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​One of my favorite remedies for just about everything from colds to stomach viruses is Garlic-Ginger Lemonade. It is made with hot water, garlic, ginger, lemons, and honey.  It is not gross as some would think by the name. In fact, it is quite tasty and even a little addicting! Honey make almost anything taste good! You may smell like garlic but at least you won’t have to worry about vampires!

Garlic-Ginger Lemonade is not your everyday lemonade. It is made for the purpose of preventing or lessening the duration of illness and is quite effective, especially during cold and flu season. Drink it anytime you have been exposed to someone ill or are starting to feel ill yourself. Or, if you are like me you will be drinking it every day!
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• Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties which helps fight off illness and build the immune system. It is a wellness powerhouse that should be a part of the daily diet.
• Ginger is especially calming for the stomach and is very anti-inflammatory. It also adds a really nice flavor to the lemonade.
• Lemons are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. They also help the immune system function properly with their antiviral, antibacterial powers.
• Honey when it is in its raw, natural state is a wonderful superfood. It is full of enzymes, vitamins, and minerals which are essential for the health of the body. It also helps fight infection and is often used in cough remedies. Just be sure not to heat above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat kills the enzymes and may lessen overall potency.

Garlic-Ginger Lemonade is safe for children age one and above. Honey should not be given to an infant younger than one.

​Author: Sarah Outlaw
Recipe type: Herbal Remedy
 
Adapted from a recipe by Dr. Aviva Romm
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My lifesaver during teething is my amber teething necklace. It is incredible! I also love Hyland’s Teething Tablets and have used them with all of my 4 children. Sometimes though I need a little extra help for my little one as he cuts 4 molars and 2 eye teeth at the same time. It’s tough!

We don’t use conventional pain relievers. We haven’t used Tylenol or Motrin for about 8 years now. We don’t miss them!!! I’ve learned to use herbs and homeopathy to naturally relieve pain. I am not okay with giving medication to children unnecessarily. Acetaminophen is toxic to the liver even in small doses and ibuprofen is toxic to the kidneys and to the stomach.  These are drugs and should be treated as such. I’ve learned to use herbs and homeopathy in place of those drugs for the health of my family.

Teething tea is a wonderful blend of soothing, calming herbs that help relive the pain and discomfort of teething. It also helps the other symptoms that sometimes go along with teething like fever and runny nose. It’s great for the immune system to help ward off any colds or other viruses that might want to attack when baby’s defenses are down.

The herbs I chose for the teething tea have a long proven history of being used for these sorts of things. They are a common blend of anti-inflammatory, analgesic herbs. Taste is key because you don’t want to give something that is gross when your baby is already uncomfortable. Teething tea is so pleasant that I drink it!

Chamomile is so gentle and lovely that even Peter Rabbit and his siblings were given a spoonful before bed. It’s calming and helps the child rest. It is an incredible would healer and helps heal the mouth as the teeth are pushing through. It’s soothing to the stomach and can even help fight against colds.

Lavender is beautiful and brings this tea to life with its bright purple hue. It helps with the feverishness and headaches that can sometimes accompany teething. It also encourages sleep and relaxation, relieves anxiety and reduces pain.

Catnip has the opposite effect on humans as it does on cats. Don’t worry! It’s very calming and beneficial for pain relief and allowing the child to sleep peacefully. It’s also a wonderful herb for fever support.

Skullcap like catnip is great for calming, restful sleep. It’s very relaxing and relieves the stress cutting teeth brings.

Oatstraw is very nourishing and contains many vitamins and minerals like calcium and magnesium, vitamin A and B-complex vitamins. It strengthens the nervous system and relieves has anti-spasmodic properties.
Rose Hips are a lovely addition to this tea because they provide much needed vitamin C which is great for the immune system and for those new teeth coming in. So many times a cold will accompany teething and rose hips can help prevent that.

Red Clover is another highly nutritive herbs that nourishes the body and provides much needed support. It contains isoflavones which are linked to bone health.

Cloves are naturally analgesic and are such a wonderful part of this tea. They provide a pleasantly different taste from other herbal teas. Cloves have been used for gum pain for centuries and for their antibacterial properties. They are also anti-inflammatory and full of vitamins and minerals including vitamin K.

To make this wonderfully nourishing, soothing teething tea: mix 1/2 ounce of each herb and place into a jar for storage. Don’t forget to label your jar! When you want to make the tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of dry herb mix per 1 cup of water. Let steep for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours or overnight for a more potent infusion. Give warm or chilled. Can be frozen into ice cubes or on a clean cloth for further teething relief.

If you don’t have all of the herbs on-hand and need something ASAP, it’s okay to leave some of the herbs out. Use what you have while you build your herbal medicine chest.

Two great places to buy herbs can be found here and here.
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What are your favorite methods for teething relief?

I hope your little one gets some relief soon!

​Headaches while pregnant or breastfeeding are tough because if you are like me, conventional, over-the-counter medications are out of the question. Sometimes getting something to eat or drink, like a small glass of fruit juice can help alleviate a headache. Always do a mental nutrition check. Are you getting enough nourishment? A headache could be a clue that you are deficient in something, especially magnesium.

Sometimes a headache can be due to the weather, stress, fatigue or another reason. A cup of herbal tea can really help nourish the body while relieving stress and allowing you to get some rest. Herbs during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be used with caution and the user should always check for contraindications. During the first trimester, especially if you have a history of miscarriage you will want to educate yourself on herb safety. 

Now that I got my little herb safety PSA out of the way, let’s talk herbs! I have used herbs during my pregnancies and they have been quite helpful. I am very confident in the safety of the herbs I chose for this headache tea. Here is some information about each one.

• Chamomile is a very gentle herb. It has long been used for headache relief. It helps ease tension and can even help with migraines. 
• Skullcap is relaxing, great for insomnia and when you have a headache, sometimes the best thing to do is sleep it off. It is rich in calcium which is a headache remedy itself. 
• Lemon Balm is uplifting and tastes a bit like a lemony green tea. It’s also great for anxiety.
• Lavender is full of soothing phytochemicals and an excellent headache reliever when taken in a tea or inhaled.
• Lemon Peel has vitamin C and is astringent. It adds a pleasant flavor to the tea as well as boost it’s headache relieving properties. It is considered a catalyst to all the other herbs. 

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Mix 1 part of each herb together. 1 part can be anything from 1 teaspoon to 1 cup or whatever measurement you choose. Store in a glass container or tea tin. To brew, place 1-2 teaspoons of herbal tea per 1 cup of hot water. After reading water softener reviews, I realized maybe some trace impurities might cause my headaches, I am currently shopping to install this major upgrade into my house. I like to use a tea ball. Let steep at least 15 minutes and sweeten as desired with raw honey or other natural sweetener. Enjoy hot or chilled whenever you feel a headache coming on. 
Rather buy this tea already blended? You can purchase it here from my Poppyswap Shop.

​My husband wanted to cut the grass in our backyard on Saturday. Since I had been so busy with my garden, I had procrastinated in collecting all of the dandelion and plantain herb leaves that are prevalent in my yard.

I am glad I have a privacy fence because I was frantically running around the yard, cutting the leaves with scissors as fast as I could! I must have been a sight! I was able to get two large bags of these wonderful, edible herbs!

Nettle (top image) is my favorite herb. It is so versatile and nutrient dense. It is great for seasonal allergies and as a daily infusion for vitamins and minerals. It can be tricky to pick because it stings so always suit up with long-sleeves and gloves when handling. Once crushed or cooked, nettle loses its sting. 
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Dandelion leaves are wonderful in salads, steamed, or lightly sautéed in a bit of fat like ghee or coconut oil. Full of vitamins A and B, calcium and potassium, these leaves are much more than weeds! They are a bitter which also helps with digestion and liver cleansing.
For even more information on dandelions, visit The Leaf Lady.

Plantain herb is also edible, full of vitamins and can be used as a substitute for spinach. It is much more well-known as a healing herb. It is wonderful in healing salves. My kids know to chew some up, spit it out and apply it to bug bites for itch relief!

There are a couple hundred varieties of plantain herb so do an internet search and see what variety you have near you.

Chickweed is a lovely little herb that packs a punch. The little white flowers are hard to see but they are there.

It is a great weight loss tonic and is known to blast fat cells! I use it in teas and salves like Baby Bum Balm.
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One of my favorite herbalists,  Susun Weed has wonderful things to say about chickweed! 

I’ve been teaching my children recently how to identify common herbs so they can use them when they are out playing. It is so important to know what medicine is all around you!
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What herbs do you forage?

Allergy season is in full swing and as the pollen count goes up so does the discomfort that goes along with it. Not everyone gets allergies. If you do it usually means your immune system isn’t really working up to par. Allergies are not a *normal* part of life, meaning you do *not* have to suffer with them year after year. 

Eating real food including probiotic rich foods, bone broths, etc. can help boost your immune system and gut health. You have got to stop eating processed foods, drinking soda and compromising your immune system if you want to beat allergies! There’s just no beating around the bush when it comes to health.

Here are some natural remedies that can really help strengthen your immune system and beat allergies. 

Local Honey has long been hailed as an allergy remedy. Raw, wildflower honey is best known for this task. The bees go around collecting pollen from the very plants that trigger your allergies. Then they make the honey, you eat the honey and it’s like your very own allergy shot! Don’t give honey to babies under age one. Local bee pollen can also be used in small amounts.

Acupuncture works well by eliminating the allergen and strengthening the body so the allergen is no longer a bother. Here is a good article by my friend, Dr. Randy Martin with more about how acupuncture works for allergies. 

Homeopathy  is  also effective in eliminating allergies. According to Dr. Martin, the following remedies are indicated when allergies are present:

1. Pulsatilla: when fats are the major problem, in a person who craves fats, and is emotionally rather soft, needy, or desiring a lot of support;
2. Nux vomica: for toxicity in the liver with a craving for spicy foods and stimulants; constipation; rather angry and irritable emotionally and tends to be a workaholic type;
3. Lycopodium: for a lot of flatulence, right sided pains, sciatica, shoulder pain, irritability, craving for sweets and an explosive temper, but only around those he or she is close to; can be emotionally very sweet at work and social situations;
4. Carbo veg: for flatulence and general indigestion with bloating and a slow metabolism;

You can also use homeopathic remedies which are made from the foods you are allergic to, in much the same way as allergy shots work.

Allergies to airborne and pollens are also treated very effectively with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and homeopathy. Specific homeopathic remedies for airborne allergies may include the following:
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1. Pollintinum: composed of a variety of the most common pollens;
2. Histaminum: to suppress the histamine reaction of watery and itchy eyes, asthma or runny nose;
3. Euphrasia: for red, burning or itching eyes;
4. Allium cepa: for a runny and burning nose with much coryza;
5. Sabadilla: for uncontrollable sneezing;
6. Baptisia: for a skin rash and hives with itching;
7. Cat or Dog Hair: to desensitize you to an allergy to cats and dogs.

Herbs are also wonderful for allergies. I have two formulas that I use for clients that suffer from seasonal discomfort. I use classic herbs that have been used to combat allergies with great results. 
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​Nettle, Red Clover, Eyebright, Rose Hips, Peppermint, and Yarrow Leaf and Flower are very effective in knocking out allergy symptoms and kicking them out for good!
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Contains all organic or sustainably harvested elderflowers, nettle leaf, ginkgo biloba leaf, astragalus root, licorice root, and anise seed which are all indicated for allergy relief. 
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Allergy Oxymel – An oxymel is an herbal vinegar and honey preparation that has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates even mentioned oxymels in his writings. Adding some of the anti-allergy herbs to it can really help. There are great oxymel tutorials over at Urban Midwifery  and The Nerdy Farmwife if you would like to make one! 

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The top three essential oils for allergy relief are Peppermint, Lavender and Lemon. (I buy my essential oils here.) Use them separately or together in a diffuser for aromatherapy or applied topically to the bottoms of the feet.
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A neti pot with a drop of Tea Tree (Melaleuca Oil) added will help kill bacteria in the sinuses and fight infection.

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Don’t sit there and suffer! Take care of yourself and try some of these remedies! Find what works for you!
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Good luck!

​Valerian is such a lovely herb with peculiarly fragrant flowers that catch the eye and draw you in. It has been used for centuries safely as a sedative and treatment for insomnia. 

There are other lesser known uses for Valerian as a digestive aid and for reducing the severity of asthma attacks. It helps with anxiety, nervousness, depression and a multitude of physical ailments like sciatica, restless legs, hypertension, and even night terrors and bedwetting.

It is not habit forming which is why so many people turn to it to help them sleep. Even in ancient Rome and Greece it was used in this manner. It can be taken before bed in the evening and will not cause grogginess in the morning. It is not like a sleep medication in that way. Expect to wake up refreshed and well-rested after taking valerian!

The roots are commonly used decocted into a tea or tinctured. A decoction is an herbal preparation of the roots, bark, or seeds of a plant. It is made by bringing the plant matter to a boil and simmering for about 20 minutes before straining. 

Valerian is best used as needed but not every day. It is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

It is also a helpful herb for children who are having issues with hyperactivity, sleeplessness, and trouble concentrating or focusing. It mixes well with other herbs like chamomile, catnip, skullcap, and passionflower. 

Valerian is easy to grow or it can be purchased already dried and ready to use.

Delicate, lavender, bell-like flowers grace this magnificent plant called Comfrey. She grows quickly and fills whatever space she is planted in. She thrives under the shade of a tree. Her young leaves are slightly peppery tasting and quite enjoyable. 

Used medicinally for more than 2000 years, Comfrey is quite the workhorse. There seem to be more uses than can fill a page! Recently vilified by modern medicine as a possible carcinogen and cause for liver disease, most herbalists trust her long, documented history of safe use and continue their love affair with her.

*There are warnings out there about internal use if you do your research, so I encourage you to indeed do research and decide for yourself how to use Comfrey.* 

Comfrey is mucilaginous and wonderful for coughs or digestive issues. The root can be decocted into a tea and drunk for relief. The leaves can be eaten when they are young but get tough and lose flavor with age. They are full of vitamin B12, potassium, calcium, iron, Vitamin C, and a host of other nutrients. 

Often used in salves, Comfrey contains Allantoin which gives anti-inflammatory abilities and helps to renew cells. It can help relieve pain from sprains or strains as well. Comfrey poultices help reduce swelling and bruising. It is a must for broken bones and injuries! love to use it in my healing and pain relief salves.

Comfrey can help lower cholesterol and is also a wonderful herb for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Adding it to a gut-healing regimen would be highly beneficial. 


Animals love to eat Comfrey and it is also a wonderful addition to the compost pile. It seems to really help get it going. It will spread on its own but if you want to plant more, cut some of the root and plant it. It’s easy to grow from root cuttings. 

Having Comfrey in my garden makes me smile because I know what a gem she is. In a time where self-suffiency is growing in importance, multi-use herbs like her are crucial to keep on-hand for food (mostly for livestock) and medicine. 

Note: Comfrey leaf and root can also be purchased dried and used in the same way as the fresh herb.


Do you use Comfrey? What are your favorite uses for her?

 You can purchase dried comfrey here.

 

It is difficult to function if you are constantly stopping to rub a sore shoulder or knee. It can be quite tempting to reach for pain medications to get instant relief. ​

​If you are like me, you’ll want to look for natural alternatives for pain relief. There are many! Look into acupuncture, homeopathy, and herbal remedies including essential oils. 

Today I am sharing how to make an herbal pain relieving salve. Making salves is one of my most favorite things to do! It’s so rewarding to toss some herbs into oil, add beeswax and end up with a wonderful, medicinal salve that seems almost magical!

There are many herbs that will help relieve pain. I chose a few of my favorites for the salve. (I get my herbs here. Click on each herb for other purchasing options.)
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• Comfrey, also known as knitbone (for good reason) is wonderful for broken bones, sore joints and pulled muscles. 
• Solomon’s Seal can be used for arthritis and any other type of pain. It helps repair connective tissue to bones, cartilage and joints. 
• Arnica is renowned as a pain reliever. Often used as a homeopathic remedy, the herb itself can be infused in oils or to make salves. It helps reduce bruising and swelling like magic!
• St. John’s Wort is a superb anti-inflammatory herb when used topically. It relieves pain and calms the affected area.

Sometimes I add cayenne to my pain relief salves (about 1 & 1/2 TBS per cup of oil). It adds heat and powerful pain relieving properties. Just don’t use it near the eyes!

​The essential oils I chose for this salve are also known for reducing pain and inflammation. There are many more oils that could be used in place of or in addition to these. This blend brings both warm and cool elements to the injury for an icy-hot effect. If you would like information on choosing essential oil, please email me at [email protected]. 
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• Basil warms the skin and acts as a muscle relaxant. 
• Peppermint cools the skin and acts as a catalyst to other herbs. 
• Wintergreen warms the skin and has a cortisone-effect on muscle and joint inflammation. 
• Marjoram is anti-inflammatory and a natural muscle relaxer. 
• Rosemary helps with circulation and relaxes muscles. 
• Vetiver has antispasmodic properties and warms the skin. 
• Lemongrass is wonderful for ligaments and tendons and can repair connective tissue. 
• Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory and can help relieve soreness.

I use organic olive oil for my salves but for an even more penetrating salve, organic castor oil can be used. 

Vitamin E is added to lengthen shelf life as it has antioxidant properties.

Beeswax is also essential for salve-making. I prefer yellow over white as it is less refined. 

Here is how to make a pain relieving salve.

Instructions:
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          Heat-Infused Method

1. To make your salve you will need a large glass measuring bowl and a pot (or use a double boiler).
2. Fill pot halfway with water and place glass measuring bowl inside the pot.
3. Turn heat on medium low.
4. Add oil and dry herbs to glass bowl and simmer gently for 3 hours.
5. Strain oil through a cheesecloth into a clean bowl and return to pot.
6. Add the beeswax and let melt.
7. To test for the right consistency, place a pea-sized amount on wax paper and place in freezer or refrigerator for a few minutes. Add more beeswax if not firm enough or add more oil if too firm.
8. Remove from heat and add vitamin E and essential oils.
9. Mix well (I use a bamboo skewer).
10. Pour into tins or jars.
11. Let cool and lid.
12. To use: Rub a small amount into affected area as needed for pain.
    
    Alternative Method:
    
13. Make an infused oil by placing the herbs and oil in a jar and let it sit for 4-6 weeks. Strain and make salve per above instructions.​
    

 

Need a little help combating invading germs? ImmuniTea is a wonderful immune system booster that can be used daily during the cold and flu season. It is full of nourishing herbs that will help your body fight viruses and infections naturally. 

Tea is a huge part of my life! As a mom and herbalist I turn to herbs for healing every single day. They are my lifeline for health and wellness along with a real food diet!

Classic immune boosting herbs are used in this blend that support the immune system and keep it strong. They have been used for thousands of years to prevent illness and have a long history of effectiveness. This is a blend that my family has been using for quite a long time with wonderful results. It’s one of the many natural tools we use to prevent illness or shorten duration. 


What you’ll need to make ImmuniTea

I’ve linked to where you can buy all the ingredients for your convenience. 
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• Organic Elderberries – Rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, B, and C. Used to fight colds, coughs, flu, bacterial and viral infections. Bioflavonoids along with other proteins in elderberry destroy the ability for a cold or flu virus to infect the cell.
• Organic Elderflowers – Wonderful for the respiratory system. Helps keep allergies at bay and the sinuses clear. Also wonderful for fevers, especially those that come on suddenly. It helps support the body’s natural defenses. 
• Organic Chamomile – Very calming and anti-inflammatory. Wonderful for stomach ailments and colds. Also has antibacterial properties.
• Organic Rose Hips – Contain 50% more vitamin C than oranges! Excellent immune system booster. Also high in vitamin A and a variety of antioxidants. 
• Organic Astragalus – Wonderful immune enhancing herb. Useful in preventing the common cold.
• Organic Echinacea Purpurea – Stimulates the cells so they can fight infection. Has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. 

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Use 1 part of each herb for this blend. A part can be anything from a teaspoon to a cup or beyond. I make this in large batches for my store so I use a cup as my part. The recipe looks like this:
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​Simply mix all the herbs together and store in an airtight container. 


​To Brew

Using a tea ball or by leaving it loose in a mason jar or tea-designated French press, use 1 tsp of ImmuntiTea per 1 cup of hot water and steep for at least 20 minutes or overnight for a more potent herbal infusion. If keeping tea loose, strain through a mesh strainer and sweeten with raw honey for additional healing properties. Can also sweeten with Stevia(herb added to the blend, or liquid – homemade or store-bought) or leave unsweetened
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This tea is safe for all ages and is wonderful sipped hot or cold. Individuals with autoimmune diseases should use caution when using any immune stimulating herb. I do not recommend this tea in those cases. 

Drink throughout the day when you know you will be or have been exposed to illness, or are starting to feel sick.

Enjoy and Be Well!