Healing Herbs

I have been experimenting with herbal remedies lately as many of my garden herbs are still fresh. 

From fresh parsley, I made a warm decoction by simmering fresh leaves for 20 minutes.  The smell and taste was delicate and purifying as it is a good liver and kidney tonic. 

Warm Parsley decoction

I also made a Chamomile ointment using fresh Chamomile, beeswax and a scented oil. 

Following an injury on my knee I started to use the ointment which felt soothing and the massage has helped with the recovery

Unicorn Meditation Prayer Stick

Holly has the purest white wood when the outer bark is stripped away and has strong connection with the unicorn for strength, power and purity. 

I made this prayer stick to meditate with the unicorn as a spirit guide.

Holly Dream Pouch

Holly has powerful connections with dream working so I made a dream pouch using holly leaves. 


Take 7 holly leaves and boil them in hot water to extract the purifying gentle green liquid.  Then in a paper bag placed a note, with any dreams for the future written on it.

Once it has cooled down, place the bag into the liquid for just a few seconds then fish it out and let it dry before placing under your pillow.

Wait to see if the dream comes true one day. 

Rowan Berry Ice Pack

I recently had an accident where my legs and arms were badly bruised.  The Rowan Tree has many healing properties so I made an ice pack with fresh berries by simmering them in water until fairly soft  then pouring the whole contents into small ice molds before freezing them. 

The result was a perfectly formed ice pack to use with a cotton flannel.  It was incredibly soothing and my bruises are healing nicely.   

Warm Willow Bark Compress

 To make a warm willow and lavender compress is so simple and the smell was wonderful.  Great for soothing aching joints.

I shaved a small cup of willow bark off an old branch of willow, including the softer pale bark and the tougher outer bark.

Added to a large saucepan of water with fresh lavender and simmered for 30 minutes.

Allow to cool until it feels comfortable to touch ( hand hot)

Dip a cotton flannel into the mixture and apply to area in need.

BBQ Charcoal

I had great fun recently making some charcoal on my BBQ.  I was amazed at how good some of the pieces turned out and I was even inspired to create something with it. 

I placed a hand full of willow twigs onto the BBQ.

Closed the lid and left overnight.

Some of the larger pieces didn't work out so it's 

best to use smaller ones.

I was thrilled with the ones that did work out though.

I was inspired to draw something with them.

Purifying Pine Facial Toner

I have loved recently working with Pine.  We have so many varieties around us so it was a great way of studying the different species that grow in the area.

One of the most lovely things I made was a facial toner from fresh pine needles.

I found some paper bags over the internet for sale and they were perfect for filling with the pine.
I then poured boiling water on top and allowed to cool.

I then strained the liquid into an old glass bottle and decorated with miniature  pine cones.

It's wonderful to use, really cooling and cleansing.