How to Make Herbal Liniment for Muscle Aches and Sprains

How to Make Herbal Liniment for Muscle Aches and Sprains



Herbal liniments have traditionally been used as a natural means for relieving muscle and joint aches, sprains and bruises. These topical preparations are typically made using warming, stimulating herbs such as cayenne and ginger. Vinegar, oil, rubbing alcohol or a grain alcohol like gin or vodka are usually used as a base.

An alcohol-based liniment enhances the cooling qualities of a liniment, quickly evaporating and leaving the herbal properties to penetrate into the skin. Not only will an oil-based liniment stay on the skin much longer, it will also warm the area.







Things You'll Need:





1 oz. Jojoba or other Carrier Oil




5 drops eucalyptus Essential Oil




5 drops peppermint Essential Oil




3 drops cinnamon Essential Oil




3 drops ginger Essential Oil







Make an Alcohol-Based Herbal Liniment




1


Mix all the herbs together in a jar. Pour in the rubbing alcohol. Seal the jar and place it in a warm, dark area such as a cabinet. Alternatively, place it in a paper bag.





2


Leave the liniment to stand for 7 to 10 days, shaking well at least once each day. Strain out the ground herbs with the cheesecloth. Squeeze the herb material to get out as much of the liquid as possible.





3


Pour the preparation into an airtight container. Label your jar with the warning: "For External Use Only."





4


When you apply your liniment, you can enhance the warming effect by covering the application area with a warmed towel.



Make an oil-based Herbal Liniment




1


Mix all the ingredients together in a jar. Cover and let stand for 3 days.





2


Shake well at least once each day.





3


Store in a cool, dark place.








Tips & Warnings










For increased potency, leave the herbal preparation "set" for up to 8 weeks.








It is always advisable to perform a patch test on your skin before using any herbal treatment. Do this to make sure that you are not allergic to it. Apply a little bit of the herbal liniment to your inner arm or wrist. Leave it on for a day or so to see if there is any reaction such as burning.



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How to Make Herbal Eye Pillows

How to Make Herbal Eye Pillows



Close your eyes, relax with a herbal eye pillow and let the rest of the world go by. Herbal pillows are not only soothing stress relievers, but they ease tired eyes and relieve headaches. Made out of your choice of fabric and your favorite herbal blend, herbal eye pillows make lovely, inexpensive gifts.







Things You'll Need:





1 8-by-8-inch piece of fabric




Approximately Вѕ cup of rice or flaxseed




6 to 10 drops of essential oil




Sewing machine




Needle and thread









1


Put the rice or flax seed in a small bowl and drop in 6 to 10 drops of essential oil. Let it sit as is for about ten minutes and then stir and let it sit for about an hour.





2


Fold the fabric in half with the right sides together and stitch along two long sides and one short side. Turn the pouch right sides out and sharpen up the corners with the eraser end of a pencil or with the cap end of a pen. Iron the pouch if you want the seams well-defined.





3


Fill the pouch with scented rice or flaxseed but don't overfill it. Sew the opened side closed with a needle and thread using very small stitches.








Tips & Warnings










Rose, chamomile and
rosemary
are great stress relievers and can also ease headaches and insomnia. Peppermint can relieve a hangover and
lavender
will help you sleep and give you sweet dreams.








The herbal eye pillow can be stored in the freezer or refrigerator and used chilled to ease headaches or warmed in the microwave to relax tired eyes and release the scent.



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How to Make Herbal Compresses

How to Make Herbal Compresses



Herbal compresses are simple to make and have a number of beneficial properties. Warm compresses can be applied to treat arthritis, muscle pain, acne and more while cold compresses help to soothe wounds, eczema, psoriasis or other skin inflammations. With just a few simple tips you can learn to make an herbal compress using any healing herb.







Things You'll Need:





Herbs of your choice




Clean, cotton cloth




Surgical bandage









1


Make a strong tea using your choice of healing herbs. If you are placing the compress on open wounds or irritated skin, it is extremely important that you allow the water to cool to room temperature. Recent injuries, such as muscle tears or black eyes should also be treated with cold tea.





2


Fold a piece of cotton cloth so that it is four layers thick. The size of your cloth will depend on the area to be treated. Make sure that the cloth is clean and that it does not shed fibers, particularly if placing your herbal compress on open or irritated skin.





3


Soak the cloth in your herbal tea and gently wring out any excess water. While you want to cloth to be as damp as possible, you want to remove enough liquid that it does not drip and make a mess.





4


Place the damp cloth on the affected area and then secure with surgical tape. Always use medical tape, as other forms can cling to the skin, damaging delicate tissues upon removal. Wrap the area with a surgical bandage to hold in moisture and heat if using a hot compress and allow the compress to set for at least 30 minutes. The length of time the compress is applied will depend on the treatment and the herb.


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How to Make Herbal Bath Salt Tea Bags

How to Make Herbal Bath Salt Tea Bags



STRESS!!! Life is full of it. Here's how to relieve a little stress with aromatherapy: Make Herbal Bath Salt Tea Bags.







Things You'll Need:





Used dryer sheets




Dried herbs: lavender, rosemary, rose hips, chamomile, rose petals, dried citrus peel, cinnamon sticks, star anise




Satin ribbon




Coffee grinder or blender




1/2 cup Epsom salts per bag




Essential oil of your choice







Gather herbs




1


Take a handful of your favorite dried herbs and flowers and place in a coffee grinder or a blender. Jog in blender or coffee grinder for two to four seconds to coarsely chop them. This helps release essential oils later.Good mixes are
lavender
, rose hips, rose petals, and citrus peel. Another good mixture is star anise, rose hips, and cinnamon sticks.Try other mixtures according to your personal preference.





2


Mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil with a half cup of Epsom salts. Add herb mix and stir to mix well. Pour a half cup of herb and bath salt mix in the center of a used dryer sheet. Fold the long sides toward the center, making a long sachet.





3


Fold each narrow end toward the new center. Fold once more so that the narrow ends are now inside a tea bag shaped sachet. Make a loop of satin ribbon and staple to the top of the sachet, tea bag style.





4


Hang tea bag from the spigot on your tub, so that the water runs through it as you run your bath, or float your bath salt tea bag in the tub for a few minutes before you enter the tub.





5


Lie back and enjoy a few relaxing moments!


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How to Make Ginger Infused Honey

How to Make Ginger Infused Honey



I like to find creative ways to take my medicine. Honey and ginger are two of my favorite things to take when I have the flu-- especially if it involves a sore throat, fever or the chills. I know it seems a little strange, but ginger helps lower a fever and also get rid of the chills.



Another thing I love about it is if you buy honey that hasn't been pasteurized, it is rich in enzymes and is good at chasing away those germs. And I often use ginger to help strengthen my immune system.



The problem is, I get tired of drinking ginger tea all the time. So, I keep a good supply of ginger infused honey on hand. You can stir some in plain yogurt, use it in your oatmeal and stir it in your tea. I especially like it when mixed with either chamomile or green tea. Here is how to infuse ginger with honey.







Things You'll Need:





2-inch piece of whole ginger root




Honey, approximately one cup




8 oz. mason jar with a tight lid









1


You can find ginger root at almost any supermarket nowadays. Look for a root that doesn't look shriveled and dried out. Sometimes I see them like that. You want to find one that looks nice and fresh.





2


Cut off a 2-inch piece from the ginger root. Using the edge of a spoon or a paring knife, scrape off the skin. If the root is fresh it should come off really easily.





3


Roughly chop the root and gently crush it with the bottom of a glass or the back of your knife.





4


Place it in a sterilized 8 oz. glass jar (I like to use a mason jar). If you can't find a mason jar, you can use any jar you can find.





5


Pour honey over the ginger root right up to the top. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator. You can start using it after about 4 days. It will keep for about 2 weeks.








Tips & Warnings










You may want to purchase unpasteurized honey to boost the honey's nutritional value.








If you can find it, organic ginger is always best.








Don't use dried ginger. Fresh is always best.








Don't feed this to infants 2 years or younger.








Always consult with a doctor.



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How to Make Foot Powder For Athlete's Foot

How to Make Foot Powder For Athlete's Foot



This foot powder made with powdered clay is perfect for clearing up athlete's foot. The clay absorbs more than 200 times its weight in moisture.







Things You'll Need:





3 oz. powdered clay




1 oz. arrowroot powder




1 oz. powdered goldenseal herb




1 oz. rubbed sage leaves, finely ground




1 oz. baking soda




25 drops lavender essential oil




10 drops tea tree essential oil




10 drops geranium essential oil




10 drops cypress essential oil




5 drops eucalyptus essential oil









1


Add the powdered clay, arrowroot, goldenseal, sage and baking soda to a blender.





2


Blend until well combined.





3


Add the essential oils and blend again.





4


Place mixture into a shaker container.





5


Sprinkle on feet, especially between toes, and in shoes and socks daily.


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How to Make Echinacea Tincture

How to Make Echinacea Tincture



Echinacea, known for its immune system-enhancing capabilities, is especially beneficial during cold and flu season. Echinacea root and flowers are widely available for purchase at health food stores, online at herbalist's and alternative medicine sites and also naturopath practitioners. Growing wild in many locations in the world on roadside verges and fertile wastelands, echinacea stimulates the white blood cells that kill viruses and bacteria, therefore keeping us healthier and free from sickness. Antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial, echinacea is one of the most helpful medicinal herbs to have on hand in your home. Echinacea tincture keeps well in a cool dark place for up to two years.







Things You'll Need:





2 cups of good-quality vodka




2 cups of washed, chopped Echinacea root




Large glass screw-top jar




Pipette




12 1-oz. amber-colored glass dropper bottles




Shrink bands




Hairdryer









1


Dig echinacea roots up with a garden hand-fork making certain not to break the root. Store-bought Echinacea root can be washed, chopped and sorted until you have measured two cups of echinacea root.





2


Measure two cups of 100 proof (50% by volume) good-quality vodka to the two cups of washed and chopped echinacea root and mix together in a large glass screw-top jar.





3


Place jar in a cool dark place away from sunlight and shake daily for six weeks.





4


Strain the liquid from the roots after six weeks of extraction. Pour through two layers of cheesecloth into a sterilized glass jar. Discard the used roots.





5


Use the pipette to transfer fresh echinacea tincture into individual amber-colored dropper bottles. Cap tightly. Place a shrink band on the neck of each amber bottle and use the hairdryer to seal each one in a couple of seconds. This ensures that over time, the tincture is not tampered with in any way. Store bottled tincture in a cool dark cupboard.








Tips & Warnings










If you don't drink alcohol, put the tincture in a hot cup of tea where the alcohol can evaporate, leaving just the tincture in your tea.








As with all items containing alcohol, store tincture away from
babies
and children's reach, preferably under lock and key.








Alcohol is flammable; keep away from open flame.



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