Valerian And Valium

peaceful

Anxiety is a condition that is suffered by many people – and it is a condition that many people also seek help with; there are several ways to deal with anxiety, one of which is the use of synthetic prescription drugs such as valium (diazepam). However, there is a natural alternative to such drugs, including [...]

How to Dry Herbs in the Oven

basil

Whether you have your own herb bed in the back yard, or gather plants in the wild for your herbal medicine chest, unless you properly dry and store them, you labor in vain. Most herbalists recommend air drying herbs to preserve their volatile oils. However, living in a humid area prevents me from simply hanging [...]

Use of Alkanet in Natural Cosmetics

child applying blush

Have you ever wondered how to get color in your natural cosmetics, such as lip balms and lotions, without using a synthetic product? I recently came across a plant extract which can add a red tint to your home made cosmetics. Alkanet is a plant that is alternatively known by the names dyer’s alkanet or [...]

How to Wildcraft Herbs

wild jewelweed

People that enjoy making their own herbal preparations usually find pleasure collecting their herbs from the wild. If you have access to land away from highway fumes and farm chemicals, you can find many of the medicinal herbs you use in that location. Plantain leaves for insect bites, burdock leaves for burns, black walnut hulls [...]

Different Types of Mint Essential Oils

Peppermint

Mint is an ancient herb that was prevalent in medieval herb gardens; its use both as a herb and as an oil is not new. However, it might be that different types of mints were used for different conditions and purposes, as there is more than one type of mint species that has medicinal uses. [...]

Health Benefits of Black Beans & How to Cook Black Beans

black beans

In other parts of the world, beans are a staple item. In fact, the Brazilian Food Pyramid actually has a section devoted to beans. Why are beans consumed all over the world? Basically, they are really good for you; and they are cheap. The Black bean, or black turtle bean, is a variety of the [...]

Making Natural Perfumes at Home

Perfume Bottle

Centuries ago all perfumes were made from natural elements such as plants; however today most commercial perfumes are made from synthetic ingredients. Since I began working with essential oils in aromatherapy I have found that I have become more and more allergic to synthetic perfumes and fragrances, perhaps my body’s way of rejecting anything that [...]