First Aid (natural)

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Review: Learn How to Make Herbal Remedies Online

04/29/2013 in Cooking, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid (natural), Fun Stuff, Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe, Reviews, Simple Skills by Evelyn | No comments

I have been interested in and learning about herbal remedies for the past 30 years. While in the past my learning has come reading countless books and attending workshop and classes I found a few years ago an online resource that I’ve found to be excellent. Maybe you’ve heard of them, Learning Herbs.

John and Kimberly Gallagher have created the only herbal online resource of its kind. There is a strong focus on both kids and adults learning how to identify herbs in your own backyard and surrounding areas, what they’re good for, how to process and harvest herbs, and ways herbs are used (in detail too).

The Learning Herbs website is abundantly full of free and paid lessons, educational products (I love their herbal Board game called Wildcraft – which I will write about in a future blog post), an Herbal Medicine Making Kit, they even have a herb ‘mentoring’ membership site (called Herb Mentor) which is filled with all kinds of content, fantastic how-to video’s, and much more. How I wish this was available when I was a kid (or even as a young adult), I would have devoured everything!

Of particular note for parents of budding herbal remedy maker’s, Learning Herbs even has a special section of interest for kids who want to learn about herbs, it’s called Herb Fairies. In particular what I like most is the way the Gallagher’s approach learning, through ‘cooperation’ – a skill-set that has been making some ground in recent years which I am delighted to find occurring. This is particularly true in the Wildcraft board game that teaches edible and medicinal plants, which by the way is great fun for kids and adults!

My personal feeling about everything that Learning Herbs has available is this, no matter what your age or herbal skill level is there is a lot of terrific information to take your herbal remedy making to the next level. I am a member of their herb mentor membership site and I’m loving it! I also enjoy their webinars and other things they offer. I am also an affiliate of what Learning Herbs offers, I personally utilize and enjoy what they offer and enjoy representing the best of what I find.

Be sure to check out all of the free stuff Learning Herbs offers!

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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30 Ways to Use Lavender Essential Oil

02/22/2012 in Aromatherapy, Around the Home, Cooking, First Aid (natural), Fun Stuff, Health, How To, Plants, Thoughts by Evelyn | 5 comments

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) essential oil is one of the most versatile essential oil to have on hand. Therapeutic Lavender oil is known to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound healing and is one of the few essential oils to still be listed in the British Pharmacopoeia (that is, provided the Lavender oil is of therapeutic quality).

Lavender has medical properties as well: highly antiseptic, antifungal, relaxant, anti-inflammatory, combats excess sebum on skin, and is used for respiratory infections,  menstrual problems/PMS, skin conditions (perinial repair, acne, eczema, psoriasis, scarring), burns, hair loss, insomnia, nervous tension.

The fragrant influence of Lavender oil is calming, relaxing, and balancing, both physically and emotionally.

  • University researchers in Japan found that diffusing certain aromas in an office environment dramatically improved mental accuracy and concentration. Diffused lemon oil resulted in 54 percent fewer errors, jasmine 33 percent fewer errors, and lavender 20 percent fewer errors. When aromas were diffused during test taking, scores increased by as much as 50 percent.
  • Lavender has been documented to improve concentration and mental acuity. University of Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender oil increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting heightened relaxation.
  • Lavender oil also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance (Diego et al., 1998).
  • A 2001 Osaka Kyoiku University study found that lavender reduced mental stress and increased alertness (Motomura et al., 2001).

~~ Buy Pure Essential Oils at My Product Website ~~

30 Ways to Use Lavender Oil

  1. Rub Lavender oil on the soles of the feet for a calming effect on the body.
  2. Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your palms and smooth on your pillow to help you sleep.
  3. Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching and reduce swelling.
  4. Put 2-3 drops of Lavender oil on a minor burn to decrease pain and stimulate healing.
  5. Stop Bleeding; put 1-4 drops of Lavender oil on a cut to stop the bleeding.
  6. Mix several drops of Lavender oil with a carrier oil and apply topically for eczema and dermatitis.
  7. Alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, place a drop of Lavender oil on the end of the tongue or around the naval or behind the ears.
  8. Stop a nosebleed; put a drop of Lavender oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice. Push the tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not freeze the lip or gum).
  9. Rub a drop of Lavender oil over the bridge of the nose to unblock tear ducts (avoid eye area).
  10. Capped Skin; rub a couple drops of Lavender oil with a little carrier oil on dry or chapped skin.
  11. Rub a drop of Lavender oil on chapped or sunburned lips.
  12. To reduce or minimize the formation of scar tissue, massage Lavender oil on and around the affected area.
  13. Rub 2 drops of Lavender oil over the armpit area as a deodorant.
  14. Rub a drop of Lavender oil between your palms and inhale deeply to help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.
  15. Dandruff; rub several drops of Lavender oil into the scalp to help eliminate dandruff.
  16. Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a cotton ball and place in your linen closet to scent the linens and repel moths and insects.
  17. Place a drop of Lavender oil in your tabletop water fountain to scent the air, kill bacteria and prolong the time between cleanings (NOT in fish tanks though).
  18. Put 2-4 drops of Lavender oil on you vacuum cleaner bag to scent the room while vacuuming.
  19. Bed Linen Spray; in a 4oz. spray bottle filled with water add 5-10 drops of Lavender oil, shake and lightly mist bed linens every morning upon making your bed, this provides a calming scent that helps induce restful sleep.
  20. Dryer Sheet; place a few drops of Lavender oil on a damp washcloth and toss into the dryer, which will deodorize and freshen your laundry.
  21. Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore to facilitate healing.
  22. Diffuse equal portions of both Lavender and Orange essential oils to reduce stress and anxiety.
  23. Sunburn; spritz several drops of Lavender oil mixed with distilled water on a sunburn to decrease pain.
  24. Cuts and Wounds; put 1-2 drops Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound and kill bacteria.
  25. Itching; apply 1-2 drops of Lavender oil to a rash to stop the itching and heal skin.
  26. Foot Bath; mix 4 drops Lavender oil with 1/4 cup of epsom salts and add to warm water, soak feet for 20 minutes.
  27. In a 32 oz. spray bottle mix 14-20 drops of Lavender oil with water for a chemical-free spray air freshener.
  28. Add a drop of Lavender to one quart of softened vanilla ice cream, stir well, freeze until hardened, serve.*
  29. Lavender Tea; add one drop of Lavender oil to a cup of hot water for a relaxing cup of tea at the end of a busy day.*
  30. Use Lavender oil in one of these recipes: Lavender Sorbet, Lavender Lemonade, or Lavender Chocolate Truffles!*

*NOTE: Only food grade essential oils, such as Young Living Essential Oils, can be ingested or taken internally as a supplement. Please do not ingest otherwise.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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How To Make Dandelion Root Powder

04/01/2011 in Emergency Preparedness, First Aid (natural), Gardening, Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe, Simple Skills, What Matters Most by Evelyn | 6 comments

DandelionProper preparation of your dandelion root for wellness is as important as when it is harvested. George Cairns articulates below how this is done properly. I highly recommend following his instructions right down to every last detail. Cairns, near death from cancer, was told by his doctor that he had 6 months to live. Over 90 years old now, Cairns has lived to see over a decade of living cancer-free, he shares his story on how he was guided to use dandelion root powder to release cancer from his body.

The other important consideration here is to harvest the dandelion ‘yourself’ in a place that is free of chemical pollution. Additionally, the dandelion products sold in stores will NOT be of the same quality as if you had done the work yourself, companies making products have price points to meet and thus cannot pay attention to the finest details and it is not known to help those with cancer.

How To make Dandelion Root Powder By George Cairns

To make dandelion root powder, let’s start at the beginning. This would be collecting the seed. The seed is at the base of the white fluffy crown that appears when the yellow flower matures. Blow on them and they fly away. These little seeds do not grow until the next spring. I collect the seeds in May and June, then I put them in the freezer. This way you fool Mother Nature, as the seeds must freeze before they grow. This way you can grow the seed the same year you collect then. Work up the land where you are going to plant them and spread the seeds on top of the ground and rake them in very lightly and water. I usually plant the seeds in August.

I dig up the seedlings the next April. I try to do all my transplanting in April as by the end of April they start blooming, which takes the energy away from making roots. It’s a good thing to pick the buds off for the first couple months. When I did the seedlings up in April, I plant them about 6 inches apart in rows 18 to 20 inches apart. I hoe them when needed and keep the weeds and grass out of them. After about 2 months you won’t be able to hoe as they will cover the ground. Then I pull the weeds and grass out of the bed. Water when needed.

I usually start digging them up in October. By this time some of the roots will be 1 inch in diameter. I shake off most of the dirt and slice lengthwise the bigger roots to about ¼ inch so they will dry evenly. To dry them I use a forced-air incubator without any water in it. I set the incubator at 100 degrees or a little less. It takes about 5 days until they are ready to grind. You can use a dehydrator, set around 100 degrees. If it doesn’t have setting, don’t use it. You can also dry in the sun if you put them in something the wind can blow through, life a small potato or onion sack. Hang them in the sun but take them down in late afternoon and put in a plastic sack and tie it. If you don’t they will pick up moisture and you will be back where you started. Then put them out the next day when the sun in up. Once you have heat in the house, it’s no trouble, as they will dry OK most anywhere there is heat, like near a register or stove. The excess dirt will pop off as they dry. Mother Nature knows how much to leave. If the roots are very clean, add a little dirt, as this powder won’t work without the dirt.

When you make powder, try not to lose anything. Pound the roots flat, then put in an electric coffee grinder for 25 seconds and you have powder. You can also keep pounding and crumbling until you have it the right fineness. What I did for a long time, a friend gave me a cast iron pestle and mortar. With this you can get it down as fine as you wish.

To store, put in an airtight jar and fill as near to the top as possible. I’ve kept it 10 months this way. Also, keep in a dry place.

NOTE: Please save this page, as it won’t be printed again by me. It may save your life or the life of a loved one or a friend. Anyone may reprint this if they print it word for word. ~ G.C.

Read George’s full story here!

If you have any questions, call or write to:

George Cairns

708 South Hughes Road

Woodstock , IL 60098

1-815-338-1626

~~ Dandelion Root Powder can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs ~~

Please check with them to learn if the dandelion root powder is processed in the same way George Cairn’s describes as he stresses the importance of processing in a particular way.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Dandelion Magic: George Cairns Story of Divine Intervention

03/27/2011 in First Aid (natural), Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe, Reflections & Discoveries by Evelyn | 2 comments

DandelionBelow are two beautiful and touching stories. Carl, a friend of a friend, discovered he had cancer and heard about a man, George Cairns who also had a special story and a recipe that helped him to become cancer-free. Here are their stories…

From Carl:

Hi, my name is Carl and I have been a musician and friend of Victor Wooten for many years. 

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with advanced type-3 throat cancer. Even though it has a lower success rate, I decided to undergo radiation treatment rather than disfiguring surgery or debilitating chemotherapy. One of my neighbors told me about a 85-year-old farmer named George who cured his prostrate cancer with dandelion root powder.

George was told by doctors he had maybe six months to live. I met with George and he told me that God inspired him to use the dandelion root powder. In thanks to God for saving his life he makes dandelion root powder to give away for free to all who need help. He helps hundreds of people some who were told they had no chance & were going to die within months, most of them are alive and well today. George is now 90 and its been 11 years since his diagnosis. Continue reading “Dandelion Magic: George Cairns Story of Divine Intervention” »

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Thieves Essential Oil to Prevent Infections

03/01/2011 in Aromatherapy, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid (natural), Health by Evelyn | No comments

The other day I reached for something and accidentally caught my thumb on the tip of a screw sticking out of a piece of wood. It hurt, as one would expect and bled a little. I wiped it off and went about my day as a kind of experiment… to see if my doing nothing would allow it to heal or become infected. I pretty well knew it would start to get infected because my hands were dirty at the time. The next morning, my thumb was sore, pink and a pinch swollen.

The Part of My Experiment with Essential Oils

First I tried my Lavender essential oil, pouring 2 drops on the location. In the past, I’ve used Lavender for cleaning scraps and small wounds but did so immediately after the injury occurred and the results were great. This time I wanted to see ‘if’ using Lavender after an infection started to show up if it would clear it up. Continue reading “Thieves Essential Oil to Prevent Infections” »

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Follow Me on Pinterest

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