Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is one of my favorite herbs. It can be used in so many ways.
I love it as a tea for digestive and stomach complaints, but my favorite use in in salves and balms. It has wonderful antifungal, antibacterial properites which makes it a great companion for the gardener.
Every year, I am bound and determined to get a rash of some sort or the other. When I do, I reach for calendula. I put some into a cheese cloth, add some oatmeal, lavender, plantain and other healing herbs and soak my skin back to health. After my bath, I put on some calendula skin ointment. My skin is now soft, smooth and itchy free.
I enjoy using natural ways to heal my body, mind and soul.
Using Lemon Balm For Herbal Healing
Lemon Balm has been used medicinally since the Middle Ages. It is has been used to relieve anxiety, stress and tension since that time and is still used today for those same illnesses.Lemon Balm helps heal naturally.Lemon Balm is used most often as a medicinal herbal tea. It is also used in herbal and medicincal body care products. Lemon Balm can also be used in an extract or tincture form. Our biggest seller is Lemon Balm Ointment followed by Lemon Balm Oil.
Anxiety And Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a wonderful nerve tonic. It is good on it's own for anxiety and stress, but can also be used in combination with other calming herbs such as valerian, catnip, lavender, or passionflower. When using valerian, you should not use any other sleep inducing medication such as valium.
For anxiety Lemon Balm is either given in tea or tincture. A tincture is a concentrated herbal medicine that is made with alcohol. The alcohol draws in the medicinal properties of the lemon balm as it is being made, and is a good way to take herbal medicine. You can easily dissipate the alcohol by letting it sit in warm water for a few minutes. This works well for people who have a sensitivity to alcohol, or don't want to use products with alcohol in them.
If a tincture does not suit you, you can certainly use lemon balm as a tea. The usual dosage for a cup of herbal tea is 1 tablespoon per one cup (coffee cup) of water. Pour hot water over the herb in the cup. Cover with plate to allow the essential oils of the lemon balm to stay in the cup. Strain after 10-15 minutes. Sit back, drink, and enjoy. It is best to take 3-4 cups per day for 2 weeks to allow the lemon balm to take effect.
Herpes / Cold Sores
In studies, lemon balm has been shown to have polyphenols. The polyphenols give lemon balm fantastic antiviral actions. In particular, they help to combat and heal cold sores due to the herpes simples virus (HSV). Applied to the affected area, lemon balm helps heal cold the sores in about 3-5 days. It also helps double the time between outbreaks.
Lemon balm that is used on herpes cold sores is usually found in either an oil or an ointment. The leaves of the plant are steeped in a carrier oil (such as almond, apricot, or olive) for 4-6 weeks. The oil absorbs the medicinal actions of the lemon balm. It is then strained and either used as lemon balm oil or ointment. It is a popular herbal ointment for herpes.
Lemon balm is also useful on chicken pox and shingles. Both chicken pox and shingles are the same virus as herpes. Used topically, lemon balm will help heal the sores of chicken pox and shingles much quicker than on their own.
Flu with Muscle Aches and Pains
Due to its antispasmodic and relaxant actions lemon balm can come in quite handy when a flu hits with muscle aches and pains. It will help relax the body, and the antispasmodic action will help with any muscular spasms. Lemon balm increases sweating, and could help in the case of a fever. By making the body sweat, the toxins are driven out of the body through the pores. It can be used at the first sign of flu for best results.
Anxiety And Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a wonderful nerve tonic. It is good on it's own for anxiety and stress, but can also be used in combination with other calming herbs such as valerian, catnip, lavender, or passionflower. When using valerian, you should not use any other sleep inducing medication such as valium.
For anxiety Lemon Balm is either given in tea or tincture. A tincture is a concentrated herbal medicine that is made with alcohol. The alcohol draws in the medicinal properties of the lemon balm as it is being made, and is a good way to take herbal medicine. You can easily dissipate the alcohol by letting it sit in warm water for a few minutes. This works well for people who have a sensitivity to alcohol, or don't want to use products with alcohol in them.
If a tincture does not suit you, you can certainly use lemon balm as a tea. The usual dosage for a cup of herbal tea is 1 tablespoon per one cup (coffee cup) of water. Pour hot water over the herb in the cup. Cover with plate to allow the essential oils of the lemon balm to stay in the cup. Strain after 10-15 minutes. Sit back, drink, and enjoy. It is best to take 3-4 cups per day for 2 weeks to allow the lemon balm to take effect.
Herpes / Cold Sores
In studies, lemon balm has been shown to have polyphenols. The polyphenols give lemon balm fantastic antiviral actions. In particular, they help to combat and heal cold sores due to the herpes simples virus (HSV). Applied to the affected area, lemon balm helps heal cold the sores in about 3-5 days. It also helps double the time between outbreaks.
Lemon balm that is used on herpes cold sores is usually found in either an oil or an ointment. The leaves of the plant are steeped in a carrier oil (such as almond, apricot, or olive) for 4-6 weeks. The oil absorbs the medicinal actions of the lemon balm. It is then strained and either used as lemon balm oil or ointment. It is a popular herbal ointment for herpes.
Lemon balm is also useful on chicken pox and shingles. Both chicken pox and shingles are the same virus as herpes. Used topically, lemon balm will help heal the sores of chicken pox and shingles much quicker than on their own.
Flu with Muscle Aches and Pains
Due to its antispasmodic and relaxant actions lemon balm can come in quite handy when a flu hits with muscle aches and pains. It will help relax the body, and the antispasmodic action will help with any muscular spasms. Lemon balm increases sweating, and could help in the case of a fever. By making the body sweat, the toxins are driven out of the body through the pores. It can be used at the first sign of flu for best results.
Green Mountain Conservation Group
The Green Mountain Conservation Group (GMCG) is a community-based, charitable organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of natural resources in the Ossipee Watershed in central Carroll County including the towns of Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Ossipee, Sandwich, and Tamworth. Founded in 1997, GMCG is a networking and referral resource for area residents concerned about land use issues in their communities. It encourages individual and small group activism based on common sense and non-confrontational approaches to resolving problems.GMCG PROGRAM GOALS are R.E.A.L:
Research
To gather background information and, where appropriate, scientific information, including sponsoring scientific research, to inform GMCG's educational and advocacy efforts.
Education
To inform the general public of an appreciation of the natural resources of the Ossipee Watershed by involving various audiences.
AdvocacyPresent objective information with the belief that informed citizens will make good judgments about our unique watershed resources.
Land Conservation
To encourage voluntary land conservation for the protection of water resources, wildlife habitat, sustainable forestry and agriculture and quality of life.Encourage individual and small group activism on resource protection and conservation issues, based on common-sense, non-confrontational approaches to resolving problems.
Go to Brickfish.com and vote for Green Mountain Conservation Group to receive a grant for our future.
The Future of Food is NOT Genetically Altered
The documentary I just watched sure showed me why we grow our own food. I know where my food comes from. After watching this, the little "groceries" that we do buy are now in question. When we do buy groceries, we choose organic and natural. I am hoping that this means that we are not getting Genetically Modified (GM) foods. Now, I am questioning this.
We buy all natural organic peanut butter. Does this mean that my peanut butter is safe from GM practices. We don't know because in the United States, it is not required to be put on the label. In Europe, it is the law. In Europe, food companies are required to put the list of ingredients on their packaging. If any of the ingredients are GM, they are required by law to say so.
So, why doesn't the United States take up the same practice? This has been a question in my mine since watching the documentary The Future of Food on hulu.com.
It would be in everyone's best interest to watch this documentary.
This is why Living Green is best!
We buy all natural organic peanut butter. Does this mean that my peanut butter is safe from GM practices. We don't know because in the United States, it is not required to be put on the label. In Europe, it is the law. In Europe, food companies are required to put the list of ingredients on their packaging. If any of the ingredients are GM, they are required by law to say so.
So, why doesn't the United States take up the same practice? This has been a question in my mine since watching the documentary The Future of Food on hulu.com.
It would be in everyone's best interest to watch this documentary.
This is why Living Green is best!
Recycling Plastic Plant Pots
We here at Cloverleaf Farm grow all our crops from seeds. I have and need a gazillion pots. They are plastic pots, but I have not bought one of them. I take them from friends and neighbors who buy their annuals every year. I have been using the same pots now for years. Each year, I clean them up, and use them to start my seedlings.
Each year, they buy their annuals and I get new pots. The ones I don't use, I pass on to be recycled by someone who can use them.
Recycling is so important so that these plastic plant pots don't end up in the landfill before their time. Sooner or later they are bound to crack, break or rip apart, but until then, why not make good use of them.
You can use them for so may things. Out in the garden is only one area to use them. You can also use them to store paint brushes, markers, or crayons for kids. I use some in the house for odds and ends to keep track of.
There is endless possibilities. What ideas do you have to recycle plastic plant pots?
Each year, they buy their annuals and I get new pots. The ones I don't use, I pass on to be recycled by someone who can use them.
Recycling is so important so that these plastic plant pots don't end up in the landfill before their time. Sooner or later they are bound to crack, break or rip apart, but until then, why not make good use of them.
You can use them for so may things. Out in the garden is only one area to use them. You can also use them to store paint brushes, markers, or crayons for kids. I use some in the house for odds and ends to keep track of.
There is endless possibilities. What ideas do you have to recycle plastic plant pots?
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