Nature’s kingdom is abundant in all kinds of powerful remedies for injuries, emergencies, and life’s ups and downs. This chapter is packed with home remedies for soothing and healing cuts, bruises, breaks, and strains, and for treating everyday ailments, such as colds and flu, headaches, hay fever, and stomach upsets.
Antiseptic Mist
Courtesy of Louise Idoux
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. + 2 tsp. lavender aromatic water (see here)
2 tbsp. + 2 tsp. bay aromatic water (see here)
2 tsp./10ml myrrh tincture (see here)
2 tsp./10ml calendula tincture (see here)
1/2 tsp. raw honey (preferably manuka)
1 drop tea tree essential oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 1/2 cup.
Keeps up to 18 months.
METHOD
Mix together in a spray bottle or mister.
Spray once or twice directly on to wounds, twice daily.
— Tip —
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN TINCTURES BY FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES (SEE HERE). YOU CAN USE VODKA TO MAKE ALL TINCTURES, EXCEPT FOR TINCTURE OF MYRRH, WHICH IS MADE FROM MYRRH RESIN AND REQUIRES 90 PERCENT ALCOHOL–YOU CAN GET EVERCLEAR GRAIN ALCOHOL THAT IS 190 PROOF FOR THIS PURPOSE.
Honey & Marigold Graze Remedy
Try this instead of painfully picking gravel out of a graze. Honey is antiseptic, with strong healing properties; combined with the amazing marigold, it makes for miraculous healing.
INGREDIENTS
20 or so fresh marigold flowers (or 1/3 oz. dried)
1 (12-oz.) jar of honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 12 oz.
Keeps 1–2 years or more.
METHOD
Put the marigold flowers into a jar. Pour the honey over them, up to the top. Let sit for 2–3 weeks, or until you need it (there is no need to take the flowers out of the honey).
To use, slather the honey all over the grazed area. Cover with a large bandage and leave overnight. The next day, carefully peel off the bandage. The honey will have pulled out all the tiny stones, leaving the wound clean.
Quick Chamomile Eye Poultice for Sore Eyes
INGREDIENTS
1–2 chamomile tea bags
2 tbsp. boiling water
MAKES & KEEPS
This makes enough for one or both eyes.
For immediate use.
METHOD
Put the tea bags into a small bowl and cover with the boiling water. When cooled to just warm, lightly drain the bags.
Lie down and place the bags over closed eyes for 5–15 minutes.
Antibacterial Honey
This do-it-yourself antibiotic is powerful. It can be taken for any infection, especially one of the ears, nose, throat, lungs, and teeth.
INGREDIENTS
2 heads garlic, peeled and crushed
1 cup fresh thyme leaves and flowers, removed from stems (or rubbed, if using dried)
up to 1 (12-oz.) jar of honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 12 oz.
Keeps at least 3–6 months.
METHOD
Mix the garlic and thyme in an empty 12-oz. jar. Pour the honey over the mixture, making sure all is covered.
Adults: Take 1 tsp. 3–4 times daily.
Children: Take 1/2 tsp. 3 times daily.
Ulcer-Healing Honey
INGREDIENTS
Dried ground herbs:
1 oz. licorice root
1 oz. myrrh resin
1 oz. marigold flowers
1/4 cup raw honey (preferably manuka)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 11/4 cups.
Keeps for years.
METHOD
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and store in a jar. Apply frequently to canker sores and other open sores that are not healing well.
Take 1 tsp. 2–3 times daily for ulcers in the digestive system.
Spray for Strained or Sore Throats
INGREDIENTS
2 drops thyme essential oil
1/2 tsp. pure vegetable glycerin
2 tsp./10ml sage tincture (see here)
2 tsp./10ml echinacea tincture (see here)
1 tbsp. elderberry, rowan, or rose hip syrup, or a mixture (see here)
4 tsp. boiled water
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 2 (1-fl.-oz.) spray bottles.
Keeps 3–6 months.
METHOD
Beat the thyme essential oil into the glycerin. Slowly add the sage tincture, echinacea tincture, syrup, and the boiled water, beating as you pour. Mix well, then bottle in small spray bottles for ease of use.
To use, spray directly into the back of the mouth as often as required.
Simple Turnip Cough Syrup
Courtesy of Anne Chiotis
An expectorant to help your lungs clear themselves of mucus.
INGREDIENTS
1 fresh turnip
plenty of brown sugar
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes a variable amount.
Best used fresh, but keeps up to 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Hollow out the center of a turnip, leaving 11/4–11/2 inches of flesh around the edge. Fill it with brown sugar and let sit for 12 hours. A delectable syrup will form as the sugar draws the juice out of the turnip. You can simply store the turnip in the refrigerator, using it as your “cup,” or decant the syrup into a jar.
Take 1–3 tsp. 3 times daily.
Comfrey Oil
This makes a powerful healing oil. Dried comfrey leaves work best; fresh ones are juicy and hold too much water to use in an oil.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. dried comfrey leaves
2 cups olive oil or other vegetable oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 2 cups.
Keeps 3–12 months.
METHOD
Make as described for the Heal-All Marigold Oil (see here).
Use in creams, ointments, and liniments for healing connective tissue.
Intensive Skin Repair Balm
Courtesy of Iain Stewart
This solid, waxy balm for cracked skin, especially on hands and heels, is popular with climbers.
INGREDIENTS
8 tsp. grated beeswax
2 tbsp. jojoba oil
7 tbsp. grapeseed oil
1 tbsp. Comfrey Oil (see here)
Essential oils:
24 drops tangerine
12 drops petitgrain
6 drops patchouli
6 drops black pepper
6 drops cypress
6 drops benzoin
oil from 3 (400 IU) vitamin E capsules
YOU WILL NEED
• 6 (1-OZ.) SILICONE MOLDS
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 6 blocks of 1-oz. blocks.
Keeps for years.
METHOD
Place the beeswax, jojoba, grapeseed, and Comfrey Oil in a double boiler or water bath. Heat for a couple of minutes, until the wax has melted.
Let cool for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time. Then add the essential oils and vitamin E, mixing well.
Put the mixture into silicone molds and let sit overnight. It will set hard. Remove from the molds and store.
— Tip —
USE OLIVE OIL TO MAKE A LONGER-LASTING OIL; OTHER OILS KEEP LESS LONG.
Heal-All Marigold Oil
Pot marigold, often known by its Latin name Calendula officialis, has many excellent healing qualities and is wonderfully easy to grow. Its infused oil is used alone or in many healing and nourishing balms, ointments, and creams. This recipe uses the hot method, double infused.
INGREDIENTS
4 cups pot marigold flowers, freshly picked (or 1 oz. dried)
just under 2 cups olive oil or other vegetable oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 12/3 cups.
Keeps 3–12 months.
METHOD
Put half the marigolds into a double boiler.
Heat gently in the oil. Keep on especially low heat, just warming the oil really, for 3 hours.
Remove from heat and let cool. When cool, strain and press through a strainer or funnel lined with cheesecloth. Compost the remainder of the herbs.
Add the remaining marigolds to the infused oil. Repeat the simmering process for another hours, then let cool and strain again. This is now a double-infused oil (see here).
Heal-All Marigold Cream
Use this cream made from pot marigolds for its antibacterial and soothing effects.
INGREDIENTS
Oil fraction:
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp. Heal-All Marigold Oil (left)
1/2 cup emulsifying wax Water fraction:
Water fraction:
3/4 cup + 5 tsp. strong marigold tea (see here)
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp./100ml marigold tincture (see here)
Extras:
1/2 tsp. benzoin tincture/2ml (Friar’s Balsam)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 2 cups.
Keeps 6–12 months in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Make the cream following the method for Comfrey Cream for Speedy Healing (see here).
— Variation —
FOR A MULTIPURPOSE ANTISEPTIC CREAM, STIR IN 1/2 TSP. LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL RIGHT AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.
Comfrey Cream for Speedy Healing
Courtesy of Dedj Leibbrandt
Read the cream-making instructions (see here) before you start. Creams made using emulsifying wax are usually foolproof.
INGREDIENTS
Oil fraction:
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp. Comfrey Oil (see here)
1/2 cup emulsifying wax
Water fraction:
3/4 cup + 5 tsp. strong comfrey tea (see here)
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp./100ml comfrey tincture (see here)
Extras:
1/2 tsp./2ml benzoin tincture (Friar’s Balsam)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 2 cups.
Keeps 6–12 months in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Gently heat the oil fraction in a double boiler or water bath. Once the wax has melted, add the tea. Keep the mixture on the heat if it needs to remelt.
Next, add the water fraction and then put the pan in a basin of cold water to quickly cool it—his is called a cold water bath. Whisk the mixture constantly until it emulsifies, which takes 3–4 minutes with a handheld mixer. Then mix in the benzoin tincture (to preserve the cream) and pour into jars.
Apply liberally to any injury where the skin remains unbroken.
— Variation —
THE COMFREY CREAM RECIPE CAN BE ADAPTED TO MAKE ANY CREAM, SUBSTITUTING DIFFERENT HERBS TO SUIT DIFFERENT PURPOSES. YOU CAN ALSO ADD ESSENTIAL OILS FOR THEIR HEALING QUALITIES (UP TO 1/2 TSP. EACH) WHEN YOU ADD THE BENZOIN. SEE THE “HEAL-ALL MARIGOLD CREAM” FOR EXAMPLE (SEE HERE), AND THE “STOP ITCH CREAM” (SEE HERE).
Stop Itch Cream
Courtesy of Dedj Leibbrandt
INGREDIENTS
Oil fraction:
3 tbsp. + 1 tsp. chickweed infused oil (made using 1/4 cup olive oil infused with 2 tbsp. chickweed)
1/4 cup emulsifying wax
Water fraction:
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp. strong chickweed infusion (see here)
3 tbsp. + 1 tsp./50ml chickweed tincture (see here)
30 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops benzoin tincture (Friar’s Balsam)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 8 oz.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Make in the same way as Comfrey Cream for Speedy Healing (see here), stirring in the peppermint oil with the benzoin tincture.
Apply liberally to ease itching as often as needed. Do not use on broken skin.
St. John’s Wort Oil
This beautiful red infused oil with anti-inflammatory, healing, and antiviral action uses the sun’s power to capture the healing properties of St. John’s wort. You have to make this oil from freshly picked flowers, and it requires sunlight to develop properly.
INGREDIENTS
any size jar full of freshly picked St. John’s wort flowers
olive oil, for covering
MAKES & KEEPS
Keeps 6–12 months.
METHOD
Pour the olive oil over your freshly picked flowers, right up to the top of jar.
Add the lid and place the jar in a sunny spot, turning daily. It takes 2–8 weeks to be ready, depending on how much sun it receives. You know it is ready because the oil turns deep red.
Strain, press, and wring out through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or funnel into a dark bottle. Compost the spent flowers.
Add more flowers and continue for a double infusion if desired, as for Heal-All Marigold Oil (see here).
This oil is great for applying to herpes and shingles, and added to any anti-inflammatory cream, ointment, liniment, or rub.
Antiseptic Healing Lotion
INGREDIENTS
Tinctures (see here):
1/4 cup/60ml St. John’s wort
1/4 cup/60ml marigold
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/2 cup.
Keeps 1–2 years.
METHOD
Mix the tinctures together.
Apply undiluted to bites and stings, cuts, grazes, acne, cold sores, and so on.
Dilute a few drops in a mug of water to wash infected skin 2–3 times daily.
Aloe Vera Instant Burn Remedy
Aloe vera is easy to grow. Its long leaves are full of a transparent gel that can be applied directly to burned skin, with immediate soothing and healing results.
INGREDIENTS
1 fresh aloe vera leaf
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes enough for 1 application.
Use immediately.
METHOD
Cut the leaf lengthwise with a sharp knife.
Scrape out the gel and apply it straight to a burn.
— Tip —
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL CAN ALSO BE APPLIED UNDILUTED TO EVEN SEVERE BURNS WITH EXCELLENT EFFECT.
Sage & Daisy Poultice for Bruises & Swellings
INGREDIENTS
fresh sage leaves
fresh daisies
vinegar to cover
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 application.
Use immediately.
METHOD
Gather enough herbs to cover the area. Gently heat the herbs and the vinegar together for about 5 mins. Do not boil.
Lay the herbs, still hot, out on a thin piece of cloth. Fold the cloth to a size big enough to cover the bruised area. Place it on the body, while the herbs are still hot but not in danger of burning. Wrap it with a towel to retain the heat.
Replace 1–2 times daily, as needed.
— Variation —
USE A VINEGAR INFUSED WITH SAGE, ROSEMARY, OR COMFREY (P.19) AS A VARIATION ON THE ABOVE.
Poultice for Broken Bones & Strains
Fresh comfrey root is a miraculous healer. Keep some in the freezer so that you have it on hand whenever you need it.
INGREDIENTS
fresh comfrey root
about 3 tbsp. hot water
YOU WILL NEED
• A BLENDER
• GAUZE AND MICROPORE TAPE
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 application.
Fresh roots keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Keeps 3–6 months in the freezer.
METHOD
Put enough comfrey root to cover the affected area in a blender, with the hot water to help it blend up. Mix to a smooth paste. If you don’t have a blender, you can grate the roots.
Apply to the affected area. Cover the poultice with gauze and micropore tape to hold it in place.
It will become a hard, dry cast after a few days. At this point, remove the poultice, replacing it with a fresh application.
Do not use on open wounds.
Ribwort Poultice for Infected Wounds
Courtesy of Eliot Cowan
A simple and highly effective cure.
INGREDIENTS
fresh ribwort plantain leaves
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 application.
Use immediately.
METHOD
Mash up the leaves (or chew them) to make a poultice.
Put the poultice on infected or suppurating wounds, and insect bites or stings. Change frequently.
— Tip —
YOU CAN USE DRIED LEAVES FOR POULTICES – JUST ADD SOME HOT WATER TO MAKE IT JUICY.
Canker Sore Cure
Courtesy of Eliot Cowan
An incredibly efficacious and fast-acting cure for canker sores in the mouth.
INGREDIENTS
small piece of golden thread root
KEEPS
Use immediately.
METHOD
Place a small amount of the golden root between the gums or teeth and the sore. It is bitter, but keep sucking on it until the bitterness almost disappears, then remove.
Repeat until the sore is cured.
Daisy Bruise Ointment
You can use arnica instead of daisies.
INGREDIENTS
30–40 common daisy flowers
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tbsp. grated beeswax
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 4 oz..
Keeps 6–12 months.
METHOD
Make an infused oil with the daisies (see here); you should end up with 1/2 cup of infused oil.
Gently heat the beeswax and the infused oil together until melted. Pour into jars.
Apply to bruises 3–6 times daily or as needed.
Jewelweed Salve for Skin Infections
Courtesy of Eliot Cowan
Jewelweed is not only a good remedy against fungal skin infections, such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, pityriasis versicolor, and so on, but it is also an antidote to poison ivy when applied to the skin.
INGREDIENTS
1 handful of fresh jewelweed leaves, stems, and flowers
1 cup olive oil
1 oz. grated beeswax
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 cup.
Keeps at least 1 year.
METHOD
Gently heat the jewelweed and olive oil to make an infused oil (see here). The liquid will turn bright orange, the color of the flowers.
Strain the mixture. Then gently heat the beeswax into the oil to make a salve.
Apply the salve liberally and frequently to infected skin.
— Tip —
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A TEA (see here) FROM THE JEWELWEED AND DAB THE COOLED LIQUID ON THE INFECTED AREA FREQUENTLY.
Mullein Flower Oil for Earache
You can make this oil using either the cold- or heat-infused method—see here.
INGREDIENTS
just under 12/3 cups mullein flowers, freshly picked
just over 3/4 cup olive oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just over 3/4 cup.
Keeps 3–6 months.
METHOD
Make an infused oil with the mullein flowers and olive oil (see here). Once ready, store the bulk in a jar and a small amount in a dropper bottle for ease of administering the oil.
Put a few drops directly into the ear 3–6 times daily.
— Variation —
ADD 1/2–2/3 TSP. OF LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL, WHICH IS GOOD FOR TREATING AND PREVENTING INFECTIONS.
Cold & Flu Tea
This classic remedy helps to prevent a cold if you catch it early, as you begin to shiver and feel its onset. It stimulates the circulation and promotes sweating.
INGREDIENTS
Dried herbs:
1 oz. elderflowers
1 oz. peppermint leaves
1 oz. yarrow flowers
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 3-oz. herb mixture.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Make tea (see here) using 2–3 tsp. per mug of boiling water, infused for 5 minutes.
Drink freely.
— Tip —
MAKE ICE POPS WITH THIS TEA: MAKE 2 CUPS COLD & FLU TEA AND SWEETEN WITH HONEY TO TASTE. LEAVE TO COOL, THEN FREEZE IN POPSICLE OR ICE-CUBE MOLDS. SUCK ON THEM TO CALM SORE THROATS AND FEVERS.
Basil Snifterchief
Courtesy of Sue Wine
A surprisingly effective remedy to protect against, and treat, sore throats and viral colds.
INGREDIENTS
5 drops basil essential oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 application.
Use the same day.
METHOD
Drop the basil oil onto a handkerchief.
Keep it in your pocket or under your pillow and sniff often. Just smell the oil—do not touch the handkerchief to your skin.
Xmas Survival Tummy Tonic
Helps to settle the stomach after overindulging in rich foods.
INGREDIENTS
Dried ground herbs:
1/2 oz. angelica root
1/2 oz. chamomile
1/2 oz. licorice
1/2 oz. marshmallow root
1/2 oz. artichoke roots or milk thistle seeds
1 (12-oz.) jar of honey (optional)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 141/2 oz.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the ground herbs thoroughly with the honey to make a paste or thick syrup.
Take 1–2 tsp. in a glass or cup of hot water 1–3 times daily for as long as needed.
Headache Powders
A preventive for chronic, regular headache and migraines.
INGREDIENTS
Dried ground herbs:
1 oz. ginkgo
1/2 oz. feverfew leaves
1 oz. valerian root
1/2 oz. ginger root
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 3-oz. herb mixture.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Simply mix all the herbs together and store in a jar.
Take 1 tsp. in hot water 2–3 times daily as a headache preventive.
Caution
Dehydration is a common cause of headaches, and magnesium deficiency can be a factor in migraines. If you experience regular headaches or migraines, consult an herbalist for tailor-made treatment.
Herbal Aspirin
Aspirin was first found in willow bark. It has been used for centuries as a pain-killer for headaches and other pains, and to bring down fevers.
INGREDIENTS
Dried ground herbs:
2 oz. willow bark
1 oz. lavender
2 oz. valerian
1 oz. skullcap
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 6-oz. herb mixture. Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the herbs together well.
Take 1–2 tsp. of the powder in a mug of water up to 4 times daily.
Homage to Hildegard Hangover Cure
Courtesy of Teri Evans
This hangover cure is based on a medieval recipe by Hildegard of Bingen. It draws upon herbs used at that time for “swimmings of the head” and so forth.
INGREDIENTS
Tinctures (see here):
5 tsp./25ml chamomile
4 tsp./20ml holy thistle
4 tsp./20ml milk thistle
1 tbsp./15ml meadowsweet
1 tbsp./15ml wood betony
1/2 tsp./2ml ginger
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 1/2 cup. Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Mix the tinctures together and store.
Take 1 tsp. twice before midday, dissolved in 21/2 cups water.
Homemade Tiger Balm
Courtesy of Catherine Johnson
A famous pungent pain-killer, originally from Burma. Apply a small amount to the temples to ease headaches or rub on to itching insect bites or tired muscles.
INGREDIENTS
just under 1/2 cup hemp oil
1 tbsp. grated or small pieces beeswax
Essential oils:
100 drops/1 tsp. peppermint
60 drops/1/2 tsp. camphor oil
80 drops/2/3 tsp. wintergreen
60 drops/1/2 tsp. lavender
60 drops/1/2 tsp. eucalyptus
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/2 cup.
Keeps 6–12 months.
METHOD
Gently melt the hemp oil and beeswax in a double boiler or water bath. Let cool for 5 minutes, then add the essential oils.
Stir well and pour the balm into a jar.
Keep it away from eyes.
Hay Fever Mead
If you can, start taking herbal hay-fever medicine a week or two before you usually start to feel the allergy. Ideally, make the mead from fresh herbs, otherwise dried will do.
INGREDIENTS
1 handful of elderflowers
1 handful of thyme leaves and flowers
1 handful of eyebright, leaves and flowers
1 handful of plantain leaves
1 handful of chamomile flowers
1 handful of nettle tops
21/2 cups mead
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 21/3 cups.
Keeps over 1 year.
METHOD
Gather the herbs, if using fresh.
Remove from stems, then cut up or shred.
Mix the herbs together and make a tincture using the mead (see here).
If already experiencing hay fever, take 1–2 tsp. 3 times daily. To prevent onset, try 1/2–1 tsp.
Children can take 10–20 drops 3 times daily.
FIRST-AID KIT FOR TRAVELERS
For traveling, it is always good to take your own remedies with you, because you may not be able to easily source some herbs while you are away. Remember that if you are flying, there will be restrictions on taking liquids and pastes in your hand luggage.
Travel Sickness Candies
Read the candy-making section (see here) before attempting this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
1 handful of fresh chopped ginger root
12/3 cups water
11/2 cups brown sugar
2 tbsp. butter or almond oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 20–40 candies.
Keeps 3–4 weeks.
METHOD
Boil the ginger in the water for 20 minutes. Strain and measure. If necessary, reduce the liquid further by simmering with the lid off. You’re aiming for just over 3/4 cup.
With the liquid still over the heat, add the sugar and boil until you reach “hard-ball” stage (see here). Remove from the heat and stir in the butter or oil.
High-Flier Candies for Anxious Fliers
Read the candy-making section (see here) before attempting this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
Dried herbs:
1 oz. valerian root
1/2 oz. passionflower
1 oz. red clover (mildly blood thinning)
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 40–70 candies.
Keeps 3–4 weeks in an airtight container.
METHOD
Boil the valerian, passionflower, and red clover in the water for 15 minutes. Strain, and reduce the liquid to 1 cup by simmering, if necessary. Add the sugar to the liquid and boil until you reach “hard-ball” stage (see here).
Blood Thinning Mix for Long-Haul Travelers
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (see here)
2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh ginger root
1 head garlic, cloves separated, peeled, and crushed
2 tbsp. ground turmeric
3 tsp. cayenne powder
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/2 cup. Keeps 1–2 years.
METHOD
Make an infused vinegar using all the ingredients (see here).
Add 1 tbsp. to a large tomato juice at the start of your flight, repeating every 3 hours.
Do not use if you are taking warfarin or other blood-thinning drugs.
Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer
For times when you cannot wash your hands or want to give them an extra hygiene zap.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup water, boiled or distilled
2 tsp. aloe vera gel
2 tbsp. distilled witch hazel
Essential oils:
15 drops lavender
15 drops tea tree
7 drops thyme
oil from 2 (400 IU) vitamin E capsules (optional)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 1/2 cup.
Keeps 1 month.
METHOD
Mix all the ingredients together. Decant the liquid into a pocket-size spray bottle to use.
Spray directly onto hands only. Rub all over as if washing them.
Air-Con Shield
This will help prevent you from picking up your fellow passengers’ bugs.
INGREDIENTS
Essential oils:
50 drops/1/2 tsp. thyme
100 drops/1 tsp. tea tree
100 drops/1 tsp. lavender
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 21/2 tsp.
Keeps at least 2 years.
METHOD
Mix the essential oils together.
Sprinkle a few drops onto a tissue or cotton ball. Wipe around the air vent above your seat (and the neighboring seats if you can) in the plane.
Mosquito Spray
Courtesy of Dedj Leibbrandt
One mosquito spray may work for one person but not another because of the way the herbs and oils mix with our own scent to create a new smell.
INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup distilled witch hazel
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp./100ml mugwort tincture (see here)
Essential oils:
17 drops lavender
17 drops thyme
17 drops peppermint
35 drops lemongrass
15 drops citronella
1 tsp. emulsifier (optional)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 cup.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Simply mix the ingredients together and decant into a spray bottle. If you choose not to use an emulsifier, just shake well before each use.
Shake well before use. Apply to the skin as needed to deter mosquitoes.
Biting Insect Repellent
Courtesy of Michael Vertolli
This will deter mosquitoes, black flies, deer flies, horse flies, fleas, and ticks. For ants, spray it for a few days at the point where they are entering the house. You can spray it on pets’ bedding, but not directly on to pets.
INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp. + 11/2 tsp. water
2 tbsp. + 11/2 tsp. vodka
1 tsp. pure vegetable glycerin
Essential oils:
10 drops sweet basil
10 drops catnip
10 drops lavender
10 drops fir
10 drops pine
10 drops citronella
10 drops lemon or lemongrass
5 drops cedar
5 drops patchouli
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 1/2 cup.
Keeps indefinitely.
METHOD
Mix all the ingredients together well and store in a spray bottle for ease of use.
Shake well before use. Spray on exposed areas, then spread the repellent around with your hands to make sure the entire surface of your skin is coated. Avoid contact with your eyes—to apply to face, spray your hands and rub it in carefully. If it gets into your eyes, rinse well with water.
Reapply as needed; the repellent will last for several hours.
Bug-Busting Mix for Vacation Stomaches
Take this herbal remedy alongside plain probiotic organic yogurt (or a probiotic capsule of “friendly bacteria”) to help protect you from stomach bugs while traveling.
Please note that this recipe is NOT a substitute for eating and drinking sensibly – in certain countries, that means being particularly careful about water and food.
INGREDIENTS
Dried ground herbs:
1/4 cup. fennel or cardamom
3 tbsp. bayberry root
3 tbsp. cinnamon powder
2 tbsp. cloves
10 drops thyme essential oil
just over 3/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (see here)
3 tbsp. honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 11/4 cups.
Keeps 6–12 months.
METHOD
Mix all the ingredients together well and put into a strong, wide-mouth plastic bottle for traveling. Shake or stir before use.
Take 2 tsp. daily in a little water, mixed with the freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon, if desired.
— Tip —
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE EATEN OR DRUNK SOMETHING UNWISELY, TAKE AN EXTRA DOSE OF THE BUG-BUSTING MIX THAT DAY AND THE FOLLOWING DAY.
“Lemon Sherbet” Rehydration Remedy
It’s important to drink water frequently throughout the day while you’re traveling, especially in hotter climes. If you feel dehydrated, this simple recipe can help replenish your body’s fluids.
INGREDIENTS
1 quart boiled water
8 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 quart. Drink within 2 days.
METHOD
Dissolve the sugar and salt in the water. Add the lemon. Sip often over 1–2 days to replace fluids lost by diarrhea, vomiting, or fever.
Diarrhea Stopper
Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner if symptoms persist or are severe, especially in young children who can get dehydrated quickly.
INGREDIENTS
Dried herbs:
1 tbsp. green tea
1 tbsp. agrimony
2 tsp. bayberry (or yellow root)
2 tsp. oak bark
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 3/4-oz. herb mixture (about 4 doses).
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Grind the herbs to powder. Mix well and store in an airtight container.
Make the tea, using 1 tbsp. mixture per mug of boiling water. Let cool and drink 1/2 tea cup up to 6 times in a day.
Antimalaria Mix
I carry this mix with me whenever I’m traveling to a malaria area, because these herbs can help protect against this serious disease.
INGREDIENTS
Tinctures (see here):
1/2 cup/120ml sweet wormwood
1/4 cup/60ml bayberry
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 3/4 cup.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Simply mix the tinctures together in a bottle and store.
Take 1 tsp. 3 times daily if you are in an area where malaria is active. Continue to take the mixture 1 tsp. 3 times daily for 1–2 weeks after you leave the danger area.
Caution
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening illness and precautions should always be taken when traveling to countries where it is prevalent. Always consult a health practitioner and research the subject thoroughly before traveling.
Allopathic physicians recommend taking a course of medicines to prevent malaria, though most herbalists will opt for natural alternatives. While it’s possible to take both medicines and herbal treatments together, it’s essential you check with your health practitioner before doing so. It’s also important to note that no medicine or herb plan offers guaranteed protection against malaria. Always be vigilant against mosquitoes. Cover up and use nets and repellents as your first line of defense.