Herbal Salve for Strains, Bruises, Arthritis

One of the things that I have been very interested in learning about is herbal medicine.  Yes, I know that modern day medicine is miraculous and I wouldn't change that.  However, I know the God put the things we need on this earth and our ancestors were wise enough to discover some amazing healing properties in the plant life around us.

I am not a doctor and I do not proclaim that you should follow my advice.  It is up to each individual to make his/her own decisions.  In fact, the FDA does not endorse herbal medicine, although doctors in Europe prescribe many herbs to treat many different ailments.

Here is a fact:  I'm getting old!  I have daily pain in my knees and want to do something about it without having surgery.  In my research, I've discovered that the following herbs are useful in treating inflammation, strains, arthritis, etc.

Calendula:  http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-calendula.htm
Comfrey:  http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-comfrey.htm
Arnica:  http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-arnica.htm

To make my salve I used the following ingredients:

2 cups olive oil
1 cup beeswax
1 cup dried calendula, and comfrey
2 eye drops full of arnica oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil
2 Tablespoons glycerin

To begin, I put the olive oil and dried herbs in a sauce pan and let them simmer for a few hours.

The herbs infuse in the oil.  Make sure the heat is on low.......do not the oil get too hot!  After a few hours, strain the herbs out and keep the oil.  When the oil is strained, add the essential oils, glycerin, and arnica oil.  You can add any essential oil that you want.  I used eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender because of their calming effect.  I added tea tree essential oil because of its healing properties:  http://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/tea-tree-oil.asp.

Put the oil in a double boiler or use a measuring cup in a pan full of simmering water.  This will keep it hot as you mix the ingredients together.

Add the melted beeswax and mix.  Pour the mixture into clean, sterilized jars and let it cool.  The mixture will harden as it cools.

Not a great picture, but you can already see the mixture starting to harden. 

This recipe is featured on Chic and Craft Party!

Elderberry Syrup for Colds and Flu

Last year I had a discussion with a colleague of mine and she told me that her husband was making his own cough syrup using Elderberry.  They purchased several Elderberry bushes and were using the berries to help fight infection.

Since that time I have been doing some research on Elderberry and am intrigued to learn all of its medicinal uses.  Elderberry is commonly used in Europe to fight the flu:  http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Elderberry+Does+More+than+Flavor+Your+Pancakes-a01073878516

Research has been done on Elderberry and its ability to fight H1N1:  http://www.livestrong.com/article/146300-medicinal-uses-of-elderberry/

As I gathered information on the Elderberry, I noticed that it is effective to relieve the nasal passages due to allergies and sinus problems.  Unfortunately, I have had severe allergy problems for over a year now and have not been able to find relief.  My allergist has me on a nasal spray, Zyrtec and Singulair.  These medicines simply are not working.  The next step is weekly allergy shots.  Before I give in to that, I'm going to try making Elderberry syrup!

There are many recipes for Elderberry syrup.  The basics include Elderberry juice and local honey (which is also known to boost immunity and help fight allergies).  I've chosen to include a few extra goodies in my syrup!  Here are the ingredients I used:

1/2 cup dried Elderberries
2 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1 Tablespoon cloves
4 Tablespoons fresh ginger
1 cup honey

The first step is to reconstitute the Elderberries.  To do this, I simmered the dried Elderberries (available online - I got mine from Amazon.com).  I've heard Mountain Rose Herbs is good also:
http://mountainroseherbs.com/.  

I added the cinnamon stick and cloves, as well as the ginger.  I simmered that for 30 minutes.  After that time, I used a masher to mash the berries, allowing them to give up their juice.  When that is finished, I strained out the juice, discarding the berries, clove sticks, ginger and cinnamon stick.

 

 

I let the juice cool and then added the cup of honey.  Store the syrup in the refrigerator and it will last several months.   The research I've done says that adults should take 1/2 tablespoon - 1 tablespoon per day.  Apparently if you get sick, you can increase the dosage by taking it every 2-3 hours.   I am not a doctor, only a school principal.  Please do not sue me (I'm in hock up to my ears - you won't get anything).  I am only letting you know what I am going to try.  You need to make your own decisions, along with your doctor.

 

 

 

Apparently the berries are ripe, in late August and September.  I'm thinking about going on a hike to see if I can spot some..................(those of you that know me are now laughing hysterically.

Wish me luck!  I hope that this helps relieve my allergy symptoms!