|
|
| PayPal service to make fast, easy, and secure payments for your purchases! | |
 | |
|
|
|
DREAM SPIRITS AROMATHERAPY PILLOW |
To make an aromatic, seductive, sleep-enhancing pillow, fold equal amounts of the dried leaves of catnip, rabbit tobacco, selected mints, and sage into a small calico or plain cotton pillow case. This pillow will also enhance your dreams, which accounts for its name. The addition of dried rosemary leaves, lavender, and mugwort will make your reams even more vivid and memorable. Each time you rest your head on this pillow you will experience the additional virtues of aromatherapy, which are much more pronounced in humid weather. You may want to place a small three-inch-square pillow filled with these blended dried herbs on the back of your favorite easy chair to enhance your meditations and contemplations. Place another in the back seat of your car for a soothing, calming effect on the children who ride with you. These dried herbs also make fine additions to homemade stuffed animals for babies and children. |
> ----------------------------------- < |
A SELECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HEALING REMEDIES |
For many wonderful Authentic Native American Products please follow this link. |
SUMMER MEADOW RELAXING TEA |
Singly or combined, a tea made from the fresh or dried leaves of catnip, sweet everlasting, or yarrow will help you relax after a hard day's work or just before bedtime. The tea can also relieve gas or other digestive problems, and it may help premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps. Another bonus it that, cool, it is also good for your pets as a mild sedative, especially before car trips. Place the fresh ingredients in the bottom of a 1-quart teapot. If you are using dried herbs, use about half as much, since they are more concentrated. Pour the boiling water over the herbs, cover, and steep for 5 minutes, allowing the botanicals to infuse together. Savor their aroma. Pour a cup or mug of this herb tea and sip it slowly. Try it plain first; you may not need honey. If you have leftover tea, you can drink it cool later on or add it to a relaxing bath, so it is best not to sweeten the pot. 3 fresh leaves catnip or other mint 3 small fresh leaves sweet everlasting 1 or 2 small fresh leaves yarrow (optional) 1 quart freshly boiled water 1 tablespoon raw honey (optional) |
> ----------------------------------- < |
SOAPWORT SHAMPOO |
You can make this fine shampoo for your hair from the roots and above-ground herbal parts of soapwort, Saponaria officinalis. Soak the soapwort in the water for 30 minutes. Process in a blender for about one minute, or until it is pureed. Strain through several layers of gauze or a coffee filter. Bottle and label. Use up within one month, and keep in the refrigerator to retard spoilage. To use for shampoo, warm about 1/2 cup (use more or less, depending upon the length and quantity of your hair). Pour it through your wet hair and work it in thoroughly, then rinse out. This will not lather as much as conventional shampoos. VARIATION: You may substitute an equal quantity of fresh or dried yucca roots, Yucca spp., for the soapwort in this recipe. 1 cup fresh soapwort or 1/2 cup dried 2 cups warm water |
> ----------------------------------- < |
GOLDENROD HOT-INFUSED MASSAGE OIL |
Essential oils (those distilled from the plants themselves) are highly potent and should not be used directly on the skin or taken internally. For example, an essential oil of wintergreen would be poisonous if consumed. Many essential oils are principally for medicinal use; sometimes you can use a few drops to add fragrance to an herbal product. During pregnancy, and especially during the first three months, it is best to avoid essential oils altogether. A wiser choice is to infuse your favorite herbs and blossoms in a neutral cooking oil. Place the blossoms in a large glass bowl or pot and gently crush them with a clean teacup or mug. Pour the oil over the herbs and stir well. Place this pot inside another, larger pot of water (or you can use a double boiler), cover the herb and oil mixture, and simmer over low heat for two to three hours. Remove from heat, uncover, and allow to cool. When cool, pour the oil mixture through a sieve or colander lined with gauze, positioned over a large sterile pot or jug. When it is finished dripping, gather the gauze and press the remaining oil out of the herbs. Discard the herbs and pour the infused oil into clean dark glass bottles. It will have a pale green-gold color and a naturally pleasing aroma. Seal and label the bottles. This infused goldenrod oil will last for many months, but it is most potent when used fresh. VARIATIONS: You can vary this simple recipe by selecting other favorite blossoms and herbs, but if you are pregnant, be sure to confirm that the herbs you choose are safe. If you have sensitive skin, use only the gentlest ingredients. Good choices are calendula flowers, pink or red clover, or evening primrose blooms and leaves. Pour a teaspoonful of oil into your cupped hand and gently massage your legs and arms, first stroking down toward the feet and fingertips, and the back up toward the heart. As you do your massage, clear your mind of all concerns and problems. Focus all your thoughts on glowing good health and new life. Give very special attention to your face and feet, especially the soles of your feet, as you massage away all tension and pain. Finish with a gntle circular massage of your shoulders, breast, abdomen, and hips. If you can, get someone else to do your back, or you can use a long-handled bath brush or sponge to apply the oil. To minimize stretch marks as your body expands, gently massage your abdomen with oil, and add some aloe vera gel to help your skin maintain its elasticity and promote good circulation. 2 cups fresh goldenrod blossom tops, or 1 cup dried 1 1/2 pints or 24 ounces sunflower seed oil or corn oil |
> ----------------------------------- < |
UTERINE TONICS |
Pregnancy is a time of bodily changes and heightened sensitivities. It is best not to take anything you do not need and to choose your herbs and foods very carefully. You should strictly avoid the more powerful herbs, such as blue cohosh, yarrow, goldenseal, sage, and pennyroyal. Here are two mild infusions you may want to try. |
> ----------------------------------- < |
CORN SILK TEA |
Corn silk is the long, silky, threadlike styles on an ear of corn, each one leading to a ripe kernal. It symbolizes the female fecundity of the corn plant. Like its counterpart corn pollen, which represents male fertility, it is used extensively throughout American Indian healing. When used in medicines, both the silk and the pollen add the mineral qualities from the earth in which the corn was grown. Many women use corn silk tea as a mild diuretic during pregnancy. It is one of the finest, lightest herbal teas. This herb also strengthens the bladder and uterus and acts as a kidney and liver tonic. Put the corn silk in a cup. Pour in the boiling water and cover. Infuse for 5 to 8 minutes. Uncover and sip. This is fineas it is, or you may sweeten it with honey or maple syrup. You may have three or four cups daily. 2 teaspoons fresh corn silk or 1 teaspoon dried 1 cup boiling water |
> ----------------------------------- < |
RASPBERRY LEAF TEA |
During the final weeks of pregnancy you may want to drink this mild tea daily to strengthen uterine muscles for delivery. Crush the herbs in a cup and pour in the water. Cover and infuse for 5 minutes. Do not make a strong infusion. You may drink one or two cups daily. 1 fresh raspberry leaf (3-5 leaflets) or 1 teaspoon dried 1 cup boiling water |
> ----------------------------------- < |
GREEN GOODNESS SKIN WASH |
If you are fortunate enough to live in a place where you can readily pick your herbs, try this lightly antiseptic skin wash. Wash the leaves, crush them to release their healing energies, and place them in a small pot. Pour the water over them, cover, and place the pot over medium-low heat to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool, with the cover still on, for 30 minutes. Pour this decoction into a clean bottle or jar, straining it through clean gauze or a coffee filter. Add the apple cider vinegar to produce a slightly acid pH and a more perfect balance for your skin, face, and hair. The vinegar will immediately "bleed" much of the color from the decoction, producing a lovely green liquid. Store this soothing skin wash, labeled and dated, in the refrigerator, and use it within a week. During the cold winter months, keep some on the back of the stove to warm for daily use. During the heat of summer, use it right from the refrigerator. You can keep this in a small spray bottle to refresh your face, neck, and hair. When the week is up, use what remains in the bath, a footbath, or to rinse your hair. VARIATIONS: Try substituting witch hazel or hazelnut leaves, or the leaves of bergamot, bee balm, spicebush, Carolina spicebush, goldenrod, heal-all, slippery elm, basswood, sassafras, echinacea, or black-eyed Susan. Toward the end of pregnancy or afterward, you might try the leaves of bayberry, smooth sumac, jewelweed, sensitive fern, boneset, or joe-pye weed. 2 or 3 large sunflower or Jerusalem artichoke leaves 2 large plantain leaves 1 quart cold water 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar |
> ----------------------------------- < |
HERBAL HAIR CONDITIONER |
You can use the skin wash recipe above to rinse and cut any soapy film on your hair after shampooing. To further enhace your hair's health and shine, you can use it as a base to make a conditioner. Measure liquids into a plastic measuring cup; stir well and apply to your clean, almost-dry hair. Do not rinse out. Set or style your hair as your normally would, or pat your hair dry. 4 ounces green goddess skin wash 4 ounces flat beer |
> ----------------------------------- < |
Authorized 3B Scientific Distributor |
