Little Woman has been my little helper as I have been running out of all my personal care products and have been herbal crafting away to stock the bathroom shelves once more.  I found the basics of this hair detangler recipe from the Sweet Roots blog and have loved using it with my girls.   

1 1/2 cups distilled water
1 Tbsp. marshmallow root 
herbs of choice from the herbal hair care list
1 cup aloe vera liquid
30 drops essential oil of choice 

Whisk the water and marshmallow root in a small saucepan over med-high until it starts to bubble.  Lower the temperature and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Little Woman and I took a stroll around the yard gathering herbs while our marshmallow mixture was simmering. We brought in some horsetail, which technically isn't on my hair care list but should be, I forgot about it until our walk, when I saw it - just hand write it in - okay.  Horsetail strengthens hair and fingernails and helps prevent split ends, I love to use this herb in both my body care and hair care products.  We also gathered some sage, basil, comfrey, chamomile and calendula.  Chop the herbs and fill a pint jar about 1/2 full.  You can also use dried herbs if you don't have fresh available.  

Pour the marshmallow decoction over the herbs, cover and let steep for 15 minutes or so.

Strain the herbs and let the infusion cool.  Add the aloe vera and stir well.  Add 30 drops of essential oil into the spray bottle you will be using and pour the detangler infusion to the top.  Cap, shake to combine then label, now you are ready to start spritzing away.  Store the remaining infusion in a glass jar in the fridge, remember to label with what is in it and the date.  This should stay good for about 6 months.

You want something quick and easy, that isn't complicated with herbs and waiting?  Here is a simple version of a hair detangler, although not near as fun to make and definitely not as nourishing to the hair.

4 oz. distilled water
1/8 tsp. fractionated coconut oil
20 drops essential oil of choice

Just put all the ingredients into a spray bottle and there you have it - simple.   Feel free to mix and match your essential oils.  

Both Mountain Rose Herbs and Bulk Herb Store have high quality, organic herbs if you don't have them growing in your yard.  You can get fractionated coconut oil at your local health food store or on Amazon.  

I have been mixing up my herbal hair care products and wanted to have a quick reference list of herbs and essential oils for hair care.   I love to change things up from one batch to another of shampoo, hairspray, hair detangler or just plain hair rinses.   Use either the plant or essential oil (for those plants that have an essential oil also) or both!

• You can make a simple hair rinse by making an herbal infusion, I also add essential oils to my hair rinses. Let the infusion cool, add the essential oil and then apply to hair after shampoo and conditioner.  You can leave it in or rinse out.
• Hair Rinse #2 - infuse the herbs in some vinegar for 2 weeks then strain.  After shampooing, pour the vinegar rinse through the hair and then rinse.
• Use the essential oils in your current shampoo or conditioner and any other hair care product.
• Add essential oils to some warmed coconut oil or use an herbal oil and massage into the scalp and ends of the hair.  Cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave on for an hour or two.  Shampoo and condition after treatment.  This can be done once a month. 
• Massage the essential oils directly onto scalp, this is especially effective when treating hair loss.
• Make your own hair care products using herbs and essential oils.  

I like to grow what herbs I use, basil, calendula, chamomile, comfrey and yarrow are all easy to grow herbs that also add beauty to the garden.  You can purchase cut and dried organic herbs from either Mountain Rose Herbs or Bulk Herb Store.  

Lavender is my favorite!  I love the way it can be used for everything, it is gentle on babies, children and the elderly and it smells so good.  Lavender was one of the first essential oils I purchased and used it and peppermint exclusively until I was able to build a bigger collection of oils. 

• analgesic
• anticoagulant
• antidepressant
• antifungal
• antihistamine
• antiviral
• anti-inflammatory
• antimicrobial
• antiseptic
• antispasmodic
• antitoxic
• antitumor
• cooling
• decongestant
• regenerative
• sedative
  

• Can be applied neat to area of concern, bottoms of feet, wrists or behind the ears
• Diffuse and inhale
• Very safe and gentle, great for infants, young children, and the elderly

• calming
• colic
• cradle cap
• diaper rash
• earaches
• skin conditions of any kind: eczema, dry skin, rash, bug bites, bum burn, etc.
• thrush
• teething

• acne
• chapped lips and skin
• dandruff and hair loss
• scarring 
  
• stretch marks
• wrinkles

• burns
• boils, bruises, blisters, hives
• cuts, wounds, abrasions
• fainting and heatstroke
• insect bites, stings and repellent
• seizure
• sprain and strains
• sunburn
• trauma, hysteria, shock

• first aid - see above
• ADD/ADHD
• allergies
• anxiety, stress, and depression
• arthritis
• asthma
  
• candida (yeast), athletes foot, yeast infection, jock itch
• canker sores (herpes simplex)
• carpal tunnerl
• chicken pox, scabies, measles, mumps, Parkinson's disease
• cholesterol and high blood pressure
• cold and flu symptoms including congestion and respiratory issues
• gas, indigestion, nausea
• headache
• impetigo
• inflammation
• insomnia
• lymph system drainage and support
• mouth sores, abscess, teeth pain and grinding
• pain reliever
• skin conditions: itching, dry, eczema, psoriasis rash, sunburn, scarring, sensitivity, wounds and wrinkles
  
• sedative, tension
• Woman's health - pms, cramps, mastitis, menopausal conditions

St. John's Wort oil has been used for centuries to massage into sore, aching, bones, joints, and muscles. Due to the pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties this is a must have in the herbal first aid kit.  It can be used as a massage oil, or made into a liniment, salve, ointment or balm.  In addition to external use it can also be used internally to calm the nerves, aid in sleep, and work internally on inflammation and pain relief. Use in the kitchen as you prepare your food and meals. 

Fresh is always best when making an herbal remedy but if you don't have fresh you can certainly use the dried herb. The flowers are where the healing goodies are in this plant but I throw in both the leaves and blossoms because it is easier that way.  You want to cut the blossoms right before they bloom or just as they are blooming.  A good way to tell if they are ready is to squeeze the bud and if a dark red or purple juice oozes out, they are ready and at their top potency level.  

​Fill a quart jar 3/4 full with fresh blossoms or 1/2 full with dried, cover with olive oil or carrier oil of choice.  I prefer olive oil because it has a longer shelf life than most other carrier oils and has its own healing properties.  Fill with the oil until it comes about an inch above the herb.  Shake well, label and place in a sunny spot for 4-6 weeks or follow one of the other methods for a quicker infusing time, here.

You will notice the oil turns a beautiful red color as the blossoms are infused into it.  Strain the herb out, then add 5 drops of rosemary essential oil or benzoin per cup of herbal oil to act as a preservative and prolong the shelf life. Make a label for your oil listing what it is, what oil it is infused in, and the date you strained and bottled the oil. Big Woman is my official label maker because she always adds cute designs and pictures to them. If stored in an airtight, glass container in a dark, cool room your oil could last up to five years. I like to re-purpose my glass jars from the grocery store just for my herbal oils and tinctures.  

Costco has organic, cold pressed olive oil, which is where I like to purchase mine from.  St. Johns Wort can be purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs, they also carry St. John's Wort herbal oil if you would rather skip the project and just purchase the oil ready made. 

Hypericum perforatum
Family:  Hypericaceae
​Parts Used: Bud and flower

Start indoors 10 weeks before last frost or sow directly outdoors in early spring or plant the root of an already established plant.  Space 12” apart, loves full sun, and drier conditions than most plants. It can be invasive so watch carefully. 

• Harvest the flowers, buds and leaves just as the flowers are opening, on a dry, sunny day.  Pinch between fingers to see if red spurts out, if not they are not yet ready to harvest, check often and test again. 
  
• Pick flowers fresh to make oil, salves, tincture and tea or cut the upper 3-4 inches off the plant and hang or lay on a screen to dry.  

There are several species of St. John's Wort so when wild harvesting put a leaf up to the sun to check for the oil gland circles (see photos from edible wild food link below) that distinguish it as the medicinal variety.

Use caution when pregnant or nursing.  St. John’s wort can cause photosensitivity in some people so be cautious when harvesting (use gloves), and also keep covered when going outside after applying the oil or salve.  Patch test on skin before using as some people have allergic reactions.

Both the Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs carries high quality, organic/or wild harvested St. John's Wort.  Mountain Rose Herbs also carries many St. John's Wort products such as the herbal oil, tincture, and some salves.  

We had our annual Utah Patriot Camp this week and had a ton of fun learning about the patterns of liberty throughout history.    

 Patriot Camp is designed for ages 4-11 to learn about our freedom, liberty, our founding, and most importantly our constitution.  They learn through stories, crafts, games, history, and song.  There are many teen and adult volunteers that make this camp possible.  Big man is excited to be a volunteer next year since this was his last year attending as a "camper".

 I was over the craft station and was so amazed at how much the children were able to tell me what they were taught in the learning stations.  We have some amazing "little patriots" that I can't wait to become "big patriots".

Several visitors came to camp this year including: Joan of Arc, a Mountain Man, a Frontiersman, a soldier from Washington's continental army, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington himself!

These children are the future of our country.  It is so important for them to know the true principles of freedom and liberty and to understand our constitution.  It is even more important for them to learn the patterns of liberty throughout history so we can copy the patterns that lead to freedom and prosperity and not repeat those that lead to captivity and misery.   

Patriot camp was based on the teachings in this book called Patterns of Liberty.  This book was written to use as families to teach these principles and also how to apply them, in an easy to understand way.  I will have this as part of my homeschool curriculum next year and I am so excited to use it.  Tenna Hartman, the author, was our "Joan of Arc" here at patriot camp, she will be coming out with a follow up book and an activity book to have a hands on experience with implementing these principles.  You can purchase your own copy and find out more about this inspired book, here.

I have been using my own bug repellent for years now using essential oils and herbs to keep the bugs off.  Not only are herbal bug repellents safer, using no toxic chemicals, they also work much better.  I made my neighbor a bottle of bug repellent to take to girls camp and by the end of the week she said everyone was using her repellent.  She also came home without a single mosquito bite.  This recipe is my favorite one to use and the essential oils to liquid ratio seems to be perfect for a potent batch of "bug off" repellent.   The bug repelling properties of citronella are enhanced whenever cedarwood is included in the mix so I always like to use these two oils together.  I have also included a list of bug repelling essential oils and herbs below if you would like to have a hand at mixing up your own batch!

1 oz. witch hazel or catnip hydrosol
1 oz. grapeseed oil
35 drops citronella essential oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
15 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops lemongrass essential oil
15 drops cedarwood essential oil

I really like to use catnip hydrosol but didn't have any on hand so instead I infused some dried catnip in the witch hazel.  You can also use any of the herbs listed below to make a hydrosol or infuse your witch hazel or just use plain ole witch hazel.  The oil in this recipe is to keep the essential oils on your skin, if you only use the witch hazel or just add essential oils to water they evaporate too quickly so always use the oil as part of the recipe. Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.  Shake well before each use and apply every 2 hours or so.  I like to put mine in the small 2 oz. travel size spray bottles and let each child have their own spray, I also keep one in my purse at all times.

Another way to utilize the bug repelling properties of these oils is to apply a few drops to some ribbons and hang them around the area you want to keep clear of insects.  Apply them straight to your clothing, behind your ears, knees and the joint of your arm.  Place a few drops on cotton balls and place under beds, in drawers, closets, or other areas that creepy crawlies like to hang out.

• basil
  
• bergamot
  
• cedarwood
  
• citronella
  
• clove
  
• eucalyptus
  
• geranium
  
• lavender
  
• lemon
  
• lemongrass
  
• Melaleuca (alternifolia - tea tree)
  
• palo santo
  
• patchouli
  
• peppermint
  
• rosemary
  

These herbs can be used to make an herbal hydrosol, tea, infuse into an oil or witch hazel or Vodka to make your own bug repellent spray.  You can also plant these herbs around areas of your home in which you would like to ward of bugs.

You can purchase floral hydrosols from Mountain Rose Herbs as well as dried herbs and 100% witch hazel, all of which are organic and fair trade.  Make sure the essential oils you use are 100% geniune essential oils.

Shared on: Nourishing Joy, Art of Homemaking, Natural Living, Mama Moments, Mostly Homemade, Homestead Barn Hop, Homemaking Party, Homemaking Link Up, From the Farm.