Tag: calendula oil

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Herbs and Herbalism plant wonder collective Recipes

Turmeric Tincture Inside & Out

Turmeric has so many health benefits—for mind, body, and spirit. As for the body, it has properties that support the immune system, modulate inflammation and pain, support the liver, and so much more. Regarding mind and spirit, turmeric has a warming, cozy, grounding taste and strengthening energy.

One very versatile way to work with turmeric is in tincture form. Turmeric tincture is easy to make and so beneficial! It only requires two ingredients, a couple simple supplies, and 6 weeks of waiting for it to infuse its goodness.

And did you know you can use it internally and externally? Internally, putting a few drops up to a dropperful in a couple ounces of water, a small mug of tea, or a shot glass of orange juice (my favorite) to drink can deliver those wonderful aforementioned benefits—like immune support, pain, inflammation, digestion, and more.

Externally, try mixing a few drops with your favorite body oil (like calendula olive oil) or moisturizer and massage into skin for cramps, aches, and even arthritis.

Here is what you need to know for making a simple turmeric tincture!

Ingredients

Dried turmeric root pieces

Plain vodka or other clear alcohol, highest proof available (80 or higher is best)

1-pint glass canning jar

BPA-free plastic canning jar lid

Mesh strainer

Optional: cheesecloth

Dropper bottle/s

Instructions

Start with a sanitized, dry jar. Fill the jar 1/2 full with the dried turmeric root pieces.

Top with vodka / alcohol, covering the plant material with about an inch of liquid. Poke the hops down with a wooden chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to ensure complete coverage and add more vodka if needed.

Cap tightly and label with the date and name of the tincture. Store in a cool, dark place, shaking daily. Allow to macerate for 6-8 weeks.

Strain with a fine mesh strainer and/or cheesecloth, and store in a clean jar or bottles in a dark place. Add to a dropper bottle for dosing. 

Use a few drops to one dropperful internally up to 3 times a day, or combine a dropperful with about ¼ cup body oil for external use.

Turmeric is the Plant Wonder Collective plant of the month!

Plant Wonder Collective: Connecting you to nature through food, drink, play, garden, medicine, magic, and art.

If you’d like to support the work of PWC, please consider joining our Study Circle on Patreon for exclusive recipes, articles, digital downloads and printables for the plant of the month. We appreciate you being on this learning journey with us!

For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
herbal skincare Herbs and Herbalism

Beauty in Bloom!

I am extremely late to be posting this, but…I wanted to share about a publication I contributed two articles to! I am so excited to have had the opportunity to contribute to this gorgeous publication.

“Beauty in Bloom” is a collaborative effort of 18 herbalists sharing 30+ recipes and DIY projects to help you with herbal self care and natural beauty from the inside out.

Holistic Beauty Glow-Up

At the heart of Beauty in Bloom lies the mission to redefine beauty as a holistic, interconnected experience beyond skin-deep. We believe in the power of the plants to nourish, heal, and elevate our well-being, and this belief has fueled the creation of our publication.

Beauty in Bloom is more than a beauty guide; it celebrates the synergy between humanity and nature. Our mission is to inspire you to embrace beauty practices that enhance your external radiance and honor the earth.

You’ll learn how to make your own skincare and hair care products and health remedies from herbalists and holistic health professionals, Including:

  • Healing Psoriasis Holistically- Tips & Tricks to support psoriasis
  • Cold Sore Care- Holistically formulate Herbal Salve & Tea Infusions for Cold Sores
  • DIY Magnesium Oil- For Sore Muscles & Nervous System
  • Gut Loving Mocktail- Mocktails for IBS, GERD, Bloating and Digestive Issues
  • DIY Herbal Cream Making and Cream Recipe
  • DIY Calendula + Olive Oil Lotion Bars
  • DIY Green Tea + Matcha Bath Soak
  • DIY Nettle + Sage Hair Rinse
  • Dina Charya- Dive into 6 Ayurveda self-care practices
  • Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm Recipe- Avoid toxic chemicals in most colored lip products and make a nourishing one from commonly found herbs.
  • DIY Rendering Tallow for Skin Health
  • How a Nutrient-Dense Diet Can Cultivate Beauty From Within
  • Nurturing Your Skin’s Guardian- The Acid Mantle and Tending To Skin Health
  • Herbal Glow Gycerite Recipe for Glowing Skin
  • Thyme- Herbal Spotlight on Thyme and The Benefits for Skin Health
  • Held By The Earth- Self-Care and Connecting to Natural Medicines as a Birthright
  • Sacred Blood- Rituals for Menstrual Cycle Stages
  • Herbal Allies for The Lymphatic System
  • Kakuda Plum- Ingredient Spotlight and Skin Care Uses
  • Skin Care Formulation with Australian Lemon Myrtle and sandalwood
  • German New Medicine- Knowing Patterns for Wellness and Healthy Skin
  • Mallow Succus- Using Mallow for Hair Rinse and Body Nourishment
  • Chamomile- Creating Healing Serums for Skin
  • Supporting the Nervous System for Healthy Skin
  • From Head to Toe- Self-Care Practices and a DIY Spa Day from home
  • The Fragrance Dilemma- Toxic Phthalates and the Impact on Skin & Endocrine Systems

All of the projects are easy to make and use commonly found herbs, flowers, oils, and other natural ingredients. No fancy equipment or previous experience is required! “Beauty in Bloom” is packed with basic formulas to make your own one-of-a-kind creations. Going organic has never been easier or more affordable. With the wisdom of 18 Herbalists, “Beauty in Bloom” empowers you to use local, natural ingredients to make something beautiful, effective, and good for you and your family.

Choose your path to “Beauty in Bloom”:

📖 Printed Petals: Immerse yourself in the tangible beauty of “Beauty in Bloom.” Click [here] to order your printed copy and receive a carefully crafted guide delivered to your doorstep.

🌐 Digital Bloom: Dive into the world of “Beauty in Bloom” instantly. Click [here] to secure your digital copy now. Access over 30 recipes and formulas for DIY skincare and holistic well-being from the comfort of your digital device.

What to Expect in Beauty in Bloom:

DIY Herbal Formulas: Unleash your creativity with over 30 recipes and formulas for homemade body lotions, skin creams, herbal medicines, and more.

Educational Insights: Dive deep into topics like Ayurveda, hormonal balance, and the benefits of natural ingredients, guided by herbalists and holistic health professionals.

Empowering You: “Beauty in Bloom” is more than a publication; it’s your companion on the path to self-empowerment, enabling you to take charge of your beauty and well-being.

Join us in redefining beauty as a holistic experience that begins within and blooms into a radiant, harmonious existence.

Let the beauty revolution begin!

Categories
herbal skincare Hygge Recipes

September Perfume Oil

I decided to whip up an adorably tiny roller bottle of September-inspired perfume oil recently! I love teeny roller bottles because I can make a small amount to test out the scent combination, and I don’t have to worry about making too much if it’s something I’m only going to use for a short period because it’s intention is geared to a specific occasion or month.

The basis of this essential oil blend is Ho wood and benzoin, which are creamy, vanilla-esque scents that I find very cozy. Combined with these are notes that are spicy, woodsy, sweet, and a hint of floral. To me, this combination evokes early autumn: the sweet and creamy scents are rich, yet sunny and light, and the spice is subtle enough to hint at autumn without being too heavy.

If you have sensitive skin, you probably ought to cut back on the EOs when making this recipe, and you can leave out the cinnamon and cardamom if they might be irritating. (The cinnamon chips included will gradually infuse in the base oil anyway!)

And, as always, be sure to source and use essential oils responsibly and from reputable, sustainable sources. (Not an ad and not sponsored at all, but I get most of my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs and Simply Earth.)

Materials:

5 ml roller bottle

Dropper

Carrier oil of choice (I like olive oil even though it’s a bit unorthodox—I used calendula-infused olive oil to make it extra special!)

Cinnamon stick chips

Essential oils, in drops:

3 Ho wood

3 benzoin

2 cypress 

2 sweet orange

1 geranium

1 cinnamon

1 cardamom

Method:

Add a few pieces of cinnamon stick chips. Fill the bottle about halfway with carrier oil using a dropper. Carefully add the essential oil drops, then top with more carrier oil—make sure to leave room to insert the roller ball top. Add the roller and cap tightly, shake to mix well, and let it sit a day or two before using.

What scents put you most in mind of September?

Categories
herbal skincare willow & sage

Willow & Sage Autumn 2023

Have you ever read Willow & Sage magazine? It’s a lovely publication that shares recipes, crafts, gardening, uses, and packaging ideas for handmade botanical bath, body, and natural home products. Many creatives contribute these recipes, articles, and photos which make up this unique magazine.

I am so excited to share that a photo I took is on the cover of Willow & Sage magazine’s latest issue, and two articles I wrote are inside! You can find this issue at, among other retailers, Barnes & Noble and Joann, both of which I did on August 1 to see it out in the wild with my own eyes. I am very excited and proud to be a part of this publication!

I wrote the cover article with the recipe for warming ginger lotion bars, as well as an article and recipe for coffee and rose aromatherapy oil. I loved crafting these cozy and creative botanical projects, and I can’t wait to follow the other recipes in this issue to make some amazing creations by all the other contributors.

Thank you to Willow & Sage for this opportunity! I am so thankful for this chance to flex my creative muscles and brew up recipes such as these.

Thank you so much to everyone who purchases a copy or subscription of Willow & Sage, too! I am so grateful for all the ways you support my work.

Categories
herbal skincare Herbs and Herbalism Recipes

Calendula Olive Oil Lotion Bars

One of my new favorite things to make is lotion bars, made with herbal infused oils! They’re easier to make than you might think, and feel so soothing and luxurious on your skin.

I started with olive oil I had infused with calendula a while back for skincare purposes. Calendula is very healing and beneficial to the skin, and olive oil is quite moisturizing and good for the hands, arms, and legs. Very helpful this time of year when we begin getting dry, chapped skin from the cold & dry weather!

I combined the herb-infused oil with beeswax and shea butter, then added a small bit of tangerine essential oil for a cheery scent addition. (The essential oil is optional, though. Also, remember to choose ethical essential oil companies to buy from!)

Here is the full recipe, in case you’d like to make some of your own!

Calendula Olive Oil Lotion Bars

(Makes 8 good sized lotion bars)

Materials:

Silicone molds or silicone cupcake liners

Double boiler (optional)

112 g shea butter

80 g beeswax pellets

96 g olive oil infused with calendula flowers

12-16 drops essential oil (optional; I used tangerine)

Method:

Prepare your supplies and area; you might want to put down a layer of parchment or waxed paper in case of dribbles. 

Melt the beeswax pellets, shea butter, and calendula olive oil slowly over low heat in the double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, set a large glass mixing bowl over a small saucepan containing about 1 inch of water, put your ingredients in the mixing bowl, and it works the same way. 

Once the ingredients are melted, remove from heat and carefully add and stir in essential oil if you’re using it. 

Carefully pour the hot liquid into your silicone molds. Allow to cool completely for a good long while before trying to turn them out—I like to have the molds all lined up on a baking sheet and transfer that to the fridge for quicker setting, but that’s optional. 

Once the lotion bars are finished, store them in individual small tins, waxed paper bags, or jars for gifting. They warm up quickly when rubbed against the skin and turn into a light but nourishing lotion. These can double as lip balm, too!

I made a couple batches of these and plan to gift them to friends and family for the holidays! (Sorry for the spoiler, friends and family! 😂) They’re such a nice little handmade gift that feels extra special. And the calendula oil is like a bit of sunshine to soak up during the winter months!

This recipe was inspired by a recipe in 101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health, and Home by Jan Berry.