Breath Deeply

Most vapor rubs are in a petroleum of mineral oil base and we wouldn’t want to use that on our bodies let alone faces. So we made something pure, strong and better for the whole family. Decongestion is made with a cinnamon and clove extra virgin olive oil infusion to warm the body and a special blend of pure organic essential oils including lavender and eucalyptus to open up those passageways and provide relief. The base is grape seed oil which is a great all around moisturizer which makes this blend lighter for facial applications directly to the sinus cavity area.
For congestion in the head try the Easy Steam Remedy outlined in the Living with Herbs book in combination with this vapor rub for best results. A few drops of Oregano, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, or Lavender to your humidifier can work wonders in the cold dry season. Decongestion can be applied and gently massaged over the sinus cavities. For lung congestion, massage over lungs front and back. Have someone massage liberally over lungs and pat your back with cupped hands. If your drinking the right herbal teas, you will be coughing all that phlegm up in no time.
Buy your Decongestion Vapor Rub here

Living with Herbs

So the first edition of the Herbaceutikals handbook is out and available for purchase online at www.herbaceutikals.com This edition is designed for one interested in incorporating herbs and food as medicine into their everyday life. Inside you will find all the favorite everyday recipes to treat colds, fevers, cuts, burns etc as well as instructions on making your own tinctures, infusions and household cleaner! The second part of the book is a guide on different herbs and plants. The third section is a glossary of terminology used in identifying the medicinal quality of a herb. This is a great gift for an aspiring herbalist, new parent, or anyone seeking to live a healthier lifestyle. The book comes as a free gift with purchases over $25!
Enjoy!

Sample entry:

Onion Cough Syrup

Onions are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant. They contain quercitin a potent antioxidant in treating cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergies. Also high in sulfur they stimulate amino acids in the brain and nervous system while detoxing the body of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead. We use them in this cough remedy because they inhibit the compounds that cause bronchial muscles to spasm, thus suppressing a cough.

You will also need some excellent honey for this recipe; organic and raw and local is best!

Cut onion in half lengthwise then slice, creating half moons.
Place in sauce pan and cover with honey, just enough.
Cook on lowest flame until soft and infused this should be under 30 minutes.
Pour and scrape all the goodness into a glass mason jar and store in the fridge.

Take a teaspoon at a time when needed.
Should store for a few weeks.
The onions are fun to eat out the jar or used in cooking or garnishing.

To market To market

Good times at the Poughkeepsie mini maker fair yesterday. It was our first solo event and we Met lots different people who were very excited and supportive of Herbaceutikals. Just about everything sold out which was a feat considering we were in a robotics zone and not the homesteading zone. Looks like it's time to create a whole new batch of hair pomade, body butter, deodorant, skin cream and vapor rub. Get your order in at www.herbaceutikals.com or in our newly opened ETSY Shop

To the Top of A Mountain

Made it to the top of Mount BeAcon this weekend with @hike_with_mike in Beacon, New York truly an awesome experience in nAture. I found some mullein and yarrow and red clover amid the leaves an rocks. Mike and Lisa took us from one side of the mountain to the other so we covered much ground. Lisa laid out a yummy lunch spread for us at the top of the mountain. She made us an awesome pesto hummus and raspberry snack bars to go along with all the other treats. It was really rewarding to chow down on a huge piece of granite under the sky. The reservoir is beautiful up there and unfortunately I didn't take many pictures but they did so check out www.hikewithmikeny.com for pictures of the adventure!

Muscle Bone & Joint Healing Oil

This is a heavy duty massage oil for all types of aches and pains including arthritis, swelling, sprains, bruises and spasms. Made with a strong concentration of herbs traditionally used to mend bones and damaged muscles. Use immediately after intense exercise or massage deliberately and as needed to painful muscles or joints. This is an extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil base infused with st johns wort, claw root, arnica, calendula and comfrey with a special blend of essential oils.
Order yours here on eTsy or in our Square Shop

Winter Roots

 

The Fall is when most root plants return to storing their energy in their root system so they may return again in the spring. This means that this is when the roots are most potent. Today we collected dandelion roots for winter storage. Below is an excerpt from our newly released booklet that covers remedies, recipes and information of different medicinal plants:

DANDELION


Taraxacum officinale



Active Compounds:
 vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon, taraxacins (eudesmanolides), sitosterol, stigmasterol, alpha- and beta-carotene, caffeic acid, mucilage, Linoleic and Linolenic Acid, Gallic Acid, Several Triterpenest



History:
 Dandelion is commonly used as a food. The leaves are used in salads and teas, while the roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Dandelion leaves and roots have been used for hundreds of years to treat liver, gallbladder, kidney, and joint problems. In some countries, dandelion is considered a blood purifier and is used for ailments such as eczema and cancer. Dandelion has also been used historically to treat poor digestion, water retention, and diseases of the liver, including hepatitis.



Properties:
 anti-diarrheal and anti-bacterial, tonic, diuretic, Alterative, Antacid, Anti-bilious, Anti-lithic



Useful for:
 liver and gallbladder problems, prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse skin and eliminate acne; improve bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus, Fiber fights diabetes, lowers cholesterol, reduces cancer and heart disease risks, and assists in weight loss.



Description:
 Closely related to chicory, dandelion is a common perennial plant worldwide. The plant grows to a height of about 12 inches. The oblong or spatulate, irregularly dentate or pinnatified leaves grow in a rosette from the milky taproot, which also sends up one or more naked flower stems, each terminating in a single yellow flower. The familiar puffball that succeeds the flower is a globular cluster of achenes, each of which is fitted with a parachute-like tuft. Dandelion is grown commercially in the United States and Europe. The leaves and root are used in herbal supplements

Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

Some background on this Cold and Flu fighting remedy:

Ginger stimulates the immune system and digestive health. it is an expectorant, diaphoretic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and stimulates  circulation; thus warming us up. Try to use fresh ginger that looks healthy and is firm. Ginger tea is soothing for car sickness, menstrual cramping, upset stomach, nausea; as a pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and externally as a wash for burns. Historically is has been used in cooking with meats as it is also antimicrobial.

Lemons are high in Vitamin C and bioflavonoids which stimulate and support proper immune function as well as vitamin and mineral absorption. These antibacterial powerhouses have been used to destroy many bacterial diseases such as malaria, cholera, diphtheria and others. Even though they taste acidic they alkalize the body; balancing pH. Warm lemon juice in the morning stimulates the liver into desolving toxins and increases peristalsis of the bowels.

Raw Honey is antioxidant, antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti fungal which is why it boosts our immune system function and is great for soothing and healing the throat. Unlike regular sugar, honey keeps blood sugar levels more constant due to it’s balance of glucose and fructose. Buckwheat honey is the best to use as a cough suppressant even for younger children.

More articles like this in our Living with Herbs book...coming soon

Body Butter

Indulge in this rich and warming body cream anytime this season for a relaxing aromatherapy experience. Great all over for silky feeling and beautiful looking skin. Made to soothe and heal with simple and all natural ingredients. Shea butter has been used for centuries in Africa and now all over the world to condition and protect damaged skin. it’s high in vitamins A, E, F; fatty acids and provides UV protection. Mango butter hydrates on a deeper level to smooth wrinkles, scars and stretches. It is high in vitamins A, C, and E with work to combat free radicals like those in UV radiation or air pollution. Almond oil is typically reserved for facial treatments but why not give the rest of your body the same class a treatment? This keeps our butter a little lighter so it can also be used on the face. Our Body Butter is also balanced with a dash of extra virgin olive oil and a mild blend of essential oils for a pure, warming and uplifting aroma. Best when applied to damp freshly washed skin. Keep in a warm place to keep butter soft, it will harden when cold and melt when too hot; just like butter.
Get yours at www.herbaceutikals.com

Mastering Parenting

If your living the clean green lifestyle and have kids then ice pops are your greatest tool and an exciting treat/eward for your little one. In our house it all started with teething and a wise woman (aka grandma) told me, just make ice pops. They are intriguing for a young child, provide a little liquid and save money. I started out by making some chamomile tea, sweetened with honey and charged with some powdered vitamin c. As she outgrew teething and the summers would roll around and I would worry about staying hydrated as we spend summers outside all day long in the sun; I reinvented this old trick. Smoothie Pops. I always make smoothies for myself. I make them a bit thick loaded with flax and hemp seeds and oats and such, which Lhailah will only drink so much of. So after we all enjoy our cool fruity, or veggie beverage I add some extra coconut milk to thin it out a bit, and a banana to sweeten it up. Blend it and and pour the pops. These are my kids sweetest treat right next to ripe fruit. On days when she needs extra fluids I'll promise her an ice pop After a tall glass of water. Or when sick with a fever these are perfect. I have even made a strong herbal tea for cold and fever, blend it with powdered vitamin c and banana. Freeze. And let her eat as many as she likes when sick. It keeps the body cool, hydrated and getting valuable nutrients that would otherwise be difficult for a stubborn preschooler to get just though tea. 
Today I made myself a #carrotjuice with #flax, #ginger, #hempseeds, #cinnamon, water, #rawhoney. Then added frozen pineapple, banana and peaches to what was left to make smoothie pops.
Drink Up!

Love Your Hair

This pomade is made to build roots, restore and condition hair and scalp. massage deliberately in clean damp scalp for best results routinely. Try to diligently apply after each hair washing or even before washing as a leave in conditioner to rinse out with a mild soap. This product is safe for the whole body and family.
Our nourishing hair pomade is made with thyme, rosemary and nettle infused into extra virgin olive oil. Rosemary has been used for thousands of years to maintain healthy hair and scalp for promoting clean, healthy, thick and glossy hair. It is antiviral, anti fungal and antibacterial. Today it is found in some of the most high end hair products on the market. Nettle is a wonder herb in it’s own packed with all the good stuff to keep it short. If you can’t eat or drink enough of it and you want to have full healthy hair then apply it topically. It is rich in iron which stimulates new growth and balances sebum. Thyme has similar effects as nettle in promoting blood circulation to the scalp but will also slow hair loss while promoting new growth. what better way to add an uplifting aroma to this green pomade than with peppermint oil. It combines all the helps of the herbs in a few powerful drops. It smells great, herbie, warm and cool mint at the same time. Oh I almost forgot to tell you about our most versatile ingredient, COCONUT OIL! Not only does it promote hair growth, it helps reduce the protein loss in healthy and not so healthy hair. It deeply penetrates the hair shaft and helps retain moisture in the hair. That’s why best results are seen when used on freshly washed hair, it will trap all the moisture and nutrients in your hair where you need it. It is the best hair conditioner on its own. This pomade has a touch of beeswax to keep it firm and add the versatility of using this as a healthy styling cream. Enjoy those luscious locks ;)

Get it in the shop www.herbaceutikals.com

Wild Grapes

Went to forage for #sumac and came up a heavy grape harvest! Mastering my domain one day at a time. 
Wild grapes are the original grape and contain seeds which are the most nutritious part. Don't bother buying grape seed extract, just eat grape seeds. Like extra virgin olive oil, the antioxidants in grapes lower cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, strengthen blood vessels; are anti cancer, antinflammatory and are low glycemic. 
Red clovers are mild in flavor, found about everywhere and are the perfect wild food balance to the intensity of these juicey grapes. They contain many valuable nutrients such as calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C.  Traditionally they are known to be antispasmodic, alterative, antitumor and expectorant. Their anti tumor effects are seen when blended with burdock root. At home we have always used red clover in herbal infusions in cold and flu remedies and especially if a wet cough is present; but these little flowers are gaining popularity in treating menopausal symptoms as well.
These are perfect in fruit or vegetable salads, either way, if you see something, pick something ;)

Take a walk in the woods

Stopped off for a waltz on the woods this morning. To my surprise the reservoir was low so I got to walk on the rocks standing in the middle of water and collect a little mineral sand..what's so powerful about it is this water trickles from all around the mountain, through my backyard, down the road, into the #boyds #reservoirs and down down to #newyorkcity

Early Bird Specials

Our products begin with herbal oil infusions using organic extra virgin olive oil and wildcraft or fair trade organic herbs. We use coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, mango butter, essential oils, and lots and lots of healing herbs. Everything is made in small batches of under 38 ounces at a time. Nothing is "fragrenced". Essential oils are used on the basis of their healing or helping qualities. Some products have more of a herbal scent than others. Most products come in a travel size as well as family size. Write to herbaceutiks@gmail.com to place your order today.

 For immediate inquiries and orders drop an email to herbaceutiks@gmail.com

Peace Love Light

Homemade Cough Syrup

This is a basic life skill. Especially if you have a young child. Cough Syrup . Try and use high quality organic onions and sugar crystals. It's like lasagna. Layer sugar, then a slice of onion. Then sugar, then onion...I do half an onion at a time because the cough doesn't last so long with proper care and other remedies. Then cover. I use a small dish and stuff it into a sandwich bag. I use to do the whole process in a pint sized wide mouth Mason jar but it's Canning season so I need every jar I got 😃☺️😘 Be Well y'all!

Sumacade

We're here enjoying the end of season sumacade and just thinking how awesome it is that this plant grows wild in great abundance. They are antifungal, antimicrobial and antioxidant. They have a long world history as medicine and spice. This is the same stuff you buy at specialty grocers labeled as sumac spice. Through the summer months the tree bears a pretty fruit just waiting to be picked. You want to look out for these red cone shaped fruit that grow on Staghorn Sumac, they are not poisonous at all. There are a few varieties throughout the world but in short you want the red ones only. They are best picked when ripe, you'll know it because they will be a rich red around august. To make this refreshing beverage, put 2-3 cones into a quart mason jar
fill with cold water
cap it tight
shake it up
i like to make this infusion in the day time and set my jar in the sunlight.
in about an hour, strain it out
add a little honey
enjoy!

Eating with the Season

It is so so important to eat with the season. Where I live the grapes are ripening. Wild grapes are the original grape and the most nutritious part of the grape is the seed. Eat it well and be well. ;)

Sorry for the Delay

Follow the vibe @Herbaceutikals on Instagram for up to date shares. Much Love

winter is coming so we have to save what we can of summer.

The first case of mason jars always goes to infusions. From left to right lavender flowers, plantain, calendula flowers, comfrey and nettle. Most are in extra virgin olive oil but I'm tying something new with sunflower seed oil and safflower seed oil.

'Tis the season to Forage

Found a whole family of Mullein at the edge of this pond off of the Appalachian trail here in Hudson Valley, NY. Too thrilled too majestic! Mullein is an expectorant but the leaves can be eaten like Collard Greens, the seeds can be eaten as a cereal grain or ground into flour. The flower stalk is very very dense, they were also used as torches #wildwildmotherearth These were harvested for a smoke blend but have been instead used in a chest cold tonic. Make your own infusion to clear chest congestion with ginger, sage, thyme, oregano, mint, licorice. To boost your immune system add plants like; goldenrod, red clover, echinacea ...if there's fever look to boneset, and yarrow...These are all wild plants that are usually right under your nose ;)