stinging nettle on drying racks and a homemade nettle lotion made with magnesium oil

Stinging Nettle Magnesium Lotion

This homemade magnesium lotion features stinging nettles (Urtica dioica), an herb that fights inflammation, plus cypress essential oil which gently warms and stimulates circulation – making it useful for those with sore muscles, restless legs, leg cramps, or arthritis. Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click on one and make a…

basket of violet leaves and lavender flowers, jar of lavender flower tincture

Lavender Tincture + Uses

Here’s how to make and use lavender tincture! You can use fresh or dried lavender flowers for this project. You’ll also need some 80 to 100 proof vodka, and a half pint or small jar with a lid. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a well-loved herb with anti-inflammatory and skin soothing properties. The flowers (and the…

butters, beeswax, lavender flowers, and homemade lotion bars

Lavender Lotion Bars

These homemade lavender lotion bars are so helpful for rough hands or dry, cracked skin. They’re easy to throw together and make wonderful gifts too! I usually make lotion bars with equal parts of oil, butter and beeswax measured by volume, but have also included the corresponding weights in grams, for those who prefer to…

a small saucer and honey spoon with a homemade sugar scrub with lavender

Lavender Honey Sugar Scrub

This honey and lavender sugar scrub gently exfoliates your skin, leaving it soft, silky and smooth. It’s especially wonderful to use on your feet, elbows and knees. It’s also easy to make! Some links on this site are affiliate links. That means if you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a…

fresh lavender plant beside a tin of homemade lavender salve

Lavender Salve Recipe

How to make a multi-purpose homemade salve using: lavender flowers, oil, beeswax, and lavender essential oil! Lavender salve is a handy remedy to keep around for: This salve is made in two parts. First you make a lavender infused oil, then you melt it with some beeswax to make the salve. Add a little essential…

beeswax, shea butter, and homemade rose lotion bars

Rose Lotion Bars

Rose lotion bars are easy to make and are fantastic at healing damaged skin. They also make wonderful gifts! To use, rub a lotion bar over your skin wherever it feels dry. They’re especially helpful for spot treating rough feet, knees, and elbows. To make this recipe, you’ll first need to make rose infused oil….

a handful of dried violet leaves and a tin of green violet leaf salve

How to Make Violet Leaf Salve

Here’s a recipe for violet leaf salve, which is especially useful for eczema, dry skin, and swollen lymph nodes. While violet flowers are almost gone where I live, the leaves will still flourish in shady spots around my house for months to come. There are about 78 species of wild violets found in North America, plus…

lemon slices, raw honey, fresh lilacs, and a jar of lemon and lilac infused honey

Lilac & Lemon Infused Honey

This delicious infused honey was inspired by a favorite recipe, Ginger Lemon Honey Tonic, that I originally shared on this site several years ago. One beautiful spring day when my lilacs were in full bloom, I wondered… what would happen if I used lilac flowers instead of ginger in the recipe? What happened was the…