the 21st century herbalist | katie: normal girl

November 11, 2012

Homemade Holiday Gifts: Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

by Katie Glenn

I have studied herbalism for many years and enjoy using the knowledge that I have gained to create both simple and complex herbal remedies, delicious teas, tisanes and brews, and to make natural skin and hair care products. I get to share a lot of this knowledge in my weekly column on hellogiggles.com as The 21st Century Herbalist. Once a week I like to repost the column here, just in case you missed it!

Original publish date: October 11, 2012

s we continue to celebrate the multi-generational traditions of women, I can’t help but think of all of the wonderful recipes that have been passed down through the women in my family. This time of year always puts me in the mood for peanut brittle but not just any peanut brittle, I look forward to my great-grandmother’s cinnamon peanut brittle. It’s that little bit of cinnamon that makes this treat feel unique to my family and always makes me nostalgic.

The cinnamon tree is native to India and can now be found in many parts of the world. The bark has long been used as a delicious flavoring in many types of food but it also has many medicinal benefits too. This spicy bark is warming and works as a mild, yet effective, digestive aid. It also has antiviral properties that make it great for fighting infection.

There are so many peanut brittle recipes out there, so feel free to just add a bit of cinnamon to one of your favorites. If you don’t have a favorite, then I’d love for you to share in my family’s tradition and make the version below. It makes a yummy treat that can be wrapped up and given as treats to your co-workers, family and friends.

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Tags: cinnamon peanut brittle recipe, diy gift ideas, food, gift ideas for co-workers, gifts for the mail carrier, handmade gift ideas, hellogiggles, holidays, homemade, homemade gift ideas, peanut brittle recipe, recipes, teacher gift ideas, the 21st century herbalist

November 4, 2012

Moisturizing Pumpkin Body Whip

by Katie Glenn

Original publish date: September 27, 2012

or those of us in the northern hemisphere, Autumn is officially here! Bring on the pumpkin flavored lattes, bagels, cream cheese, muffins and any other food we can flavor with delicious pumpkin and spice flavors! Mmmm…I love it all. Along with all of those yummy foods it’s also pumpkin season for your skin. Yup, pumpkin for your skin. It is so moisturizing and packed with nutrients that help bring out the subtle glow of your skin.

Next time you’re in the grocery store or at the farmer’s market pick up a pie pumpkin and give this great body whip treatment a try. It’s a great way to pamper yourself after a long week of studying, working or before a big date. Later, as winter weather sets in and your skin starts to get a little dry, use this recipe to rehydrate your skin and even your hair.

This recipe is part of this month’s celebration of the multi-generational traditions of women. It is a classic recipe that goes back generations and uses simple, natural ingredients to soothe and moisturize your skin.

Ingredients:

A small to medium sized pie pumpkin
1 c. full-fat, unflavored yogurt
1-2 tbsp. olive oil

Posted in All-Natural, Herbalism, Skin Care | 11 Comments »

Tags: all-natural, autumn, beauty, diy gift ideas, do it yourself, hellogiggles, homemade, natural beauty products, pumpkin recipes, recipes, the 21st century herbalist

October 28, 2012

Celebrating the Multi-Generational Traditions of Women

by Katie Glenn

Most of the images on my site are photographed by myself, however; this lovely image came from istockphoto.

Original publish date: September 20, 2012

enerations ago, there were tiny homes cobbled together by the people of the surrounding village, with each neighbor helping the next to create a community. Inside these little homes you’d find simple furnishings and functional décor. Keep looking and you’d notice a fire burning low in the hearth and table made of heavy wood, flanked by empty chairs and benches awaiting their occupants. On shelves sat tools worn with use, yet cared for by the very hands that worked them so hard. If you were to open the cupboards, drawers and cabinets you’d find them brimming with trinkets of nature, bottles of herbal brews, oils, salves and lotions. This is where the secrets of generations past were stored. This is where the true old wives tales were born and this is where they were passed on.

As an herbalist participating in traditions that were started long before I came into existence, I’m interested in the beginnings of these sacred practices. When I use my mortar and pestle, I imagine the wise hands of elders cupping the hands of young ones, showing them the motions and flow needed to grind the herbs. I picture small bottles of golden oils filled with the essences of plants and pure waters from rain, river and well, being set out for the brewing that was to come. Around a table sat women of generations each with a journal, some as large as tomes, filled with the knowledge of their years. Each book was tabbed with bits of ribbon and string, bookmarked with feathers and scrawled with herbal recipes. Back then (and even now) there were the few that could understand the plants, they were attuned to them and they knew how to use them. It was the plant walker that usually became the medicine man or woman of the village. As an herbalist of today, it is these medicine women of the past that I think of when making healing herbal brews. Learning about traditions that started long ago and were enacted as hearth fires were lit, foods

Posted in Herbalism | 6 Comments »

Tags: celebrations, community, culture, health, hellogiggles, life, old wives tales, relationships, the 21st century herbalist, traditions

October 7, 2012

Mayonnaise Hair Mask for Moisture, Shine and Growth

by Katie Glenn

Original publish date: July 05, 2012

DIY Hair Care Month begins! Years ago I was told the slathering mayonnaise on your hair will make it soft and shiny. I had to try it and it worked. Of course, I couldn’t just leave it at that. I had to improve it! I had to make my own. I’ve lost track of how many versions I’ve created but below you’ll find my favorite Herbal Mayonnaise Hair Mask recipe. For those of you that would like to keep it simple, I’ve also included the “Super-Basic” and “Basic” Mayonnaise Hair Mask recipe. All three recipes follow the same “Use” instructions below.

Super-Basic Mayonnaise Hair Mask

- 1 c. of all-natural, full-fat mayonnaise

Basic Mayonnaise Hair Mask*

- 1 large (or 2 small) egg yolk(s) at room temperature
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 5-6 tbsp. base oil of your choice (select one or a combination): olive oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed or coconut oil

Follow mixing instructions below.

*This recipe is based on the best benefit for your hair; it is not the tastiest mayonnaise for eating…though you could.

Herbal Mayonnaise Hair Mask

1 large (or 2 small) egg yolk(s) at room temperature – softens your hair
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar – adds shine, restores pH balance, removes residue and product build-up
1 tbsp. powdered** rosemary – encourages hair growth
1 tbsp. powdered** sage – encourages hair growth
1 tbsp. powdered** burdock root – softens your hair
1 tbsp. powdered** nettle – adds shine, encourages hair growth and moisturizes the scalp (good for dandruff)
1 egg white – adds shine

Optional:

For light hair: 3 tbsp. lemon or lime juice
For dark hair: 3 tbsp. walnut hull concentrate***
For red hair: 3 tbsp. alkanet root concentrate***

Posted in All-Natural, Herbalism, Skin Care | 11 Comments »

Tags: all natural beauty products, all-natural, beauty, beauty tips, do it yourself, hair care, mayonnaise for your hair, mayonnaise hair treatment, natural beauty products, natural hair treatments, the 21st century herbalist

September 17, 2012

Calming Oatmeal Facial

by Katie Glenn

Original publish date: January 19, 2012

Last nerve frayed? Winter weather dried out your skin? No problem. The chamomile in this mask has natural anti-inflammatory properties that will ease your nerves. The honey is a natural humectant, pulling moisture from the air and drawing it to your skin. It will leave you feeling calm and moisturized, and who wouldn’t want that?

You’ll need:
2 1/2 tsp. powdered milk
2 tsp. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. honey
2 chamomile tea bags

Brew…
Place the chamomile tea bags in your favorite mug and pour in 1 cup boiling water. Put a saucer over the cup to trap the escaping steam, which is now infused with the beneficial constituents of the chamomile flowers. Let this steep for 10 minutes.

After the tea is done steeping, remove the tea bags, squeeze out any excess water and place them in the refrigerator to cool.

Mix…
In a small bowl, mix together the powdered milk, ground oatmeal, honey and 2 tsp. of the warm chamomile tea. The warm water will draw out the beneficial elements of the oatmeal and milk, while liquefying the honey, creating…read more (you’ll be redirected to my column on hellogiggles.com)

Posted in All-Natural, Herbalism, Skin Care | 21 Comments »

Tags: all-natural, beauty, beauty tips, diy skin care month, education, face mask, facial, natural beauty products, the 21st century herbalist

May 23, 2012

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 17

by Katie Glenn

It’s week 2 of DIY Skin Care Month and today I’m talking cleansing. It’s the first step in any good skincare regime (cleanse, tone, moisturize). At first it can sound so basic — my face is dirty, I will wash it — but it gets a little more complicated than that. What if you also need to remove makeup? What if you have acne, or dry skin or oily skin or just went for a run and there’s sweat pouring down your face?? Synthetics, chemicals, naturals, organics…whew, it can get exhausting. How do you sort through it all and come up with a solution that meets your skin’s needs? You ask The 21st Century Herbalist on HelloGiggles, of course!

Before we get to the specific cleansing tips and the recipe that I have for you, let’s start with the basics. These are tried and true methods for cleansing the skin and getting the greatest benefit with the least amount of damage, regardless of skin type.

1. I said it last week and I’ll say it again…hydrate. Any dermatologist, doctor or grandmother will tell you, water is the key to a healthy complexion. In order for skin to remain healthy and resilient, it needs to be properly hydrated from the inside out, so make

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May 12, 2012

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 16

by Katie Glenn

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So we all want healthy, glowing, blemish-free, perfectly hydrated skin, right? But how to get it? Stores are filled with countless products and it can be difficult to figure out exactly what products you need, what order you’re supposed to use them in and how often you should be using them. This month, we’re sorting through it all and starting from scratch. Starting with step 1 and building on it until we end up with a complete skin care routine for your face, customized for your skin type. I’ll even include DIY recipes made with simple, all-natural ingredients, many of which are the basis for most of the skin care products on the market today.

Before we get started on DIY Skin Care Month, you’ll need to define your specific skin type because your skin care routine is a lot like

Posted in All-Natural, Herbalism, Skin Care | 1 Comment »

Tags: all-natural, beauty, characteristics of dry skin, characteristics of oily skin, diy skin care month, do it yourself, hellogiggles, how do i know my skin type, skin type, the 21st century herbalist, what's my skin type

April 26, 2012

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 15

by Katie Glenn

It’s the last week of One Ingredient…One Great Fix Month and as promised in last week’s post about milk, this week is all about honey! I don’t know who it was that first thought to smear this sticky, golden goo all over themselves, but I’m sure glad they did. Honey is incredibly beneficial to your skin and easy to use. You’ll want to make sure you’re using raw honey because the high heat used during the pasteurization process can destroy some of the naturally occurring compounds that make honey so great for your skin.

Honey as a Cleanser
Honey is a gentle, all-natural cleanser that won’t dry out your skin like soaps can. To use it, keep a bottle of honey in the shower

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Tags: all natural beauty products, all-natural, beauty, can i put honey on my face, do it yourself, hellogiggles, honey, how to make:, natural beauty products, natural hair treatments, the 21st century herbalist, using honey as a cleanser

April 21, 2012

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 14

by Katie Glenn

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

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Tags: all-natural, do it yourself, hellogiggles, home brewed, homemade, how do i use milk on my skin, is milk okay for my skin, milk, natural beauty products, natural hair treatments, the 21st century herbalist

April 14, 2012

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 13

by Katie Glenn

It’s week 2 of “One Ingredient…One Great Fix” Month and this week I’m chatting about hydrogen peroxide. You may know it best by its use as a cleanser for minor cuts and scrapes, and of course by its classic packaging. Found in the first aid section of your local drug store, it’s the one in the dark brown plastic bottle topped with a white cap and a basic label displaying its contents. This brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide is so much more than just a first aid solution, its also the active ingredient for, what I’ve heard is, a billion dollar industry — teeth whitening.

Next time you’re in the drug store, grab a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and walk it over to the oral hygiene aisle. Check the active ingredient for most of the whitening toothpastes, mouth washes and whitening cream, gel and strip kits, it probably says hydrogen peroxide. If it’s not the active ingredient, I’m willing to bet that it’s still listed somewhere in the ingredients. That’s the same stuff that you’re holding in the brown bottle and it only costs about $3.

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Tags: all natural beauty products, all-natural, do it yourself, hand crafted, hellogiggles, homemade, how to whiten with hydrogen peroxide, natural beauty products, the 21st century herbalist

katie: normal girl

Archives

Posts tagged ‘the 21st century herbalist’

Homemade Holiday Gifts: Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

Moisturizing Pumpkin Body Whip

Celebrating the Multi-Generational Traditions of Women

Mayonnaise Hair Mask for Moisture, Shine and Growth

Calming Oatmeal Facial

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 17

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 16

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 15

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 14

The 21st Century Herbalist: Volume 1, Issue 13

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