The healing power of nature and herbs

Solstis.co.uk

 

As the season turns once again and the last days of Autumn are approaching, I am amazed by the abundance of plants still available to harvest from the wild and make good use of in wonderful healing herbal remedies

Rosehips are ripe to pick, always best after the first frost when they will be at their sweetest for teas and syrups, And perfect for rejuvenating skin oils and creams

And due to the milder autumn, we have experienced this year Calendula, Comfrey and Borage are all still flowering by the side of our boat and self-seeding for another bumper crop next year. all of which have amazing health benefits

As we approach the colder weather its a good time to begin making your winter skin saving salves

The harsher colder weather and the hot dry heat in the evenings from stoves and radiators leaves our skin dehydrated and dry, often it’s the hands, face and lips that suffer the most

Not only that, a walk in the woods or along the hedgerows foraging for herbs gives us that much needed boost of daylight that we lack in the winter months which in turn boosts our serotonin levels, increases vitamin D, levels, improves sleep and reduces stress.

So where do you start? there are literally hundreds of recipes for tinctures, balms, infusions, and syrups that you can make and it’s always a good starting point to have a plant identifier book or app handy to insure you are foraging for the right thing. Herbs are powerful and can interact with prescription medicines and cause allergies there are a long list of herbs that are deemed unsafe during pregnancy or breast feeding so a good idea to research your choice of plant medicine before beginning.

Always remember to forage respectfully by leaving the animals and insects enough and plenty for next year’s growth.

This time of year, I have my jars ready to infuse with oils and petals from the calendula flowers and from the bright rosehips and once made these can be added to your normal skin creams as an added nourishment boost.

Infusing oils with herbal materials allows you to extract the medicinal qualities for external use.

Types of oil to use vary and all have their own benefits from sunflower oil, olive oil, almond oil and fractionated coconut oil, also adding 1 per cent of vitamin e oil will act as a natural antioxidant and prevent your oil from turning rancid.

I then use my infused oils and combine them with bees wax or for vegan option I use candelilla wax, coco butter or shea butter and a few essential oils to make a solid balm suitable for chapped lips, very dry hands, and a night-time rescue salve.

A salve in this way can be made for aches and sprains, for cramp, bruises, bites, and stings burns…. the list goes on.

 

Comfrey is good for reducing inflammation from sprains and broken bones and for reducing scar tissue 

Calendula (marigold) helps inflammation, acne, eczema, infections, bites, burns, painful periods.

Rosehip, fight signs of aging, sun damage, acne, scars, and rosacea.

Borage will treat a variety of skin issues from inflammation, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea.

I also combine a lot of other ingredients such as turmeric, activated charcoal, Aloe, and essential oils to create powerful healing balms.