6 Season Saving Herb Room Fresheners - How To-sday

I posted a blog with these 6 ideas back in 2011.  I was recently reading old blogs and adding photos to those that did not have pictures originally.  When I found this one, my immediate thought was, I should have shared recipes with this list.

So here is a recycled post with some great recipes that probably shows how far I have come since 2011!

Six Season Saving Herb Room Freshners

1. Hang sachets of aromatic potpourri from door handles or sunny windows.

Floral Sachet

This will make you think of spring with this amazing mix of floral scents.

½ cup rose petals

½ cup lavender blossoms

½ cup sweet woodruff

¼ cup mint

2 teaspoons orange peel

2 drops each of lavender and rose essential oils (optional)

Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar and allow to meld for a week, shaking every day.  Place in organza or muslin bags.

2. Push herb or spice sachets down the sides or back of couch cushions or inside cushion covers.

Sofa Sachet

This blend is part of my Make and Take portion of the Herbology 101 program.  Blend it up and place in a coffee filter closed with a rubber band and slip into the couch or chair and every time you sit down or get up you get a great burst of scent.

2 parts lavender
1 part rose petals
1 part mixed mint

Combine in a glass jar and shake.  Store tightly lidded until ready to use.
To Use: Place 1 to 2 Tbls in a sachet or coffee filter.  Place under or behind sofa coshions. Replace every 3 to 6 months.

3. Place a container of potpourri in the living room or bedroom.  Remove lid and stir potpourri and let scent fill the room.

Fragrant Potpourri

1 cup lemon verbena

¾ cup coneflowers

½ cup white sage

½ cup thyme leaf

½ cup lavender flowers

½ cup pink rose petals

Mix all herbs together in a bowl.  Scent with 5 drops each cedar, sage and lavender essential oils.  Toss until well combined.  Place in a bowl and stir or mist occasionally to keep fragrance alive.

4. Keep a small porous pottery bottle filled with a favorite essential oil near a sunny window so that the heat will cause the oil to evaporate.  

I used a terra cotta oil lamp.  It is an heirloom, so I never wanted to burn oil in it. Using sun to evaporate the oil works just as well.

This is in my bedroom window so the oils I use are uplifting and stimulating:

     peppermint (Mentha xpiperita)

     clove (Syzygium aromaticum)

     cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

     ginger (Zingiber officinale)

     rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

5. Dab a little essential oil on a light bulb before turning it on. With the advent of LED lightbulbs this does not work as well, so you may want to try a stick diffuser instead.

To craft a stick diffuser, you need a small glass or porcelain vase and a package of bamboo skewers.

Carrier oils

Essential oil blend

Place at least 2 Tablespoons of carrier oil in the vase and add 4 to 7 drops of essential oil blend to the carrier oil.  Good carrier oils are almond or jojoba. Stir. Insert the sticks which will allow the scent to be carried into the room.

Recommended blends:

Relaxing Blend

12 drops lavender essential oil

6 drops marjoram essential oil

6 drops clary sage essential oil

3 drops bergamot essential oil

Keep combined oil in a small glass jar and use a couple drops at a time.

Romance Blend

6 drops jasmine essential oil

12 drops sandalwood essential oil

6 drops sweet orange essential oil

3 drops rose essential oil

3 drops vetiver essential oil

Keep combined oil in a small glass jar and use a couple drops at a time.

6. Put a couple drops of spicy essential oil on a cotton ball and wipe over your heater vent in wintertime for a comforting fragrance.

Use one of these antidepressant, yet relaxing aromas:

    bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

    scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

    neroli (Citrus reticulata)

    rose (Rosa spp.)

    sandalwood (Santalum album)

    tropical flower ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)

So enjoy your scents and make your home fell and smell spring like since it doesn't look like winter is ending anytime soon.

Herb Dental Rinses to help you avoid celebrating National Toothache Day

Sometimes I just decide to post something because the “National Day” is today.  Did you know that February 9 is National Toothache Day?  Don't just whiten those teeth, keep them healthy! Educate yourself about natural dental care and the use of herbs to maintain a healthy mouth, gums, teeth.

I was rereading an article in Mother Earth news which discussed natural ways to brush teeth and prevent tooth ailments, discovering a couple of great recipes which I tried. As my husband and I are acutely aware, dental disease has a reciprocal effect with overall body health. If you're over stressed and generally unhealthy, your immune system will be suppressed and dental caries, caused by bacteria, will flourish. If your mouth is unhealthy, especially with gum disease, it overloads your health every moment of the day, lowering your resistance to all disease. This suppression of immunity resulted in my husband being unable to suppress an infection he picked up in Guatemala which landed him in the hospital multiple times.  Since changing how he takes care of his teeth my husband has seen a drastic improvement in his health including the management of his diabetes.

Although I found serval interesting tidbits especially about Ayurveda medicinal practices, I think you should read them for yourself to determine what you need to enact in your life.  However, I did find in the article reference to herbal rinses you could add to your daily routine which can improve oral health, so I thought I would share them with you here. 

Check out the end of this post for sources and other information.

According to Learning Herbs there are three steps to improving mouth health:

1. Manually Removing Food Debris and Plaque and Tartar. Promote dental health by brushing and flossing daily and use a mouth wash. By ridding the mouth of food debris, it also helps to decrease the number of bacteria in the mouth. Brushing, flossing and using a mouth wash decreases the buildup of plaque, which then decreases the amount of tartar. Regular visits to the dental hygienist will remove any built-up tartar. 

2. Promoting Healthy Mouth Bacteria.  Most of us have heard of the concept of promoting healthy gut bacteria and the same principles apply to the mouth. There are beneficial and harmful bacteria in the mouth and by supporting beneficial bacteria through healthy lifestyle practices, like diet, it can decrease the harmful bacteria. 

3. Remineralization of Teeth. Our skin is constantly regenerating itself, sloughing off dead skin cells and regenerating new ones. Teeth are similar in that they can remineralize. Saliva is designed to remineralize our teeth and, in doing so, can continually build our tooth enamel. The catch is that the saliva has to contain a plentiful amount of minerals in order to remineralize our teeth effectively. In order for our saliva to have minerals we have to be ingesting minerals in our diet and avoid activities that decrease minerals in our body (such as sugar consumption and chronic stress).

Herbalists and natural healers recommend using warming, astringent, connective-tissue-healing herbs to enhance and maintain oral health. These herbs can be used as a rinse or applied as packs (a pinch of powder, wetted to a mush with a liquid such as water or vitamin E, and tucked next to the teeth). Rinses are made by preparing an herb as tea in the usual way, or by simply stirring herb powder into water. Hold the rinse in the mouth for a few seconds or up to several minutes, gargle, and spit out.

Herbs to Use in Dental Rinses

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties that help heal irritated, tender gums. It also has a mild antiseptic action.
• Chamomile – (Matricaria chamomilla) soothing and relaxing it is also good for the inflammation of gingivitis.
• Echinacea (Echinacea spp.), an immune-stimulating herb, helps combat infection; it is anti-inflammatory and antiviral.
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibiotic properties; it’s good for healing and preventing gum problems.
• Horsetail is rich in silica, vitamin E, selenium and other minerals. When used as a mouth rinse, it can help in coagulation, decrease bleeding and heal oral infections.
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) provides a pleasant, freshening flavor and sensation.
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) has strong astringent properties, making it a favorite herb for tightening the gums and soothing a sore mouth.
• Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata) Plantain is scorned as a weed by many but is a beloved herb to those who truly know it. The list of plantain’s medicinal abilities could go on and on so for this we’ll simply say it is a wonderful herb to help heal wounds and fight infection.
• Thyme (Thymus ssp) Thyme has a chemical in it called thymol which is often times an ingredient in commercial mouthwashes and rinses.  So adding thyme to an infusion for an herbal rinse can give you the anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties thyme is known for.  It will assist with fighting infection.
• White oak bark (Quercus alba), a strong astringent, is helpful for healing swollen, tender and bleeding gums and mucous membranes, and has a clotting and antiseptic effect.

Herbal rinses to try

Simple Chamomile Mouthwash

Make a stronger than normal tea by steeping 2 tsp of chamomile flowers in 6 to 8 ounces of water and allow to steep 10 to 12 minutes.  Chill and use as a rinse after brushing teeth

Sophisticated multi-herb Dental rinse

The herbs in this rinse all have properties that will help with healing of the gums as well as killing the bacteria.

1 tsp thyme

2 tsp calendula petals
1 tsp sage
1 tsp peppermint
2 tsp plantain

Combine herbs and store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Use 1 to 2 tsp of blend in 6 to 8 ounces of water.  Boil water and add herbs.  Steep 7 to 10 minutes.  Chill tea. 

To Use: Hold the rinse in the mouth for a few seconds or up to several minutes, gargle, and spit out.

Refreshing Herbal Mouth Rinse

1 cup brandy or vodka

1 Tbls. sage, dried
1 Tbls thyme, dried
1 Tbls. eucalyptus, dried
1 Tbls. rosemary, dried
1 Tbls. dried lemon zest.
1 cup distilled water
½ tsp vanilla

Into a jar (with a lid) place brandy or vodka, dried sage, thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary, and dried lemon zest. Cover and set aside for two weeks, shaking occasionally. Strain, add distilled water and vanilla.

To Use: pour a few tablespoons into a glass, swish in the mouth, and spit.

Additional sources on Herbal Dental health:

Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums (North Atlantic books, 2013) by Nadine Artemis

Complete Handbook of Nature Cure: Comprehensive Family Guide to Health the Nature Way (Jaico Pub House, 2003) by H.K. Bakhru

Ayurvedic Beauty Care (Lotus, 1994), by Melanie Sachs

The Herbs of Life (Crossing Press, 1992) by Lesley Tierra, L.Ac.

Traditional Healers Handbook (Healing Arts, 1988), by Hakim Chrishti, N.D.

Planetary Herbology (Lotus, 1988),  by Michael Tierra, O.M.C., L.Ac.

The New Holistic Herbal (Element, 1983), by David Hoffmann

www.learningherbs.com

Pretzel Dip - Weekend Recipe

I purchased a cookbook while on vacation, which is my habit.  This one was called Top Chefs of West Virginia by Allen Arnold and Maureen Crocket.  It had interviews with about 20 different chefs for the Appalachian area.  They vary from complicated to basic, but all reflect a great modern esthetic and a regional flare.  I will be sharing a few more later this year.

One that caught my attention to share this month (Tailgate - Appetizer theme) was a Pretzel Dip by Dennis O. Harris II.  It was a very basic recipe with no herbs in it, but I thought with herbs flavors you could really dress this up.

Pretzel Dip ala Backyard Patch

8 ounces of cream cheese

2 Tbls herb flavored butter

2 Tbls Splenda

2 Tbls herb vinegar

Blend cream cheese with herb flavored butter.  A combination made with chives, tarragon and parsley or BYP Herbal Spread would go well with pretzels.  Add Splenda. Then stir in herbal vinegar.  I suggest a savory vinegar like tarragon, thyme or something with peppercorns, like Marcy’s Favorite.  Serve with pretzel rods.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018 or Recipe2019 

You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD in the () to search for each  month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2020 so you can find them all.

The themes are:

Feb 2020 - Footbal Tailgate Favorites (AppFeb)

March 2020 - Kabobs (KabobMar)

April 2020 - Brunch (BrunchApr)

May 2020 - Non-Traditional Pizza (PizzaMay)

June 2020 - StirFry Dishes (StirJun)

July 2020 - Salads with no lettuce (SaladJul)

August 2020 - Pickled things (PickleAug)

September 2020 - Quiche (QuicheSep)

October 2020 - Squash Soups (SquashOct)

November 2020 - Pumpkin (again) (PumpNov)

December 2020 - Turkey Recipes (TurkDec)

Romantic Dreams Sleep Sachet - Bath Blend of the Month

When the days are still too short and the nights too long and the weather still too cold or snowy, I start to lose sleep.  I just don’t stay asleep as well.  I try to increase my exercise in hopes of encouraging sleep and drink more tea with Holy Basil, like my Holy Basil Relaxing tea.  And I also add a scented sachet to my pillowcase.  Since it is February, I am sharing a recipe designed to increase your dreams of that special someone.  The evocative and spicy blend will increase thoughts of roses and warm nights.

Romantic Evening Dreams

1/2 cup rose petals
1/2 cup rosemary
1/4 cup lavender flowers
2 Tablespoons lemon verbena leaves, crushed or chopped
1 teaspoon mint
4 whole cloves
1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.  Allow to meld for at least 2 days before placing in a sachet.

For a simple pillow, fill a 3- to 5-inch drawstring bag with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chosen herbs; draw strings and tie closed.

For a more decorative bag, fold a 5-inch-by-12-inch cloth in half on the long side and stitch up one long and one short side (the folded side does not need to be stitched). Launder with no fragrance or fabric softener. Place a cotton ball-sized amount of cotton or fiberfill material in the bottom of the pocket. Add about 1/2 cup of herbs, fold over the remaining open side and stitch shut.

TO USE: place the sachet inside the pillowcase or under the pillow and inhale deeply as you fall asleep.  Enjoy the dreams!

Recipe theme for February - Tail Gate Snacks / Appetizers (with Mustard)

This month I the Big Game, for which snacky food is required.  That put me in the mood of great finger foods, so I thought I would share several of my appetizer recipes.  I have a large number of these and have shared many in the past, but since there are so many more, I am going to give you tqo each time.

This first time I am going to share two recipes to be made with mustard. Mustard is one of the earth's oldest savory flavors packed with minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.  It has about 25% protein and contains no cholesterol.  It is considered important to the body fighting cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes.

Spicy Italian Meatballs
This one can be a meal served over pasta or an appetizer served warm with just the sauce.

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 1/2 cups tomato or pasta sauce, divided
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup chipped parsley
1 Tbls whole mustard seed
1 tsp whole fennel seed
1 tsp basil, dried
1/2 tsp crushed red chile flakes
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 tsp olive oil

In a bowl, mix together beef, 1/4 cup tomato sauce , read crumbs, parsley, mustard seed, fennel seed, basil, chile flakes, garlic, salt and pepper.  Form into 18 meatballs, about the size of a small egg.  Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add meatballs and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.  Pour in remaining tomato sauce, reduce heat, cover and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, about 15 minutes or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches 170 degrees.

Mustard Cheese Sticks
 1 cup all purpose flour
2 Tbls dry mustard powder
1/2 tsp chipotle seasoning
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup grated aged cheddar cheese
1/4 cup cold water

 Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  In a bowl, stir together flour, dry mustard and chipotle seasoning,  Cut in butter with a pastry blender or rub together with fingers until mixture resembled a course crumb mixture.  Add cheese and mix well. Pour in water, mix with fork to form a ball.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 12 by 12 inch square.  Cut square in half horizontally to create two rectangles, then slice each rectangle into 1 inch by 6 inch strips.  Lay sticks on a non-stick baking sheet, making sure they do not touch.  Bake until lightly browned on the bottom, 18 to 20 minutes.  Let cool before removing from pan.  Store in an air tight container.  To make them more party worth, You can twist the strips  couple times before pressing the ends onto the baking sheet.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, or Recipe2019 

You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD in the () to search for each  month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2020 so you can find them all.

The themes are:

Feb 2020 - Footbal Tailgate Favorites (AppFeb)

March 2020 - Kabobs (KabobMar)

April 2020 - Brunch (BrunchApr)

May 2020 - Non-Traditional Pizza (PizzaMay)

June 2020 - StirFry Dishes (StirJun)

July 2020 - Salads with no lettuce (SaladJul)

August 2020 - Pickled things (PickleAug)

September 2020 - Quiche (QuicheSep)

October 2020 - Squash Soups (SquashOct)

November 2020 - Pumpkin (again) (PumpNov)

December 2020 - Turkey Recipes (TurkDec)