Natural Remedies- Herbal Ear Oil for Ear Infections

One of my favorite herbal remedies has to be this ear oil from Pharmaca. I am very thankful that it has successfully treated my daughter's ear infections. My daughter had her first ear infection when she was about 3 years old. She did not complain of her ears hurting and the only symptoms she had was a cough and a low grade fever that came and went for 4 days so I took her to see the pediatrician. Both ears were infected and bright red inside. I was shocked. You would think that her ears would be hurting her but she never complained. My pediatrician rarely ever prescribes antibiotics or medications and this was the first time she ever suggested antibiotics for Amelia. I knew I had a bottle of this ear oil at home so I filled out the prescription at the pharmacy to have on had just in case the ear oil did not work. As soon as we got home I warmed the bottle of ear oil and put a few drops in each ear and did this ever 1-2 hours until bed time. Amelia still had a low grade fever when she went to bed but by morning her fever had broken and did not return. I continued to put warmed drops in her ears ever 2-3 hours on that second day. On the 3rd and 4th day I used the drops ever 3-4 hours. After a week I took Amelia back to the pediatrician's to have her ears checked to make sure the drops were working and sure enough, her ears were back to normal!

I now use the drops when Amelia has a nasty mucusy cold to prevent an ear infection. I have personally used the warmed drops for an earache. It is so soothing and gets rid of the pain very quickly.

The herbal oil contains Mullein Flower Oil, Coptis Root Oil, Garlic Bulb Oil, and Arnica Flower Oil.

(These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.)

Natural Remedies - Mustard Plaster

Grandma Esther Walton. She was a midwife and a mountain herbalist. She was always treating her family members with natural remedies when they were sick. One of The Walton episodes that I watched recently had her treating Grandpa Walton's influenza with mustard plaster. This was the first time I can recall hearing about mustard plaster. If anyone knows me then they know how much I love natural remedies and I am glad to add this one to my kitchen medicine cabinet. 

Mustard plaster is applied externally to the upper chest and/or back. Mustard plasters are traditionally used to treat congestion, wet coughs, bronchitis or pneumonia, and even rheumatism. A mustard plaster can offer instant relief to discomfort in the chest as well as help treat infectious conditions of the lungs. It increases circulation, perspiration and warms up the area where the plaster is applied.  It should never be applied to bare skin.

Mustard Plaster

4 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon fresh ground mustard seed powder (black mustard seed is best but yellow will do in a pinch)

Enough water to make a batter like paste

12x6 inch cloth like, muslin, flannel or any thin cloth.

hand towel

Mix the flour and mustard powder together and add enough water to make a spreadable paste. Spread the mixture on the thin cloth then lay a towel on top of that like a sandwich. Rub the chest with olive oil and then lay the mustard plaster on the chest. Drink plenty of fluids during this treatment. Check the skin every 10 minutes to assure that there is no irritation under the mustard plaster. (If there is irritation then remove the mustard plaster). Leave it on for up to 30 minutes. The skin may be pink or slightly red but there should not be any blisters or burning. This can be repeated 2-4 times a day within 2 hours of the previous treatment. Not recommend for children under 6. I would use this treatment along with other herbal remedies for lung ailments. 

Amelia and I love watching retro Disney shows with Goofy, Donald, Mickey and the chipmunks. We came across this video of Goofy and his wife gives him a mustard plaster for his cold.  I thought it was cute. If you follow the directions and use caution then your mustard plaster will not hurt like Goofy's!

Goofy Cartoon - Cold War (1951)

This information is for educational purposes only and not intended to treat or diagnose. Please consult with your doctor before using any herbal treatments.

The Magic of Raw Honey

Beautiful Honey

                I love honey.  It not only taste good but it has amazing healing properties.  The key is RAW honey.  Raw honey is perfectly safe (1 year of age and older).  One of the reason's they pasteurize it is so it keeps it's transparent state and to filter out pollen etc.  Over time raw honey naturally crystallizes. The crystallization doesn't affect the honey's taste or healing properties. You can dissolve the crystals by placing the jar in warm water for about 15 minutes.  Do not microwave your raw honey. Cooking the honey will destroy a lot of the healing properties so if you want to use raw honey for treatments or medicinal purposes then keep it away from heat.

If I had land I would so raise my own bees and harvest honey.  I love just thinking about it.  What a wonderful gift it would make.            

Isn't it amazing how honey bees build a honey comb?!?  I remember my Nana telling me that she would chew on the honey comb as a child.  Simple pleasures for sure.  I tried it and it's kinda nice.  It reminds you of gum but not very elastic.  After awhile the comb compacts and the flavor is gone.  This very honey comb can be used to make salves, lotions and candles. 

 

So we all know honey goes great with hot biscuits but did you know that honey can be used to heal our bodies inside and out?   Raw honey has antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates, and phytonutrients. 

Honey has been used to heal wounds and burns for centuries. It is naturally antimicrobial and has antiseptic properties that clean wounds and inhibit bacterial growth making it a natural antibiotic for cuts and burns. But remember, it has to be RAW honey. Very important.  There is a huge difference in raw and pasteurized honey in my opinion. The raw honey will promote healing and sooth pain.  

I burnt my fingers twice and both times blisters formed almost immediately. Very painful and ugly.  I quickly held my hand under cold water to stop any "cooking" of my skin and then reached for my jar of raw honey.  I covered the burned area with the raw honey and within seconds the pain vanished! I am SERIOUS. It was amazing. A gift from GOD! I allowed the honey to stay on my skin for awhile and then washed it off.  I was able to use my hand after with very little discomfort.  Of course more serious burns should be seen by a MD or Naturopath. After the doctor has seen it then slather the burn with raw honey for pain relief and fast healing. 

Raw honey has also been used to treat gastric conditions like upset stomach and gastric ulcers.  I developed inflamed intestines which made eating painful. I went on a strict diet for two weeks of nothing but miso soup broth, vegetable broth, fresh juiced carrot, apple, and celery juice, organic apple sauce, and bananas.  In between eating this simple healing diet I drank lots of cooled chamomile tea with a tablespoon of raw honey in order to calm the inflammation in my intestines,

One daily spoonful packs a wonderful punch of nutrients.

 Local Raw honey can aid in allergy relief.  Because local raw honey has tiny bits of pollen from your area in it the pollen is able to triggers your immune system a little at a time causing you to build up a resistance.  In order to reap the benefits you should start taking a couple teaspoons a day for several months prior to the allergy season.  So much healthier than Allegra or Claritin and with more benefits. As with any natural therapy, start off with small amounts to make sure it agrees with you.

I love honey sticks! I remember collecting them at craft fairs and little country stores as a kid.  These would make a great gift paired with a unique tea cup and some organic teas. Sounds like a Christmas present to me.

Time to head to your local farmer's market to pick up some raw honey!

Herbal Infused Oils - Calendula

Calendula is used externally for its antiseptic and healing properties in treating skin conditions like, infection, cuts, scrapes, burns and chapped or chafed skin and lips. Infusing olive oil with Calendula flowers is a great way to add healing properties to salves, lip balm and lotions. I ordered my dried calendula and cold pressed olive oil from Mountain Rose Herbs.

I measured 2oz of dried Calendula flower by weight on my scale and 16.25oz of olive oil by weight. Basically you loosely fill a jar 1/2 full with calendula and then add olive oil making sure to remove all air bubbles. Keep adding olive oil until it fills jar just below rim. Add the olive oil and calendula flowers to a double broiler on very low heat. Don't let the oil get too hot. Just warm to touch. I turned the heat off and on from time to time to make sure the oil did not get too hot. Let it heat for 90 minutes. Pour flowers and oil into a clean dry jar and let it sit, covered for a few hours.

 

After the infused oil has sat for a few hours it is time to strain into a cheesecloth lined strainer that is positioned over a clean dry bowl.  Gather up the ends of the cheesecloth and squeeze the dickens out of it.

Put your fresh Calendula infused oil in a clean dry jar and label.

Another method for infusing oils is to fill a jar 1/2 full. Fill with olive oil and then set out in the warm sun for 2 weeks.  After two weeks, strain and add a new batch of dried herbs and set in sun for two more weeks. Strain then bottle.  You can see why I choose the double boiler method. Now you can use your new Calendula infused oil in my Coconut oil lotion recipe, Lindsey's Perfect Body Butter or a salve. 

Garlic Tincture

If I could only pick one herb to keep in my home it would definitely be garlic. It is very versatile for both cooking and healing. I made a garlic tincture to use for a number of ailments. Garlic is anti-viral and anti-bacterial. It's great to take for colds, flu, fever, UTI, athlete's foot, upper respiratory ailments, ear aches, and much more. I have personally used it to treat my daughter's colds and bronchialitis, as well as my UTI and sore throat. It is a wonderful daily health tonic to keep your body strong against infection, as well as, encouraging heart health.

Here is how to make a simple garlic tincture for your family.

Garlic Tincture

Enough chopped garlic to fill a jelly jar 3/4 full
80-100 proof vodka

Fill a clean dry jelly jar 3/4 full with the chopped garlic. Do not pack. Pour the vodka into the jar until the garlic is covered 2-3 inches and bring the liquid just under the lip of the jar. Place a clean lid and ring on your jelly jar and shake. Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight for 4 to 6 weeks shaking the jar everyday or as often as possible. Once the time is up place a double layer of clean cheese cloth into a strainer over a bowl and pour jar out into the cheese cloth lined strainer. Gather up ends of the cheese cloth and squeeze all of the liquid out of the garlic and into the bowl. Pour the strained liquid into a clean jar and lable with the type of tincture and year. Store in a cool dark place. You can put some, if not all of the tincture in an amber bottle with a dropper like I did. Tinctures are given by drops and I recommend two books to help you treat your family with herbals.

(This info is for educational purposes only and not meant to diagnose or treat anyone)

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies and cleaning methods are as old as time. I'm not talking about your silly "Old Wives Tales" here. I'm talking about tried and true remedies used by herbalist, Naturopaths, and Homeopaths. My Great Grandmother from the mountains of North Carolina would give her family herbal remedies such as goldenseal for colds or flu. I feel that herbalism is a lost art and like my Great Grandmother I choose to treat my family with herbs, nutrition and homeopathics. The purpose of natural remedies and healing is to support the body's ability to heal itself. Instead of covering up the symptoms, herbs can treat the cause of the illness or ailment.

I have two books that I refer to often:

"Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal"
"Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child"


Most herbal remedies are safe to take but as with anything new, check with a physician first.