How to Make Antiseptic Skin Balm

How to Make Antiseptic Skin Balm



Make a natural, antiseptic skin balm that may be superior to most products that are available commercially. Antiseptic skin balm is soothing for dry, cracked skin, sunburns and everyday cuts and scrapes.







Things You'll Need:





Heat resistant glass measuring cup




Small saucepan




3 oz. cold pressed olive oil




2 oz. beeswax




1 oz. jojoba oil




16 drops myrrh essential oil




20 drops tea tree essential oil




16 drops wheatgerm essential oil




5 drops clove essential oil




5 drops bergamot essential oil




4 (1-oz.) metal or glass salve containers









1


Put 3 oz. of cold pressed olive oil and 1 oz. of jojoba oil into a heatproof glass measuring cup, and set the cup in a small saucepan full of simmering water.





2


Remove the measuring cup from the heat and stir 2 oz. of beeswax into the warm mixture until it melts.





3


Allow the mixture to cool, and check it to see if the balm is the desired consistency. If the mixture is too thin, add a bit more beeswax. If it's thicker than you like, add a few more drops of cold pressed olive oil.





4


Stir 16 drops of myrrh essential oil, 20 drops of tea tree essential oil, 16 drops of wheatgerm essential oil, 5 drops of clove essential oil and 5 drops of bergamot essential oil into the mixture while it's still warm.





5


Pour the warm antiseptic balm into four metal or glass salve containers, and attach the lids securely.





6


Allow the antiseptic balm to cool completely before using, and then use as needed.


http://www.ehow.com/how_4430972_make-antiseptic-skin-balm.html

How to Make Antifungal Salve

How to Make Antifungal Salve



Herbal antifungal salve has tremendous healing qualities. The herbs slowly release into the warm oil, infusing their medicinal qualities. As a result, an antifungal salve is an excellent treatment for athlete's foots and other fungal conditions, cuts and infections.







Things You'll Need:





Slow cooker




1 cup dried plantain leaf




1/4 cup dried comfrey root




1 to 1 1/2 tbsp. dried goldenseal root




About 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil (enough to fully cover the dry ingredients)







Antifungal Salve




1


Pour the herbal oil into a small saucepan. Add the beeswax, cooking and stirring over low heat until it melts.





2


Stir in the grape seed extract and tea tree oil.





3


Pour a small amount of salve into a cup, allow it to cool, and then check the consistency. If the salve is too thin, add a bit more beeswax. If it's too thick, add more herbal oil.





4


Pour the antifungal salve into wide-mouth containers and store them in a cool, dry place. Use the salve as needed.



Herbal Oil for Antifungal Salve




1


Place the dried plantain leaf, comfrey root, goldenseal root and olive oil in a slow cooker turned to the lowest setting.





2


Allow the herbal mixture to steep for 3 to 4 hours.





3


Strain the herbal oil into a glass jar or bottle.








Tips & Warnings










It's very important for the herbs to infuse into the oil very slowly. If your slow cooker is too warm, even on the low setting, turn it off once it heats up. It will still retain enough heat to infuse the herbs. The slower the herbs infuse, the better the quality will be.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2342222_make-antifungal-salve.html

How to Make An Indigestion Aid

How to Make An Indigestion Aid



If you find that you have problems with indigestion then it is possible that all you need is an indigestion aid. In this article you will learn how to make your own indigestion aid.







Things You'll Need:





Water




Hop flowers




Glycerin









1


Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Pour the boiling water over 1 teaspoon of hop flowers.





2


Add 1 tablespoon of glycerin to the water and hop flowers. Steep the ingredients for 5 minutes.





3


Strain the ingredients and drink 30 minutes before you eat. Sweeten the drink if you dislike the taste of it.








Tips & Warnings










Do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this indigestion aid.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2163137_indigestion-aid.html

How to Make a Post Workout Herbal Drink

How to Make a Post Workout Herbal Drink



When I first started running, I was sore all the time. Even now, I tend to go through long periods of time when I am not exercising as much as usual. When I get back into it, the soreness I feel is almost as bad as it was back then.

I've learned that there are a few things that can help minimize this pain-extra sleep, stretching, the proper warm up, and consuming the right foods and beverages afterwards can make a huge difference in how sore you feel and how quickly the muscles heal.

In terms of food, the best thing to eat is a small meal or snack with some carbohydrates and protein. In terms of beverages, I like to drink a special iced herbal tea blend that I sweeten with honey. It's a blend I created myself based on my cravings and what I know about the plants.

Stinging nettle and oatstraw are the two main herbs. I've included them because they actually help heal the connective tissues that are damaged during exercise. Green tea is added as an energizer, and the honey is there because it contains some carbohydrates and adds a sweetness that I seem to crave after exercise.

I mainly drink this after intense cardio sessions, such as when I run. But, you can drink it after whichever workout you want to do.







Things You'll Need:





1 tbsp. dried stinging nettle leaves




1 tbsp. dried oatstraw




1 tsp. green tea




4 cups hot water




Honey, to taste




Ice




a large container (a glass pitcher works best)




tea strainer









1


Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and turn off the heat. Add the stinging nettle and oatstraw directly to the saucepan and cover it. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Add the honey, then the green tea, and let it sit until the tea is lukewarm.





2


Once the tea has cooled considerably, strain it and then add ice cubes (about eight) to a large pitcher and pour the tea over it. If you aren't drinking the tea right away, skip this step and just strain it into an airtight container.





3


The ideal time to drink this tea is right after a workout, so your best bet is to make it in advance.





4


If you don't have stinging nettle or oatstraw, you can substitute them with chamomile flowers and alfalfa. However, I think that it is worth your while to find stinging nettle or oatstraw. You can find it at some health food stores and herbal shops or you can order it online.








Tips & Warnings










Try to find the highest quality herbs as possible. If they are moldy, have dirt specks on them, or are simply old, they won't be as effective.








Make sure you consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any pains that seem severe in nature.








Research any herbs you take and always consult with your health care provider to make sure the herbs are okay.








Stinging nettle has a high amount of Vitamin K, which clots the blood. If you are taking medicine that is supposed to prevent blood clots, skip the nettle and just double the amount of oatstraw.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2159920_post-workout-herbal-drink.html

How to Make a Peaceful Nights Sleep Pillow

How to Make a Peaceful Nights Sleep Pillow



A peaceful night's sleep pillow will vanquish nightmares and be conducive to sweet dreams. Some herbs will cure headaches and some will cause headaches. Before making the sleep pillow, make sure the ingredients that you're using are not going to prompt a headache. The purpose of a sleep pillow is to lull a person into a relaxed state of somnolence.







Things You'll Need:





1/2 cup chamomile flowers




1/2 cup rosemary leaves




1/2 cup pine needles




1 cup lavender flowers




2 tbsp. lemon verbena leaves




1 tbsp. pinhead orrisroot




1/2 tsp. oil of lavender




Cheesecloth material




Sewing machine




Thread




10-inch thin rope







How To Make A Peaceful Nights Sleep Pillow




1


Cut the cheesecloth into two 8 inch by 8 inch squares. Sew the bottom and two sides together leaving a 1/2 inch seam. The top should not be sewn together. This creates the pouch for the herbs.





2


To create a drawstring, fold over an inch of the material at the top of the pouch. Insert the thin rope into the slot that was created when you folded over the material and sewed it horizontally along the bottom of the fold. Leave an opening at each end so the rope can hang loosely.





3


Tie the excess thin rope ends in a knot so they will not come out of the fold. This thin rope will act as a tie for the cheesecloth after the ingredients have been added.





4


In a bowl, combine the 1/2 cup chamomile flowers; 1/2 cup
rosemary
leaves; 1/2 cup pine needles; 1 cup
lavender
flowers; 2 tbsp. lemon verbena leaves; 1 tbsp. pinhead orrisroot and 1/2 tsp. oil of lavender. Mix the ingredients together using a spoon.





5


Place the mixture into the cheesecloth pouch and pull the rope tightly closed. Place the closed pouch inside a pillowcase along with the pillow.








Tips & Warnings










Remove any ingredients from the pouch after four months and refill the pouch with a new, fresh mixture








Replace the herbs occasionally because their fragrance will change over time and might cause headaches or insomnia. Avoid using Ylang Ylang. It is known to cause headaches. Check out herb sites on-line to make sure you're not using an ingredient that will worsen, instead of improve, your sleep.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2303664_make-peaceful-nights-sleep-pillow.html

How to Make a Nourishing Tea for Healthy Nails

How to Make a Nourishing Tea for Healthy Nails



I get a lot of manicures. As a result, my nails are weak and they peel rather easily.



Are you experiencing weak nails as well? The causes are numerous. You could be missing key nutrients in your diet. Your nails may be dry. If you work with your hands, they could simply be under stress.



If your nails are less than perfect, the first thing you should do is see your doctor to rule out the possibility of infection.



In my case, my nails are brittle because of the manicures--so I make the following tea blend that is rich in minerals such as silica and calcium which are essential for nail health.







Things You'll Need:





1 tbsp. oatstraw




1 tbsp. stinging nettle leaves




2 tbsp. chamomile flowers




1 tsp. horsetail




1 tsp. dried spearmint









1


Combine all of the ingredients in a glass container. Cover and shake to distribute.





2


Store the container away from light and excess heat.





3


When you're ready to make the tea, add 1.5 teaspoons for each cup of boiling water.





4


Let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink right away. You can also serve it iced.








Tips & Warnings










It will take at least a month to see any improvement.








Purchase the herbs from a reliable source such as Mountain Rose Herbs (see Resources below).








In addition to drinking the tea, I consume more protein and make sure I take my multivitamin each day.








Consult with a doctor, especially if your nails don't get stronger after a few months.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2225141_nourishing-tea-healthy-nails.html

How to Make a Nourishing Herbal Tea Blend

How to Make a Nourishing Herbal Tea Blend



There are several reasons why I drink herbal tea. Not only do I enjoy the taste, but I know it to be an excellent way to boost my overall state of health.



Most of the time I drink individual teas. Stinging nettle, chamomile and peppermint are three of my favorites. However, sometimes I like the complexity of a blend. So, I created the following blend because it tastes good, is rich in vitamins and minerals, and is also a good way to help beat stress.







Things You'll Need:





3 tbsp. lemon balm




2 tbsp. stinging nettle leaves




2 tbsp. oatstraw




1 tbsp. chamomile flowers




1 tbsp. peppermint leaves




Boiling water




Small bowl




Wooden spoon




Airtight glass container




Tea strainer (optional)









1


Add all of the ingredients to the bowl and stir gently with a wooden spoon.





2


Transfer herbs to the glass container.





3


Store in a cool, dry place.





4


Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the dried herb blend--and enjoy a cup of tea.








Tips & Warnings










You can use a tea strainer to make cleanup easier.








Amber glass jars with a cork top are my favorite types of jars to store my blends in.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2264821_nourishing-herbal-tea-blend.html