Cinnamon Oil Tincture

Of all the herbs that I've come across in my short time on this beautiful Earth Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) is a flavour and scent I've never found appealing. I actual feel nauseous when I smell the scent, December is a nightmare for me to find a candle without this scent, cookies and pies without it is almost impossible and it's well known amongst my family of my somewhat ridiculously adverse reaction to this spice.

Cinnamon scented candles (dianeshouse.com)

However, I have stumbled across what I think may be useful for those of you who may enjoy the scent, taste etc. If I'm in dire need though the following might prove really helpful. I'll just have to pinch my nose and take my medicine.

So Cinnamon Oil's most direct action is upon the uterine muscular fibres, causing contraction and arresting bleeding. Upon the Central Nervous System (CNS), Cinnamon first stimulates then depresses.

Internally, it is very useful in colic, stomach cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea and to allay nausea and vomitting.
{King's American Dispentary 1898}-Harvey Wickes Felter MD. & John Uri Llyod, Phr, M. Ph. D

Cinnamon can be used as an oil added to water or grated over food. People with prostate problems should avoid cinnamon. People who are allergic to balsam of Tolu* of any of the many products containing balsam of Tolu should avoid the medicinal use of cinnamon oil and the use of cinnamon oil in aromatherapy.

*Balsam of Tolu (Myroxlyon balsamum, Myroxylon pereirae) a.k.a Peruvian Balsam, Tolu Balsam.

It is used widely as the basisi for cough mixtures, to provide scent to apertifs, baby powders, baked goods, calamine lotions, chewing gums, fragrances (especially Opium) hair conditioners, hemorrhoid cremas, insect repellents, lip balms and sunscreens.

This potentially allergenic herb is frequently not listed on the label when it's included in these products, therefore allergic reactions can sometimes be a result of the balsam. People who react to these products should not use any form of balsam.
{Prescription for Herbal Healing}-Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

Making the Cinnamon Tincture;

Grab;

A jar,
Cinnamon Stick (break them into chips)
Alcohol(anything except rubbing alcohol as you will be injesting it)Alot use Vodka, but most alcohol will do.40% is the best to aim for though.

 Cinnamon Sticks (ifood.iv)

Fill the jar half way with the Cinnamon chips and then add the alcohol. Make sure to fill right to the top. Screw the lid on tight.
Leave the mixture to sit for 2-6 weeks (the longer the better)

Fill the jar up to the top, cover all of the Cinnamon. (candybooze.blogspot.com)

Strain the mixture and bottle.
You're now good to go.

Cinnamon Tincture (comesconewithme.com)

HR's for the Liver

We've all overdone it a bit, woken up with a hangover, that sick twisted feeling in our stomach from overindulgence of the alcohol variety. But do we actually take time to be thankful to our Liver for all it's uses.

We as humans can hardly comprehend how wonderful our anatomy is. How systems just work without us consciously making any effort at all.

A lot of people could point out their Liver if they had to. It works without us feeling it or realizing it but nonetheless it works for us not against us.

Just in case here's a handy diagram;

We think of the liver as an organ of detoxification but this is just one of it's uses. The liver also;

• Filters the blood, removing harmful bacteria & chemicals
• Breaks down excess hormones & maintains water & body-fluid salt balances.
• Assists in the digestion & metabolism of fats, carbohydrates & protein
• Stores & produces some vitamins & minerals
• Manufactures a wide variety of proteins & immune substances

Some herbs that are Liver friendly are;

Milk Thistle,

Dandelion

& Turmeric.

You can take these remedies fairly easily. A. Vogel sell Milk Thistle & Dandelion tinctures (there are other brands I am just more familiar with this one) and a lot of Herbal Stores will have it in stock.

Pukka (again other brands may be available) sell a tincture of Turmeric so these herbs can be very easily taken.

A few drops in water a couple of times usually does the trick. Make sure to read the label before hand and always inform your health care practitioner before beginning any herbal treatments. 

Comfrey ("Knitbone") A.K.A Blackwort EXTERNAL ONLY! BE VERY VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS HERB!

Comfrey-Symphytum Officinale (pictured above) ~ was traditionally used in healing fractures.  Comfrey contains a chemical called Allantoin* which encourages the growth of various tissue cells & so increases healing rates.

In Europe is is acceptable as an External remedy. However, it is currently banned in Australia & many American States.

NB=> DO NOT USE INTERNALLY!

Do not apply to broken skin!!

*Allatoin can speed up tissue growth to such an extent that it can heal the wound before any dirt or pus has had a chance to escape (thus keeping these components in the wound & possibly infecting the blood & surrounding tissues).

The likes of herbal remedies like Comfrey should only be used under the supervision of a Herbal practitioner. 


There is an awful lot of information about Comfrey out on the web. Some is really great advice however there are some people out there putting up posts claiming that you don't need to even clean the wound first, just apply Comfrey directly or if you break a bone just slap some Comfrey on it and forget the Doctor. This "advice" is so reckless and harmful that I just though it had to be highlighted.

Garden Herbs (found naturally without planting a seed)

Hi all, hope everyone is doing well.

Yesterday I was over in the garden cutting back some overgrow plants and as usual came across dandelion's and stinging nettles. It got me thinking that I should do a post about these two herbs that are commonly thought of as weeds and are ripped up, thrown out and considered a "bad" thing amongst many gardeners. However, for the budding herbalist these little gems can be used for an array of home remedies.

Let's start with Dandelion's

(Taraxacum officinale)

The parts of the plant that are used medicinally are the root, both fresh and dried and the young tops.

It is a general stimulant to the system, but especially to the urinary organs, and is chiefly used in kidney and liver disorders. Dandelion is not only official but is used in many patent medicines. Not being poisonous, quite big doses of its preparations may be taken. Its beneficial action is best obtained when combined with other agents. The tincture made from the tops may be taken in doses of 10 to 15 drops in a spoonful of water, three times daily. The tincture can be bought at your local health shop. A. Vogel is a brand I trust and use myself. It is said that its use for liver complaints was assigned to the plant largely on the doctrine of signatures, because of its bright yellow flowers of a bilious hue. In the hepatic complaints of persons long resident in warm climates, Dandelion is said to afford very marked relief. A broth of Dandelion roots, sliced and stewed in boiling water with some leaves of Sorrel and the yolk of an egg, taken daily for some months, has been known to cure seemingly intractable cases of chronic liver congestion. A strong decoction* (above) is found serviceable in stone and gravel: the decoction may be made by boiling 1 pint of the sliced root in 20 parts of water for 15 minutes, straining this when cold and sweetening with brown sugar or honey. A small teacupful may be taken once or twice a day. Dandelion is used as a bitter tonic in atonic dyspepsia, and as a mild laxative in habitual constipation. When the stomach is irritated and where active treatment would be injurious, the decoction or extract of Dandelion administered three or four times a day, will often prove a valuable remedy. It has a good effect in increasing the appetite and promoting digestion. Dandelion combined with other active remedies has been used in cases of dropsy and for induration of the liver, and also on the Continent for phthisis and some cutaneous diseases. A decoction of 2 OZ. of the herb or root in 1 quart of water, boiled down to a pint, is taken in doses of one wine glassful every three hours for scurvy, scrofula, eczema and all eruptions on the surface of the body. * Decoction - a method of extraction by boiling. Preparations and Dosages Fluid extract, B.P., 1/2 to 2 drachms. Solid extract, B.P. 5 to 15 grains. Juice, B.P., 1 to 2 drachms.  Dandelion Tea  Infuse 1 OZ. of Dandelion in a pint of boiling water for 10 minutes; decant, sweeten with honey, and drink several glasses in the course of the day. The use of this tea is efficacious in bilious affections, and is also much approved of in the treatment of dropsy. Or take 2 OZ. of freshly-sliced Dandelion root, and boil in 2 pints of water until it comes to 1 pint; then add 1 OZ. of compound tincture of Horseradish. Dose, from 2 to 4 OZ. Use in a sluggish state of the liver. Or 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1 OZ. Black Horehound herb, 1/2 OZ. Sweet Flag root, 1/4 OZ. Mountain Flax. Simmer the whole in 3 pints of water down to 1 1/2 pint, strain and take a wine glassful after meals for biliousness and dizziness. For Gall Stones 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1 OZ. Parsley root, 1 OZ. Balm herb, 1/2 OZ. Ginger root, 1/2 OZ. Liquorice root. Place in 2 quarts of water and gently simmer down to 1 quart, strain and take a wine glassful every two hours. For a young child suffering from jaundice: 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1/2 oz. Ginger root, 1/2 oz. Caraway seed, 1/2 oz. Cinnamon bark, 1/4 oz. Senna leaves. Gently boil in 3 pints of water down to 1 1/2 pint, strain, dissolve 1/2 lb. sugar in hot liquid, bring to a boil again, skim all impurities that come to the surface when clear, put on one side to cool, and give frequently in teaspoonful doses. Liver and Kidney Mixture 1 OZ. Broom tops, 1/2 oz. Juniper berries, 1/2 oz. Dandelion root, 1 1/2 pint water. Boil ingredients for 10 minutes, then strain and add a small quantity of cayenne. Dose, 1 tablespoonful, three times a day. Medicine for Piles 1 OZ. Long-leaved Plantain, 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1/2 oz. Polypody root, 1 OZ. Shepherd's Purse. Add 3 pints of water, boil down to half the quantity, strain, and add 1 OZ. of tincture of Rhubarb. Dose, a wine glassful three times a day. Celandine ointment to be applied at same time. So the nettles I'm talking about are those tall, dark green you know they're going to sting you nettles. The Latin name is Urtica Dioica. It's also known as the common nettle or the stinging nettle. If you get stung by these nettles you will generally find Dock leaves near by. You take a leaf rub it over the sting and it minimises the pain if not completely rids you of it. Nettles have long be known to provide a rich source of iron and Nettle Soup can be made very easily. Medicinal Uses of the Nettle Parts employed: The whole herb, collected in Mayand June, just before coming into flower, and dried in the usual manner prescribed for 'bunched' herbs. When the herb is collected for drying, it should be gathered only on a fine day, in the morning, when the sun has dried off the dew. Cut off just above the root, rejecting any stained or insect-eaten leaves, and tie in bunches, about six to ten in a bunch, spread out fan wise, so that the air can penetrate freely to all parts. Hang the bunches over strings. If dried in the open, keep them in half-shade and bring indoors before there is any risk of damp from dew or rain. If dried indoors, hang up in a sunny room, and failing sun, in a well-ventilated room by artificial heat. Care must be taken that the window be left open by day so that there is a free current of air and the moisture-laden, warm air may escape. The bunches should be of uniform size and length, to facilitate packing when dry, and when quite dry and crisp must be packed away at once in airtight boxes or tins, otherwise moisture will be reabsorbed from the air. The seeds and flowers are dried in the sun, or over a stove, on sheets of paper. The Nettle is still in demand by wholesale herbalists, who stock the dried and powdered herb, also the seeds. Homoeopathic chemists, in addition, employ the green herb for the preparation of a tincture. Action and Uses Although not prescribed by the British Pharmacopceia, the Nettle has still a reputation in herbal medicine, and is regarded in homoeopathy as a useful remedy. Preparations of the herb have astringent properties and act also as a stimulating tonic. Nettle is anti-asthmatic: the juice of the roots or leaves, mixed with honey or sugar, will relieve bronchial and asthmatic troubles and the dried leaves, burnt and inhaled, will have the same effect. The seeds have also been used in consumption, the infusion of herb or seeds being taken in wineglassful doses. The seeds and flowers used to be given in wine as a remedy for ague. The powdered seeds have been considered a cure for goitre and efficacious in reducing excessive corpulency. In old Herbals the seeds, taken inwardly, were recommended for the stings or bites of venomous creatures and mad dogs, and as an antidote to poisoning by Hemlock, Henbane and Nightshade. An efficient Hair Tonic can be prepared from the Nettle: Simmer a handful of young Nettles in a quart of water for 2 hours, strain and bottle when cold. Well saturate the scalp with the lotion every other night. This prevents the hair falling and renders it soft and glossy. A good Nettle Hair Lotion is also prepared by boiling the entire plant in vinegar and water, straining and adding Eau de Cologne. For stimulating hair growth, the old herbalists recommended combing the hair daily with expressed Nettle juice. The homoeopathic tincture of Nettle is made of 2 OZ. of the herb to 1 pint of proof spirit. The powder of the dried herb is administered in doses of 5 to 10 grains. Preparations Fluid extract of herb, 1/2 to 1 drachm. Infusion, 1 OZ. of the herb to a pint of boiling water. Nettle Soup  In a large pot, melt 1 Tbsp. butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 3 minutes. Add potatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer and cook 15 minutes. Add nettles and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 Tbsp. butter, pepper, and nutmeg. Puree soup with an immersion blender or in a blender or food processer in batches. For a silken, less fibrous texture, run mixture through a food mill or sieve. Stir in cream, if using. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if you like. Serve hot, garnished with sour cream, yoghurt if you like.  Use glove when picking or you will be stung.  Fill the pot, the Nettles will shrink down.  Mix well. Starting to look more like soup, now.  Look's delicious now doesn't it? :-) Nettle Tea- Very good for period pain, also full of Iron naturally. Hope you all enjoyed the read. As always Stay Safe and we look forward to hearing from you.

Time to get the sunscreen's ready.

So, we've had really bad weather here in Ireland and are only starting to see a bit of a change this weekend. I mean if we hit 20° Celsius here we are having a good "Summer" :-)

I started some time ago looking for some herbal sunscreen's but my local health shop does not strangely provide any which got me thinking about some recipes if you will to make my own without all of those harsh chemicals.

Now what people don't realise is that we need Vitamin D which we get naturally from sunlight. Places, like Scotland and Ireland produce people who are more likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. Now, years ago Doctor's thought that Vitamin D was mainly good for maintaining healthy bones but this Vitamin also plays a role in the functioning of the human body and helps reduce the risk for certain illnesses.

For instance, did you know a lack of Vitamin D can contribute to;

Flu, Psoriasis, Muscle weakness, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Asthma, Periodontal Disease, Cardiovascular Disease and even Cancer (some studies show).

So as you can imagine, many people turn to supplements to get their Vitamin D. However, many supplements like these can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get into your system and start taking effect. The easiest way for us to get Vitamin D is through natural sunlight.

But, we must protect our skin when out in the sun. I'm not talking about the hottest of days but even when it's a bright day out. You must wear an SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

Now, say the sun is splitting the rocks as we say here in Éire and you need a quick sunscreen so you can go outside. You can whip up a quick remedy. Here goes;

Grab your favourite lotion. Note: make sure there are no citrus oils in it

Add a few tablespoons of Zinc Oxide (DO NOT INHALE THE POWDER- Wear a mask if you have one)

Mix together and hey presto you're ready to go.

If you have time ahead and want to make up a batch of some really yummy smelling sunscreen that has an SPF of around 20 (although you can increase with more Zinc Oxide) then here you go my dears;

You will need;


1/4 cup of Coconut Oil (ah the smell of Summer with a natural SPF of 4)

1/2 cup of Olive oil or Almond Oil (make sure you do not have a nut allergy for Almond oil, pictured below)

1/4 cup of some Beeswax (you can buy online or in some herbal health stores)

2 Tablespoons of Zinc Oxide (you can get this at your local pharmacy)

Method;

Mix everything except the Zinc Oxide in a jar or glass bowl. If you have a empty jar from say Beetroot, Pickled Eggs or Onions, that kind of size, you can use that. Place the lid loosely over the jar.

Grab yourself a pot and fill with approx 3 fingers of water and put on a moderate/medium heat.

Now take your jar and pop it gently into the pot. The ingredients will all start to melt and mix up so stir them up every now and then until there are evenly mixed together.

Get the Zinc Oxide, again be careful with this ingredient, and stir it in well.

Then pour your mixture into whatever jar you are planning on keeping your sunscreen. I don't recommend a bottle with a pump at all. The mixture will not pump well. It will actually just clog the pump and create more hassle for you.

Stir the mixture as it cools to make sure that the Zinc Oxide is incorporated to the mix.



This sunscreen is good for Six Months.

Options;

You can add 1 tsp Vitamin E oil as an extra to your sunscreen,

or 2 tsps of Shea Butter (gives you an extra 4-5 SPF).

You may also add essential oils if you wish. Vanilla is good, Lavender is a good insect repellent as well. It's up to you.

NOTE: If you just want a lotion, remove the Zinc Oxide and you have a nice body lotion. If you want a thicker sunscreen add more beeswax, less for a smoother one.

Store in a cool, dry place or even the refrigerator. Make sure you label so someone doesn't come along and try to eat it :-)

There you have it, home made sunscreen with an SPF to suit you best.

Remember to take care of your skin when you're young. Your body will thank you as you age, and your skin. You don't want UV (ultra violet) damage. Always use your SPF, it will prevent early signs of ageing, liver spots, wrinkles and crow's feet.

Get yourself into a daily routine at an early age and pass this wisdom on so you can enjoy healthy skin for longer.

As always guys Stay Safe! :-)

General tips for healthy skin

Generally, we associate acne and breakouts with puberty and teenagers. However, hormones can affect the health of our skin and often adults, men and woman and some menopausal women can find themselves having sudden breakouts. There are some handy home-made solutions that you find below to deal with these problems.
Depending on your skin type and your age some of the following may be of interest to you.

Unzip your bad habits and embrace a new regime.

Mix up rose water and fresh lemon juice in equal parts and apply to the skin after cleansing.  Leave on the skin for a half hour and then rinse. This is to be used once a day.

A good trick for keeping surface bacteria at bay is to fill a tea cup or mug with boiling water. Then empty the cup and while hot rub the cup over your face. Make sure you can bear the heat first to avoid being burned. To test rub the cup/mug over the back of your hand or wrist first.

Another good face mask that you can make at home is a tomato one. Yep, squeeze them and get that pulpy mess in your hand. Slap it on for thirty minutes before bed. Rinse and moisturise. Tomato's are a great anti-oxidant for the skin. You can also include them in your diet :-)







You've woken up with a breakout. What do you do?
Get yourself a handful of Mint leaves and steep in boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes. The add around the same amount of ground turmeric to the mix. The mix should be thick enough to smooth onto your skin without running off. Take two slices of cucumber and place over the eyelids. This will aid your relaxation and will also cool your eyelids.  Lie back and relax for twenty minutes. Remove the cucumber and rinse off.








It's easy to forget that skin breakouts can be associated with your diet. So here are a few tips that might be helpful or maybe something's you haven't considered before and could now incorporate into your daily intake.

It's so important to stay hydrated. Drink filtered still water daily. Around two litres is a good amount to aim for.

Green tea is very helpful for detoxing the body and skin so try to have a cup before meals.
To prevent yeast from developing include pro-biotics such as yoghurt into your diet.
Use olive oil to help increase your Omega 3. Also supplements such as Zinc, Chromium complex, Vitamin A and vitamin B complex can prove very helpful to many people.
Finally don't forget about fibre! Make sure you get enough in your diet to keep the body free of toxins and bacteria.

Tips for cuts, grazes and burns

We have something generally growing right under our nose (or in the garden) for the ailments.

Almost everyone's heard that if you get stung by a nettle you rub a D

ock leaf on the sting to soothe it. Conveniently dock leaves grow near the nettles. Nature's way of providing remedy I suppose.

Below you find a list of my personal tips and tricks (herbal of course) for some of the little surprises nature can throw your way.

(Above-Dock leaf being rubbed onto a Nettle sting)

A lot of people have this plant in their house because it looks great. Little do they know how useful this can be for burns, cuts and wounds.

The gel is generally extracted from the plant and you buy it in

most local herb stores or pharmacies. Also a great trick for sunburn or general household burns.

What is this magical plant? How do I get hold of it?

Why it's Aloe Vera of course!

Most garden centres stock this quite inexpensive plant. It makes a great decoration around the house or garden and is so so handy when it comes to burns, cuts or wounds; you simply just break off a leaf and gently squeeze the soothing gel from inside the plant out. (as seen left)

Now, just a tip; quite a lot of gel is held in each leaf or branch of the plant so if it's a minor burn just break the tip off the leaf rather than taking too much. Just rub gently in, again you can cover with a bandage to aid the healing process if you wish. I generally rub it in leave it to soak into the skin and then let good old fashioned air do the job. Aloe is great at aiding the healing process and also it helps to prevent scarring.

If you are buying gel out in the shop make sure that Aloe Gel is listed in the ingredients. You can get gels like this one here is many herbal shops and pharmacies.

Not only is this gel organic it also contains 99.9% Pure Aloe Vera Gel. It certainly does the trick. Personally I keep a stock of this in the house and take it away with me in case I happen to get sunburned. I t soothes and cools the skin instantly.

If you have the plant then you needn't worry around the house. But for handiness sake you may want to purchase a gel to keep with you. (It doesn't have to be the gel pictured or that brand, it's just used as an example).

Calendula is great for wounds! I always have an ointment ready made in the house. But you can also get hold of Calendula tincture and cream at your local herbal shop. The uses of Calendula, like many herbal remedies dates back to the at least the 17th Century when it was commonly used as defence against the "plague".

Calendula is anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory.

Just massage a little infused cream or oil onto the scrape or cut or if you are using the tincture apply a few drops. Then cover the cut with a bandage. Onc

e the wound heals and a scab begins to form remove the bandage as this will allow the air to penetrate and heal the rest of the cut/scrape.

If you have a cut that has become infected I would recommend using a rosemary wash. Rosemary is a great antiseptic herb. You can easily make this wash by steeping dried Rosemary (pictured left) in boiling water. This infuses the herb. Allow to cool and then bathe the infected wound in the infusion. You can use this remedy up to four times a day until the wound heals and the redness subsides.

Other remedies for wounds include Juniper Berries. This remedy has been passed down for generations to treat wounds externally. Also Yarrow is commonly used to clean wounds and help blood clot faster. Witch hazel is also another common remedy that has been used and almost every household has a bottle of distilled Witch Hazel. You can use this remedy on cuts, wounds even some rashes or pimples. It's a very handy item to keep in stock.

A compress of St. John's Wort can be used externally on deeper cuts. However, prolonged use of the herb increases sensitivity to sunlight in some people so check with your local herbalist first before you use this or any other remedy mentioned.

If you're wound is very deep, gaping or has been contaminated by soil or any chemicals please consult a Doctor immediately. Do not treat large open wounds with Herbal Remedies unless under the direction of a professional.

Some herbs such as Comfrey aka "Knitbone" actually cause the skin to heal over the wound quite quickly. This sounds great and like a quick fix but if you have an infected or contaminated wound the Comfrey will actually heal the skin so quick that you will end up with the infection in the bloodstream if not properly cleaned and attended to.

So please, if in doubt or you have a serious wound seek medical attention.

As always stay safe!