Home healing doesn’t have to be about expensive ingredients or difficult to find plants. You can make the most of your space, whether it’s a garden, a windowsill, balcony or patio, by planting in pots and still grow the herbs you need to make essential natural remedies to treat a variety of common ailments. Making herbal remedies from the herbs you have grown can be fun, easy and so beneficial to your health! A little bit of forward planning when you are planting in pots, some care and attention as the plants are growing and you will have the ingredients to make tinctures, elixirs, ointments and teas that you can use every day.
The 40 pots described in this book incorporating recipes suggested for treating a range of common ailments, are designed to give you an idea of the potential uses of the herbs at your fingertips. By growing the herbs and trying out the recipes, you can gain practical experience of how easy it can be to use your garden or container garden as an instant source of medicines. You are not restricted to the combinations suggested in the book, there is a herb and plant directory which will help you find out which herb bests suits your particular needs and then you can design a unique container just for you!
Balancing Tincture (P.110)
For menopausal symptoms. This blend supports hormonal and emotional balance. Motherwort, sage, rose and chamomile are cooling for hot flushes and are helpful to the liver. Sage promotes digestion and absorption, balances hormones and stops sweating, while rose and motherwort balance hormones and enhance mental equilibrium.
Ingredients:
250g (9 oz) each of fresh red sage leaves, motherwort, lady’s mantle, chamomile, rose petals (or 100g (3.5oz) each of dried)
500ml (17 fl oz) brandy or vodka
Makes 400ml (14 fl oz) tincture
- Place the herbs into a large glass jar, pour over the brandy/vodka and screw the lid on.
- Leave to macerate for a minimum of 2-3 weeks, up to 6 months.
- Press through a fine mesh sieve, or use a wine press, squeezing as much of the liquid as possible before discarding the herb.
- Label clearly and store in dark glass bottles.
How to use:
Take 1-2 teaspoons 3 times daily in a little water. You may continue for at least 3 weeks and up to 3 months, to achieve the long term benefits of the herbs.
When treating common ailments at home it is always important to exercise caution. You need to be sure what plants you are using by clearly labelling them. If you buy them in pots, already grown, they should come from a reputable grower and also be clearly labelled. If acute symptoms do not clear within a few days, if chronic symptoms do not improve within three to four weeks, or if you develop new symptoms, please see your practitioner.
