Elderberry Tincture {with herbs}

 
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Bottles of Elderberry Tincture with Basket of Fresh Elderberries

Elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are a fantastic home remedy for colds and flu and are backed by both science and traditional use. They’re often turned into a sweet and tasty syrup, like my homemade elderberry syrup made with honey, but can also be preserved and dosed in other ways, including this elderberry tincture. I chose to add a handful of herbs to my elderberry tincture to give it an added antiviral boost, but they’re completely optional. Antiviral … Continue reading →

Blueberry Herbal Vinegar {a brain food!}

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Jar of blueberries, borage flowers, rosemary, thyme, purple basil and vinegar

Beautiful blueberry herbal vinegar features ingredients that are good for your brain and body! Learn how to make blueberry vinegar, plus how to turn it into a brain boosting oxymel (herbal sweet and sour syrup). This recipe was inspired by an interesting study I read about blueberry vinegar and its potential to improve cognitive function. “…The BV [blueberry vinegar] group showed significantly restored cognitive function in the behavioral tests. BV facilitated cholinergic activity by inhibiting … Continue reading →

Uses for Corn Silk

 
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jar of freshly gathered corn silk

Corn Silk can be used to help alleviate symptoms that go along with the following conditions: bedwetting cystitis prostatitis urinary tract infections kidney stones gout hyperglycemia It’s also a natural source of vitamin K and potassium. Few things in life are more delightful than discovering the goodness in something (or someone!) that the general population discards without a second thought. Right now, in my part of the world, sweet corn season has reached its peak. … Continue reading →

Daisy Lotion Bars

 
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fresh daisies with two daisy infused lotion bars

Learn how to turn common field daisies into easy DIY daisy lotion bars perfect for soothing chapped, dry, sore hands. Shasta daisies will work well for this project too! Found in fields and on roadsides, the common daisy isn’t just for making flower crowns. (Or seeing if he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me….) In the past, daisies were used as a traditional herb for inflammation and bruises, while today they’re being … Continue reading →

Red, White & Blue Swirl Soap with Natural Colorants

 
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red, white and blue swirl soap

This red, white & blue swirl soap is naturally colored with botanicals and clays, and scented with a blend of essential oils. Credit for the design inspiration goes to Kapia Mera Soap Company (see their lovely soap video HERE), only instead of cutting a thin layer to use for rimmed soap, I cut a thin layer off  the top to show the design better and then cut into regular bars. Natural Soap Colorants Notes Creating a … Continue reading →

How to Make Homemade Aftershave + 3 Recipes

 
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row of bottles filled with natural homemade aftershaves - bay rum, juniper woods, and cedarwood vetiver

Learn how to create your own natural homemade aftershave with herbs, spices and other healthy ingredients. I also include 3 aftershave recipes to get you started: Bay Rum, Juniper Woods, and Cedarwood & Vetiver. Several months ago, my husband requested that I create some natural aftershave recipes for him. In preparation, I spent a long while browsing through the Badger & Blade forums to get a feel for what discerning shavers liked and didn’t like … Continue reading →

Why do you need lye to make soap? (FAQS)

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Learn why you need lye to make soap and how to handle it safely. Our great great grandmothers made soap without having to use a caustic chemical, so why do we? The short answer is that our grandmothers manufactured their own caustic chemical of sorts, called potash, by combining hardwood ashes and water. This created an extremely strong alkaline substance that was considered ready when it would dissolve a chicken feather. The caustic wood ash solution … Continue reading →

Sweet Orange & Frankincense Homemade Natural Deodorant Recipe

 
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Learn how to make this non-toxic homemade natural deodorant recipe that features sweet orange and frankincense essential oils, along with herbal infused coconut oil for extra skin-soothing properties. This recipe makes a cream style natural deodorant that you store in a jar and spread on with your fingers. You only need a small amount to be effective! The creamy base is made up of shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil, while baking soda and arrowroot … Continue reading →