Keep It Movin! Herbal Corner

A picture of my little Comfrey Plant, like clockwork she comes up every year. Over the summer I’ve been making a lot of infused oils by the double boiler method-Fast and fun, I was able to use the oils in a matter of hours. But there is something to be said for doing things the old fashion way, infusing oils over several weeks. For some herbs, cold fusion helps preserve some of the active properties of the plant, making a more potent oil. Last month I started Meadowsweet (Spiraea Ulmaria), Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and Rose (buds). Hopefully by November I will have some helpful oils to give as gifts and sell.  Meadowsweet Some information on Meadowsweet herb, used as an Analgesic, anti-inflammatory. When used as a tincture, it addresses arthritic, muscular pain and headache. It is also helpful for gastric and urinary track irritation. As a topical agent-what I’m making, it will be used muscular aches and pains. I made both Comfrey salve and an infused oils. Comfrey helps the h...

My grape plant, pictured in June of this year. By the time September arrived, my plant baby was bigger, taller and grapes galore!  Nothing like a cold drink to take you through a hot summer day. I think no one can deny that this year has had its share of  crazy, hazy, hot days. I don’t know what you’re go to beverage is but I do like cold grape or orange juice with flavored seltzer and ice, yum. This year I got the chance to make wild grape juice-from grapes from my garden. Initially I wasn’t sure how sure how to take grapes to juice but I got an easy recipe online. The end product was a great tasting, slightly tart juice-just the way I like it. Next year I hope to be able to make a lot more. I picked out the dark grapes, tossed out the green and white ones. After washing the grapes I put them in a saucepan with enough water to cover them. Once on the stovetop, the grapes were placed on simmer for about 15 min, just enough to break grape skin. Afterwards, I mashed and strained...

  Arnica chamissonis Hi Everyone, In last month’s blog I reviewed the hits and misses I had over the last few months. The last activity I spoke about was my attempt to make Arnica (Arnica chamissonis) oil. My dilemma was whether I was going to use my oven dehydrator or a quicker method I read about-picking Arnica flowers and letting them sun dry for about an hour, then using double boiler method to obtain oil quicker. I opted for the double boiler method. Within 3 hours I had a wonderful oil, ready to use!  Sun and air drying the Arnica flowers Using the double boiler method to make the oil-3 hours stove top. This morning I was out in the yard, I deadheaded the spent Arnica flowers, hopefully I will get another batch of Arnica flowers to make more oil! For now, I have a topical oil to address bruises, muscle and tendon pain. It’s a hit! Thanks for hanging with me:). 

Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)   Hey Everybody:) I'd like to follow up with some of the projects I started a few months ago. Some were successful, others not so much. In December's blog, Slap-Happy Gardener , I started infusions for Goji Berry and Chrysanthemum. The result was a wonderful tincture that includes Bacopa-addressing mind and body health. February's blog, You Can Sow It and Grow It , had me sowing seeds in milk jugs and bottles. I sowed Skullcap, Blue Vervain and Dang Shen. Today I have a bustling Dang Shen plant, I look forward to incorporating the roots for tinctures. The Skullcap and Blue Vervain never sprouted:(.  Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosa) In Mayday! Mayday! It's Mother's Day , I set out to make rose scented oil, using dried rose buds purchased from Mountain Rose Co. As the weeks went by, the oil appeared to be coming along well, then in last 2 weeks of infusion, I notice water condensation in bottle, the oil went rancid. I wasn't discouraged, I ...

(No, this is not a Damascus Rose, this is a beautiful Gardenia flower) Family, flowers, dinners, gifts-All a part of the special day for moms or anyone caring for family or friends. My mom passed way a year ago but I still feel excited about Mother’s Day.  My mother loved flowers, and I still try to keep a bouquet of flowers in the house to brighten up the place. This month I’m trying my hand at making a Damascus Rose oil. This is a beautiful flower with a wonderful scent, I hope to capture some of it in the infusion. Below, you’ll see the items I used and how I attempted to make the oil. I’m using the slow method, letting the rose infuse in the oil for 6 weeks. There are faster ways of making the oil-using the double boiler method, etc., but I’m going to try it this way, we’ll see what happens. I have my Mason Jar, oil (Fractionated Coconut Oil) and Damascus Rose Petals-From Mountain Rose Co. With the amount of rose petals I had-117 grams, I made two batches of infused rose oil. I...

  Spring is here, gardeners itchin' to sow and get plants in the ground for Summer beauty.  Some of us have already started seedlings indoors. Hopefully for me, my plant babies will do well out in the wilderness-garden. Some pictures of my “kids”, Below, Marigold seedlings.                                                     Beets, Lavender and Brussell Sprouts Bacopa Green thumbs, let’s pray for a refreshing Spring and a wonderful Summer. Thanks for hanging out!