Wed 20 Aug 2008
According to Ayurvedic medicine, ginger tea is excellent for stimulating agni, or digestive fire. At the same time, it reduces ama, or the accumulation of toxins in the digestive tract. Sip hot ginger tea after meals as a digestive aid. Ginger increases circulation and has antimicrobial properties, and is excellent for treating colds, flus and other respiratory problems, digestive ailments, and menstrual cramps. I drink ginger tea daily as a health tonic. (more…)
Thu 14 Aug 2008
Cascara sagrada is a gentle yet effective stimulant laxative. Licorice soothes the intestinal tract and has mild laxative properties, and ginger root helps to prevent any possible cramping
1 teaspoon cascara sagrada bark
1/2 teaspoon licorice root (more…)
Sat 9 Aug 2008
This rich avocado mask can be used weekly as a treat to nourish dry skin. Mix up a large batch and apply it to your arms and legs if they tend to be dry and flaky.
Sun 22 Jun 2008
Taking care of our skin is very important. The skin, intact, is our first defense against any invasion of foreign matter that can be harmful to our system. The skin is considered a thirdkidney because we excrete toxins through the pores just as we do through the kidneys. We also ingest many chemicals and toxins through the skin, so it is important that we pay attention to what we use to clean, soothe, or heal our skin. The skin also plays an important part in regulating our body temperature.
Most injuries to our skin are simple and taking care of them is easy. Cleaning any wound or puncture immediately following an injury should be the first step. Seek medical help if necessary. Keeping the area clean during healing prevents many problems from developing later on. (more…)
Wed 28 May 2008
Tag Alder Salve: Add 1 ounce of tag alder bark to 1 /2 pint of hot olive oil. Cover and simmer 3 hours. Add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 /4 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin to the strained mixture. Test for consistency and store in a labeled jar.
Tag alder’s signature is the small corky warts on its bark, so this would indicate that it could be used for various skin disorders. Using the signatures of the herbs is another good way to tell what you could use in preparing the salves.
Aloe Vera Salve: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon of pekoe tea and 1 tablespoon of Irish moss. Allow to sit until cool. Add 3 tablespoons of aloe gel. Mix well and store in labeled jar. (more…)
Mon 26 May 2008
A tincture is nothing more than a highly concentrated liquid extract of herbs. A tincture can be applied externally or taken internally. The kind of herbs you choose to put in your tinctures depends upon what conditions you need to heal. For example, you would make a tincture of comfrey root to heal and clean sores, because comfrey has pain-killing properties and it also aids in cell rejuvenation. If you are choosing herbs to use in a tincture that will be taken orally, be careful to choose “safe” herbs, ones that you know you can safely ingest. (more…)
