Aroma Balm Solid Perfume - Bath Blend of the Month

This is a wonderful item to make for yourself or as a gift. The essential oils in the blend give an aroma that help with anxiety, stress, and tension. If you are making only a couple for yourself, cut the recipe down to ¼ the original size. For the full recipe, you need 12 to 14 round 1-ounce tins or heat resistant jars to pour the liquid into.  It is best to warm the base ingredients in a double boiler or a bowl over water, rather than directly on the stove.

Base --

• 1 ½ cup almond oil
  
• ½ cup grapeseed oil
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil
• ½ cup beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax

Essential oil blend –

• 20 drops clary sage
• 20 drop sweet marjoram
• 20 drop vetiver
• 10 drop juniper
• 10 drop lavender

Directions:

Mix essential oils together in a glass bottle and roll between the palms of your hands to combine.  Set aside.

Using a double boiler, gently warm carrier oils over medium heat.  Add the beeswax and stir together until completely melted to liquid, but do not boil.  Remove from heat and immediately pour into 1 oz, containers.  Drop 6 drops of essential oil blend into each tin and screw lids on tight.  Makes 14.

Stress Relief Aromatherapy Bath Salts - Bath Blend of the Month

This blend of sea salt and baking soda is easy to make and the scent is great for helping with stress. The blend of these essential oils delivers reduced stress and anxiety, lifts mood and give you radient skin as well!

Stress relief Aromatherapy salts  (Each packet separate)

     1 Tbls Sea salt

     1 Tbls Baking soda

     5 drops lavender oil

     3 drops sandalwood oil

     2 drops clary sage oil

Prepare theses salts in small bowl by adding salt and baking soda, then measuring in the essential oils by the drop.  Stir until the essential oils are evening distributed, then place the salts in individual packets or muslin bags (2 Tbls per bag) and place in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  Pull them out and pop one into the bathwater as you fill the tub, or use the bags by hanging from the shower to allow the warm water to release the scent that will soothe and reduce stress.

 

LaSalle County Historical Society and Illinois Valley Herb Guild Garden - National Garden Month

It is rare to find a public garden that is only there to be an herb garden. I find one every now and then but most gardens we visit have herb gardens as part of a larger garden, rather than the main focus of the experience.  The garden I am focusing on today is just an herb garden.  It focuses on many useful aspects of herbs but it is only an herb garden.

taken March 2015, the garden is still asleep

Located near the one room school house of the LaSalle County (Illinois)Historical Society I have visited this garden many times starting in 2015.  I took photos of it when it was still dormant and cold in March, another time in June during early growth in a rain storm and finally in 2016 when it was the end of the season in October.

This garden is maintained by volunteers so sometimes when I visit it is overgrown and untrimmed, but it is obviously well cared for by the Illinois Valley Herb Guild. 

taken 6-25-15

The Guilds’ herb garden is planted in a traditional homesteading style in four beds defined by the major uses for which the plants were grown in the 1800s. Dyes, Culinary, Medicine and Fragrance are the themes used in the garden.  I like the four-square design and plants included.  I think all the plants used in the garden have roots in the 1800s, but I think not all would be found on the 'frontier.'  But I am not certain what definition of frontier they are using, so I could be wrong. 

Since this garden is only about 12 by 24 feet, constructed with a center X path dividing the plot into 4 rectangular beds.  There is no need for a tour, so instead I thought I would show some of the variety of plants they have in the garden.  

Taken 10-28-16 

This garden was planted probably around 2010 and as a result has some age and many of the plants have reached some spread and have taken hold in their locations and flourished.  It is a joy to walk through and see the plants and touch the scented leaves.  A booklet was published detailing many of the plants in the garden back in 2011 and you can get it from the LaSalle County Historical Society in Utica, Illinois.

I love the groupings and the way the plants are labeled.  I think someone made the labels by hand.

There were several plants I had never grown before in the beds which allowed me to see the mature look of the plant as you rarely can in a nursery setting.  Lady's Bed Straw and Germander are historically interesting plants and to see them in a garden bed was a joy, especially since I have never grown them myself..

Flowering Lady's Bed Straw in June

Lady's Bed Straw is named so because it is thought to be the plant used in the Manger for the Baby Jesus. In the Galium family it is a cousin of Sweet Woodruff, and is another European introduced plant that grows well in Northern Illinois. When in flower they are highly fragrant and hold their scent while dry.  There is a chemical in Lay's Bed Straw that will curdle milk causing it to be used as an ingredient in the making of cheese.  The flowers can be used for making yellow dye and was used to color butter.  It is an all purpose herb which is perfect for a frontier garden.

Germander just getting serious in June.

Germander is used these days as a scented ornamental wreath plant, but traditionally it was used as a treatment for gout.  It is an Mediterranean plant and would have been brought to the US by European settlers. This is probably the creeping versus upright variety due to the short stature and it works as a lawn substitute and grows well in shade and with drought conditions.  I am thinking of adding it to my side yard which is both shaded and dry.  It flowers purple in summer.

Flowering from June to frost, this was enjoying the summer when I snapped this photo

Thread leaf tickseed was popular in 19th century ornamental gardens, but although you can use it as a dye in certain circumstances I think it was less a frontier herb as a landscape plant in more urban areas, especially along the east coast in the 1900s.  I love to grow this, but it is a serious self-seeder, so I put it in pots rather than in the ground to keep the seeds contained.

Clary Sage

I got the best picture of Clary Sage I have ever taken while at this garden.  Even the one in my own garden never looked as nice as this one. Clary Sage is an old plant.  Used by the Quakers in PA, it is a perfect frontier plant.  The aromatherapy benefits include reduction of stress and anxiety.  It is also an anti-inflammatory herb and an antibacterial.

Winter Savory in flower in June

Winter Savory is always a good edge plant and this garden placed on the edge.  I suspect someone came by and trimmed it up shortly after I took this photo.  Winter savory takes on a nice shape if kept trimmed.  And being a perennial it only gets better with time.

St John's Wort flowers look bright even on a cloudy rainy day.

This plant flowers around the Summer solstice in June, (near St. John's Day on the 24th) which is how it gets the name St. John's Wort.  The flowers make a great herbal tincture that is red in color rather than yellow as the flowers might suggest.  The infused alcohol can then be used to treat various ailments, including anxiety and depression.   Historically it was believed to be a panacea that could cure almost anything.

Sorrel going strong in October

French Sorrel is an herb I have never grown.  Considered one of the bitter herbs, it was used by the Egyptians and the Romans to impart a bitterness or acidity to foods, much like we do with lemon juice today.  It can be eaten as a green, with a taste similar to a sour green apple it is in nice counter part to other sweeter foods. 

Flax in October, not tall enough to harvest

Flax is also part of the garden, but my guess is this plant would not have been in the garden as much as it would have been in a field nearby.  Flax was grown extensively in Illinois as a crop for making linen fabric.  To process flax you need a good flowing water source.  This garden is right along a canal which makes it a great place to grow flax but more abundance would give you the flax you needed to weave into cloth.  The process for making fiber from flax to create linen is very harsh and hard on people and the environment, so once cotton was more easily available Flax was abandoned as a cash crop.

taken 10-26-16

After my second visit we stopped in the nearby museum and I picked up a little booklet called "The LaSalle County Historical Society's Settler's Herb Garden" which details photographically many of the plants in the garden with a short one or two sentence description of the use of the plant.  The only thing the book is missing is a bit of information on why they chose the plants they did for the garden, as I am curious.

This garden is near Seneca, Illinois, where my husband and I intend to retire and raise herbs in the next few years, so I will be visiting this garden again, and I recommend you do as well if you are ever along the I&M canal or the Illinois River near Starved Rock.  The address of the museum is 101 E Canal Street, North Utica, Illinois and the garden is east of the parking area beside the one-room school house building.

Herb of the Week - Clary Sage

My husband and I were going through some photos and I was amused at how many I had of Clary Sage.  Turns out this attractive plant, of all my medicinal plants, was one my husband loved to see grow.  As a result we have many photos. 

So in honor of all the pictures I chose
                                  Clary Sage as the herb of the week.

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) is a biennial, meaning it blooms every other year. The name clary comes from the latin clarus meaning clear.  A decoction of the seed is mucilaginous and was traditionally used as an eye wash (to clear the eyes.)  In the 16th century the seed was infused with elder flowers and the liquid was added to Rhine wine which turned them to muscatel making the wine more potent.

To Grow

The seeds of Clary Sage must be scarified in order to germinate.  It is a great herb to winter sow.  But if you don't have the time, freeze the seeds for 3 to 5 days in a zip lock bag before planting.  They need total darkness to germinate so sow the seed at least 1/2 inch deep in dark soil.  If you want to direct sow, do so once the soil has reached 55 to 60 degrees.

This plant thrives only in full sun and a well-drained sandy soil.  It struggled the first year I grew it because my soil was too dense, but once I worked in sand it was very happy.  Do not use any fertilizer high in nitrogen, so a simple compost feeding will do if needed.  And allow the soil to dry out between waterings.  Space the plants 9 to 12 inches apart.  My clary sage is blooming now, but it is not as happy as it could be because of the constant rain we seem to be having.

This is a zone 6 and higher plant, but I have been able to keep it through winters here in zone 5 with these winter preparations.  Cut the tops after the first fall frost.  It must be protected from harsh winter conditions, so a layer of hay or evergreens placed over it once the ground has frozen will protect it from harsh drying winds.

To Use

Clary Sage tastes much like garden sage with a pungent fragrance holding a hint of camphor.  Unlike garden sage, however, it can easily over power foods and become bitter if used in large amounts.  The large leaves  (as big as 2 inches across and 6 to 9 inches long) grow off a central stalk that bends with the weight of the flowers. It grows to a height of 3 feet with a width of 1 foot. The flowers are lilac or pale blue, pink or white, in whorls on top of the stems. The leaves are broad oval or heart-shaped, in pairs, covered with fine silver-white hairs. It blooms from June to July.

For culinary purposes you can use the fresh and dried leaves in the same ways as garden sage.  It is a great addition to breads and stuffing.  The flowers are edible and can be used as garnish.  A strong fragrance resembling a balsom makes it a great addition to sachets or potpourris.  The essential oil is also used as a fixative in perfumes and as a scent for lotions and detergents.

Clary sometimes replaced hops in beer to produce an enhanced state of intoxication and exhilaration, although this reportedly was often followed by a severe headache. It was considered a 12^th century aphrodisiac.

An astringent the steeped leaves can be gargled, douched and poured over skin wounds. An infusion of the leaves dried or fresh makes a stimulating bath additive.  Taken internally it is combined with other herbs for kidney problems. The clary seeds form a thick mucilage when soaked for a few minutes and placed in the eye, helps to removed, small irritating particles. A tea of the leaves is also used as an eyewash. Clary can be used to reduce muscle spasms. It is used today mainly to treat digestive problems such as gas and indigestion. It is also regarded as a tonic, calming herb that helps relieve premenstrual problems. Because of its estrogen-stimulating action, clary sage is most effective when levels of this hormone are low. The plant can therefore be a valuable remedy for complaints associated with menopause, particularly hot flashes.

The professionally extracted essential oil of Clary Sage is used in many medicinal situations, especially those to improve circulation and respiration, as well as relieve the effects of grief.  According to Susun Weed, "this is the essential oil chosen for treating nervousness, weakness, fear, paranoia, and depression. Clary feeds the soul and helps one get through rough times. It is recommended when pressures and stress come from outside." Wonderful for people in mid-life crisis, Clary also encourages vivid dreams or at least enhances dream recall.

NOTE: rather than update or change this post we decided to answer several questions and provide a few new recipes for Clary sage with a new Mini Herb of the week post.

Sources: WebMD; Susun Weed (articles and books); Rodale's Encyclopedia of Herbs; The Encyclopedia of Herbs: A Comprehensive Reference to Herbs of Flavor and Fragrance by Thomas DiBaggio and Arthur O Tucker as well as 20 years of personal experience with the plant

Clary Sage Pork Roast

2 1/2 to 3 pound pork roast or tenderloin
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried clary sage
1 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary
1 bay leaf
2 fresh leaves of basil
1 apple, cored and cut into quarters
Salt and pepper

Place roast in crock-pot.  Cover just to top with water.  Add thyme, sage, rosemary, bay leaf, basil and apple.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and cook on medium for 5 to 6 hours.  (Add potatoes to your crock pot with roast in the last 2 hours for delicious boiled potatoes!)

Susun Weed's Clary Love Potion
Equal parts of dried lavender, bachelor’s buttons and clary sage
a pinch of valerian
 a sassafras leaf

Blend together and place in a small sachet and wear inside the clothing to attract a man.

Anti-Sorrow Aromotherpy Blend
4 oz sweet almond oil
10 drops marjoram essential oil
5 drops clary sage essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil
1 drop lemon balm essential oil

Combine ingredients the ingredients and shake well.  Place the oil on an evaporator and use on a cotton ball.