Here are eight ways to use lilac flowers, plus a free printable reference sheet about growing and using lilacs. The common lilac that so many of us know and love can be used to make all sorts of wonderful natural remedies and skincare projects! Not just a pretty springtime flower, lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are also…
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…
Here’s a way to capture the delightful fragrance of fresh lilacs, so you can enjoy their scent long after the flowers have faded! It’s difficult to preserve the elusive scent of flowers like lilacs and gardenias, so perfumers from years past came up with the wonderful method of enfleurage. It sounds fancy and a little…
In this recipe, fresh lilac and violet flowers combine with honey and brandy to make a tasty herbal elixir for sore throats and mild coughs. Why did I choose these two plants? Well, first of all, they’re two of my favorite springtime flowers and they look so pretty together! But mainly, because they also have…
Have a toothache, but can’t be seen by your dentist right away? Try these natural toothache remedies while you wait! The best way to fix a sore tooth is to see your dentist and treat the underlying cause; however, there are sometimes long wait times for appointments, or other times that you just don’t have…
Honey syrups are a simple and sweet way to take your herbal remedies! They’re especially helpful for the sore throats and coughs of winter, but can be used year ’round. If you can simmer a pot of water, you can make an herbal syrup. It’s super easy! Basic Formulas for Making Herbal Honey Syrups In…
My favorite home remedies & skin care recipes involve simple ingredients that are easy to find locally and don’t break my budget. This is where the local grocery store comes in handy! Here are 5 grocery store ingredients I always keep in stock, plus tips and recipes for using them. Make grocery store remedies &…
Learn how to make your own herb infused oils in this step by step guide. You can then use your finished oil to make lotion bars, creams, body butters, salves, lip balms, and natural soaps! Flowers and herbs are filled with healthy components, but to harness those benefits for skincare products such as salves, lotion…
Today, I have a printable quick reference sheet (“cheat sheet”) for you to save for the next time a cold or flu strikes your house! Plus even more natural cold and flu remedy recipes and tips below! A couple of weeks ago, our family came down with co-vid, and the intense brain fog and fatigue…
Learn to make a quick and easy throat spray using tinctures (or herbal tea) and honey. It’s a delicious way to treat sore throats, coughs, and colds! Today, I’m sharing how I make customized herbal honey throat sprays to treat my family’s scratchy and sore throats. I use raw honey in these, but you can…
Have fresh corn? Don’t throw away that corn silk! Corn Silk can be used to help alleviate symptoms that go along with: bedwetting, cystitis, prostatitis, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, gout and hyperglycemia. It’s also a natural source of vitamin K and potassium. Few things in life are more delightful than discovering the goodness in…
From sore throat gargle to wound spray, here are 14 useful things to make with calendula tea! Calendula is loaded with powerful skin-healing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, yet is gentle enough for most people and animals to use safely. You can make all sorts of things with calendula, including soap, salve, lotion bars and lip…
Learn how to make homemade elderberry syrup using fresh (or dried) elderberries and honey. (Updated for 2021, since I’ve reduced water amounts and cooking time since my original recipe in 2015.) ? Over the past few weeks, we’ve been harvesting from our elder bushes, making lots of goodies, including tincture, oxymel, and salve. Check out my article…
Learn to make an all-natural witch hazel + herbal liniment can be used for varicose veins, muscle pains, strains, and aches. This recipe was kindly shared by Dawn Combs, author of the book, Heal Local. It’s a great book centered around 20 homegrown or regionally sourced herbs that you can use to build a complete…
This salve recipe combines anti-inflammatory turmeric with pain relieving menthol to create an effective salve that can be rubbed into sore or achy joints, backs, feet, or wherever you have pain that’s relieved by a deep cooling sensation. Today I’m delighted to share a recipe that my daughter created! For many months, we’ve been working…
In this article, you’ll learn how to make three herbal salves featuring mullein infused oil: Basic Mullein Salve – for dry, chapped, or cracked skin Mullein First Aid Salve – for minor scrapes, scratches Mullein Chest Rub – for respiratory support Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is an herbal weed you’ve likely seen growing on roadsides…
This moisturizing herbal hand cream is perfect for skin that’s rough, damaged, or dry from gardening, or working a lot with your hands. It’s rich and thick, but soaks in nicely after a minute, to protect and repair your skin. I especially love making this cream with weeds which have been gathered while prepping veggie…
A common garden weed + simple ingredients makes up these purple dead nettle lotion bars that are perfect for dry, chapped, or cracked hands and feet. Lotion bars are not only super easy to make, but they’re highly effective too! This lotion bar recipe features purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum), which is a common weed…
Pineapple sage is more than just another pretty pollinator plant for your garden – it’s rich in antioxidants & also used as a traditional herbal remedy! Health Benefits of Pineapple Sage Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) is “widely used in traditional medicine, particularly in the form of infusions or decoctions, to… lower blood pressure and combat…
Learn how to harvest, dry, and use sunflower petals in DIY projects. Make your own sunflower salve, oil, soap, lip balm, lotion bars, and more! Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are the quintessential flower for late summer and fall. Not only do they provide seeds and nectar for birds and insects to enjoy, plus beautiful flowers to…
