Name: How To Make Healing Salve
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Oven proof pan for infusing oilcheese clothDouble boiler or two sauce pans for melting waxSterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)LabelsWooden skewers or spoon; 4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending how thick you want it)1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

Natural Sore Throat Remedies / 4 Tried and Tested Solutions That Work

Do you have a sore, scratchy throat? Many different things can cause a sore throat. I’ve got four tried and tested sore throat remedies that really work.

Whether straining your voice, a virus or cold, a bacterial infection or dry air… you want the pain to go away.

As some of you know, I’m all about using natural remedies when you can, and when it comes to sore throats I’ve got four tried and tested solutions that really work.

I don’t ever post things that I haven’t tried myself. That is why there are only four solid things that I’m going to post about here.

Yes, there are a lot of other sore throat remedies out there, but these are some that my family and I have used with great results.

One of my herbalist friends and mentors gave me these recipes years ago, and we refer to them frequently. As always, please check with your healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy.

Sore Throat Remedies #1

Honey, Cayenne, and Garlic Preparation

Before you jump into the car and go to the clinic, where you’ll most likely be prescribed an antibiotic, start this remedy when you first start having symptoms, and most likely you won’t need the antibiotic.

This is very effective in treating even strep throat within 24-48 hours.

Ingredients:

1 TB raw honey
¼ tsp. Cayenne pepper
3 cloves minced garlic (yes, that much garlic)

Instructions:

Put everything into a little bowl and mix well. Take ½ tsp. three times a day.

The honey coats the throat, the cayenne draws blood to the area, and the garlic stimulates the immune system and acts as an antibiotic.

Here are a few links showing the amazing properties of these ingredients. Honey, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper

Sore Throat Remedies #2

Orange Juice and Cayenne Pepper

Pour a little orange juice into a cup and add 2-4 shakes of cayenne pepper. Mix well and drink quickly.

It does burn, but just for a few seconds. This brings more circulation to the area and helps draw away the infection.

Sore Throat Remedies #3

Salt Water

Mix a teaspoon of salt, preferably sea salt or REAL salt, with eight ounces of quite warm water.

Gargle the whole mixture several times a day. This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies.

Sore Throat Remedies #4

Lymph Massage Oil

Ingredients:

2 oz. Olive oil
20 drops Melaleuca/Tea Tree essential oil
5 drops Lemon essential oil
5 drops Cinnamon (cassia) essential oil
2 drops Wintergreen essential oil
13 drops of Lavender essential oil essential oil
9 drops Clove essential oil
8 drops Thyme essential oil
8 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

In a 2 oz. dark-colored glass jar, combine essential oils, and fill with Pure Virgin Olive Oil or fractionated coconut oil. Apply a dropper lid and shake well.

***You may want to store this in the refrigerator to keep the oil from going rancid.

Lymph Massage Instructions

Apply the oil all around the neck, especially below and behind the ears. With a very light motion, drag your hand down the neck towards the sternum area and around the ear.

Go easy because this area may be very tender. You don’t have to apply a lot of pressure.

The essential oils will penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream to help fight infection.

These remedies are included in my ALTERNATIV REMEDIES BOOKLET. You can locate it HERE.

I’m working on an EBOOK version now, so stay tuned.

I hope these sore throat remedies come in handy some day.

****As always, please check with your healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

How To Make Your Own Natural Toothpaste / Simple To Make Recipe

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alternative remedies home remedies natural remedies sore throat

How To Grow Comfrey and Use It Safely // A Must in Everyone’s Garden

Growing comfrey in your garden can offer a wide variety of uses and benefits and it’s an herb that I think everyone needs to have growing in their garden. This herb is not only medicinal and will add so much to your herbal remedy tool belt, but it’s also a very attractive plant.

What is Comfrey?

Comfrey is a perennial herb (that comes back every year). The genus name for comfrey is Symphytum, and means to “heal together”. It is well known to assist healing in any part of the body that is torn or broken. Otherwise known as knitbone or slippery root, comfrey plants have been used medicinally since 400 B.C. to stop heavy bleeding and to treat bronchial issues.

Growing Comfrey Plants

Growing this herb is super easy. Propagation can be done with seed, division, or separation. Sow comfrey seeds in fall or early spring directly in the garden or in a cold frame and pot seedlings to be over-wintered inside.

Division of comfrey herb plants may occur at any time, however, spring is suggested. Divide by cutting off 3 inches (8 cm.) of root below the soil level and then plant directly into a pot or another area of the garden.

Propagating Comfrey

I find the easiest way is to find a start. You may need to get a start from someone who already has it growing, as I have not seen it in any nurseries or garden centers.

All you need is a piece of the root and you’re good to go. As comfrey can be an aggressive spreader, you may want to plant within a physical barrier and deadhead flowers to rein in its spreading habit. MAKE SURE WHEN YOU PLANT THIS HERB, THAT YOU PLANT IT SOMEWHERE THAT YOU’LL WANT IT TO REMAIN. Because the roots go down so far, if you ever want to move it, most likely after you dig it up, it will come back.

We made a BIG mistake once in our garden and rototilled a few plants up and we had bits of the root all over and then we had comfrey everywhere. We finally got it under control and have this herb growing where we want it. I find it doesn’t spread if the root it left alone. In fact, I find that weeds do not grow around it either. (Very interesting).

This herb requires very little maintenance once established. It is generally frost and drought-hardy and primarily disease and pest-resistant.

We have grown this herb in our garden for years and use it frequently.

Comfrey Benefits and Uses

As mentioned above, the comfrey herb plant has a long history of medicinal use. Useful not only for staunching blood flow and arresting some bronchial ailments, but comfrey has also been used to heal broken bones. Comfrey tea is often ingested for internal illness and poultices are applied to external ailments. Comfrey contains high amounts of allantioin (also found in nursing mother’s milk) and is said to increase the rate of cell growth, which in turn increases the number of white blood cells. The application of allantoin has been shown to heal wounds and burns more quickly and promotes healthy skin with high mucilage content. I have personally seen it heal chemical burns, and sunburns, and assist rapid healing in deep wounds with no scaring.

A Personal Experience with Comfrey

When my son was in his teens he hit his face pretty hard on a rail while skiing and his lip was pretty messed up (not the first time this has happened), he asked if we had any comfrey to put on it. Even my kids know the many benefits of this plant.

Typically, we would just go out and pick a leaf from the garden, but at the time the comfrey plants were under 2 feet of snow. Luckily I had some already blended up in the freezer.

In the fall I took a bunch of comfrey leaves and washed them and blended them up to make a thick paste. I then spooned it out into ice cube trays and froze it. Then I just popped them out into zip bags and put it in the freezer for times just like this. Then all we have to do is take a cube out, thaw it and apply where needed.

My son just took a blob of green goop and placed it all over his top lip, and sat there while he did his homework. He did this a few times and by the third day, you could hardly tell he even had an injury.

I could go on and on about this amazing plant and give you several more personal experiences on how it has helped us.

In a nutshell, comfrey leaves and roots are used externally as a poultice or ointment for:

bruises
broken bones
wounds
pulled muscles and ligaments
reducing inflammation
sprains
sunburn
burns

I use comfrey to make a wonderful healing salve, which is very easy to make. You can find the tutorial and recipe for the salve HERE.

Having this herb growing where you have easy access to it is a good step in being a little more self-reliant. I feel much more at peace with my comfrey plant just outside my door!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER HERBAL REMEDIES HERE IN MY ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES BOOKLET

Benefits of Comfrey in the Garden

Comfrey is not only good for our bodies, comfrey can be helpful to our garden soil and other plants as well. Comfrey can be made into a “compost tea” which is beneficial for fertilizing your garden. Some of your livestock will happily munch away on this plant, particularly chickens and pigs as well.

This herb is an excellent mulch and fertilizer. It is well balanced with a good combination of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. When you use comfrey as mulch, it will mine those nutrients from deep under the soil, and then return them to the soil where other plants can access them.

It is very easy to mulch with comfrey. Simply chop it down, and if possible, chop it into smaller pieces. Lay the pieces around the plants you want to mulch and the comfrey will quickly decompose, allowing the nutrients to go back into the soil.

How to Make Comfrey Tea Fertilizer

If you don’t want to use comfrey as a mulch, you can make comfrey tea to use as a FERTILIZER FOR YOUR PLANTS, NOT FOR YOU. Do not ingest this tea, rather, it is a liquid plant feed.

Place your plant matter – the leaves, stems, etc – into a container and cover it with water. Put a lid on it to contain the odor. You’ll want to let this mixture brew for four to six weeks.
To use it, mix it with 1/3 ‘tea’ and 2/3 water and use it as you would any other liquid fertilizer when you water your plants.

Spring is here and this is a great time to get your hands in the dirt. So be thinking of a place in your garden where you can plant this baby. If you live in Utah, I would love for you to stop by and I can give you a start. Just send me a note if you are interested.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Lavender, Rosemary & Thyme | A Must for Every Garden

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How To Make Healing Salve

December 26, 2019 / Alternative Health, Essential Oils, HEALTH AND WELLBEING, Herbs and Remedies, Household Recipes, RECIPES / 1 Comment

Plantain – Healing Herb Growing Right Under Your Feet

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Non Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner- How to Easily Make Your Own

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alternative health alternative remedies comfrey garden garden tips healing herbs herbs

How To Make Healing Salve

You don’t have to be a serious herbalist or witch doctor to make your own healing salve. It is really very easy to whip up and you won’t ever go back to Neosporin or whatever else you are using for

cuts
scrapes
bug bites
diaper rash
lip balm
dry skin

My family uses this a ton!

We recently ran out of our stock of salve, and it’s not like you can just run to the store and grab some, so I got out my supplies and whipped up a batch. I thought I would take a few photos while in the process and share how to make it with you.

SUPPLIES that you will need:

ovenproof pan for infusing oil

cheesecloth
double boiler or two saucepans for melting wax
sterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)
labels
wooden skewers or spoon

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)
1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)
4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending on how thick you want it)
1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)
30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

*Note: you can alter the types of herbs and essential oils that you put in your salve depending on what your needs are. If you don’t already have these supplies, it may seem like a big investment to make a healing salve. However, the oils and vit E will last a very long time, and you’ll be able to use them for other things.

I like this blend because of the amazing properties of these herbs and oils, making it a great GO TO salve for just about anything.

I am one who likes to know the WHY about what ingredients are in the products I am using. So here is the scoop.

CALENDULA:

Calendula has a long history of use as a wound-healing and skin-soothing botanical.

PLANTAIN:

Plantain is a low-growing herb (weed). It is most often used for stings and bites.

COMFREY:

It is well known to assist healing in any part of the body that is torn or broken.

*If you grow these herbs, dry them and store them in an air tight zip bag so you can make salve anytime. You can also just buy the herbs at your local health food store or online. I like Starwest Botanicals

TEA TREE Essential OIL:

Renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating
effect on the skin.
Skin irritations

LAVENDER essential OIL:

Widely used for its calming and relaxing qualities.
Soothes occasional skin irritations.
You want to make sure you use good quality, pure essential oils when making salves and tinctures. When making cleaning supplies, it is not as important. If you would like to know where I buy most of my oils, send me a note.

Let’s get started!

1- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

Measure the dry herbs and put them in an oven proof pan

2- Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

Place oil and herbs in oven and heat for 4-5 hours. Heating the oil infuses the properties of the herbs into the oil.

3- Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

When the oil has cooled a bit, pour the herb mixture over the cheesecloth to strain. Squeeze out all the oil.

4- Then I like to strain it again through a piece of 100 % cotton fabric.

5- Melt the bees wax.

I have an old pan that I use only for melting my wax in and I keep it wrapped in a plastic bag when not in use. Place that pan in another wider pan with water in it.

It is VERY important that you don’t get ANY water in the wax, or this will promote spoiling of your salve.

Melt the wax, stirring frequently. (This smells so yummy)

6- Prepare jars

Make sure jars are clean! You can sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. I usually just make sure they have been cleaned with hot soapy water and dried thoroughly.

7- Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

*By using a wooden skewer to stir with, you will save wasting a bunch of salve that will stick to the spoon.

To test the consistency of the salve, take a spoon and dip into the mixture. Take it out and let it cool a few seconds. Test the consistency. This is the time to add more wax if it is too runny.

8- Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

MOVE QUICKLY.

9- Pour the salve into the jars.

You will need to stir in between pourings to keep things mixed up.

You may even need to heat it up a bit if it starts to set up. (Just don’t heat very long at all and use a very low setting, so you don’t loose all the properties of the essential oils.)

Don’t you just love the beautiful green color, and it smells FABULOUS!

I love these little travel-size tins!

I always double the batch because there is always someone who wants a jar, and they make great gifts or party favors.

The jars that you are not currently using, store in the refrigerator so they will last longer and not go rancid.

There you have it, a salve that is chuck full of healing goodness.

You may also be interested in my natural deodorant recipe and tutorial.

Enjoy!

How To Make Healing Salve

An amazing salve for cuts, scrapes, dry skin, and more!

Prep Time5 min
Total Time5 min
Yield4 Batches
Meta LabelLabel Value

Ingredients

Supplies List:

- Oven proof pan for infusing oil
- cheese cloth
- Double boiler or two sauce pans for melting wax
- Sterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)
- Labels
- Wooden skewers or spoon

Ingredients:

- 4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)
- 1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)
- 4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending how thick you want it)
- 1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)
- 30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

INSTUCTIONS

1

Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

Measure the dry herbs and put them in an oven proof pan

2

Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

Place oil and herbs in oven and heat for 4-5 hours. Heating the oil infuses the properties of the herbs into the oil.

3

Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

When the oil has cooled a bit, pour the herb mixture over the cheesecloth to strain. Squeeze out all the oil.

4

Then I like to strain it again through a piece of 100 % cotton fabric.

5

Melt the bees wax.

I have an old pan that I use only for melting my wax in and I keep it wrapped in a plastic bag when not in use. Place that pan in another wider pan with water in it.

It is VERY important that you don’t get ANY water in the wax, or this will promote spoiling of your salve.

Melt the wax, stirring frequently. (This smells so yummy)

6

Prepare jars

Make sure jars are clean! You can sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. I usually just make sure they have been cleaned with hot soapy water and dried thoroughly.

7

Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

*By using a wooden skewer to stir with, you will save wasting a bunch of salve that will stick to the spoon.

To test the consistency of the salve, take a spoon and dip into the mixture. Take it out and let it cool a few seconds. Test the consistency. This is the time to add more wax if it is too runny.

8

Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

MOVE QUICKLY.

9

Pour the salve into the jars.

You will need to stir in between pourings to keep things mixed up.

You may even need to heat it up a bit if it starts to set up. (Just don’t heat very long at all and use a very low setting, so you don’t loose all the properties of the essential oils.)

Don’t you just love the beautiful green color, and it smells FABULOUS!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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Sore Throat: 4 Alternative Remedies That Work

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alternative remedies calendula comfrey cuts DIY essential oils healing salve herbs homemade salve lavender oil peppermint oil plantain salve scrapes tea tree oil

How To Make Tooth Powder – Easy DIY Recipe

Why in the world would you want to make your own toothpaste or tooth powder? It’s not like you already have a million things to do! Right?

Well, trust me, this is well worth your time. This is a simple, cost effective way to care for you and your families teeth!

Here are 4 SIMPLE reasons why I stopped using commercial toothpaste years ago and started making my own or buying natural stuff.

1-NON-TOXIC & SAFE
Have you ever looked into what is in your toothpaste? Here is a quick little post that is a great read about what is actually in commercial toothpaste. Makes you think twice about what you put in your mouth two or three times a day!

2-SAVES MONEY
With just 4 simple ingredients, you can make a batch of tooth powder up for under $2.00.
If you have ever purchased or checked into NATURAL toothpastes, they are not cheap. Worth it if you can’t make your own, but why not Do It Yourself and save money?
Tom’s Natural toothpaste runs around $5.00- $6.00.
Redmond EarthPaste is $7.99 plus shipping. (good product, but make your own for a lot less).

3-QUICK AND VERY EASY TO MAKE
You can whip a batch of this up in only 5 minutes!!!

4-TASTES GREAT
This makes your teeth feel squeaky clean, like you have just had your teeth cleaned by the dentist.

I posted about this back in 2014, so it has been a while. Well, today I ran out of my tooth powder and decided to while I was whipping up a batch I might as well video it to show you how simple it is. So here it is.

tooth powder ingredients

2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
1/3 cup Redmond Clay or Bentonite Clay
2 teaspoons Redmond Sea Salt or Sea Salt ( I like Redmond Salt)
10-20 drops of essential oils of your choice

1/3 cup Redmond or Bentonite Clay

What are the benefits of brushing with tooth powder?

Bentonite clay has the ability to bind to heavy metals and toxins as well as to provide minerals. Redmond or Bentonite Clay is great to help the body detox and whiten and remineralize teeth. I buy the Redmond Clay bulk in a three-pack. It saves money and I like having a few extra for my pantry. We use it for cooking too.

2 Tablespoons Baking Soda

The major benefits of brushing with baking soda are its teeth whitening and plaque removal properties, as well as its affordability relative to other commercially available teeth whiteners. Brushing with baking soda removes plaque deposits from teeth that contribute to tooth decay.

2 Teaspoons Real Salt or Sea Salt

Salt is known to soothe inflamed gums and help prevent bacterial growth, which is a big cause of bad breath. We use the REAL salt for cooking as well because it has the minerals left in it.

Adding Essential Oils

10-20 Drops Essential Oil

I like to use a mix of Peppermint oil and Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca). Tea Tree oil is great to protect against environmental and seasonal threats.

Experiment and try other essential oils. Mix a few oils to make a flavorful blend. Make sure the oils are safe for internal use and good quality therapeutic grade oils. Some other oils you may try are lemon, spearmint, cassia and wild orange.

Mix well using a whisk.

Using a funnel, pour tooth powder into a glass container.

I like to use a simple, recycled “better than bullion jar”.

If you have several flavors in the same bathroom, you may want to label them as they will look the same.

Wet your toothbrush and dip it into the jar of tooth powder. Brush and enjoy the freshness and clean teeth feeling you get after having your teeth cleaned at the dentist.

We make one for each person in the family so we’re not spreading germs and we choose our flavor.

You can find this recipe in my Alternative Remedies for the Body, Mind & Spirit Booklet. This booklet is a great collection of tried and tested alternative remedies that really work!

You can find this booklet in my site store.

DIY Tooth Powder

Simple non-toxic ingredients leave your teeth and mouth feeling fresh and clean. This is simple and cost-effective to make!

Prep Time10 min
Total Time10 min

Course
- household recipe

Ingredients

- 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
- 1/3 cup Redmond Clay or Bentonite Clay
- 2 teaspoons Redmond Sea Salt or Sea Salt
- 10-20 drops essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1

Add all ingredients to a small glass bowl

2

Mix well using a whisk

3

Using a funnel, pour tooth powder into a glass container

4

If you have several flavors of tooth powder in the same bathroom, you may want to label them!

5

Either dip your toothbrush in a jar of tooth powder or use this spiffy oil & vinegar jar for easy dispensing.

Glass dispensing jar

Cheers to a non-toxic mouth!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

alternative remedies bentonate clay clay tooth powder DIY essential oils homemade tooth powder natural tooth care Real salt Redmond clay tooth powder

Winter Ready? 8 ways to keep you warm and healthy this season

Oh, baby it’s cold outside. Are you winter ready? If you are lucky enough to experience a winter season where you live, here are a few tips that will help you stay warm and healthy.

STAY WARM

1- Keep your hands warm

A good pair of mittens is a must! If you like to sew, these upcycled mittens are quite easy to make using an old wool sweater. They are snug, toasty warm, and make great Christmas gifts. The PDF pattern includes adult sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, and child-size large. It also comes in infant and child sizes.
A detailed measuring guide comes with a pattern to make sure you sew up the right size! You can get the patterns here in my shop

Pop these little hand warmers in the microwave for 30-40 seconds and place them in your coat pockets and you’re good to go. They are a great thing to send your kids off to school with, or on the ski slope. VERY easy to make! The free sewing tutorial can be found HERE.

2- Keep your feet warm

If your feet get cold in bed, I have the perfect remedy. Corn or rice-filled therapy bags are the best. Just microwave and throw under your covers. They’ll keep your little tootsie warm for hours. The tutorial and pattern can be found HERE.

Sweater slippers and sweater slipper boots made from (you guessed it) upcycled wool sweaters are an excellent way to keep your feet nice and toasty. Patterns HERE.

3- Keep your insides warm

A nice cup of yarrow tea is sure to keep your insides warm AND keep your immune system in check in case you get sick!

What is Yarrow good for?

ANTISEPTIC and VIRAL INHIBITOR
BLOOD PURIFIER
CIRCULATION
COLDS AND FLU
DIGESTION
FEVER
INFLAMMATION
TONIC

Yarrow tea is a great preventative remedy. If the crud is going around the neighborhood, don’t just sit there waiting for the symptoms to start, drink 1 to 2 cups of yarrow tea a day as a preventive tonic. If you already have symptoms, start flushing it out with 4 to 8 cups of Yarrow tea each day. Get the full yarrow scoop HERE.

There is nothing better than a hot bowl of soup to warm you up inside. Here are a few soup recipes you may like to try.

4- Keep your head and ears warm

Of course, you need to keep your head and ears warm too! Hats, hats, hats, there are all kinds of hats. Beanies, pilot, pixie, and pillbox hat styles can all be made using an upcycled sweater. The patterns can be found HERE.

WINTER READY TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY

Staying healthy and well during the winter is a good thing. Here are a few preventative things you can do to help keep your immune system up and running.

If you were to ask me what I thought the most important thing you could do to promote and maintain a healthy body, mind, and spirit would be……….. MOVEMENT would be at the very top of the list. I am talking about PHYSICAL MOVEMENT, moving the body in some way or another.

5- Rebounding

At this time I want to bring to your attention a form of movement that you may not have heard about or considered something of real value, REBOUNDING. Who would have thought that bouncing on a little trampoline could do anything for you? Well, I am here to tell you, by experience, that it can

Rebounding provides benefits to nearly every body system, from increased flexibility and skin tone to decreased stress. Its up-and-down movement improves circulation and lymphatic flow and gently massages the internal organs for whole-body health.

In my research, one of the things that intrigued me the most was that jumping on the mini-tramp 10 minutes equals running for 30 minutes for a cardiovascular workout. That is quite amazing! I think a lot of us have it in our heads that in order to be in the top physical shape we have to RUN marathons to achieve it. Rebounding is so much easier on the joints than running and can get the same results in less time.

Get the full scoop HERE.

6- Skin Brushing

Skin brushing is simple, quick, and very rewarding. This is another one of those things on the top of my “stay healthy” list! Skin brushing has been part of my morning ritual for quite some time. I can tell a big difference in my skin and in the way that I feel. Here are just a few of the benefits of skin brushing.

Stimulates blood and lymph flow
Helps eliminate toxins from the body
Removes dead skin cells
Encourages cells to regenerate
Helps combat cellulite
Results in smooth glowing skin
Anti-aging through cell regeneration
Strengthened immune system
Stimulated nervous system, toned muscles, and tightened skin
Stimulated both the sweat and sebaceous glands (contributing to the restoration of moist and supple skin)

You can learn how to do it HERE.

Although preventative measures are the best to keep you healthy, there still may be times you come down with that nasty cold or flu. Here are a few things you can do naturally to get you back on your feet.

7- Sore throat remedy that REALLY works!

If you are experiencing a sore throat, don’t jump in the car and run to the clinic just yet. I am going to share with you 4 simple alternative remedies for a sore throat that really work! Many of the ingredients you probably already have in your home.

HONEY, CAYENNE AND GARLIC
ORANGE JUICE AND CAYENNE PEPPER
SALTWATER
LYMPH MASSAGE

Go HERE to find the details and recipes

8- Thyme Bath

If you have the aches, chest congestion, and a lingering cough, this thyme bath is the perfect thing to get you going onto a QUICK recovery.

When my kids were small, they would ask for a thyme bath whenever they weren’t feeling well. My youngest son is now 24 and had the flu a few weeks ago. He came home for a thyme bath because the place he lives doesn’t have a bathtub, only a shower. Can you see how this has been ingrained in their heads as something that WORKS!

The thyme bath is not real labor-intensive and most likely you may have everything you need right there in your home. If not, you can get dried thyme at your local health food store or use Thyme essential oil.

You can learn the whole process HERE.

So, there you have it, 8 different ways to get ready for the cold WINTER ahead. It’s going to be a good one!

I am Wishing you a warm cozy and healthy winter season.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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alternative remedies cold remedy hat patterns rebounding skin brushing thyme upcycled sweater mittens winter yarrow tea

Plantain – Healing Herb Growing Right Under Your Feet

Although plantain may be considered a weed by some, it really is quite a valuable herb and may be growing right under your feet.

There are two types of plantain. The plant with broad, oval leaves are called Plantago major and the narrow-leaved type P. lanceolata. You can identify this plant by the 5-9 parallel veins running the length of each leaf. (Most leaves have a central vein with smaller ones branching out from it.)

You can use either one for healing purposes, depending on what’s available, but most herbalists seem to prefer the broad-leaf plantain with larger, but softer, edible leaves. I have both growing in my yard.

I have included a picture of this plant so you will know what to look for.

If you don’t already have it growing in your yard somewhere, go out along the road or in the mountains and find some and replant them in your garden.

What are the benefits and uses of Plantain?

I use this herb all the time. During the summer while it is growing in my yard, I pick it, crush it and apply it to stings, and mosquito bites. I also dry it so I will have access to it during the winter months. It is one of the key ingredients in my healing salve, (which is very easy to make). You can find the tutorial here.

Externally

Antiseptic properties
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces pain caused by poison ivy and bite stings.
Extracts of the plant have antibacterial activity
Effective treatment to stop bleeding
Encourages the repair of damaged tissue, and promotes healing without scars

Because of its drawing properties, it will pull small foreign objects like stingers or slivers out of the skin. It is quite incredible.

Internally

diuretic
expectorant, and decongestant
gastritis
peptic ulcers
diarrhea
dysentery
irritable bowel syndrome
respiratory congestion
loss of voice and urinary tract bleeding

You can purchase plantain for internal use in fluid extract, tincture, decoction, infusion, and dried powder form and the fresh and dried leaves can be consumed as tea.

*Although plantain leaf is generally considered safe, it is always best to consult with your healthcare practitioner before starting any new herbal product.

How to use plantain externally

Poultice

You can make a poultice by bruising the plant, chopping finely, or heating it to make a thick paste.

You can make a poultice and apply it to wounds, skin inflammations, cuts, stings, and swellings. It is the juice from the leaf that speeds up the healing process.

Pick a few leaves, crush them, or chew them well and put them on the bite or wound. “Like magic” the pain, heat, and swelling — even allergic reactions — disappear, fast!

You can dry plantain leaves and carry them in your first aid kit. Chew like you would fresh leaves and apply it.

I was with a youth group up in the mountains hiking when one of the boys went down into a ravine and came upon a bunch of bees, he was stung multiple times. Luckily, I knew what plantain looked like and had been taught what to do with it. Well, I looked down and there growing alongside the trail was PLANTAIN, all over the place.

My husband and I grabbed some plantain and we started mashing it between two rocks to make a poultice.

The boy took his shirt off and we dabbed it all over him. He did not swell and did great.

This was a teaching moment for the youth there. The plants that God created do have a purpose.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that day for us to be right there where plantain was growing, and for someone there to know what to do with it.

Fomentation

A fomentation is similar to a poultice, however, you use a concentrated tea of the herb instead of the plant itself. To apply a fomentation you soak a clean cotton cloth in the concentrated tea and apply it to the wound and wrap it with cellophane.

How to use plantain internally as a

tea

You can make an herbal tea by placing one teaspoon of dried herb to one cup water. Pour boiling water over the herb, cover tightly and steep for 20 minutes and strain. I love this single serve tea maker! We use it all the time, in fact, we each have our own.

This is a good resource for dried plantain. This is what I use for tea and to make a salve.

Tincture

Tinctures are herbal concentrate most often prepared in an alcohol, glycerin, or vinegar base. You can make them, but it is much easier just to buy them.

I absolutely love, love, love this reference book on herbs. This author explains all the basics of herbs, herbal preparations, and uses in a clear, easy-to-follow way.

If you would like more details of ALL the benefits of this plant, I will refer you to Dr. Christopher’s website which is chock full of herbal information.

Are there any potential Side Effects of Plantain?

Plantain is considered a very safe herb to use, therefore you can use it both externally and internally.

***Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should avoid using plantain until research confirms that the herb is not harmful in any way.

So there you have it, an herbal remedy that is probably growing right under your feet. Go take a look around your yard or at the park and see if you can find any.

Alternative Remedy Handbook

For a quick, go-to reference of other tried and tested herbal remedies, I have compiled a booklet with lots of great resources and information. It’s kinda nice to know that you can alleviate everyday complaints without always turning to your medicine chest, or to your doctor. I have it for sale here on my site.

An Ebook of the booklet will soon be available!!!! So stay tuned.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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10 essential herbs alternative remedies garden gardening herbs

Soothing Thyme Bath Soak – How to relieve chest congestion & cough naturally

Have you been under the weather with aches, chest congestion, and a lingering cough? Well, it’s THYME to do something about it! This thyme bath is the perfect thing to get you going on to a QUICK recovery.

This past few weeks I was knocked to my knees with the flu bug that is going around EVERYWHERE! I usually do not get the crud when it’s going around, but since my immune system has been compromised, I got it good. I have experienced so much stress the past month in combination with tapering off the hydrocortisone that I have been taking for years, my immune system didn’t stand a chance at fighting off this wicked bug.

It had been a few days into this illness when I realized I hadn’t even thought of the famous “thyme bath”. What wasn’t I thinking? This natural herbal remedy has been a standby, go-to procedure when anyone in the family caught a cold.

When my kids were small, they would ask for a thyme bath whenever they weren’t feeling well. My youngest son is now 22 and had the flu a few weeks ago. He came home for a thyme bath because the place he lives doesn’t have a bathtub, only a shower. So see how this has been ingrained in their heads as something that WORKS! It has been such a long time since any of us have had to deal with it, I forgot about it, but apparently, he didn’t.

So glad he reminded me about it! I was trying everything else, with not much luck. This would have been really nice to have done when I was in the thick of the aches, better late than never. I still had bad chest congestion and cough, so I got to it.

The thyme bath is not real labor-intensive and most likely you may have everything you need right there in your home. If not, you can get dried thyme at your local health food store.

This is one herb that I would recommend having in your garden!

Benefits of growing THYME

A great flavoring for many recipes
Beautiful landscaping plant in the garden (cute tight little green leaves)

Accessible even during the winter months

Preserves easily by drying

Easy to grow inside and out
Has many medicinal properties

The flowers, leaves, and oil of thyme have been used to treat bedwetting, diarrhea, stomach ache, arthritis, colic, sore throat, cough, including whooping cough, bronchitis, flatulence, and as a diuretic, to increase urination. Thyme is thought to have antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal, and possibly antifungal properties. Medical News Today

Let’s get to the thyme bath, shall we?

Here is what you will need to gather

A couple handfuls of fresh thyme, or ½ – 1 cup of dried herb will work as well. If you don’t have any herb, but have thyme essential oil, just use that (20 drops)
Epsom salt (1 cup)
10 drops Thyme essential oil (optional)

What to do

If you have thyme growing in your garden, go out and cut a couple of handfuls of the herb. I have gone out in the middle of winter and uncovered the thyme from the snow and clipped off the plant. It winters very well, even under snow cover.
If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can use dried herbs.
Remove any stray leaves from other plants and rinse off.

Fill a big sauce pan or soup pan with water and bring to a boil.
Once it is boiling, turn it down and simmer for 20-30 minutes with a lid on it on low heat.

Add 10 drops of thyme essential oil to 1 cup Epsom salts.

Why is so great about Epsom Salt?

Because of the high magnesium level, Epsom salt is a natural anti-inflammatory remedy that can be used to treat muscle aches and sore muscles. Many people use it to soak in after a hard work out, because it is so soothing to the muscles. This feels so good for those aches when you have the flu.

Epsom salt is very easy to find at your local drug store or online here. This is something good to have on hand in your homes!

Pour the water into the bath while straining out the herb. Be careful, it is nice to have someone help you strain in it so you don’t burn yourself. Add enough hot water, as hot as you can stand it, but that will not burn you!

Yes, it will look brown and yucky, but don’t let that keep you from stepping in and enjoying some soothing herbal aromatherapy! Yes, your house is going to smell like an herbal kitchen, but so worth it!

Shut the bathroom door and pull the shower curtain closed to trap in the steam. Soak and breathe in the steam.
Stay there as long as the water stays hot, or add more hot water if it cools quickly. I personally do not like to take baths, but this is one exception. It really does feel great! You will find it helps relieve the cough right away. You may need to do this a few times a day or for a few nights until the cough has subdued.

Another herbal remedy that I must remind you of is Yarrow.

This is another one of our family’s favorite herbs. Yarrow tea is more of a preventative measure and helps fight many illnesses. It seriously rocks at helping you stay well. I was drinking a ton of it before I finally succumbed to the flu, but like I said my immune system was greatly compromised. The others in the family start getting it and start drinking this stuff.

You can read more about it in this post.

I hope you will keep this in mind and give it a try when you or someone you care about gets the CRUD!

For other alternative remedies that REALLY work, check out my book HERE.

Stay well, my friends!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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alternative remedies Epsom salt gardening healing herbs herbal remedies herbs thyme

Sore Throat: 4 Alternative Remedies That Work

If you are experiencing a sore throat, don’t jump in the car and run to the clinic just yet. I am going to share with you 4 simple alternative remedies for a sore throat that really work! Many of the ingredients you probably already have in your home.

1 Honey, Cayenne and Garlic:

This is one of Dr. Christopher’s remedies I learned about many years ago and it is VERY effective in treating sore throats and even strep throat. When I get a sore throat I don’t even bother with a strep test because even if it is or isn’t strep, this will take care of it.

How long does it take to get over strep throat with the standard medical procedure? 10 days on an antibiotic. This herbal remedy will generally get you over strep throat in 24 hours, and you won’t have to deal with all the side effects of antibiotics.

Put 1 tablespoon of honey in a small bowl (use raw unprocessed honey)
Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Add 4 cloves of minced garlic (yep, your breath is going to smell fabulous) Trust me it is worth it.
Mix well
Cover and use as indicated below.

Take ½ teaspoon to one teaspoon of the formula every 30-60 minutes. Don’t wash it down – let the honey coat the throat, then the cayenne will bring blood into the area, and then your immune system will be stimulated with the garlic. Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral, so anything that may be causing the sore throat, is toast! It is quite soothing to your throat!

2 Orange Juice and Cayenne Pepper:

If it isn’t strep, this is great option for a mild sore throat.

Pour a little orange juice in a cup
Add 2-4 shakes of cayenne pepper.
Mix well and drink quickly.

It does burn, but just for a few seconds. This brings more circulation to the area so the body can start fighting whatever is causing the sore throat.

3 Salt Water:

Another very simple option for a mild sore throat is to simply gargle with salt water. This is good to do as soon as you feel a sore throat coming on.

Mix a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water.
Gargle the whole mixture several times a day.

This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies. The salt draws out some of the fluid in the throat that causes the swelling and inflammation. If this doesn’t bring comfort, you may want to opt out to some of the other options.

4 Lymph Massage

Lymph massage is a good thing to do whenever you are sick, especially when you have a sore throat or ear infection. Adding this blend of essential oils to the neck and armpit area will help the body move congestion in the lymphatic system. If you do not have all the essential oils listed below, you can still use what you have combined with olive oil or coconut oil.

20 drops Melaleuca
5 drops Lemon
5 drops Cinnamon
2 drops Wintergreen
13 drops Lavender
9 drops Clove
8 drops Thyme
8 drops Eucalyptus

In a 2 oz. dark colored glass jar, combine essential oils and fill with fractionated coconut oil or pure virgin olive oil. If using olive oil, you may want to store this in the refrigerator to keep the oil from going rancid.Place the lid on the bottle and shake well.

Apply the oil around the neck area, especially below and behind the ears. With a soft massaging motion drag your hand down the neck towards the sternum area and around the ear. Go easy because this area may be very tender. The essential oils will penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream to help fight infection. Apply the oil blend to the bottoms of the feet as well.

I hope you found this information helpful.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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HOLISTIC LIVING: Healthy Travel Tips

I went on a little vacation this week, and as I was gathering all my goods, I thought it would be a fun idea to show you some things I do and some things I take along with me. Here are some healthy tips and tricks that I do to maintain SOME holistic living while traveling.

Notice that I said “some”. When you are out of your routine and in a different place it can be challenging to do all the things you normally like to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I suggest you back off a little and do the BEST YOU CAN and enjoy yourself. Don’t freak out because maybe you had to resort to eating a little “fast food” or that you didn’t get your daily run in.

Know and trust that your body is very resilient and it will bounce back quickly once you get back to your normal routine. I say this like I don’t worry about this stuff, well I still do somewhat but have learned to not let it ruin my vacation.

I bring with me and implement the things I can, and then enjoy myself. Yes, you will have to adapt a little, but that is good for you!

Here are a few tips & tricks:

Medications, Supplements, and Tinctures

Make sure you have all your needed medications and supplements! I learned this the hard way. On the last trip I went on I ended up getting food poisoning. Without going into too much detail, because of a particular condition I experience, I am supposed to up my dose of hydrocortisone significantly if I experience any kind of illness or food poisoning. My doctor had given me some shots with cortisone in them in case this ever happens. (I ended up in the emergency room when I had food poisoning before, pretty much because I couldn’t keep the cortisone pill down).

Anyway, I forgot to pack the shots for this trip. DANG, I was sooooooo sick. I would rather go through childbirth than this. Not fun being that sick in a hotel room.

If you have a “daily” supplement container, it is a good idea to tape it closed like I have done here in the photo. I have had it open up and spill all over my purse way too many times before I learned to just tape it closed. I use painter’s tape.

Don’t forget any NEEDED medications, supplements, or tinctures. To save room, I get the small snack zip bags, label them, and put the capsules in there. If I think I may need the whole jar, I will just take the whole thing. Put them all in a BIG zip bag.

Healthy Snacks

Throw a few snacks in a little zip lock bag for those times at the airport or in the car when your sugar levels may drop and you need something to eat. If you have something handy, you will be less tempted to buy junk food, and save some money.

If your hotel room has a fridge in it, go to a grocery store and buy a few healthy snacks to have on hand. I like to get some string cheese, rice crackers, apples, nut & seed mix, carrot & celery pre-cut mix, bottled water, and grapefruit. Yep, that is sauerkraut in there. I got that for a little extra probiotic action for my gut this week. It was a small bag so even though I didn’t finish it, the little I had served me well.

Even if the place you are staying has breakfast available, it is nice to have some of your own alternatives. (The snacks you bought at the store are probably better for you than the instant pancakes, powdered eggs, or sweet rolls they have available). Now, if there is no other option, do the best you can. They will usually have oatmeal packets or yogurt and perhaps some fruit if you are lucky.

If you are really feeling vigilant, I know some who take their blenders with them. I really don’t want to be hauling my Blendtec on the plane. Although I did consider taking my son’s Magic Bullet. Oh, how nice a green smoothie would taste on vacation!

Grapefruit

What about grapefruit? When traveling, most likely you will be eating out more frequently than normal, and perhaps eating foods that are a little more heavy, rich, and fatty. Grapefruit is a good source of fiber, and it contains both soluble and insoluble fiber both of which can help improve digestion and constipation. Who wants to be constipated while traveling?

After eating a heavy dinner, I like to come back to the hotel and have some grapefruit. I peel it just like an orange. You are going to love the aroma as you peel it. Now some of you may never have eaten a grapefruit like this, but trust me, it grows on you and is quite a yummy snack. There are VERY good properties in the pith (white stuff around the grapefruit) so don’t pull it all off, eat it. When I eat a grapefruit, I don’t get bloating, or indigestion, and I feel much lighter.

Water

It is so important to stay hydrated and so easy to forget to drink water while you are traveling. I bring along my own water bottle and pack it empty, so that when I get to the hotel I can fill it up and have it handy. It helps me to remember to drink water if I have my water bottle there.

If you don’t want to pack your own, make sure you at least buy some bottles of water to have handy. I buy a few gallons of water and bring them back to the hotel. Most likely you don’t want to be drinking the water from the bathroom tap!

Movement

Although you may not be able to attend your favorite yoga class or go for a bike ride, there are some ways you can still move your body while traveling or while on vacation.

Skip the elevator and take the stairs
If the hotel you are staying at has a gym, use it
Go for a walk and do a little exploring
Take an online yoga class in your hotel room

It can be so easy to go several days without exercising while on vacation. It doesn’t have to be a serious workout, just move your body in some way. You will regret it if you don’t.

Herbal Teas

This is another thing I bring with me. I always take some Yarrow tea with me. This is one of my “go-to’s” when it comes to any kind of illness. Also good to help detox.

When I travel I take a little zip package of a blend of herbal teas that I like, usually Yarrow, Peppermint, and Raspberry leaf. I know it looks like I am smuggling some drugs or doing crazy stuff, nope just herbs.

Sometimes, the hotel will have some herbal teas, but not always. What I do is go down to the lobby and get some hot water where they have it for coffee, and fill up a cup. I take it back to my room, put in about a teaspoon of dried herbs, and let it steep for a few minutes. Then I get out my trusty stainless steel straw that filters out the herbs and viola, a nice cup of tea.

Essential Oils

I saved the best for the very last. As some of you may already know, I LOVE ESSENTIAL OILS and I don’t travel without them.

I have a little mini case that I have in my purse at all times, but that is not enough. I like to take as many as I can, AND my diffuser.

Go HERE if you want more information on this little travel case.

There is nothing like being cramped up in a hotel room that is stuffy. Why not diffuse your favorite oils to make it feel and smell a little more like home. I have a small travel diffuser that I pack.

When packing my oils, I have a difficult time deciding which ones to bring. I take the most essential ones and pray I won’t need any of the others. Trust me; these oils have come in handy. On this trip, I was so glad I brought the big bottle of lavender because I got a little too much sun on my back and was able to have my husband apply some on my back. Works wonders. You never know when there will be a need for them physically or emotionally. LOVE EM!

Hopefully, this will be helpful for those of you who want to maintain some kind of healthy balance when on vacation.

What is a tip you have learned and do to stay healthy on vacation? I would love to hear about it!

Cheers,

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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alternative remedies essential oils getting organized healthy eating healthy snacks herbs holistic health organizing travel

PEPPERMINT: How To Grow, Use and Enjoy

How To Grow

Peppermint is very easy to grow. In fact, it grows so aggressively that most garden books advise you to enclose the roots of peppermint in a pot to prevent it from taking over your garden bed. I have mine planted in an old fashioned tin bath tub.

Peppermint is part of the mint family, of which there are many varieties. It will hybridize easily.

So if you grow several mint plants side by side, over time their flavors will mingle and they will lose their distinctive tastes.

Chocolate mint, pear mint, spearmint, and even apple mint varieties are available.

Peppermint is easy to find in most plant nurseries and even in common variety stores where plants are sold.

Herbs seem to sell out quickly in the spring, so don’t hesitate in purchasing early.

It is easier to grow from a start or cutting than to grow by seed.

If you know someone with a peppermint plant, you can take a cutting or divide the plant to start your own patch.

Peppermint likes water, so plant it where you will remember to water it.

It will begin to droop if it becomes thirsty. To keep the plant growing all summer, keep it trimmed.

This will inhibit the plant from forming blossoms. Once it forms flowers, the plant will slow down.

You may have to do this once a week or so.

Divide already established plants in spring or fall, or take cuttings during the growing season and root them in water.

Peppermint roots easily from cuttings. Take a 4-inch cutting and strip the last inch of its leaves.

Soak it overnight in water and then just place it in a growing medium.

It will root in two weeks and start sending up new growth.

How To Harvest

Cut: If you are going to use the peppermint for teas or other uses, you will want to cut down before it flowers. Cut the stems down to 4-5 inches from the ground. Don’t worry, it will grow back very quickly.
Wash: Run the stems under running water to remove any dust or dirt.
Dry: Take the stems and either place them in a dehydrator, tie with twine and hang to dry, or if you live in a hot, dry climate like I do, you can simply lay them on the counter top or table for a few days.

Strip leaves: To remove the dried leaves from the center stem, pull your fingers from the top of the stem down. Do this over a big bowl. Your house is going to smell fabulous! By storing the leaves whole and crushing them right before use, you retain the volatile oils in the leaves, until you need them.

Store: Store the dried herb in glass mason jars with a tight fitting lid. It will stay strong and fragrant for at least a year if protected from heat, light, air, and moisture.

How To Use

What do you do with it? Peppermint has many benefits, whether you use it fresh, dried or as an essential oil.

Analgesic
Anti-parasitic
Antiseptic
Digestive
Expectorant
Insecticidal
Sedative
Stimulant
Stomachic
Vasoconstrictor

Peppermint is most famed for its use in relieving stomach problems. Peppermint can help disorders of the digestive system including gas, bloating, nausea, indigestion and cramps.

One of my favorite ways to use dried peppermint is to make an infusion, a TEA.

It can be very soothing to the stomach, give you a little energy boost, (without the caffeine) and add flavor to other teas that are not so tasty.

I usually throw a little peppermint in with my yarrow tea to make it more palatable.

To make a tea:

Add 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb to your mug. You can use a teabag, a tea straw, or I LOVE my Aberdeen PERFECT TEA MAKER.
This makes steeping a mug of tea a SNAP! Everyone in my family has their own.
Pour boiling water over the tea, cover and infuse for 1- 3 minutes. Covering the tea while steeping will keep the delicate oils from evaporating.
Enjoy!

Another way to get the benefits of peppermint is to use the essential oil.

Use a drop of Peppermint essential oil in water for a healthy, refreshing mouth rinse.
Take one to two drops in a Veggie Capsule to alleviate occasional stomach upset.
Add two to three drops to your favorite smoothie recipe for a refreshing twist.
Place one drop in the palm of your hand and inhale for a mid-day pick-me-up.
Add a sprig of peppermint to desserts, smoothies, or drinks as a garnish.

If you don’t have a patch or bucket of peppermint growing in your garden yet, I hope you will. Not only is it useful, smells, divine, but it is also a beautiful addition to any garden.

What is your favorite way to use peppermint?

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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Skin Brushing, Positive Affirmations and Mirror Work: The Perfect Combination

You know how passionate I am about dry skin brushing, and I am also a huge fan of positive affirmations and mirror work. ( Louise Hay is to thank for inspiring me all these years). This stuff really works, and I have been doing it for a long time.

I want to share with you how skin brushing, positive affirmations and mirror work are really the perfect combination. This is part of my morning ritual right before I get in the shower.

As much I would rather not place myself in front of a video recorder, I made a little video for you to demonstrate how I do it. I teach this in my yoga classes and stress how important it is with my clients, and I want to pass it on to you. I think it is good stuff for everyone to know. Skin brushing is so simple, doesn’t take a lot of time, and cost only the amount of a Wholesome Beauty Dry Skin Body Brush with a Removable 11-Inch Wood Handle.

What are you waiting for? I hope you enjoy this lovely video, ha, ha. Send me a note if you have any questions.

Some of the physical benefits of dry skin brushing

Stimulates blood and lymph flow
Helps eliminate toxins from the body
Removes dead skin
Encourages cells to regenerate
Helps combat cellulite
Results in smooth glowing skin
Anti-aging through cell regeneration
Strengthened immune system
Stimulates nervous system, tones muscles, and tightens skin
Stimulates both sweat and sebaceous glands (contributing to the restoration of moist and supple skin).

You can find more information and get the link to print out your own skin brushing chart here.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Happy Feet // Why Going Barefoot Is So Good for You

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The Benefits Of Using An Eye Pillow

Feeling a little tense, stressed or fatigued? I know the perfect remedy…cover your eyes with an eye pillow and take a little break. The benefits of using an eye pillow are SIMPLY amazing.

Yep, simple as that! Simple, but challenging. Challenging because most of us think that just sitting and doing NOTHING is a waste of time and non-productive. When it is actually the best thing we can do. Isn’t it funny that the things that could help us the most we dismiss because it seems too easy? Many of us have these inner beliefs that things have to be difficult, cost a lot of money, or take a lot of time for them to be effective. Well, taking a few minutes to cover your eyes with a soothing eye pillow is easy. It doesn’t cost a lot of money and only takes a few minutes.

An eye pillow is just a little fabric pouch filled with flax seeds, rice or buckwheat that is applied over the forehead and on top of the eyes.

I will admit that sitting or lying still for 10-20 minutes thinking about nothing can be challenging. I remember years ago when I attended my first yoga class and the teacher had us get on the floor and lay down in “corpse pose” close our eyes, and just do nothing. My mind went crazy. It took me some time to be able to calm my inner chatter and relax.

But now, in my yoga practice when I start to wind down, my body and nervous system get so excited. It knows it gets to just check out and chill in Savasana for 10 minutes. I tell my students, that Savasana (final relaxation) is the most important part of the yoga practice, and sometimes the most challenging, but not to skip it. If you only have a few minutes, at the end of your practice, or even if you are not practicing yoga, take time to be still. Better yet, cover your eyes.

Why cover your eyes?

Shields the eyes from light and visual stimulus. Covering the eyes blocks out glaring light, and blocks any visual stimulus that may keep your mind racing.
Relieves tension and eye strain. Most people think the eye pillow is just to block out the light, but the lightweight of the flax seeds ensures the perfect amount of acupressure to release tension from the forehead, cheekbones, temples, neck, and even the shoulders. Some yoga scholars also claim that the light pressure on the eyes sends a neurological signal to the brain that facilitates whole-body relaxation.
Calms and rests the mind.

You can add essential oils and herbs to the eye pillows for a little aromatherapy. I love using an eye pillow that is filled with flax and yummy dried lavender blossoms!

Lavender is known to help you relax, calm anxiety, and help you sleep better.

A little eucalyptus is excellent to help relieve sinus headaches and sinus congestion. Better yet, place the eye pillow in a zipped bag and put it in the freezer or refrigerator for a little bit before use. This does wonders for sinus headaches!

For those of you who sew, these eye pillows are a snap to make. All you need is:

Small piece of muslin for the inner bag

Small piece of fabric (flannel, cotton, silk, or an upcycled cashmere sweater is nice) for the outer lining. Having an outer covering like this makes it nice so you can wash it!

You can fill the pillow with rice, buckwheat, or flax seeds. I prefer flax seeds because they have the least smell to them.

Optional: add some dried lavender flowers or cotton balls infused with the essential oils of your choice.

I sell the pattern in my shop and my Etsy shop. The eye pillow pattern is included in a wonderful therapy bag set. In the set, there are patterns and instructions to make hand warmers, neck & shoulder therapy bags, a foot warmer, and a large therapy bag.

LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN EYEPILLOW HERE

An eye pillow is a no-brainer accessory for your yoga bag.

So whether you are going to a yoga class, want to take a power nap, want some help relaxing or need some relief from a nagging headache, get out your eye pillow and chill.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Sore Throat Remedies #1

Honey, Cayenne, and Garlic Preparation

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Sore Throat Remedies #2

Orange Juice and Cayenne Pepper

Sore Throat Remedies #3

Salt Water

Sore Throat Remedies #4

Lymph Massage Oil

Ingredients:

Lymph Massage Instructions

****As always, please check with your healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy.

Jan Howell

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In a nutshell, comfrey leaves and roots are used externally as a poultice or ointment for:

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SUPPLIES that you will need:

INGREDIENTS:

CALENDULA:

PLANTAIN:

COMFREY:

TEA TREE Essential OIL:

LAVENDER essential OIL:

Let’s get started!

1- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

2- Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

3- Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

4- Then I like to strain it again through a piece of 100 % cotton fabric.

5- Melt the bees wax.

6- Prepare jars

7- Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

8- Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

9- Pour the salve into the jars.

The jars that you are not currently using, store in the refrigerator so they will last longer and not go rancid.

How To Make Healing Salve

Ingredients

INSTUCTIONS

Jan Howell

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tooth powder ingredients

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STAY WARM

1- Keep your hands warm

2- Keep your feet warm

3- Keep your insides warm

4- Keep your head and ears warm

WINTER READY TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY

5- Rebounding

6- Skin Brushing

7- Sore throat remedy that REALLY works!

8- Thyme Bath

Jan Howell

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