Salve Garden...Some Wild, Some Weeds, All Welcome

The middle of winter is a time we really miss our time in the garden. Herbs satisfy all our senses at once as we touch, smell, nibble, watch and if we listen hard enough maybe even hear what they have to say. It's all about attitude and how healthy it is to return to that connection with our natural world.

That urge to get back outside as soon as the sun shines warm again is so very good for both our physical and emotional wellness. It's no secret that to get some fresh air on a daily basis can do wonders as both a mental and physical energy boost. Getting your hands back into the dirt and smelling that distinct scent of turned up soil is enough to get most gardeners excited about what they plan to do come spring.

You'll soon find that once you get an herb garden established, there isn't a whole lot of expense every year. The perennials return on their own and the annuals that dropped seed will be found here and there and anywhere they can thrive. The trick is in knowing where these plants like to call their home. You'll soon learn you can't force a plant to do well in a certain spot just because it is where you'd like it to be, such as in an orderly fashion in your garden. Which is why so many of our beloved herbs are also called weeds. They grow where they please because they know a lot better than we do what conditions they need to survive, and that may not be in the confines of our nice, manicured, rich garden soil.

Most herbs don't like to be coddled. They are usually naturally resilient, drought tolerant and very good at adapting to their environment. Most herbs like full sun but will still grow in partial shade. Good drainage is a requirement with most plants.

There are many, many plants that can be used as part of your medicinal garden but here we have really good ones for the making of salves. The flowers and/or leafy parts are picked and infused in carrier oils such as olive, almond, grapeseed or coconut for about six weeks. The plant material is then strained off and the herbal oils are thickened up with beeswax to create a variety of very healing, effective home remedies.

Encouraging these plants in your landscape is not just beneficial for our sake. They provide survival for our pollinators, an issue we hear so much about with the detrimental effects of habitat loss. Don't be scared off by the chorus of their buzz. The bees and other insects are just doing their thing. You'll be amazed how you really can work side by side without incident.

Anise Hyssop
(Agastache foeniculum)
A member of the mint family, hyssop has the typical square stem and the dense whirl of purple flowers along a spike. A bee magnet for sure. Anise hyssop has a wonderful licorice smell and flavor and while it does make a nice salve with its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it is often used in teas and confections.


Calendula
(Calendula officinalis)
Cheery Calendula is a must have, not only because it is so useful, but because it is so easy to grow and reseeds itself. It is also a valuable companion plant for the vegetable garden. Plant this annual near beans and lettuce. Keep the flowers picked and it'll be happy to produce more and delay going to seed. Medicinally, Calendula is very well known for it's anti-inflammatory and healing properties, good for eczema, rashes, radiation redness, cuts and scrapes. Makes a good wound wash. Safe for babies, this salve makes a nice sore nipple balm during those months of breastfeeding.


Comfrey
(Symphytum officinale)
Comfrey is such a good healer for wound care that you have to watch you don't use it too soon. Puncture wounds cannot close up too quickly, as they heal from the inside out. It's name actually means "make grow together". Very useful for bone fractures. This perennial can spread out so give it room. The bees love the little purple tubular flowers and the fuzzy, rough leaves make an excellent compost tea for your gardening needs. Those large leaves are often used as a poultice for covering larger wounds.


St. Johnswort
(Hypericum perforatum)
This perennial is named for the summer solstice as it begins to flower during the month of June. Though labor intensive to pick just the yellow flowers, it's hypericin results in a deep red, crimson oil which is so worth it. Many people associate this plant as a remedy for depression which is true, but as a salve it is invaluable for any injury involving the nerves, as well as a sunburn remedy. Though planted as part of an herb garden, this plant is often seen wild in meadows and along roadsides, so be sure what you're picking has not been sprayed with herbicide.


Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is another perennial that can often be found growing wild but it can be added to your herb garden to return year after year and be divided easily to propagate. This plant makes for an awesome bug deterrent.and for healing it is very helpful for skin rashes and itchy spots. Yarrow is what is known as a styptic which means it can stop bleeding. Known as woundwort, yarrow had been indispensable for wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Containing antiseptic and analgesic properties this plant helped avoid infection and lessen pain. As an addition to the garden it's a good choice if you're interested in deer resistant plants.


Chamomile
(Matricaria Recutita) German chamomile
(Chamaemelum nobile) Roman chamomile
Though both types are great for calming anxiety, the German chamomile is better for skin conditions such as eczema and inflamed, irritated skin rashes. German chamomile is an annual that is taller and will pop up here and there, whereas the Roman chamomile is a low growing perennial. Chamomile is wonderful for relieving gas and belly pain, very safe for children. Gather the flowers for the perfect, apple scented cup of tea and go back for more to use for herbal oils. The more you pick the more they'll produce.


Plantain
(Plantago spp)
Plantain is so often a hated lawn weed because it's a space hog amidst the grass and has those tassels that for sure will escape the lawn mower blades and pop back up again. But when it comes to healing this plant is called the "mother of herbs". The astringent properties make for an excellent poultice to lay on wounds, thorns or bee stings to draw out toxins and neutralize pain. Should you get stung by a bee, quickly pick some plantain leaves, chew them into a mush, apply to the spot, and be amazed how quickly the pain diminishes.


Chickweed
(Stellaria spp)
This is another of those weeds gardeners often detest. An annual, chickweed arrives early in the growing season and can quickly creep over an entire garden. Actually, this plant is a very good springtime foraging food, very healthy and tender if picked before it gets stringy. It's often used to help loose weight. Itchy eyes during allergy season can be relieved by applying a chickweed poultice. As far as being used as a salve, this cooling herb is great for itch, rashes and bug bites.



Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale)
Though dandelions spread their fluffy seeds every which way the wind blows, this plant is actually a deep rooted perennial. People who pull them aren't getting rid of them at all, since breaking off the root only makes it grow right back. This is a weed to most people which is a shame since dandelions are such a necessary food source for birds in early spring and such a nutritious herbal remedy. For use as a salve dandelions are very soothing for breast massage. It's properties get the body's lymphatic system moving to release fluids and relieve painful breasts during the monthly cycle.


Lemon Balm
(Melissa officinalis)
Lemon balm is wonderful for its soothing tea but did you know it's antiviral properties make it perfect for a herpes remedy. Be it from shingles, chicken pox, cold sores or genital herpes, lemon balm can help with those painful blisters during a flair-up. Best if applied at that first tingle.
If you do plant lemon balm, remember it is in the mint family and will spread. Therefore if you want to keep it where you want it, plant it in a big pot(s) and bury the pot if you'd like.


Violets
(Viola odorata)
Considered a weed by some, personally I love to see the splash of color violets add to a lawn. Also known as heart's ease, the common violet contains demulcant properties which give it significant amounts of mucilage which is what makes them so good for healing. Cooling to the skin, it reduces inflammation and relieves redness. Finding a good violet patch may prove difficult but this perennial is a treasure once established.

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a wild native impatiens to North America. Also called Touch-Me-Not, this wildflower is a fun plant and often one of the first people learning to identify wildflowers can easily recognize. The flowers are a speckled orange and look like little trumpets. At the end of the season, any little disturbance sends the seeds flying, much to the delight of children. The plant can often be found in the vicinity of poison ivy and stinging nettles. Break open the hollow stems and the juice is an effective relief when rubbed onto the itch resulting from poison ivy exposure. 

This plant can also be made into a great salve for the many skin miseries such as rash, bug bites, eczema as well as poison ivy, oak, sumac and nettles.

This list could easily become longer as more plants come to mind. But for now, think spring and all you want to do this season!

Aloe Vera for Health, Beauty, First-Aid

ALOE VERA

 Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) was originally from North Africa but can be found in many hot, dry regions of the world. It is a very frost sensitive plant, and with its shallow root system it is easy to over water. Aloe is a member of the lily family (includes onions and garlic), and is called a succulent due to its thick, gel filled tubular leaves.

Every home should have a potted Aloe vera plant, if only for its availability as a first aid treatment. The leaf contains enzymes, essential amino acids, proteins, vitamins E, C, B1, B2, B3 and B6, as well as minerals iron, manganese, calcium and zinc. The gel penetrates deeply and easily into the layers of skin, therefore used extensively in skin care. With the same pH balance as skin, it is naturally hypoallergenic (which means it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction) and makes for an excellent moisturizer.

Aloe plants also make great houseplants for improving indoor air quality. They help remove benzene from the air, which is found in paints and household cleaners. Easy to grow and as long as you don't over water it, the aloe plant should be an easy houseplant to keep alive.

If you don't have the actual plant, then be sure to buy bottled Aloe that has been minimally processed. Commercially prepared Aloe vera gel often has artificial additives. Be sure it is 100% organically grown Aloe vera. The one used for my skin care is Real Aloe, grown in southern California.

Externally, it is used in beauty and skin care, but also is excellent to treat cuts, burns, eczema, stings, sunburn, itch, even relieves joint pain.The tubular leaves contain a thick gel which is odorless, tasteless and colorless but packed with healing properties. It's cooling touch eases pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory as it forms its own bandage. Just snip a piece of leaf off, squeeze out the gel, and apply. Being Aloe vera accelerates cell rejuvenation and improves blood flow, the formation of scar tissue can be reduced.

Internally, Aloe is very soothing for complaints with the digestive system. Conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's disease, Diverticulitis, and Colitis all may benefit from Aloe but permission should be attained from a physician.
Informative article about the benefits of taking aloe internally.
Pregnant women must be aware that Aloe can stimulate uterine contractions so should be avoided during the pregnancy. Internal use should also be avoided while breast feeding since Aloe may be purgative to the baby (means it may be a bit too stimulating to the bowels).

Aloe for Sunburn, Bug Bites Itch

Here is a quick summary of how many uses Aloe gel or juice can have:
1. Burns
Make sure you are using
pure Aloe. Apply directly to the area of the minor burn or sunburn for cool relief.

2. Shaving irritation
Apply as an aftershave to relieve razor burn.

3. Hair
Aloe is very soothing for an itchy scalp. Also softens hair and helps with the frizzies.
Add some aloe to your shampoo or use as a leave-in conditioner.

4. Itch relief
Apply a bit directly to bug bites or to areas of rash or eczema.

5. Make a homemade hand sanitizer by mixing 2/3 cup isopropyl alcohol, 1/3 cup aloe and 10 drops essential oil of choice.

6. Mouthwash
Benefit gums and mouth care by swishing a bit of aloe juice around in your mouth or make a mouthwash by mixing 1 cup aloe juice, 1/2 cup distilled water, 2 tsp. baking soda and 10 drops peppermint essential oil

7. Moisturizer
A non-greasy, quick absorbing moisturizer. Great when a heavier, oil based moisturizer isn't needed.
Added to facial creams in place of water adds to the beneficial quality of the cream.

8. Soothe an upset stomach or help relieve heartburn
Aloe vera juice can be an aid for digestive issues.

9. A restful night's sleep
Aloe emits oxygen at night which can help with a good night's sleep.

10. Helpful to relieve the discomfort of dry, skin conditions.

 Though Aloe vera gel is used in many of our skin care products, this is a favorite:            
ALOE ROSE FACIAL WASH, CLEANSE, SERUM, MAKE-UP REMOVER


 Aloe Rose Facial Wash cleans and moisturizes without the use of soap, therefore very beneficial for those with dry or sensitive skin.
It is said that legendary Egyptian beauties attributed their flawless complexions to the use of three basics:  
Roses, Olive oil and Aloe vera gel.

A tropical plant, aloe is used in many formulas for reparative skin preparations, soothing astringents and sun products. Its gel is extremely cooling and refreshing.
Fresh rose petals are infused in the heat of the summer sun to bring you a pretty pale red rosewater. A touch of rosewater concentrate is added to further enhance the subtle fragrance of this soothing wash.
Vitamin E is added because in addition to being good for the skin by its aid in healing, it is an antioxidant which means it will help to prolong the shelf life of oil-based products.
Olive oil is a very stable nourishing oil used in many ways of daily living by those in the Mediterranean. It is therapeutic and lubricating for skin care.

Cleaning your face with oil may sound unappealing but contrary to popular belief, oil does not contribute to oily skin or breakouts. The sedum that the skin creates is there to protect the skin. When we use commercial cleansers to remove this natural oil, the body reacts by producing more oil. Dry skin is often the result of stripping away this natural barrier and things get out of balance. It is the same as how our hair adjusts to constant shampooing.

In washing our faces we want to remove the dirt and bacterial which builds up in our pores but we have to think about the chemistry behind it. Oil dissolves oil, like dissolves like. Water and oil do not mix; commercial cleansers contain ingredients to break up the oils but in doing so may strip away the natural protective layer. By using a nourishing oil like olive oil, the dirty oils are being replaced with beneficial ones.

The oil and water contents will separate so give the bottle a little shake before use.

Wet your face with warm water and massage a small amount of Aloe Rose Wash onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse and pat dry. Because olive oil is an oil it may feel as though it is not washing off but this feeling is temporary. Once you pat dry, your face will feel incredibly smooth.
OR
This blend also works great to use as you would a facial serum to cleanse your face without the need to rinse. Add a small amount to a cotton square and wipe over your face to remove dirt and moisturize at the same time. The aloe gives such a cool and refreshing feel and you'll be amazed at how it cleans by just looking at the cotton square or tissue that you use.

Very effective method to gently remove make-up

Traditional Remedies for Sunburn and Minor Burn Care

After a long cold winter season, many people look so forward to spring, that as soon as an opportunity presents itself, they soak up those warm rays by laying out in the sun. As therapeutic as that is for our moods, and most likely we do need the vitamin D, too much of a good thing all at once can easily result in a nasty sunburn.

Or perhaps, a distraction while preparing something on the stove resulted in a burn from the burner, a hot frying pan grease spatter, or even scalding water while draining pasta. Accidents happen and if you know how to handle these mishaps quickly, you can treat a first degree burn at home and help the damaged tissue to repair itself without too much pain or blistering.

Burns affect the skin by setting off immune responses within the body. It depends on the severity of the tissue damage that prompts a particular immune response.
When the immune response is prompted, platelets and inflammatory cells are sent to the affected area and cause the swelling and redness. With serious burns, infection is a threat, therefore the immune system sets off chemical reactions to stop invasion of bacteria.

With a first-degree burn the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis, is damaged. This results in inflammation and reddening. These burn types can be treated at home.

A second-degree burn has damage to not only the epidermis but deeper to the next layer of skin called the dermis. This results in not only the reddening and swelling, but also blistering. Blisters are very painful and infection is a possibility, therefore should be treated with medical attention.

The most serious burns are called third-degree, where multiple dermal layers have been burned away.
Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention. Depending on how much of the body is affected, these injuries are often down to the bone and can result in shock, infection and possibly be life threatening.

The following home remedies use ingredients that are known to help heal the damaged tissue from burns, but if you suspect your burn involves more than that described as first-degree, go to the doctor for advice on treatment.

The Meadow Muffin Gardens shop carries four varieties of sunburn and/or minor burn home remedy choices.

One uses the benefits of herbal oils and coconut, one uses the wonderful aloe plant,  one uses the properties of apple cider vinegar, and the last uses raw honey. They are all beneficial and suited for the different preferences of the consumer. Some people find salves too greasy for their liking, others don't like the smell of vinegar and others may have to be careful with allergies. So here you have choices from which to see what works for you.

The herbal balm/salve is based on the therapeutic properties of St. Johnswort and Comfrey. St. Johnswort flowers contains hypericin, which is beneficial for injuries involving the nerves.
Comfrey contains allantoin, which stimulates and accelerates tissue repair.
Coconut oil is wonderful for its cooling nature and often used for burn remedies. The unique combination of fatty acids in coconut oil help relieve inflammation and provide the needed moisture.


Added are three very beneficial essential oils: lavender, rosemary and carrot seed.
Lavender's reputation for burn treatment originates with the "father of aromatherapy", the french chemist Dr. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. He burned his hand very severely and quickly immersed it into a vat of lavender oil. He was amazed how quickly his hand healed without scarring.
Rosemary, a cleansing and antiseptic oil, combines with lavender to increase circulation, reduce inflammation and relax the muscles. All of which aid in regenerating new tissue.
Carrot seed oil is added because its beta-carotene levels have been shown to protect against ultra-violet-induced skin cancer.

In using a salve on a burn, you have to remember to first cool down the skin. Don't apply the salve immediately since you don't want to trap in the heat.
First step for burned skin is to cool down the damaged skin with wet, cold compresses. Don't use ice water or ice cubes. Once the burn is cool, it is ok to apply applications of this soothing salve. You don't want to apply it before the skin is completely cooled or you'll be trapping in the heat. The advantage of a salve is that it stays put and provides protective coverage without needing a bandage, therefore the burn has needed exposure to the open air.


Radiation as part of cancer treatment can result in reddening to the treated area of skin. This herbal salve/balm can be very beneficial to help with radiation burns or if used right from the start of treatment, to help prevent the reddening.


The second choice is a very cooling Aloe Vera Spray utilizing the great reputation of Aloe Vera.
If the idea of touching your child's sensitive sunburned skin sends him/her into a panic, then perhaps a spray treatment is more ideal than a salve.

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) is known for its use in cooling, soothing and healing burns. The sword like leaves of this tropical plant contain a gel and a sticky yellow residue called latex. It's the perfect aid for burn emergencies. Aloe juice reduces inflammation and redness, heals the skin and helps prevent scarring.

As in the salve, this Aloe Vera spray contains the wonderful benefits of lavender and carrot seed essential oils. Aloe Vera gel or this type of spray can be applied as soon as possible. They will do a great job to cool down the heat in the skin and perhaps prevent the inflammation and reddening. Again, this is referring to first degree burns.


Next, we have yet another use for utilizing  popular Apple Cider Vinegar and Witch Hazel.

Rose & Elderflower Vinegar Spray uses the natural anti-inflammatory properties of Apple Cider Vinegar. When applied to sunburn, the skin receives soothing pain relief, and the nutrients naturally in apple cider vinegar help replenish those lost in the skin when damaged.

Vinegar acts as an antiseptic, meaning it prevents proliferation of bacteria, viruses and yeast that could trigger infection.

Roses have long been used in skin care due to their high content of vitamin C and ability to calm down inflammation.

Women have long used Elderflowers for their mildly astringent and stimulating properties. It was used to keep the face smooth, youthful and free from blemishes. Elder flower water alone is very good for sunburn, infusing it in vinegar enhances the therapeutic value even more.

The floral vinegar infusion is diluted with the cooling, astringent, anti-inflammatory benefits of witch hazel. Witch hazel is a standard home remedy in many a household.

Last we have the reemerging respect for using honey as a burn remedy.This picture and listing promote this as a facial mask but it can also be used for burns.

 Honey was a conventional therapy in fighting infection up until the early 20th century, at which time its use slowly vanished with the advent of penicillin. Topical use of honey has a long history. In fact, it is considered one of the oldest known wound dressings.
Now the use of honey in wound care is regaining popularity again, as researchers are determining exactly how honey can help fight serious skin infections.

When considering using honey for the treatment of wounds, it's extremely important to understand that there's a major difference between raw honey and the highly processed "Grade A" type honey you find in most grocery stores. The latter is more akin to high fructose corn syrup, which is more likely to increase infection, and should never be used to treat topical wounds.  High quality RAW honey will help draw fluid away from your wound and suppress the growth of microorganisms. Part of what gives raw honey its antibacterial properties is an enzyme called glucose oxidase, which the worker bees excrete into the nectar. This enzyme releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with your wound. A chemical reaction between the honey and the tissue also makes your wound smell good. Heated honey will destroy this perishable enzyme which is why you want to only use raw honey for this application.
When applied to the skin, honey may serve as a barrier to moisture and keep skin from sticking to dressings.  covered it with a piece of gauze and changed the dressing with new honey every 12 hours.

St. Johnswort

Comfrey

Lavender

Aloe Vera

Rose and Elderflowers

Summer Solstice, St Johnswort

June 21st is the summer solstice and it is time to celebrate the peak of the season with all its life and energy. click here for a neat post about summer solstice rituals and ways to use symbolism as a means to connect with the sun, the source of our light.

A solstice is when the rays of the sun directly strike one of the two tropical latitudes. There's 24 hours of daylight at the North Pole and areas north of 66°30' N, and there's 24 hours of darkness at the South Pole and areas south of 66°30' S. The equator receives twelve hours of daylight.
This marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and also their longest day of sunlight. The Southern Hemisphere begins their winter along with their shortest day of sunlight.

Traditionally the summer solstice was known as "midsummer", but our modern society now uses it as the first official day of summer.
The word solstice derives from the Latin sol sistere - "sun stand still". The sun is associated with life and the first harvest of crops has always been a reason to celebrate.

Prior to Christianity, pagan celebrations were very symbolic throughout many traditions and cultures.
Fire was seen as an honor to the sun and symbolically encouraged and strengthened it.
Stonehenge on Wiltshire has an entranceway aligned with the solstice sunrise and is a popular gathering point for modern druids and others on midsummer's day.

Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has Oberon and Titania as the fairy king and queen. Such spirits were thought to make an appearance on the solstice.

Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" celebrates the marriage of Aragorn and Arwen in Minas Tirith on midsummer's day.

In the Christian faith, the summer solstice is close to the feast day of St. John the Baptist.
Combining the pagan and Christian celebrations was the result of the early church's attempts to put a stop to the pagan festivals. The people continued to celebrate them regardless of the church's efforts, therefore the solution was to substitute Christian meanings and Saints to the holidays and continue to celebrate them.
Therefore, the celebration of the summer solstice became the Festival of St. John the Baptist and the celebration of the winter solstice became the Festival of St. John the Evangelist.

St. Johnswort is a summer solstice-blooming yellow wildflower that blooms around June 21st here in the Northeast. The buds and flowers contain hypericin, a treasure responsible for the plants healing powers. You know you have the correct plant if the buds bleed red when squeezed.

St. Johnswort oil is used for nerve related conditions, sore muscles, abrasions and as a sunburn remedy.






St. Johnswort herbal infusions result in a wonderful red healing oil used extensively in natural remedies.

Below are three such remedies utilizing this wonderful plant.
The listings below will take you into the Etsy.com site or you can find them at http://www.meadowmuffingardens.com





Sunburn and Minor Burn Care Salve can significantly aid in healing damaged skin and help prevent the likelihood of peeling, but if you suspect your burn is deeper than first degree consult your physician before treating it yourself.

This St. Johnswort based salve is also wonderful for your pets. Not all breeds have the skin protection of thick body fur and are susceptible to sun burn. Very healing for those tender noses and ears if over exposed to the sun. Check with your veterinarian before using on cats. Essential oils can be toxic to a cat's liver if ingested.

First step is to cool the damaged skin with wet, cold compresses. Once the burn is cool, it is ok to apply applications of this soothing salve. You don't want to apply it before the skin is completely cooled or you'll be trapping in the heat. The advantage of a salve is that it stays put and provides protective coverage without needing a bandage, therefore the burn has needed exposure to the open air.

Radiation cancer treatment usually results in reddened, painful skin at the site of the exposure. The healing, anti-inflammatory properties of this herbal salve can help relieve and heal such irritation.


An herbal anti-inflammatory liniment can be very effective at relieving the swelling, discoloration and pain resulting from strains, sprains or chronic inflammatory conditions.

St. Johnswort helps you recover when your nerves are inflamed or damaged, as this herb is a nervous system relaxant.
For sore, stiff muscles, St. Johnswort acts as a cellular oxygenator that helps remove lactic acid build-up in muscles and can release nerve tension.

Herbs and essential oils work as a team to help relieve pain during the healing process of bruised and strained muscles or to help manage chronic conditions with or without the use of prescription medication.

That time of the month can easily be describes as mensus misery.  St. Johnswort infused in sweet almond oil combines with an essential oil blend for a very relaxing abdominal, back or legs massage oil to help relax the tight muscle cramping associated with PMS.