The calendula flower, or pot marigold, is one flower you should get to know. it's a beautiful, colorful, daisylike plant that is easy to grow in full sun and average sail; it can withstand the heat, the cold, drought, and even some dampness. this beautiful, hardy flower has been used for years to gently and effectively heal many ills.
Rejuvenate and Heal
To heal minor cuts, scrapes, bee stings, and burns, apply calendula infused oil (see recipe below) directly to the irritation.
For hard-to-heal dry, cracked skin, try calendula salve. for instant salve, combine 1/4 cup of room-temperature all-vegetable shortening with 20 drops of essential oil of calendula. Stir well. massage into affected areas as often as possible. This recipe also makes a soothing, gentle cream for diaper rash and ragged cuticles.
For a earache, place a few drops of warm calendula infused oil into each ear, plug with a cotton ball, and leave in overnight.
to brighten a salad, add fresh calendula blossoms along with violets and nasturitums for a variety of tastes, textures, and colors.
Calendula Blossom Oil
You'll make about 4 cups of a potent healing oil
that can be used as a salve base, massage oil,
or bath oil. you can also use it in any
healing formula calling calendula oil.
4-5 cups calendula blossoms,
wilted for 24 hours in well-ventilated shade
extra-virgin olive oil.
1. put the calendula blossoms in a 3-quart pot
and pour in enough olive oil to cover by 2 inches.
turn the burner on low. heat the mixture to
just below simmer, and let it steep for
5-10 hours, uncovered. check on it every hour
or so to make sure the oil isnt simmering.
2. remove from the heat after the oil smells herby
and has attained a rich, golden-orange color.
cool, strain, bottle, label, and refrigerate.
this oil will keep for six months to a year
if refrigerated. use within 60 days if not.
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that sweet, thick, golden syrup produced by thousands of honeybees - not only tastes great on food but, as the native americans discovered, can also help heal myriad ailments, nourish your body, and soften your skin. who would have thought that an everyday food could have so many uses?
Life Is Sweet
cut your finger or scrape your knee? put a few drops of honey on the affected area. honey has been proven to be just as effective in most cases as standard topical antibacterial ointments and helps keep the cut or abrasion sterile and the surrounding skin soft so scarring is minimized.
Suffering from dry, finely lined skin? Try a 'honey tap' facial. moisten the skin, then apply a very thin layer of honey onto your face and neck (make sure to put your hair up first or things could get sticky) by tapping your honey-laden fingertips over your skin. the tapping revs up circulation, and the honey acts as a humectant to draw moisture to your skin. lie down for about 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. your skin should be rosy, warm, moist and glowing.
Suffering from dry, finely lined skin? Try a 'honey tap' facial. moisten the skin, then apply a very thin layer of honey onto your face and neck (make sure to put your hair up first or things could get sticky) by tapping your honey-laden fingertips over your skin. the tapping revs up circulation, and the honey acts as a humectant to draw moisture to your skin. lie down for about 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. your skin should be rosy, warm, moist and glowing.
for nursing mothers, try massaging a dab of honey on dry, cracked, sore nipples. this is reported to soften the skin and aid in healing. just make sure to rinse off the honey before nursing again, as infants under 12 months of age should not consume honey.
Soothe a sore throat by gargling with a cup of warm sage-honey tea. to a cup of boiling water, add 1 teaspoon dried sage. steep for 5 minutes, and then strain. add 1 teaspoon honey and stir. gargle for 60 seconds as often as needed throughout the day; spit out the liquid. rinse your mouth with water after each use so the natural sugars don't remain on your teeth.
Soothe a sore throat by gargling with a cup of warm sage-honey tea. to a cup of boiling water, add 1 teaspoon dried sage. steep for 5 minutes, and then strain. add 1 teaspoon honey and stir. gargle for 60 seconds as often as needed throughout the day; spit out the liquid. rinse your mouth with water after each use so the natural sugars don't remain on your teeth.
Sweet EnergyThis pick-me-up drink is chock-full of potassium,
a natural energizer, in addition to B vitamins,
fructrose, glucose, and trace minerals. it is quite
refreshing and invigorating, and can be drunk twice daily,
especially when you're tired, achy or suffering
from stiff joints. this formula is reported to relieve
the pain and inflammation or arthritis if consumed daily.
2 teaspoons raw, unheated,
unfiltered apple cider
vinegar
(available in health-food stores.
1 teaspoon raw honey
6-8 ounces water
Stir ingredients thoroughly in a glass and drink
on an empty stomach. you can use this liquid
as a facial splash for sunburned, dehydrated skin.
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