So we (Coed Cariad members and I) made an all round feel good soothing tonic last year on the 3rd of July 2023. We also made a lovely heal all balm. They were foraged from the surrounding site. And as you can see from the list we were surrounded by the healing bounty of mother nature. It was an absolute pleasure foraging all the wild and wonderful things with this motley group of young adventurers. Coed Cariad: All round feel good/soothing tonic1/4 teaspoon as needed (up to 4 daily), can add to warm water or drinks. Infusion of herbs and vegetable glycerine: Lemon balm (melissa officinalis), lime flower (tilia europaea), selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), meadow sweet (filipendula ulmaria), cramp bark (Viburnum...
Herbal Tool Box Balms: A balm/salve is basically infused oils &/or essential oils and beeswax: Ratios: (turns out to be pretty important!) 7 to 1 ratio of oil to beeswax ensures that the salve has enough body to stay solid in the container during a normal summer but not absolutely rock hard. Use the smaller 6:1 ratio of beeswax if you are in an air conditioned environment or you are making salve for winter. & the percentage of essential oils is also important as many can be irritant. (note: this can apply when creating bath oils) Essential Oil Blend Percentage Essential Oil Amount Carrier Oil Amount 0.5% 1 drop 2 teaspoons 2 drops 1 tablespoon 10 drops 100 ml...
Recommended books: A Herbal Book of Making and Taking By Christopher Hedley and Non Shaw is as it says. Found at the amazing publishers of aeon books: https://health.aeonbooks.co.uk//product/herbal-book-of-making-and-taking/94121 The incredibly useful Hedgerow medicine with great pictures and chapters which focus on the plants around us here in the UK is a must. There other book Wayside medicine is very interesting but unfortunately as the plants are not popularly used currently the research and uses seem a more scant in this book. This little pocket guide called Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe (Collins Nature Guide) Paperback is what really helped me to know the plants all around me. Its is accessible, easy to use with some information as to their...
So I have been busy making tinctures with the bounty of nature all around and I must say it's lots of fun. I use organic grain alcohol which I buy using an alcohol license. The amazing herbarium website helped me do the paperwork which was easier then I had procrastinated over and can be found here: Application for Authority to Receive Duty Free Spirits. Another option if looking for smaller amounts without a licence is 5 litres of 95% @ £85.50 at liquid essences. When I started making tinctures for use for home and friends I used coop gin. I'm not sure why, perhaps because I'm a fan of gin and tonics. In hindsight vodka would have been a cleaner alcohol as...
Salvia Rosmarinus, (formally Rosmarinus officinalis): Family: Lamiaceae Common names: Rose of Mary, elf leaf, friendship bush. Part used: Leaf and flower Flavor: Pungent Action: warming and stimulating, often drying (Popham, 2021) Salvia Rosmarinus has been used for centuries in food and medicinally with a high point during the 17th century plague, where in London prices exceeded 6 shillings, well over the price of a pig at the time (Iverson, 2019). It was also burned with juniper in hospitals and sick rooms to cleanse the air. It is mentioned by Culpeper as it ‘helps weak memory and quickens the senses,’ and for windy digestion and poor eyesight, for which it is still used for today. Folk medicine saw it used a...
