Tools for Natural Living

Herbal Gifts for Mom Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Can you think of anyone more deserving of pampering? Let all the mothers and moms-to-be in your circle know how special they are when you present one or more of these sweetly-scented gifts made with natural ingredients. Almond, Orange & Coconut Moisturizer 2 teaspoons beeswax pastilles 4 tablespoons sweet almond oil 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin 2 tablespoons neroli (orange blossom) hydr

Herbal Pet Care Warm weather is here at last! Unfortunately, although spring rain and sunshine brings joyful flowers, the greening elements also bring fleas and ticks. A quick look at the ingredient list of most conventional flea and tick products should give you pause. But with a few natural ingredients, you can banish dangerous pesticides and pesky pests at the same time. There is no question that most conventional flea and tick products contain chemicals that can harm pets

Herbs for Shade Does your garden get more shade than sunshine? Don’t let it stop you from growing some of your favorite culinary and medicinal herbs. Here are 18 common botanicals that thrive in the shade. Most herbs prefer full sun and even some shade-tolerant plants enjoy a few hours of morning sun, but as you can see from the list below there are a good number of herbs that don’t mind hanging out in the shade. This list will help you plan for your shade garden or for those

Winter is finally over and the earth is renewing herself. So is your body. In fact, since passing out treats to tricksters, you’ve made an entirely new layer of skin – three times. But harsh wind, cold temperatures and arid indoor air may have left your skin feeling lifeless. Here’s 5 natural spa treatments to help you face the world again. Sweet Orange & Honey Cleanser Washing your face has never been sweeter. Note that this is a single use recipe because yogurt is perishabl

Scientific Name: Stellaria media Family: Caryophyllaceae Other Names: Cluck Weed, Hen’s Guts, Adder’s Mouth, Tongue Grass, Winter Weed Parts Used: flowers, stems and leaves Constituents: triterpene saponins, mucilage, phytosterols, flavonoids (apigenin and rutin), coumarins, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, zinc Chickweed is a perennial herb in the carnation family that is also known as starweed in reference to its small, star-like, white flowers. Its botanica

Herbs do more than simply enhance our food; they nourish our bodies and sustain our spirits. In fact, if you learn to listen to the plants, you will discover a wealth of healing wisdom waiting to be tapped in your own back yard. Whether you have acres of land, a small deck or a humble patio, there are several herbs with wonderful healing properties that are blessedly easy to grow in the ground or in containers. The following is by no means a complete list of herbs suitable fo

Restless leg syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, is a neurological disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs, usually in response to muscle twitching or a pins and needles sensation. Some people report experiencing “creeping” impressions, as though an insect is crawling on their skin. Symptoms tend to occur more often at night when the person is at rest, making sleep difficult. It should be noted that RLS can also affect muscle in the ar

Elder Blossom & Green Tea Lotion This soothing formula soothes dry, damaged skin and promotes new cell turnover. 1/4 cup sweet almond oil 2 tablespoons jojoba oil 2 tablespoons dried elder flowers 1 tablespoon green tea leaves 1 teaspoon grated beeswax Gently warm the oils in the top of a double boiler. Add the elder and chamomile flowers; heat for 2 minutes. Cover and let rest undisturbed for 48 hours, stirring a few times a day. Strain and discard herbs; reserving and retur

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), also known as blow ball, Irish daisy, monk's head, priest's crown and lion’s tooth, is a member of the Asteraceae family, which makes the herb related to daisy, sunflower and aster. The herb gets its name from the French phrase dent de lion, which means “tooth of the lion” and is a reference to its deeply lobed leaves. Another French nickname, pissenlit, which translates to “wet the bed,” alludes to the historical use of dandelion as a diuret

How to Use Arrowroot Powder Arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae) is a South American plant harvested for its tuberous root, which contains a high degree of starch. Its name comes from the use of the herb by the by the Arawak people to draw out toxins inflicted by poison arrows. Also known as Obedience Plant, arrowroot is a traditional remedy for diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders. At one time, the dried and powered root was used in papermaking. Today, arrowroot powder