Are you tired of spraying nasty chemicals all over your children to prevent pests from feasting on their little bodies? Me too! I was so worried about it, in fact, that I went on a mission to find an alternative that met all of my criteria.... namely, it needed to be very effective, concocted in my kitchen, and totally natural and harmless to my little ones! I began researching my many herbal books for something... ANYTHING... that would repel at a minimum the mosquitoes that carry West Nile and other "nasties". What I came up with is really simple, smells very mild on the skin, and can be sprayed everywhere except directly into the eyes. My boys actually like the smell, and so don't object at all to being sprayed... ESPECIALLY after they realized how well it kept the bugs off!
Sooo.... lets get down to the business of making some repellent. Your necessary ingredients are Catnip, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Vodka & Water! If you just happen to have those herbs laying around or growing in your yard thats awesome.... but if you don't this is still doable, you will just need to order the dried herbs from an online herbal company, such as Herbalcom company. (www.herbalcom.com). I buy a lot of bulk herbs from them and have always been happy with their service and prices.
Allright, lets do this! First we're going to make a tincture. Fill a quart jar 1/3 full of dried, crumbled Catnip, 4TBSP. Lemon Balm leaves, 4TBSP. Peppermint leaves, 2 TBSP Eucalyptus leaves. Pour Vodka over all, filling the jar right to the brim and then capping tightly with a screw on lid. Now for the inconvenient part... waiting for your tincture to be ready. Yes, I know, waiting is not your strong suit! It's not mine either, but you only have to do this once and you will have enough tincture to last a couple of years easily. Place your jar of tincture in a dark cabinet and give it a shake once a day as it ages. In 4 weeks your tincture is ready to use!!! (I have been known to "cheat" the jar and remove some after a week when desperate)
You need a squirt bottle/ spray bottle/ mister. Fill with clean water leaving two inches of space at the top. Finish filling your bottle with your liquid tincture and shake to mix....... And thats it! Its not rocket science, but I've found a ratio of 1:12 is about right. Lightly mist your skin and the mosquitoes will avoid you like the plague. Be sure to store the remaining tincture back in a cool dark cabinet to keep it potent for your next refill. Tinctures in alcohol will last for MANY YEARS!
And remember, I can't give medical advice... I'm not a Doctor. This is my personal recipe for the mosquito repellent I make and use. You should always do your own research when borrowing a recipe from the net. I hope you enjoyed learning to make a tincture with me, and hope if you like the results you'll let me know. Until next time, enjoy life and the great outdoors..... Kathy
Friday, June 1, 2012
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Making and Using Elderberry Tincture
Several years ago, when I first began the discovery of "Prep" websites, I found myself drawn to the learning of of tinctures, salves, teas, tisanes, and other forms of herbs. I had just had a really horrendous experience with a prescription used for lowering cholesterol and felt in my heart that this was NOT Gods way of healing the body. I am, to this day, convinced that each ailment known to man can be met with an herb created by God for just that purpose. I find it hard to believe that we need a scientist, in conjunction with a chemist, to concoct an artificial chemical, to heal the simplest of illnesses. So, I began a journey of self learning that has only grown more interesting to me over the last years. The more I learn, the more I want to learn! After all, it makes a sort of perfect sense doesn't it? That a wonderful God who created us and provided every other need we had would also provide the means of healing our bodies too?
As a Christian, I love the idea of Gods mysteries all falling together like pieces of a huge jigsaw puzzle. For instance, Do you have poison ivy? The puzzle piece next to that would be Jewel Weed. Weak heart? The next piece would be Hawthorne. Do you have the flu virus? Try Elderberry! And on and on it goes, with the pieces falling into place like a beautiful mosaic of complimentary colors. Each piece aligned with its complimentary "other half".
So you've heard or read on the internet possibly, that using Black Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra), during a viral illness can lessen your symptoms and decrease your number of sick days overall. This is very true, and there have been many scientific studies done that have verified this. You can of course buy Elderberry preparations at your local drug store for an exorbitant price. Personally, I can't afford to spend $12.00 or more on a 4 oz. bottle. I would rather make my own tincture several quarts at a time and be assured that I have enough on hand at all times for the entire family. If this is something that interests you, I would recommend that you buy dried Elderberries from a reputable seller. There are several different types of Elderberries that grow in the United States and some can make you ill! The true medicinal variety is the Sambucus Nigra. For my personal use, I like dealing with a company that I've used many times know as Herbalcom. They can be found on the web at www.herbalcom.com and are reasonably priced and pleasant to work with!
Making your tincture is easy and a relaxing way to spend an hour or two. You will need to have or purchase some quart size canning jars, a supply of Elderberries, and (YIKES) a couple of litres of high test Vodka! OK, now, before you stop reading because of the alcohol content, realize that the alcohol is absolutely necessary to leach out all the active components of the berries. Many cold and flu meds you buy over the counter contain alcohol too! What you must realize is that you'll be taking this tincture one tablespoon at a time. Now that we've cleared that problem up, lets go over the recipe.
Using dried Elderberries, fill each quart jar one third (1/3) full of berries. Carefully fill jar with Vodka right to the brim, and cap with the screw down lids. Store in a dark, cool shelf, shaking the jar at least once daily. In four weeks your tincture will be ready for flu season! At that time you can strain the spent berries out of your tincture and you can recap your jars or decant tincture into smaller, more manageable bottles. Always keep the tincture in glass containers, plastics can leach out and contaminate your tincture. So there you have it! Your first "tincture" is done and there was nothing to it at all. When we have the flu coming on, we take a TBSP 3-4 times daily along with plenty of fluids. The tincture goes down very well added to a cup of tea with some honey.
*As always, these are recipes I use for my family. When borrowing these recipes, you are taking responsibility for their use with your own family as I cannot prescribe medications for others!*
As a Christian, I love the idea of Gods mysteries all falling together like pieces of a huge jigsaw puzzle. For instance, Do you have poison ivy? The puzzle piece next to that would be Jewel Weed. Weak heart? The next piece would be Hawthorne. Do you have the flu virus? Try Elderberry! And on and on it goes, with the pieces falling into place like a beautiful mosaic of complimentary colors. Each piece aligned with its complimentary "other half".
So you've heard or read on the internet possibly, that using Black Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra), during a viral illness can lessen your symptoms and decrease your number of sick days overall. This is very true, and there have been many scientific studies done that have verified this. You can of course buy Elderberry preparations at your local drug store for an exorbitant price. Personally, I can't afford to spend $12.00 or more on a 4 oz. bottle. I would rather make my own tincture several quarts at a time and be assured that I have enough on hand at all times for the entire family. If this is something that interests you, I would recommend that you buy dried Elderberries from a reputable seller. There are several different types of Elderberries that grow in the United States and some can make you ill! The true medicinal variety is the Sambucus Nigra. For my personal use, I like dealing with a company that I've used many times know as Herbalcom. They can be found on the web at www.herbalcom.com and are reasonably priced and pleasant to work with!
Making your tincture is easy and a relaxing way to spend an hour or two. You will need to have or purchase some quart size canning jars, a supply of Elderberries, and (YIKES) a couple of litres of high test Vodka! OK, now, before you stop reading because of the alcohol content, realize that the alcohol is absolutely necessary to leach out all the active components of the berries. Many cold and flu meds you buy over the counter contain alcohol too! What you must realize is that you'll be taking this tincture one tablespoon at a time. Now that we've cleared that problem up, lets go over the recipe.
Using dried Elderberries, fill each quart jar one third (1/3) full of berries. Carefully fill jar with Vodka right to the brim, and cap with the screw down lids. Store in a dark, cool shelf, shaking the jar at least once daily. In four weeks your tincture will be ready for flu season! At that time you can strain the spent berries out of your tincture and you can recap your jars or decant tincture into smaller, more manageable bottles. Always keep the tincture in glass containers, plastics can leach out and contaminate your tincture. So there you have it! Your first "tincture" is done and there was nothing to it at all. When we have the flu coming on, we take a TBSP 3-4 times daily along with plenty of fluids. The tincture goes down very well added to a cup of tea with some honey.
*As always, these are recipes I use for my family. When borrowing these recipes, you are taking responsibility for their use with your own family as I cannot prescribe medications for others!*
Monday, June 14, 2010
Blogging for Herbal Remedies
Have you ever wished that raising a family didn't involve quite so many trips to the Doctor and drug store? Meeee toooo! You know..... it's not always necessary to make those trips if you have a little faith in yourself, and the interest needed to learn about basic herbs. I'm not condoning or suggesting that you buy a book and immediately call yourself an herbalist. What I will condone and recommend is that you talk to a Naturopath and ask for a list of herbal remedies that are both mild and considered harmless.
Choose what you feel comfortable with and begin slowly. For instance, there is a plethora of medicinal items growing just within the bounds of your yard. A simple wild onion rubbed on a sting will usually relieve pain and itching. Plantain leaf is good for bites and also scrapes. The Black Elderberry Bush - Sambucus Nigra, is a pharmacy unto itself! There have been numerous studied done on its medicinal properties which have proven its effectiveness against many viruses, including the flu! My family uses Elderberry tincture every year to allay symptoms and reduce the number of sick days. The Mint family is a good place to start with herbals -- who doesn't like a nice cup of mint tea for an upset stomach?
Wherever you decide to begin, do go slowly and carefully! Find a local herbalist to learn from. Don't begin with herbs that are considered risky or dangerous. Some herbs are hugely potent! Many of the prescription you take began in a field of herbs! And because of the nature of this article, please understand I post this only as a demonstration of herbs I use and not herbs I am "prescribing" you to try!! I am an herbalist..... but only with a Doctors blessing! So, enjoy your foray into the world of self-care, use intelligence and caution always. And start with herbs that are also foods as another way of ensuring even more safety! Gotta run!! Next installment might include how to tincture or something on drying your herbs for Winter. Just getting started here.
Choose what you feel comfortable with and begin slowly. For instance, there is a plethora of medicinal items growing just within the bounds of your yard. A simple wild onion rubbed on a sting will usually relieve pain and itching. Plantain leaf is good for bites and also scrapes. The Black Elderberry Bush - Sambucus Nigra, is a pharmacy unto itself! There have been numerous studied done on its medicinal properties which have proven its effectiveness against many viruses, including the flu! My family uses Elderberry tincture every year to allay symptoms and reduce the number of sick days. The Mint family is a good place to start with herbals -- who doesn't like a nice cup of mint tea for an upset stomach?
Wherever you decide to begin, do go slowly and carefully! Find a local herbalist to learn from. Don't begin with herbs that are considered risky or dangerous. Some herbs are hugely potent! Many of the prescription you take began in a field of herbs! And because of the nature of this article, please understand I post this only as a demonstration of herbs I use and not herbs I am "prescribing" you to try!! I am an herbalist..... but only with a Doctors blessing! So, enjoy your foray into the world of self-care, use intelligence and caution always. And start with herbs that are also foods as another way of ensuring even more safety! Gotta run!! Next installment might include how to tincture or something on drying your herbs for Winter. Just getting started here.
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