Your,Own,Herbal,Expert,our,fir health Be Your Own Herbal Expert - Pt 6

The technology behind listening devices has improved dramatically in recent years, giving new hope to those with impairment. While still far from a perfect replacement for the natural ability to hear, these devices give those with a disabili If the vagina is not offering the firm grip to your male partner, he expresses displeasure in lovemaking. You need to tighten the orifice and regain lost elasticity. You can make use of herbal remedies for loose vagina treatment naturally. H

In our first session we learnedhow to "listen" to the messages of plant's tastes. In session two welearned about simples and how to make effective water-based herbal remedies.The third session helped us distinguish safe nourishing and tonifying herbsfrom the more dangerous stimulating and sedating herbs. Our fourth sessionfocused on poisons in herbs and entered the herbal pharmacy to herbaltinctures, which we collected into an Herbal Medicine Chest. Our fifth sessionfound us still in the pharmacy, learning how to make and use herbal vinegarsfor strong bones and healthy hearts.In this, our sixth session, weremain in the herbal pharmacy and turn our attention to herbs in fat bases.We'll explore fresh infused oils, ointments, salves, and lip balms, essentialoils, and even herbal pestos.HerbalOils: Infused vs. EssentialI make and use many infused herbaloils. I use little or no essential oils. Why?Infused herbal oils use a smallamount of plant material; essential oils require tons of plant material.Infused herbal oils are safe to use internally or externally; essential oilsare poisonous internally and problematic externally. Infused herbal oils aregood for the skin; essential oils can cause rashes, burns, and other skinreactions. Infused oils are used full strength; essential oils are dilutedbefore use. Infused herbal oils have subtle scents; essential oils havepowerful scents.The scent of an essential oil cankill gut flora just like antibiotics do, according to Paul Bergner, director ofthe clinical studies program at the Rocky Mountain Centerfor Botanical Studies. He told me that breathing the oils puts them into theblood stream very quickly and can be a major disturber of intestinal health andcontributor to poor immune functioning. Massage therapists are embracingNatural Scent Therapies such as growing live aromatic plants in their treatmentrooms and using pillows of dried aromatic herbs instead of essential oils.Their skin and their immune systems are thanking them for the switch.     MakingInfused Herbal Oils To make an infused herbal oil youwill need the following supplies:Fresh plant materialScissors or a knifeA clean dry jar with a tight lidSome olive oil A label and pen; a small bowl            Harvest your plant material in theheat of the day, after the sun has dried the dew. It is best to wait at least36 hours after the last rain before harvesting plants for infused oils. Wetplant materials will make moldy oils. To prevent this, some people dry theirherbs and then put them in oil. I find this gives an inferior quality productin most cases.Coarsely chop the roots, leaves, or flowers of yourchosen plant. Fill your jar completely full of the chopped plant material. Addolive oil until the jar is completely full. (Patience and a chopstick areuseful tools at this point.)Tightly lid the jar. Label it. Putit in a small bowl (to collect seepage and over-runs). Your infused oil isready to use in six weeks.Fresh Plants That I Use to Make Infused OilsArnica flowers (Arnica montana)Burdock seeds  (Arctiumlappa)Calendula flowers (Calendula off.)Comfrey leaves or roots (Symphytum uplandica)Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum off.)Plantain leaves (Plantago majus)Poke roots (Phytolacca americana)Spruce needlesSt. Joan's wort flowers (Hypericum perforatum)Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium)Yellow dock roots (Rumex crispus) Using YourInfused Herbal Oils I use my infused herbal oils toheal and ease the pain of wounds, bruises, scrapes, sprains, burns, rashes,sore muscles, insect bites, and aching joints. I make my infused oils intoointments, salves, and lip balms. I use my infused oils in rituals, to anoint.I use my infused oils after bathing, to moisturize. I use my infused oils asstunning salad dressings. I use my infused oils as sexual lubricants. I use myinfused oils to nourish my scalp and hair.I apply my infused herbal oilsdirectly to the body. I rarely take infused herbal oils as internal medicinesalthough it would be safe to do so. I use my infused oils to make salves,ointments, and lip balms.MakingSalves, Ointments and Lip BalmsWhen herbs are infused into animalfat, they form a natural salve, without need of thickening. But herbs infusedinto oils are drippy and leaky and messy. They need a little beeswax melted into them to make them solid. The morebeeswax added, the firmer the oil will be. A little beeswax will make a softsalve. A medium amount will make a firm ointment. And a lot will make a stifflip balm.Pour one or more ounces of infused herbal oil into asaucepan or double boiler.Grate several ounces of beeswax.Put a small fire under your oil.When it is slightly warm, add one tablespoon (more orless) of grated beeswax.Stir, preferably with your finger, until the beeswaxmelts.Test the firmness by dropping a drop on a chinaplate. It will solidify instantly.-       Too soft?Add more beeswax, a little at a time.-       Too hard?Add more infused oil (if possible) or plain oil.Pour your finished salve or ointment intowide-mouthed jar. Pour lip balms into little pots or twist tubes. PestosThe simplest pesto is green leavespounded with salt and garlic. I don't put cheese or nuts into my pestos when Imake them, as these ingredients spoil rapidly. I use a mini-size food prepmachine for the "pounding".  Ablender will work too, but watch that you don't burn out the motor. The oil in a pesto both preserves the antioxidantvitamins in the fresh green herbs and also softens the cell walls so mineralsbecome more available. With the added health-benefits of garlic, herbal pestosare great medicine as well as superb eating.Basic Herbal PestoStays good for up to two years in a cool refrigerator; up to five yearsin the freezer.Start with half a cup of extra virgin olive oil.Add 2-4 coarsely chopped cloves of garlic.Add a good sprinkle of sea salt.·Add a large handful of prepared herb leaves andblend.Continue adding leaves and oil as needed. Perhapsmore garlic and salt? Blend.When all is blended to a fare thee well, pack yourpesto into a skinny jar.Leave some space between the pesto and the top of thejar and fill this with olive oil.Cap, label, and refrigerate. Green Herbs for PestoCatnip (Nepeta cataria)Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)Garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis)Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella)Violet (Viola species)Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) Coming upIn our next sessions we will learnhow to make herbal honeys and syrups, how to apply the three traditions ofhealing, and how to take charge of our own health care with the six steps ofhealing. ExperimentNumber OneMake three or more infused herbaloils from different plant parts, such as leaves, roots, and flowering tops.(See list for suggestions of plants to use.)       ExperimentNumber TwoMake several infused oils from thesame plant at the same time using at least three different kinds of oils andanimal fats, including ghee. Label carefully. After six weeks, decant andcompare.ExperimentNumber Three  Make a salve, ointment, or lipbalm. Beeswax is sold at farmer's markets, health food stores, and craft shops.ExperimentNumber FourTreat at least three injuries withan herbal oil or ointment that you have made. Record your observations.Plantain, yarrow, calendula, or comfrey are good choices for this experiment.   ExperimentNumber FiveMake an herbal pesto. (See listfor suggestions.)Furtherstudy1.     Buy a small bottle of essential oil. Also buy theplant the oil is made from. Lavender and mint are good choices for thisexperiment. Smell the plant, then smell the essential oil. How do you feelafterwards? Taste the plant, then taste a drop of the essential oil? What doyou perceive?  Put a drop of theessential oil on your skin; rub the plant vigorously on your skin. Are theredifferences? Extra credit: Make an infused oil of the sameplant and repeat this experiment using your infused oil in addition to theessential oil and the plant. 2.     Use organic animal fat to make an herbal preparation.Keep the fat barely warm - in the sun or by a pilot light - until it isinfused. No need to add beeswax. The fat will solidify at room temperature. AdvancedworkRead about the production of essential oils. How is a hydrosol different from an essential oil? Can you make a hydrosol? (Jeanne Rose is a goodresource on this.) Studywith Susun Weed in the convenience of your home! Choose from threeCorrespondence Courses: Green Allies,Spirit & Practice of the Wise WomanTradition, and Green Witch -includes audio/video tapes, books, assignments, special mailings, plus personaltime.  Learn more at www.susunweed.com or write to:Susun WeedPO Box 64Woodstock, NY 12498Fax:  1-845-246-8081