Tag: home brewed

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 14

Milk and honey are two ingredients that just seem to go together naturally. Since biblical times there have been references to the “land of milk and honey”. John Lennon and Yoko had an album called Milk and Honey and Margaret Atwood named one of the stores in her novel The Handmaid’s Tale “Milk and Honey”. (Aside: If Hunger Games has you itching for another dystopia story, this is a good one.) So milk and honey have solidified their place in culture, but why? Why are they so great? There are a lot of reasons, and in this week’s installment of One Ingredient…One Great Fix Month, I’ll share some of the reasons that milk is so great for your skin…it’s not just for cereal anymore! Then next week, we’ll explore the loveliness that is ooey, gooey honey.

Milks Derived From Animals

There are, of course, different types of milk (skim, 2%, whole) from different sources (cow, goat, sheep), but they all contain some

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 12

It’s the start of “One Ingredient…One Great Fix” month and I’m starting with one of my favorites, apple cider vinegar. You probably know it best as a culinary ingredient, but it’s so much more than that! I initially intended to give you “one great fix” but apple cider vinegar is so versatile that I couldn’t help myself and I had to give you two great fixes.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Remove Product-Buildup, Add Shine, Soothe Itchy Scalp

You know all those crazy hair styles you’ve been sporting lately? Your shampoo can only do so much to remove all of the product that you use on your hair and the product that it leaves behind will build up and lead to dull hair. You can also experience lack luster locks because your conditioner may contain glycerin*, which coats your hair making it soft and shiny. It also attracts dust and dirt, which then sticks to your hair and creates buildup.

Homemade: Easy, All-Natural, pH Balancing Facial Toner

It’s a bonus week for Sundays Homemade! Now that you’ve brewed your own Herbal Floral Water, you’ve got a bi-product that shouldn’t be lost down the drain. Turn it into an all-natural, pH balancing facial toner that’s great for all skin types, especially combination and acne prone skin.

You’ll Need:

4 cup, seal-able container (I prefer a large mason jar)
2 cups reserved Herbal Floral Water (dark water)*
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
10 drops peppermint oil

*If you haven’t made the Herbal Floral Water and would like to make this toner: simmer herbs (see herbal floral water for suggested herbs) in distilled water for 1-2 hours, then follow the steps below.

Strain the boiled herbs and their dark water through a fine-mesh strainer, lined with cheese cloth, into a large mason jar.
Add the vinegar and peppermint oil, seal the jar and shake.
After cleansing your face, apply toner and let dry before applying any lotions or creams.

I like to pour some of the final mixture into a container with a smaller opening than the mason jar, making it easier to wet a cloth or cotton pad, for application. The vinegar will act as a preservative, so the smaller batch does not need to be refrigerated; however, I do like to store the remaining mixture in the refrigerator.

Home Brewed: Herbal Floral Water

DIY: Brewing Herbal Floral Water

(Scroll down to view a video version of these instructions)

Growing up, I always adored shelves filled with bottles of potions, lotions and brews. I’ve always been drawn to cabinets lined with jars of herbs, colorful glass bottles, cork stoppers and wooden spoons. Now I am the proud owner of many of these things and there is nothing I enjoy more than creating a new home brew on a rainy Sunday morning.

On this drizzly Sunday morning, I bring you a recipe for a fragrant and oh-so-useful herbal floral water. This water can be used alone as a facial toner, astringent or aftershave, or mixed with additional ingredients to create customized, all natural skin care products.

I like to use the following herbs for my herbal floral water:

3 parts Calendula Flowers – natural acne healing and prevention, good for oily, blemish prone, combination and normal skin types
2 parts Chamomile Flowers – soothing for acne and blemishes, good for all skin types
1 part Yarrow – soothing for acne and blemishes, good for oily, blemish prone, combination and normal skin types
1 part Rosemary – especially good for oily and combination skin
1 part Sage – especially good for oily and combination skin
1 part Lemon Balm – especially good for normal skin types
1 part Rose Petals – any skin type, especially good for dry skin
1/2 part Comfrey Root – soothing and healing for acne and blemishes, good for all skin types