I know I have labeled this herbal blend as a blood builder because that was the original intent when I put together these herbs, but the true name should be Body Builder Blend.  The greens in this blend have such a large spectrum of nutrients and minerals they will feed any part of the body that is "hungry" for the correct nutrients in order to cleanse, strengthen and build.  Remember that most ailments are caused because the body is out of balance, meaning certain parts are not getting the correct nutrients or they are overburdened with toxins. Along with a clean diet this blend will give your body the nutrients it needs to first cleanse the toxins, then to strengthen weakened areas or rebuild cells and tissue altogether.  The added dandelion root has a high concentration of assimilable iron, calcium, potassium and other minerals to build the blood, making this a perfect food for pregnancy, anemia, and other blood conditions.  This blend also works great as a daily vitamin supplement to keep an already healthy body at its best.

1 part dandelion root powder
1 part kelp powder
1 part wheat grass powder
1 part barley grass powder
​1/2 part spirulina powder

Mix together the herbs and then use them in powder form to add in smoothies or to make into a green drink.  You can also make this blend into herbal capsules like I have done, a tincture, glycerite or any of the herbal methods listed on my herb page.  For capsules I have found that 2 capsules with each meal is a good place to start and then depending on your body you can add more if needed. 

Nepeta cataria
Family: Labiatae (mint family)

Catnip is one of the best children's herb as it is gentle and safe, yet powerful for upset stomach, colic, and digestive problems.  It also helps calm children and babies and aids in a restful sleep.  Catnip affects the nervous and digestive systems, as well as the lungs, glands and liver.  It is also a great herb choice for pregnancy and babies, nursing mothers can drink the tea to help with a colicky baby or one that cannot sleep but needs to.

• antispasmodic
• astringent
• anodyne
• anti-inflammatory
• cholagogue
• nervine
• emmenagogue
• antacid
• sedative
• anesthetic
• carminative
• diaphoretic
• bug repellent

To utilize the properties of this herb, nursing moms can drink the tea and baby receives it through the milk.  You can also make a weak herbal infusion and administer through a bottle or use the infusion as an enema. 

• colic 
• jaundice
• sedative, helps induce sleep
• teething 
• relieves gas and bloating
• alleviates many symptoms of childhood diseases and illness

• anxiety, nerves, stress
• colds, flu, and fever (enema is the best method of use)
• coughs and chest congestion, croup, bronchitis
• digestive complaints, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea
• nausea, morning sickness, upset stomach, "butterflies" - nervouseness
• relieves any type of muscle cramping, even those associated with pregnancy
• appendicitis (enema)
• toothache (chew on the leaves)
• insomnia, restful sleep
• cataracts
• menstrual discomfort, painful cramps, afterbirth cramping
• relaxes the uterus, preventing contractions so helpful to prevent miscarriage
• makes a great insect repellent, plant by doors or infuse into witch hazel, water or oil for a bug spray, you can even rub the leaves on your skin

• infusion (blends well with mint and chamomile, both great for children also)
• enemas (best way to use with children) 
• tincture and/or glycerite
• syrup
• poultice and/or compress
• herbal capsules and pills
• salve, ointment, cream
• herbal honey or sprinkle
• liniment
• sachet, make good sleep pillows and apparently cat's like them (I'm not a cat person so not sure what you do with them)
• hydrosol

• Sow seed directly in the garden in mid spring or start from seed indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost.
• Transplant in full sun or partial shade, 12" apart.
• Grows well in any soil, give low to moderate amounts of water, catnip likes it dry more than wet.
• I highly recommend putting a cage around this plant as I have attracted every cat in the neighborhood with mine, I lost three different plants before I realized I needed to protect it with a cage.  
• Can be harvested anytime during the season but catnip is at it's most potent when flowering.  Cut back to 3-4" and it will continue to grow, giving you several cuttings throughout the season.

Catnip use by Dr. Axe
Calm with Catnip from Herbal Legacy
Practical Herbalism
The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook
The Herbal Drugstore
The Naturally Healthy Pregnancy
Homegrown Herbs

In the spring you can either go to your local nursery and pick up a transplant or start them from seed yourself. Baker Creek Heirloom seeds carries a variety of catnip seeds.  You can also purchase the dried herb from Mountain Rose Herbs or Bulk Herb Store.

Shared on: Wildcrafting Wednesday.

Aloe barbadensis
Family: Lilaceae
Parts: Juice or gel from inside the leaf.

Aloe Vera comes from the Liliaceae family which also includes the lily, tulip, garlic and onion.  Aloe Vera is native to Africa and has 500 different species.  It is known as a common household plant that has amazing burn healing properties, but did you know just how many other healing properties this common plant has?

• alterative
  
• adaptogenic

• anti-inflammatory

• anti-bacterial

• anti-fungal
• antimicrobial
• antiseptic
  
• ​antiviral

• demulcent

• emollient

• vulnerary (speeds healing, protects against infections and stimulates cellular renewal)

• Soothes and heals all types of burns including sun burn, kitchen burns, first, second and even third degree burns.  

• Skin healer and rejuvenator.
• Moisturizes, tones and firms the skin.  
• Blisters, rashes, eczema, boils, rough skin, and skin eruptions.
• Herpes (cold sores), apply several times a day, pain relieving and helps to dry up the blister.
• Boost immune system.
  
• Natural sunscreen, blocking 20-30% of UV rays
• Great for acne due to the anti-inflammatory and skin healing properties – use both internally and externally.
• Mild pain reliever.
• Cuts, scrapes, wounds, hives, and abrasions.
• Fresh gel can be used as a natural band aid, just make sure the wound is clean before applying.  
• Prevents and draws out infection.
• Nursing mothers can use for sore, cracked, dry, nipples.
• Canker sores and mouth problems, mix gel with an herbal tincture or essential oil and swish around the mouth.  Can also apply directly to the sore or gums.
• Insect bites and stings.
• Poison ivy, oak and sumac.
• Heartburn, balances stomach acid. 
• Hemorrhoids 
• Helps with constipation and diarrhea. 
• Aids digestion.
  
• Soothes inflamed intestinal wall making it a good gut health herb.
• Joint pain and inflammation – taken internally and/or externally as a liniment.

• Perineal tears – Place gel on a menstrual pad and hold in place, this will relieve the pain as well as heal the tear quickly.  Apply a new poultice when the pain returns.

• Aloe vera comes in many forms, from the gel inside the plant leaves, to commercial gel, juice and even freeze dried powder.   When choosing an aloe vera product, look very closely at ingredients, you want pure aloe vera.  Many brands use artificial colors and preservatives so be aware of what you are purchasing.  I use Mountain Rose Herbs for my source, they use organically grown plants and I trust their business practices. 

• Cut a fresh leaf off a house plant as needed.  Only use the clear gel from the leaf, not the leaf itself or brown gel near the leaf.  Apply the gel to area of concern or take internally.  The fresh plant is the only source of antibacterial properties so use fresh when treating infection.

• Aloe vera juice can be infused with herbs, following the instructions for making an herbal tincture. 

• Place in a sunny south-facing window, although it is not fussy.

• Water infrequently and keep the soil well drained.
• Cut a leaf off at a time for use.  A cut leaf can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks.
• The plant will produce offshoots which you can remove and replant when they are a few inches tall.  

• ​Be careful to not get the leaf part of the plant mixed in your gel if using internally.  The leaf has very powerful laxative properties.
• Do not take internally if pregnant or nursing.

These a some of my favorite recipes using aloe vera gel.  Aloe vera is also one of the active ingredients in my Miracle Face Cream.

As I mentioned above you can purchase Aloe Vera from Mountain Rose Herbs as well as your local health food store (just check ingredients, even in a health food store).

Aloe Vera Benefits by Dr. Axe
Aloe Vera Juice Benefits by Dr. Axe
Herbal Legacy - Aloe Vera
Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Buhner
Medicinal Herbs A Beginner's Guide by Rosemary Gladstar

We've talked about how to care for our skin naturally, now lets talk about baby's skin.  Remember that the skin is the largest organ of our body and anything we put on it, will be absorbed into it.  Now look at all the baby care products available on the market and take a look at the ingredient list!  I don't know about you, but I don't want to put that stuff anywhere near my baby (or myself for that matter).  There are many effective, gentle and simple recipes you can make at home for your baby's precious skin (and health).

This simple balm combines gentle, yet skin healing herbs for baby's sensitive skin.  We talked about the healing benefits of lavender and calendula, roses are known for their skin softening and strengthening abilities and they smell so sweet, just like baby. Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, soothing and moisturizing.  This balm is perfect for any skin condition on a baby such as diaper rash, eczema, cradle cap, skin infections, dry, flaky skin, etc.  

Make an herbal oil infusion by combining equal parts:
lavender
calendula 
chamomile
rose petals 
with coconut oil

HERBAL INFUSED OIL HOW TO: 
Melt the coconut oil over low heat then pour over herbs until one inch above the herbs, put a lid on the jar.  Place in a crockpot with a towel on the bottom and fill with water to the top of the pot.  Heat on low for 2 hours then warm for a minimum of 5 hours up to 3 days.  I like to give my herbs the three days for a strong infusion.

Strain the herbs from the coconut oil, I use a small strainer then place t-shirt material over the strainer and run the oil through once more to catch all the tiny particles of herbs.  Pour the strained oil into a pan with 1 oz. of beeswax per one cup of oil, melt over very low heat.  Remove and add 1/2 teaspoon of essential oil per cup of oil, lavender or chamomile are great choices for babies, or a baby essential oil blend.  

Stir to combine then pour into containers, wait for the balm to harden before sealing with a lid.  

Did you know you do not have to use a baby shampoo or baby wash on your baby? Using cleansers only strip baby's skin of natural oils that protect them, using a drop or two of essential oil like lavender or chamomile along with a washcloth (I use Norwex baby cloths) is all you need to wash baby's hair and body.  Make sure to focus on the folds of skin where bacteria like to collect.  Pat hair and skin to dry, then sprinkle with Herbal Baby Powder (instead of commercial baby powder) to keep the cracks and folds of skin dry and clean.  If needed, use Herbal Baby Balm or Baby Me Lotion Bar on dry patches, diaper rash, or all over the body.  You can also use the herbal infused oil we made above as a baby oil for massage or in place of lotion.  Baby only needs to be bathed once a week, unless of course he gets messy in one way or another.  Water is drying to the skin, not to mention the fact that our water is filled with many chemicals that are absorbed into our skin while bathing, so less is best.

Calendula officinalis
Family: Compositae
Parts Used: Flower

​I love this herb, it is not only beautiful, bright and happy, it also has amazing healing and nourishing properties for your skin and body.  Calendula can be used in the home pharmacy, the first aid kit, the cosmetic counter, the kitchen and the flower garden.  Calendula is from the marigold family and is so easy to grow and care for as you will see.

• antifungal
• antimicrobial
• anti-viral
• antispasmodic
• anti-inflammatory
• astringent
• antiseptic
• cholagogue
• detoxifying
• emmenagogue
• lymphatic
• vulnerary
• emollient

• #1 skin care herb.
• Wrinkles and maturing skin.
• Cleanses and moisturizes.
• Heals damaged skin such as acne, scars, chapping, and sunburn.
• Use for golden highlights (use in hair rinse or oil).

• # 1 skin care herb.
• Acute and chronic skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.
• Acne, cold sores, canker sores, swelling of the skin, tissue regeneration.  
• Wounds, bruises, cuts, sores, abrasions, slow healing wounds.
• Burns, sunburn.
• Skin ulcers, blisters, infections and rashes.
• Chicken pox and measles.
• Great baby care herb for: cradle cap, diaper rash, thrush and as a skin soothing baby oil.
• Earaches
• Swollen glands and lymph health (along with exercise and stretching to keep the lymph moving).
• Strengthens immune system.
• Liver and gall bladder tonic.
• Sore throat, inflammation in the mouth.
• Soothes gut inflammation and seals "leaks".
• First aid care, bug bites.
• Fevers
• Eye strain and conjunctivitis (pink eye). 
• Gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, ulcers, cramps, indigestion, etc.
• Varicose veins
• Hemorrhoids (use in bath water and as a salve).
• 
  

• Use as a food coloring for a golden color - add 1/2 cup of flowers to soup, broth or heated water.
• Petals can be removed and sprinkled into salads, omelets, cream cheese, butter, bread, smoothies, sandwiches, etc.  As always get creative with this.
• Great addition to bone broth.

• infused oil
• salve, ointment, balm
• tincture or glycerite
• infusion (tea)
• poultice, compress
• powder, sprinkle
• herbal bath, foot soak and facial steam
• gargle, mouthwash
• chewing or mashing and applying to area of concern
• soaps and personal care products

• You can start seeds indoors or sow directly in the ground in the spring, 10" apart.
• Plant in full sun, but this herb is easy and will grow in some shade if that's all you have.
• Provide light to moderate water and dead head for non-stop blooming.
• Collect seeds in the fall to plant next spring or leave on the plant to self seed.
• The flowers are the only part to be harvested, pick when just fully opened on a dry, sunny day before it gets too hot - yes they will be sticky.
• Don't pick flowers that have already begun to seed, they are no longer medicinally active.
• As long as you keep removing spent blossoms, the plant will continue to bloom right to the beginning of winter.

Calendula is a self seeding annual, which means if you leave a few flowers on the plant to go to seed, they will sprout up the next spring.  Calendula grows in clumps rather than spreading by roots, it will bloom from early summer until the first frost kills it.  My Calendula plant made it through the first couple of frosts until we had an actual snow storm, this is a pretty hardy plant!

I purchased my Horizon Calendula seeds from Mountain Rose Herb, this is a line of strictly medicinal herb seeds that are certified organic (with the exception of a few species that were wild gathered in their natural environment with respect to region and ecology). 

You can order dried Calendula flowers from Mountain Rose Herbs and/or The Bulk Herb Store.  Mountain Rose Herbs also offers Calendula seeds as mentioned above, as well as Calendula Herbal Oil.

Things to do with Calendula from The Nerdy Farm Wife
Benefits of Calendula by Dr. Axe

After Pumpkin Day and experimenting with How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?, I finally have my pumpkins ready to preserve for future use.  I kind of have this obsession with turning anything I can get my hands on into a powder and pumpkins are no exception.  I also love to puree them and freeze in two ways for ease of use.   

As I mentioned in How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? I like to cut our pumpkins right down the middle.  We counted the seeds and will be saving those for Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and for planting next year.  If you are not interested in toasting the seeds or saving them, don't even bother with scraping them out, just place face down on a rimmed baking sheet or roaster pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so, when the pan is filled with juices and the shell can be pressed in, they are done.

Now you scrape the pulp and seeds out.   Spoon the flesh into a high powdered blender (I love my Blendtec!) or a food processor and blend until pureed.  Little Man's Casper pumpkin had a much thicker flesh than the traditional orange pumpkin so I had to add water to get the consistency I wanted.  

Now your pumpkin puree is ready to freeze, pumpkin puree is one of those items you cannot pressure can so freezing is the only option.  I prefer to freeze in pint jars because a lot of recipes call for 2 cups increments, they defrost faster than plastic with no liquid leaking out the corners like the freezer bags do and they preserve flavor better than bags.  But feel free to freeze however you like, in whatever increments you like based on what recipes you use pumpkin puree for.  

My other favorite way to freeze pumpkin puree is in ice cube trays.  Pureed food cubes are another thing I'm a little obsessed with because they are so dang convenient.   Two cubes equal 1/4 cup so I can easily measure for any kind of recipe calling for pumpkin, you can throw them in a pan for a quick defrost, you can easily throw a cube into anything you are cooking to add some extra nutrients, and they make the perfect baby food.  I do store my cubes in a gallon size freezer bag, once frozen.

Now for my favorite - pumpkin powder!  I love to make food powders because they are so easy to "sneak" into meals and add not only more nutrients to your dishes but more flavor.  They also take up a lot less space and last longer than frozen or even canned food.  I tried to dehydrate the pumpkin puree, but wasn't too satisfied with the results, then I got this post in my inbox from one of my favorite blogs, The Welcoming House on the very thing I was trying to do - Pumpkin Powder.  

To make pumpkin powder you dehydrate the pumpkin raw, then blend it up.  To do this, cut the pumpkin into sections and peel (but really we a cutting) the shell off, scrape out the pulp and seeds, then cut into 1/4" pieces. Place on the dehydrator tray for the fruit/veggie setting, about 135 degrees and dehydrate until they are crisp.  Once crisp throw into a blender and blend on high until you have a fine powder.  I must say that the high powered blenders like my Blendtec or a Vitamix, will grind them into a much finer powder than a traditional blender.  

Label your pumpkin powder and use with a 1:4 ratio, 1 part pumpkin powder per 4 parts hot water.  I have also poured room temperature water over the powder and left covered overnight.  When using in recipes like pancakes, waffles or sweet breads, I usually replace 1/4 cup flour for 1/4 cup pumpkin powder.  You can also put some powder into an empty spice jar to sprinkle into cooking dishes and soups, have fun and sprinkle away.

If you want to bottle your pumpkin, Heather at the Welcoming House, has atutorial for canning them in cubes, along with some other fun pumpkin preserving and recipes - she really is amazing!

*Don't think that sugar pumpkins are the only thing you can bake with, I have used all sizes and colors for my puree, so go ahead and use those giant pumpkins your child brought home from the pumpkin patch (or the white one he grew in the garden:)

Shared On: Home Acre Hop, Natural Living, Mostly Homemade, Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Frugal Days, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Homemaking Blog Hop, Natural Living Link Up, The HomeAcre Hop, From the Farm, Simple Lives, Old Fashioned Friday, Required Ingredient.

Ginger Lemonade is my go to for colds, flu, and respiratory issues and because it tastes so yummy my children readily drink it.  It also works wonders for treating PMS cramping, upset stomachs and morning sickness.  You can drink this cold in the summer months as a refreshing lemonade, but for medicinal purposes it is better to drink it warm.

4 tablespoons fresh grated ginger (I keep mine in the freezer so it doesn't go bad and it makes for easier grating)
1 quart water
2 fresh squeezed lemons
1/4-1/2 cup raw honey (to taste)

Combine water and ginger in a saucepan and just barely bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and let sit covered for 10-15 minutes.  Strain out the ginger and stir in the raw honey and lemon juice.  For a more potent cold and flu remedy use Cinnamon/Ginger Honey or Thyme Honey in place of the raw honey.  You could also sprinkle in some Cold Remedy Spice Mix or Breakfast Sprinkle.  

For a quick, single serve ginger lemonade you can heat some water and add 1 tablespoon of ginger honey and the juice from 1/2 a lemon.  

There is no simpler way for healing your body than taking a long, hot, ginger bath.  A ginger bath can increase circulation and body temperature, killing bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections.  Having a ginger bath can ease menstrual cramps and stop early labor by increasing oxygen to the uterus, allowing it to relax.  On the flip side a ginger bath can also increase labor at term if it has slowed due to fatigue.

In fact, you can take a ginger bath to utilize all the healing benefits of ginger we previously talked about, although it works best for healing body aches and pains and killing those "sick bugs".  Just make sure to take a beverage to the bath with you, as your body perspires you want to replace the lost liquids.  A nice cup of ginger lemonade would be a great place to start!

Use one of the following preparations of ginger:
3 tablespoons of ginger powder
3 tablespoons of fresh ginger wrapped in a muslin bag, tea bag or made into a tea
20-30 drops ginger tincture or
3-6 drops of ginger essential oil

Mix the ginger preparation of choice into a tub of hot water and soak for 30 minutes or so.  If you are trying to heal an infection or sickness you want to keep your body warm after getting out of the tub, so wrap up in warm clothing and a blanket or a heavy robe.  The idea is to sweat for at least 30 minutes after the bath, this is what kills the "bugs" and infection.  For menstrual cramps and body aches go ahead and sip on a little ginger tea or ginger lemonade while soaking in the tub.

You can purchase fresh ginger from your local health food store.  The powder, tincture and essential oils can all be purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs whom I love because they love the planet and plants as much as I do, carrying only organic, high quality products.  They also carry muslin bags and a variety of tea making supplies. 

This particular salve is my favorite for cuts, wounds, scrapes, and any type of skin condition. It is antibacterial and antifungal making it perfect for fighting infection. I keep a container of this in my first aid kit, my emergency car kit, my purse, and both of my bathrooms.  I love this stuff!

First, make an herbal infused oil, with the following herbs:
4 parts lavender flowers
3 parts echinacea root (or Oregon Grape Root or half and half)
3 parts calendula flowers
2 parts plantain
2 parts comfrey
2 parts St. Johns Wort
2 parts yarrow
Fill a quart jar 1/2 full of dried herbs or 3/4 full if using fresh.  Pour olive oil over the herbs until it is one inch from the top of the jar and then screw on the lid.  Follow the instructions for infusing an herbal oil here.

Pour the herbal infused oil into a pan.  Add an ounce of beeswax per cup of oil and melt over very low heat. Remove from heat and cool for a minute or two then add 1 tsp. per cup of oil a first aid essential oil blend (I use Butterfly Express MelaPlus for this salve) or one or more of the oils listed below.  Pour into containers until solid, then cap and store in a cool, dry location.  

I like to pour some of this salve into lip balm containers for a travel size version.  I keep these in my purse, church bag, and if I still needed one, a diaper bag.  I usually carry a couple because I always end up giving them away.   Having this salve in a lip balm container also makes it easier for my "I do it myself" two year old to apply without a big mess on my hands. 

lavender
melaleuca
helichrysum
rosemary
eucalyptus
dorado azul
Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree)
cypress
thyme
oregano
German chamomile
mountain savory
frankincense
myrrh
spikenard

 What I can't grow in my garden I like to purchase from either Mountain Rose Herbs or Bulk Herb Store.  Both of these companies have high quality, organic products that I have used and love. Make sure the essential oils you use are 100% genuine.