation of this lunar anomaly isn't completely accurate. There are a few explanations for this, here are the main ones I've learned.

The modern definition of a Blue Moon is when two full Moons occur in one month. This is not a “true” Blue Moon. The interpretation of this occurrence was introduced in the 1940's by astronomer James High Pruett in an article he wrote for “Sky and Telescope” magazine. Pruett's misinterpretation was repeated throughout the years and is now known as a Calendric Blue Moon. The appearance of two full Moons in one month takes place about every three years and is quite unique, but not super uncommon.

A “true” Blue Moon happens when there are two consecutive full Moons in the same astrological sign equating to four full Moons within one season. This takes place when the first full Moon falls between 0 – 1 degree of the sign and the second between 28 - 29 degrees of the same sign. This rare astrological event is called a Seasonal Blue Moon and will take place this month while the Moon remains in the sign of Aquarius. In my opinion, the “true” Blue Moon is worthy of the namesake phrase “Once in a Blue Moon” as it only occurs once every 19 years.

Lastly, an Environmental Blue Moon can take place when smoke or volcanic ash is present in the atmosphere. When viewed through smoke or ash the Moon may appear slightly blue. This is also rare but could become more commonplace due to the increase of seasonal wildfires throughout the world.

Although there may be controversy that surrounds the definition of a Blue Moon the rarity of each lunar event remains. This month's full Moon may bring opportunities to reflect upon the extraordinary time we're currently living through and to acknowledge the massive changes occurring. Regardless of what may take place in the future, it's important to simply marvel at the present and appreciate the uniqueness of it all.

If you'd like to read more about this subject, here's two articles I found very helpful: "What is a Blue Moon - Really?" by Cayelin Castell and "Where Did the Term Blue Moon Come From?" by Joseph Stromberg.

To read about Aquarius and its influence on the moon, check out Full Moon Offerings Issue No. 10 issue here.

How to Make Fresh Lemon Balm Tincture

Lemon Balm is highly regarded for its uplifting lemony scent, delicious flavor and ability to calm the nervous system. Feelings of stress, anxiety, mild depression and melancholy can be put to rest with Lemon Balm. Its carminative action aids digestion by reducing gas and bloating and can soothe nervous disorders of the stomach. Traditionally it offers relief to cold sores when applied topically and taken internally. Lemon Balm is a wonderful brain tonic for children and adults. It helps to improve memory and ones ability to focus, store and retrieve information. These qualities make it a superb remedy to assist people with Alzheimer's disease, Dementia and ADHD. Lemon Balm brings a sense of calm and restful sleep along with relief from tension headaches. With all of that said, let's talk about how to make a tincture of this lovely plant.

Lemon Balm
Botanical (Latin) Name: Melissa officinalis
Common Name: Lemon Balm
Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)
Part Used: Leaves & Flowers
Ruling Planets: Moon & Venus
Ruling Element: Water
Energetics: Cooling, yet slightly warming. Best suited for temperate to cold conditions.

What's a Tincture?
A tincture is an herbal extract made with fresh or dried plant material using alcohol as the solvent. There are a few ways to make a tincture, here I'll cover the traditional folk method using a process known as maceration. Maceration is the act of infusing plants or other organic material into a solvent to extract the active constituents from the chosen material.

Supplies Needed to Make:
1 – clean, pint sized mason jar w/lid and jar ring
Fresh lemon balm leaves, enough to fill the jar ¾ full (about 1 oz)
100 proof vodka
Scissors or sharp knife
Plastic wrap or parchment paper
Wooden chopstick
Pen or marker
Labels
Supplies Needed to Strain and Bottle:
4 cup glass measuring cup or glass bowl
Fine mesh strainer
Cheesecloth
16 oz amber bottle w/cap
Pen or marker
Labels

Identification & Harvest
Lemon balm has a very distinct lemony scent that will help you identify it in the wild. Its leaves have scalloped edges, deep veins and grow opposite from one another. It also has a square stem and tiny white or yellow flowers that bloom in late summer. Once properly identified, use your fingers or a scissors to pluck or cut the leaves from the plant and place them into a basket or bowl as you continue to harvest. After gathering enough to fill the jar consider giving thanks to the plant. This is optional of course but is a nice gesture and intention.

Prepare the Tincture
Roughly cut/chop the leaves and add them to the jar. Pour the 100 proof vodka over the leaves filling the jar to the top. Gently stir with a chopstick until all the plant material is saturated. Cover the jar with a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Place the lid onto the jar and secure it tightly with the jar ring and give it a good shake. Adhere a label to the jar with the date and contents and place the jar in a dark place for at least 6 weeks to macerate. Shake the jar a few times per week throughout the maceration process.

Strain and Bottle the Tincture
Place a fine mesh strainer into a glass measuring cup or bowl and line the strainer with a piece of cheesecloth. Pour the contents of the jar into the lined strainer. Gather all four corners of the cheesecloth and bring them together to form a sachet. Twist the corners together and squeeze the sachet to extract as much alcohol as possible. Compost the entire sachet of plant material and give thanks. Pour the tincture into the 16 oz amber bottle, label it and store it in a cool, dark place where it will keep for years. From the 16 oz bottle you can fill smaller dropper bottles for easy dosage. Always remember to label each dropper bottle you fill. Enjoy!

Have you ever made your own tinctures? Let me know in the comments below!

How to Make Sage Infused Honey

Honey can be infused with many herbs but my favorite to use is sage. Sage can help to soothe a sore throat, clear congestion, aid digestion and cleanse ones self or space. Together, honey and sage make a sweet, savory medicine that can be used as a condiment, made into tea or eaten straight from the jar.

Supplies Needed:
2 cups fresh Sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves, roughly chopped
2 - Pint sized mason jars, with lids and rings
Raw Honey
Basket
Scissors
Sharp Kitchen Knife
Cutting board
Wooden Chopstick or Butter Knife
Fine mesh strainer
Label and permanent marker or pen

Harvest
Snip or pinch off individual leaves from your sage plants/s or cut small bundles all at once. Gather enough to fill your jar, give thanks if you wish. Set the basket of sage into a cool, shaded area for about 20 minuets to allow any bugs to crawl off the leaves.

Prep & Infuse
Roughly chop the sage and add it to the clean mason jar. Pour the raw honey into the jar leaving about 1/2 inch space on top. With a wooden chop stick or butter knife gently stir the mixture until fully incorporated. Label your jar "Sage Honey" along with the date. Store it in a cool, dark place for 6 weeks. When that time it up, strain your honey through a fine mesh strainer and pour it into a clean mason jar. Label and store it in a cool cabinet where it will keep indefinitely. It can be added to hot water to make Sage tea, drizzled onto toast, crackers, yogurt or eaten out of the jar. Enjoy!

I encourage you to give this recipe a try. If you don’t have access to fresh sage, you can use dried sage or another fresh herb growing near you. Some possible herbs for infused honey: lemon balm, yarrow, lavender, rose, basil, thyme, oregano etc. Let me know in the comments if you’ve made your own herbal honey and what your favorite is.

DIY Black Pulling Salve

Pulling salves a.k.a drawing salves have been used for many years to help remove irritants and/or objects from the skin. In the recipe below, activated charcoal and bentonite clay help expel and 'pull' while oils of coconut and grape seed moisturize and protect irritated skin.

This salve was put to the test when my boyfriend was stung by a wasp. He was stung on his hand which immediately began to swell. When I applied a small amount of the salve to the site of the sting, the swelling of his hand and pain of the sting stopped almost immediately. Needless to say this salve will forever be an item in our herbal first aid kit.

Black Pulling Salve
Yield: 4 oz
Prep Time: 15 min.
Make & Clean-up Time: 45 min.

Equipment Needed
2 – 2oz glass jars OR 4 – 1 oz glass jars
1 - double boiler OR 4 cup measuring cup (w/open ended handle)
rubber spatula
stovetop or hot plate
blank labels
kitchen towel or hot pad
kitchen scale
spoons or scoops
small bowls

Ingredients
2 oz lavender infused sunflower oil
2 oz coconut oil
½ oz activated charcoal
½ oz bentonite clay
3/8 oz beeswax
small drizzle of vitamin E oil

Essential Oils (optional)
8 drops tea tree
4 drops geranium

Weigh out the lavender infused grape seed oil, coconut oil and beeswax into the top portion of the double boiler OR the open handled measuring cup, set aside. Weigh out the activated charcoal and bentonite clay into a glass bowl, set aside. Add ½ inch – 1 inch of water to the bottom portion of the double boiler, place it onto the burner and turn the heat on to medium - high. Set the top portion of the double boiler or measuring cup upon or into the water filled portion of the double boiler. Once the water begins to gently simmer, turn the heat to medium low. As the oils are warmed, stir the mixture occasionally until the beeswax it full melted.

When the wax is fully melted remove the mixture from the heat, place it onto a towel and wipe any water from the sides of the vessel. Add the vitamin E oil to the melted oils, stir well to incorporate. Add the activated charcoal and bentonite clay, stir very well. Lastly, add the essential oils and stir well. Pour the liquid salve into jars and allow it to cool uncovered until the glass is cool to the touch, about 45 min. Screw on the lids and label your salve with the contents and date. Store in a cool, dark place where your salve will keep 1 year or longer.

To use: apply a small amount to bee stings, insect or snake bites, boils, pimples, slivers, splinters or poison ivy rashes. Allow the salve to rest on the skin until pain or itch has subsided, fluid is removed or splinter has risen. Re apply as needed.

Salves are simple to make and very valuable. When made with quality ingredients and stored properly they can last for years. Pulling salves are typically needed very occasionally but are invaluable to have when the time is right. I encourage you to give the above recipe a try. If you do, please leave me a comment below.

Protective & Magickal Mugwort Medicine

Mugwort is often referred to as a witches herb for its ability to induce lucidity, deepen meditation and assist during astral travel. An herb of the Moon and Venus, Mugwort helps one find and remember their inner strength and divine purpose.

The Protective Womb of Mugwort
A reliable flow of motherly protection emanates from mugwort. Sometimes known as cronewort, mugwort offers the wisdom of the crone and the steadiness of the sacred feminine. One can rely upon the protection of mugwort during astral travel, sacred ceremony, meditation, and times of transition and upheaval. It helps shield us from harm while allowing one to see the sometimes hard truth of matters at hand.

Mugwort is an herb for travelers. Stories of St. John the Baptist reveal that he wore a girdle of mugwort upon his chest as a talisman of protection during his travels. Sprigs of mugwort were said to be placed into the shoes of travelers to provide stamina and ensure a safe journey home.

Aretmis, goddess of the hunt is often associated with mugwort. The word Artemis in Greek means “unharmed” or “pure” and is thought to have influenced the latin name of mugwort, Artemesia vulgaris. A protector of purity she guarded her own chastity and the chastity of all young women. She is known as a highly skilled archer and is always depicted with a bow and arrow. She is a friend and great protector of the forest and all creatures that dwell there. Like mugwort, Artemis is associated with the moon.

In Norse mythology, mugwort is affiliated with Frigg, the earth goddess of domestic arts, chastity, and motherhood. She was a healer linked to prophecy and a protector of the true essence of women. She was a Volva, a female seere able to channel and foretell the future. Some say Frigg and the goddess Freya are one in the same due to their similar energies and traits. My personal opinion wavers on this but the similarities between the two are quite striking. Like mugwort, Frigg and Freyja correspond to Venus, the planet of love.

Magickal & Spiritual Uses
Mugwort guards the space between worlds and allows one to travel more easily between them. Astral travel, lucidity, and meditation can all be enhanced with mugwort. A tradition in Norse folk medicine and magick was to drink an infusion of mugwort with honey before performing divination. When consumed before bed, mugwort tea will allow one to easily slip into sleep and promote prophetic dreams. It also helps one to connect to dreams they hold within their heart. Mugwort is a great ally for meditation, it calms the nervous system and encourages stillness of the mind. I find that mugwort tea deepens meditation and stimulates the subconscious. Herbalist Robin Rose Bennett suggests mugwort as a way to open and connect with ones third eye and the inner wisdom contained there.

Mugwort can be burned prior to scrying, the art of gazing into a crystal ball, dark mirror, water, stone, or flame. Scrying allows one to tap into their second sight or psychic eye to receive visions and messages. Not only will mugwort enhance visions received but will also provide protection while scrying. Mugwort has psychotropic effects and can be smoked as an herbal cigarette to elevate and stimulate the mind. It's said that Mugwort is the plant of Midgard, the land known as Earth in Norse Mythology. Freyia Norling mentions, “One starts and ends with Mugwort as one starts and ends with Midgard.”

Mugwort is a plant that’s been connected with folklore and magick for centuries. Its protective nature holds you close yet allows opportunity for exploration into the depths of the subconscious and the astral realms. How do you like to work with Mugwort? Feel free and share you experiences with her in the comments below.

How to Make a Pain Relief CBD & White Willow Bark Salve

This salve offers soothing pain relief to overworked muscles, achy joints and irritated skin. White Willow a.k.a "Witches Asprin" is a valuable pain reliever and anti inflammatory herb that mingles perfectly with high CBD cannabis. Under used yet highly effective, Cannabis root penetrates deeply and can help alleviate soreness and swelling.

Transcript: Let’s make a pain relief CBD and white willow bark salve. Set yourself up a double boiler. Into the top of the double boiler add CBD cannabis infused oil, cannabis root infused oil and white willow bark infused oil. Then add some beeswax to this mixture and warm this over low to medium heat until the beeswax is fully melted. Remove it from the heat and pour it into a glass measuring cup. Add vitamin E oil and essential oils and stir this up really well. Now pour the warm salve into tins and allow it to fully cool before you cover it. Enjoy! 

The Art of Yogurt Making

Homemade yogurt is super delicious, easy to make and much better than store bought. Here’s a short two part series on how I like to make yogurt at home.

Transcript: Let’s make some homemade yogurt. Our first step is too warm an ice chest. To do this we’re going to boil some water and add the boiled water to glass jars with tight fitting lids. This is going to create an incubator for our yogurt to ferment in. Add your glass jars filled with boiled water into a cooler that’s lined with a towel. Place another towel on top of the jars. Now we’re going to heat our milk along with one cup of half and half. You’ll want to stir this mixture over medium heat until it reaches 180° F. Then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to 110° F. To learn the rest of the process, follow me to watch Part 2. 

Transcript: Next, prep a few mason jars with warm water and bring your milk mixture over and add the yogurt starter to the warm milk. Mix this well, dump out the hot water from the jars and pour the warm milk mixture into the jars. Seal these very well and now we’ll be adding these to the warm cooler. But first you gotta pet that cat, he after all is guarding your yogi. Place the milk filled jars into the cooler and then we will let this ferment for 8-12 hours. Once this is fermented, place it into the refrigerator and then your yogurt will be ready to enjoy. This recipe creates a luscious, cream top yogurt that is super delicious and it is so much better than anything thing you’ll ever find in any store. You can put whatever toppings you like on it and you have a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Enjoy! 

The Simplicity of Herbal Infusions

One of my favorite ways to incorporate herbs into my day is by drinking herbal infusions. Potent and nutrient dense, herbal infusions are a great way to consume herbs and/or use them as a protective skin wash or hair rinse. Unlike herbal teas which are typically made by the cup with teaspoons of herbs and steeped for 10 – 15 min, herbal infusions are made by the quart using 1 oz of dried herb and steeped 4-8 hours. The increased amount of herb and steeping time creates a potent infusion that can be drunk to help promote health, healing and vitality.

My top three favorite herbs to make into herbal infusions are: comfrey leaf, oatstraw, and stinging nettle (as seen above from the left). I love each of them for different reasons, but one thing they have in common is that they help me to feel deeply nourished and energized. I feel a boost when I drink nettle infusion, soothed from sips of comfrey and a sense of calm from gulps of oatstraw. A rule of thumb when choosing herbs for an infusion is to refrain from using highly fragrant herbs that are high is volatile oils. These herbs will produce very bitter infusions that may irritate the stomach and even cause headaches.

Some Herbs to Use for Infusions: comfrey leaf, nettle leaf, oatstraw, red clover, raspberry leaf, linden leaf and blossom, mullein leaf, marshmallow root, hawthorn leaf, etc.

Some Herbs to Avoid for Infusions: lavender, chamomile, juniper berry, wormwood, peppermint, spearmint, mugwort, etc.

It's very important to use a kitchen scale to weigh out 1 oz of herb when making an infusion. The reason for this is that all herbs have a different volume due to the way they are cut and sifted. For example, 1 oz of oatstraw has a higher volume than 1 oz of comfrey. To ensure a potent and consistent brew, don't skip the step of weighing your herb.

Aside from nourishment, herbal infusions also offer an opportunity to connect with and get to know one herb very well. Using single herbs can help pinpoint how each herb makes us feel, which ones we like best and want to create relationships with. I've found that establishing connections with single herbs is one of the best ways to study them and understand their healing properties.

Let's Make an Herbal Infusion
Supplies Needed:
1 - clean, quart sized mason jar w/lid and jar ring
1 oz dried herb, (see list above)
1 - fine mesh strainer
1 – bowl
butter knife
kitchen scale
boiling water
wooden spoon, optional

Prepare the Herbal Infusion
Set a kettle of water to boil. Weigh out 1 oz of a nourishing dried herb of your choice into the mason jar. Fill the mason jar to the top with boiling water, place the lid onto the top of the jar, secure it with the jar ring and allow to steep 4-8 hours. I typically make my herbal infusions before I go to bed at night and strain them in the morning.

Strain the Herbal Infusion
When the 4-8 hours is up, rest the strainer into a bowl. Unscrew the jar ring and use a butter knife to break the seal of the lid. Remove the lid and pour the contents of the jar into the strainer. Use the back of a spoon or your hand to squeeze all the liquid from the herb. Compost the herb and give thanks. Rinse the jar and lid, pour the herbal infusion back into the jar. Your infusion is now ready to drink and use. Be sure to store the infusion in the refrigerator as it will go bad if left at room temperature for an extended amount of time. In my opinion herbal infusions taste much better chilled. Pour the room temperature infusion over ice or chill it down in the fridge before you drink it. Drink or use your infusion within 3 days.

I hope this article inspires you to make your own herbal infusions. Not only are they easy to make, but also offer up many nutrients that are crucial to our health and over all vibrancy. If you'd like more guidance, check out this short demo right here on how to make a Comfrey leaf infusion.

Let’s Make a Comfrey Herbal Infusion

Unlike herbal teas which are made by the cup using teaspoons of herbs and steeped for 10 – 15 min, herbal infusions are made by the quart using 1 oz of dried herb and steeped 4-8 hours. The increased amount of herb and steeping time creates a potent infusion that can be drunk to help promote health, healing and vitality.

Transcript: Let's make a Comfrey herbal infusion. You will need a kitchen scale and a quart sized mason jar. Place the jar onto the scale and tare the weight. Then add 1 oz of dried Comfrey leaf into the jar. Boil yourself some water and pour the boiled water into the jar covering the plant material entirely. Seal this with the lid and allow it to steep for 8 hours. Once it's steeped, get yourself a bowl, a fine mesh strainer and a butter knife so you can open the sealed jar. Pour the infusion into the strainer and then squeeze the plant material very well. Now your infusion is ready to drink. Pour this into a clean mason jar, seal it well with the lid and store it in your fridge and be sure to drink it within 3 days, enjoy!

A short Demo on How to Make Deodorant

Here’s a short video I made to share my process for making deodorant. You can find the full recipe for this deodorant right here.

Transcription: Let's Make some simple and safe deodorant. You'll need a double boiler. Into the top of the double boiler, add unrefined shea butter and unrefined coconut oil. Bring the water to a low simmer and allow the oils to fully melt. Remove them from the heat and add them to a glass measuring cup. Next add some baking soda and arrowroot powder. Stir this very well with a rubber spatula to eliminate all the clumps. Now add some vitamin E oil and essential oils of your choice. For this recipe I'm using lavender and bergamot. Stir this up very well and use an immersion blender to blend this. Now I like to cool this in between each blending and on the final blend, it will be the consistency of a thin butter cream frosting. Pour it into jars and there you have it, your own deodorant.

How to Make an Anti-Fungal & Wound Healing Salve

Salves are one of the most basic and easy herbal remedies to make. Here's a short demo to get you started.

Ingredients:
10 oz herbal infused oil
(herbs: calendula blossoms, chapparal leaf, black walnut leaf & hull, plantain leaf, myrrh gum)
2 oz beeswax
1/2 oz vitamin E oil
20 drops tea tree essential oil (optional)

Transcript:
How to make my favorite anti-fungal and wound healing salve. Set up a double boiler so you can warm the oils. Pour 10 oz of infused oil into the top of the double boiler, and next, add two oz of beeswax to the oil. Bring the water to a low simmer and allow the beeswax to fully melt. Remove this mixture from the heat and pour it into a glass measuring cup. Add vitamin E and essential oils of your choice. In this case, I'm using tea tree. 20 drops into the mixture. Stir this very well and pour the salve into jars. Allow the mixture to fully cool before you cover, enjoy!

How to Make Herbal Face & Body Cream

Ingredients:
4 oz herb infused apricot kernel & grape seed oils
4 oz Coconut oil
1 oz Cocoa Butter
1 oz Rose hip seed oil
1.5 oz Beeswax
2 oz Rose Hydrosol
2 oz Aloe Vera
1/2 oz Vitamin E oil

Essential Oils:
Geranium
Himalayan cedar
Palmarosa

Transcript:
How to make herbal face and body cream. You'll need a double boiler, coconut oil, herbal infused oil, cocoa butter and beeswax. Combine all these ingredients into the double boiler, allow the water to simmer on low until everything melts together. Once melted, remove from the heat and pour into a glass measuring cup. Next, add your rose hip seed and vitamin E oils, stir very well to combine. Allow the mixture to cool until it's the consistency of a thin pudding. Add your essential oils and stir well. Next up will be our rose water and aloe vera juice. Consistently blend the cream while you pour the waters into the center of the mixture. This will bring the cream together and form a lovely moisturizer. Pour into jars and there you have it. Visit michelleshealinghome.com for more. Thank you!

Oils & Herbs for Skin Nourishment

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. It protects us so why not protect it as best we can. Used on their own or infused with herbs, the following oils are highly nourishing and easy to obtain. Here are some of my favorite oils and herbs to moisturize, protect and nourish the skin.

Oils that Nourish the Skin

Unrefined Coconut oil – Highly moisturizing, nutritious and slightly anti-microbial, this light oil is wonderful for most all skin and hair types. It helps reduce inflammation, skin irritation and is a lovely after bath or shower oil. It remains solid when stored below 76° F and has a subtle coconut fragrance and flavor.

Sunflower oil – Light and cooling, sunflower oil can help reduce inflammation, heal and protect the skin and boost the immune system. High in vitamin E it can regenerate skin cells, reduce the appearance of scars and even skin tone.

Grape seed oil – Loaded with linoleic and oleic acids, grape seed oil is gentle, highly absorbent and nourishing for skin and hair. Its light and thin consistency makes it the perfect oil to blend into massage oils, creams, and lotions.

Left to right: Unrefined Coconut oil, Sunflower oil, Grape seed oil

Rose hip seed oil - This oil is known as a “dry oil” due to its ability to quickly absorb into the skin. It helps reduce fine lines, evens and brightens skin tone while tightening pores. High amounts of vitamin C and essential fatty acids promote collagen production and elasticity of the skin. Rose hip seed oil can also help diminish redness associated with Rosacea.

Apricot kernel oil – Soothing, light and easily absorbed by the skin, this oil is rich in vitamins A, B,C and E. It contains high amounts of linoleic and oleic fatty acids which provide nourishment to dry, sunburned and aging skin. Extremely moisturizing and soothing, apricot kernel oil can provide relief to eczema, rosacea and other skin irritations.

Cocoa butter – Cocoa Butter is nourishing, deeply moisturizing and provides protection to the skin. It can help heal damaged skin and reduce the appearance of scars. Due to its high fat content and solid state at room temperature, cocoa butter can be used to thicken handmade creams, lotions and salves. Its rich chocolatey scent makes it a decadent and soothing oil for your entire body.

Left to right: Rose hip seed oil, Apricot kernel oil, Cocoa butter

Herbs that Nourish the Skin

Calendula Blossom
Botanical (Latin) Name: Calendula officinalis
Common Name: Calendula or Pot Marigold
Family: Asteraceae
Parts Used: Blossoms
Ruling Planet: The Sun
Ruling Element: Water

Calendula emanates the warm rays of the sun and the flow of a mountain stream. Calendula is well known for its ability to repair damaged skin cells, reduce the appearance of scars and soothe inflamed tissue, internally and externally. The sun's influence on this plant is obvious when observing its brightly colored blossoms of orange, yellow and gold. Its ability to heal the skin, soft tissues of the body and encourage lymphatic flow is connected to the element of water. Calendula provides antibacterial protection for cuts, scrapes, skin ulcers, burns and can help relieve itchy symptoms of eczema. An infused oil of calendula blossoms can be used by nursing mothers to help soothe irritated and cracked nipples. It's also great for breast massage and can help dissolve tumors, fibrous cysts, post surgery adhesions and scar tissue.

Comfrey Leaf
Botanical (Latin) Name: Symphytum officinalis
Common Name: Comfrey or Knit bone
Family: Boraginaceae
Parts Used: Leaf & Root
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Ruling Element: Water

Influenced by the planet Saturn, comfrey provides protection to the blood, bones, and skin. The element of water is represented in comfrey's mucilage and allantin content. These compounds help moisten tissues, promote elasticity and help reduce inflammation. Naturally produced by the allantois gland inside a mother’s umbilical cord, allantin promotes rapid cell growth to baby and encourages elasticity of mama’s tissues. Comfrey's high allantin content provides extra protection to sensitive skin making it more resilient and less prone to dryness and cracking. Comfrey is highly effective when taken internally and/or applied externally. Known as “Knit Bone” for its ability to help broken bones heal swiftly, it can also help regenerate and strengthen cartilage, tendons, and muscles. Comfrey can also help relieve skin irritation caused by eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and skin infections.

Sweet Neem Leaf
Botanical (Latin) Name: Murraya koenigii
Common Name: Sweet Neem or Curry Leaf
Family: Rutaceae
Parts Used: Leaf
Ruling Planet: Mars
Ruling Element: Fire

High in antioxidants and vitamin C, sweet neem leaf is a fantastic remedy for the skin and hair. It's bitter, astringent properties can be linked to the planet Mars and it's sharp and dry qualities to the element of fire. Sweet neem leaf is high in essential/volatile oils. These oils provide anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti inflammatory properties making it an effective remedy for acne, wounds and mouth sores. In Ayurveda, sweet neem is associated with Lord Krishna, the God of Protection. It is used in Indian cuisine for its flavor, as a digestif, to maintain blood sugar levels and to help lower cholesterol.

Left to right: Calendula blossom, Comfrey Leaf, Sweet neem Leaf

DIY Herb Infused Oil

Herbal oil infusions are one of the most ancient types of herbal preparations. They've been made and used to anoint, heal and nourish the mind, body and spirit for millennia. One of my favorite ways to incorporate herbs into creams, body oils and salves is to make an herbal infused oil. Here's one of my go to herbal oil infusion recipes. This oil can be used as a daily moisturizer or a base oil in creams, body oils, and lotions. I use this particular oil to make my Radiant Face and Body Cream.

Calendula, Sweet Neem & Comfrey leaf Infused Oil (Oven Method)

Supplies & Ingredients Needed

For Oil Infusion
10 oz apricot kernel oil
6 oz grape seed oil
½ oz dried calendula
¼ oz dried sweet neem
¼ oz dried comfrey leaf

Equipment & Storage
1 – 16 oz. glass amber bottle or glass jars w/lid
1 – glass measuring cup
1 – oven safe glass bowl
1 – wooden spoon, chopstick or rubber spatula
1 – fine mesh strainer
oven
parchment paper
oven mitts or hot pad
kitchen scale
cheese cloth
blank label
pen or marker

Prep & Make the Oil
Preheat your oven to 170°F. Gather the dried calendula, sweet neem leaf, comfrey leaf, apricot kernel and grape seed oils. Into an oven safe bowl weigh out ½ oz of calendula, ¼ oz sweet neem leaf and ¼ oz comfrey leaf. Weigh out 10 oz of apricot kernel oil and 6 oz of grape seed oil into the herb filled bowl. Stir contents with a chopstick or wooden spoon to combine. If the herbs are not fully covered with oil add a few more ounces of apricot kernel oil until fully covered. Cover the bowl with parchment paper. Place the herb and oil filled bowl into the pre-heated oven. Allow the oils to steep undisturbed for 6 – 8 hours.

Strain & Press the Infused Oil
Carefully remove the bowl of infused oil from the oven and place it onto a towel or hot pad. Allow the oil to cool about 30 minutes. Place a fine mesh strainer into a large glass measuring cup and line the strainer with cheesecloth. Slowly pour the oil and plant material from the bowl into the cheesecloth lined stainer. With a rubber spatula, scrape the remaining oil and plant material from the bowl into the cheesecloth lined strainer. Gather all four corners of the cheesecloth and bring them together to form a sachet. Twist the corners together and squeeze the sachet into the strainer to extract as much oil from the plant material as possible. Compost the entire sachet of plant material. The herbal oil is now ready to bottle and use. Store in an amber glass bottle kept in a cool, dark place. Be sure to label and date your oil. Enjoy!

A Review: Elevated Naturally Hemp Flower Spagyric Tincture

I recently won a Hemp Flower Spagyric Tincture from Elevated Naturally through their giveaway on Instagram. I love the tincture so much that I chose to write a short review of it.

What is a Spagyric Tincture?
It’s a medicine created through a traditional alchemical process that harnesses the Soul, Spirit and Body of a plant or other organic material. The three elements of the plant are processed, separated and recombined to create a more potent, spiritually sound medicine. Sulphur (Soul), Mercury (Spirit) and Salt (Body) are the three elements in alchemy that make up everything. When dealing with plants, essential oils are the Soul, alcohol the Spirit and the mineral salts are the Body. I’ve found that spagyric tinctures are far more potent and offer a more holistic version of a plant’s medicine. I’m very intrigued by alchemy. Although I have much to learn about the alchemical process, I feel as though I have a good understanding of its basic principles and philosophies.

I’ve never tried a Hemp Flower spagyric tincture until now. I feel so grateful to have won this tincture. I’ve developed an even deeper appreciation for Hemp/Cannabis and spagyric formulations after taking this medicine from Elevated Naturally.

Elevated Naturally Hemp Flower Spagyric Tincture Review
The wholeness of the hemp flower is felt deeply in this tincture. It has a satisfying richness that I've never experienced with any other hemp product. The care taken to make and grow the herb used in this tincture resonates in each drop. One droperfull relaxed my entire body, calmed my mind and elevated my mood. When taken in drop doses, the hemp flower is tranquil, gentle and grounding. I really enjoy the flavor and scent of the tincture too.

This would be a great tincture for anyone struggling with anxiety, panic, stress and tension. It could also be a good introduction to hemp medicine for someone who'd like to have a profound experience. Anyone who suffers from chronic pain could also benefit from this tincture.

I'm very grateful for the medicine Ewket creates and grows. I feel fortunate to have won her hemp flower spagyric giveaway. I look forward to exploring more of her medicine in the future!

If you’d like to learn more about Elevated Naturally and the products they create, check out their website here. Find them on Instagram @elevatednaturally.

Gentle and Effective Homemade Deodorant

A while back, I learned that many commercial deodorants contain harmful compounds and chemicals like aluminum, triclosan, parabans, and phthalates. Astounded by this new found information I was inspired to make my own deodorant.

The effects of the aforementioned chemicals may not present themselves immediately, but the accumulation of them inside ones body over time will disrupt natural functions of the thyroid, lymphatic and endocrine systems of the body. These very crucial systems help balance fluids, flush toxins, maintain a healthy immune system and manage the production and regulation of hormones. The disruption of these systems can increase the risk of breast cancer in women, trigger early puberty in girls and boys as well as decrease sperm counts in men. So, what do you say I guide you through the steps to make your own natural deodorant? Awesome.

Below is my original recipe which I’ve refined over the years. It'll create a highly effective, gentle and moisturizing deodorant. When used everyday a 2oz jar is a 1 – 3 month supply for one person.

Gentle and Effective Homemade Deodorant
Yield: 12 oz
Prep Time: 15 min.
Make & Clean-up Time: 1 ½ – 2 hrs.

Equipment Needed
6 – 2oz glass jars OR 1 – 12 oz glass jar
1 - double boiler OR 4 cup measuring cup (w/open ended handle) & a 3 qt. pot
rubber spatula
immersion blender
stovetop or hot plate
blank labels
kitchen towel
hot pad or oven mitt
kitchen scale
glass bowls
spoon or scoop
glass rubber topped droppers

Ingredients
4 ¼ oz unrefined shea butter
3 ¼ oz unrefined coconut oil
3 1/8 oz baking soda
2 ¼ oz arrowroot powder
¼ oz vitamin E oil (optional)

Potential Essential Oil Blends (optional)*
30 drops lavender & 60 drops bergamot
40 drops himalayan cedar wood, 25 drop juniper berry & 15 drops whole juniper
*Get creative and create custom scents with your favorite essential oils.

Weigh out the shea butter and coconut oil into the top portion of the double boiler OR open handled measuring cup, set aside. Next, weigh out the baking soda and arrowroot powder into glass bowls, set aside. Add ½ inch – 1 inch of water to the bottom portion of the double boiler, place it onto the burner and turn the heat on to medium - high. Set the top portion of the double boiler upon or into the water filled bottom portion of the double boiler. Once the water begins to gently simmer, turn the heat to medium - low. Slowly melt the oils, stir occasionally breaking up any large chunks.

When the oils are fully melted, remove the oil filled vessel from the heat, place onto a towel and wipe any water from the sides of the vessel. Slowly add baking soda and arrowroot powder to the melted oils, stir well to incorporate.

Submerge the immersion blender into the mixture and blend on high until smooth. To achieve a whipped body butter texture, allow the mixture to cool until it becomes the consistency of thin buttercream frosting. Do so by placing the filled vessel into the freezer in 15 minutes increments over the course of 45 minutes - 1 hour. Each time you pull the mixture from the freezer, blend it on high for 1 – 2 minutes. Additional blending will discourage separation of the oils and powders while incorporating air into the deodorant to create a smooth, creamy final product. If a whipped texture is not your goal, allow the mixture to cool at room temp 30 - 45 minutes, blending a few times as it cools. If you choose to not whip the deodorant it may separate a bit during the final cooling phase.
Once cooled and blended well, add the essential oils and vitamin E oil (if using), stir well with a spatula, pour the deodorant into the jar/s and allow the mixture to cool, uncovered about 1 hour. When the jars are cool to the touch, screw on the lids and label your deodorant with the contents and date. Store in a cool, dark place where your deodorant will keep 6 month – 1 year, or longer. To use: apply a fingertip worth of deodorant to each underarm daily or as needed. Enjoy!

Sources
https://www.britannica.com/science/lymphatic-system
https://time.com/4394051/deodorant-antiperspirant-toxic/

Homemade Tooth Powder & Paste

I've been making my own tooth powder and/or tooth paste for many years. In that time I've stuck to my original recipe adding new ingredients as I've seen fit. With the intention to step up my oral hygiene, I was inspired to create a new tooth powder to help remineralize my teeth and heal exiting cavities. The activated charcoal turns the powder grey which becomes black when water and saliva come in contact with it. Despite it's color, activated charcoal helps to whiten teeth and remove non-beneficial bacteria from your mouth and gums. To avoid staining of sinks and countertops, rinse them well after brushing.

I brush my teeth with this powder two to three times per day and my mouth stays super fresh all day! My teeth feel incredibly smooth after brushing and there's almost no tarter build up by days end. I highly encourage you to try this tooth powder for yourself.

Homemade Tooth Powder
Yield: About 16 oz or 2 cups; multiple Month Supply

Supplies Needed:
1 Large glass bowl
glass measuring cup
1 teaspoon measuring spoon
1 tablespoon measuring spoon
mortar and pestle or clean coffee grinder
wooden or silicon spoon or spatula
glass jar w/plastic lid (4 oz mason jars work great)

Ingredients
1 cup bentonite clay
9 Tbs baking soda
6 Tbs activated charcoal
2 Tbs arrowroot powder
1 Tbs + 1 tsp diatomaceous earth
1 Tbs + 1 tsp stevia leaf powder or xylitol (finely ground into powder)
1 Tbs + 1 tsp Real Salt, finely ground into a powder
1 Tbs + 1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground myrrh gum powder (optional)
7.5 – 8.5 tsp peppermint essential oil or peppermint leaf powder
22 DROPS clove essential oil or ½ tsp ground cloves

Additional Ingredients for Tooth Paste
12 TBS MCT coconut oil
5 tsp unscented Castile soap
1 tsp psyllium husk powder

*I've heard people mention it's best to avoid metal utensils and containers when working with bentonite clay. Although I've never heard anyone explain why metal should be avoided, I do so to air on the side of caution.

Add the salt into the mortar. In a circular motion, use the pestle to grind the salt into a fine powder. Repeat the same process for the myrrh resin. If using a coffee grinder, add to the grinder and pulverize it into powder. Measure and add all powdered ingredients into the bowl, stir or whisk very well to combine. If using essential oils, add them to the blended powders, stir/whisk very well. For best results, use a whisk or dough blender to combine everything.

Test the flavor of your powder by brushing your teeth with ¼ tsp. of it. Add more peppermint or clove if you wish. Scoop the tooth powder into a glass jar or jars, screw on the lid/s and label them. Enjoy!

Other essential oils/herbs to consider: spearmint, orange, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom

To make this tooth powder into tooth paste:
Add the flavored tooth powder into a large food processor. Add 12 TBS MCT coconut oil, 5 tsp unscented Castile soap, 1 tsp psyllium husk powder and 1 additional tsp of peppermint essential oil. Blend until fully combined. It will take a few times for this mixture to fully combine. Between blending, scrape the sides of the “bowl” down with a rubber spatula. The mixture will be quite thick and yes, pasty. If it has not combined well, add 1 -2 more TBS of MCT oil, blend until combined. To test the flavor of your paste: wet your tooth brush and use a spoon to add some of the paste onto your brush, about ¼ tsp worth. Brush your teeth, spit and rinse your mouth with water. Add more peppermint or clove if you wish. Scoop the tooth paste into a glass jar or jars, screw on the lid/s and label it/them “Tooth Paste”.

Lemon Soaked Apple Salad w/Tamari Roasted Sunflower Seeds & Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

This salad is full of tangy, sweet, and smoky flavors that compliment one another very well. The apples and roasted sunflower seeds provide a satisfying crunch that mingles well with tender spring greens and creamy goat cheese. This is a go to meal in our home and is a great dish to bring to a potluck or party.

For the Salad:
Spring mix or other tender salad greens
Tamari & garlic roasted sunflower seeds (recipe below)
Raw walnuts
Fuji, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apple, diced into ¼ inch cubes (recipe below)
Juice of ½ lemon, for the apples
Red Onion, thinly sliced
Cucumber, cut into rings, then into quarters
Goat cheese or crumbled cheese of your choice
Raisins
Dried oregano, sprinkled on top

Equipment Needed:
Large Bowl
2 Medium sized bowls
Glass jar w/lid; Wide mouth if using emersion blender
Salad tongs
Cutting board
Sharp kitchen knife
2 Soup spoons
Emersion blender (optional)

Chop and prepare all veggies and fruits, set aside. Fill the large bowl half full with salad greens, this will be the base of the first layer. Top the first layer of greens with half of all toppings except onions, raisins, roasted sunflower seeds and dried oregano.

For the second layer, cover the first layer with a few handfuls of salad greens to fill the bowl. Use the remaining half of ingredients along with onions, raisins and roasted sunflower seeds to top the salad. Sprinkle the salad with dried oregano. Enjoy!

Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette
Yield: About 12 oz
1 cup olive, avocado or sunflower oil
1/3 cup + 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1 large clove of garlic, chopped
2 tsp dried oregano
1 ½ tsp maple syrup
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp sea salt

Add all ingredients into a glass jar. Tightly screw on the jar lid and vigorously shake the jar until all ingredients are combined. This dressing can be used immediately. Leftovers can be stored at room temp for one week or in the fridge for one month.

For a creamy style vinaigrette:
Add all ingredients into a wide mouth glass jar. Submerge an immersion blender into the oil and vinegar, blend on high speed until emulsified and combined. Leftovers can be stored at room temp for one week or in the fridge for one month.

These lemon soaked apples are delicious! I love to prepare them as a snack, for guests and for, you guessed it, salad. The addition of lemon juice adds a tang to the apples, brings out their sweetness and prevents them from turning brown.
Lemon Soaked Apples
Yield: About 1 ½ cups
1 large Fuji, Pink Lady, Jazz or Honeycrisp apple
juice of ½ a lemon

These lemon soaked apples are delicious! I love to prepare them as a snack, for guests and for, you guessed it, salad. The addition of lemon juice adds a tang to the apples, brings out their sweetness and prevents them from turning brown.

Wash the apple and pat it dry. Cut the apple around the core into four large pieces. Cut each piece into three pieces, lengthwise and three or four pieces crosswise. Add apple into a medium sized bowl. Cut and squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the apple pieces in the bowl. With a spoon, combine apple pieces and lemon juice together until all apples are coated. Allow the apples to soak in the lemon juice for 10 minutes before adding them to the salad. Any remaining lemon juice can be added to the salad dressing or just drink it right then and there, it's absolutely delicious.

Tamari & Garlic Roasted Sunflower Seeds
Yield: ½ pound
½ lb. Raw sunflower seeds, unshelled
2 Tbs. Tamari or soy sauce
1 large clove of garlic, chopped

Tamari is gluten free soy sauce. If you can’t find tamari or only have soy sauce at home, go ahead and use soy sauce for this recipe.

Pour the sunflower seeds into a medium sized bowl. Add chopped garlic and tamari (or soy sauce) to the bowl, stir well until all seeds are coated. Spread the coated seeds onto an un-greased baking sheet. Roast seeds at 375° for 20 - 30 min or until dark golden brown. Stir the seeds once while they roast. Remove the seeds from the oven and allow them to cool about 10 minuets. Once cool, give them a stir and break up any chunks that may have formed. Top your salad with the seeds and store leftovers in an airtight container.

Additional Tip
I typically roast the sunflower seeds in a toaster oven. Follow the instructions as stated above but roast the seeds at 450° for 10-12 minutes in the toaster oven, stir them once as they roast. Remove the seeds from the toaster oven and allow them to cool about 10 minuets. Once cool, give them a stir and break up any chunks that may have formed. Top your salad with the seeds and store leftovers in an airtight container. Note: We have an old, trusty toaster oven that we always keep at 450° for anything we roast or reheat. If you think 450° is too high for your toaster oven, adjust the temperature as you see fit.

Although it may seem like a lot of prep work, this salad is quite easy to make and so worth the effort. Once you taste it you’ll be glad you took the extra steps to make it.

Salads don’t have to be boring. They can be filling meals, exciting side dishes and lovely additions to any gathering. Buy yourself some high quality, organic salad greens, your favorite ingredients and get creative.

Are you excited to make this salad? Let me know in the comments below!