Plants for Health and Wellness

Medicinal Plants

Using plants for medicine has been a common practice for thousands of years. People have dried them for cooking, tea, vinegar, soap, shampoo, or to treat illnesses like headaches, asthma, gas and sore throats. Some of the most common herbs to aid in sleep or relax us are easily grown in our backyard gardens. A good many of the plants used for medicinal teas or flavored vinegar are: basil, dill, peppermint or other mints, parsley, lavender, bee balm, chamomile, marjoram, sage, lemon balm, oregano, chives, garlic, catnip, yarrow and thyme. Soaps, compresses’ and bath salts are very easy to make using your own dry plant material. Moth repellent bags are easily made of dry herbs, hung in closets or tucked in linen drawers for seasonal storage of wool coats or blankets.

Drying herbs can be done by hanging them in a closet or shed, in a dehydrator, or in an oven on the lowest temperature setting. Once dry store the blooms and leaves in a airtight container or jar.

To make bath bags to give as gifts for family and friends, use dry herbs as follows:

A sweet mixture using dry rose petals makes for a soothing bath or foot soak along with dry sage, lavender and parsley. Mix a few teaspoons of herbs to 1/2 cup of Epsom salts or sea salt. For a large jar mix 1 cup herbs to 3 cups salts, cover with a lid and infuse about 2 weeks. Essential oils can be mixed in too, then cut 8 inch squares of Muslim or any gauzy shear material. Place a 1/2 cup of mix in the middle of the cloth and tie with a ribbon. Store your bath bags in a lidded container or jar. Just throw a bag into your foot bath or tub and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. These bags ease stress, help with aches and pains, calm and promote sleep, soothe dry skin and heal insect bites.

Many herbs are also used to make lotions, lip salves, ointments, wines, vinegar, flavor butter, gargles for sore throats and many other health issues. Parsley tea is loaded with vitamin C and will calm a cough as well as boost your immune system. Add it to meatloaf or potatoes every day for good health. Fresh and dry herbs can be used in bread, salads, pickled vegetables, pesto, sauces and marinated meat dishes. Use and grow a few of the herbs you like. Dill, parsley, rosemary and basil all grow well in pots indoors and out, can be easily cared for to use year round

 ROOM Freshener Spray

Mix in a small spray bottle: 1/4 cup cooled boiled water, 2 tablespoons of vodka (40%) alcohol and 20 to 30 drops of essential oils. Combine lavender and lemon for a fresh bright scent to clean fabrics or just as an air freshener. Make your own combinations to refresh linens, spray onto curtains and sofas, or to add a wonderful natural scent to sweaters or jackets.