Going Herbal – “30 herbs you can start using today for food, cleaning, personal care & health…”
“Going Herbal” contains everything you need to know to get started with herbal treatments – it includes a brief history of herbal remedies, a guide to buying, growing your own, and storing herbs and essential oils. It also includes a collection of recipes showing you how to easily make tea, lotions, personal care products and more from 30 common herbs from aloe vera to yarrow…
You can download the full 156 page guide right now here….
The following is a brief section extracted from “Going Herbal”…
Rosemary…
The name rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is derived from the Latin words ros (meaning “dew”) and marinus (meaning “sea”). “Dew of the sea” was so named because in some places, the plant required no water apart from the mist carried by the breeze from the sea.
Native to Asia and the Mediterranean region, rosemary is known for its sweet, herbaceous flavor, its use as an ornamental plant, and its role in traditional Mediterranean cuisine. The rosemary plant is a woody, aromatic shrub with blue, purple, or white flowers and leaves like pine needles.
Cultivation Of Rosemary…
Rosemary can be grown from seeds, cuttings, and roots. Use moderately-fertilized loam with a neutral acidity and grow the plant in a sunny area with good air circulation.
To propagate, remove some cuttings about 4 inches long each from the rosemary bush and place them in pots filled with peat moss and coarse sand. Place the pots in a warm, sun-filled area.
Water regularly until roots begins to grow.
If you wish to transfer your rosemary plants into your garden, find an area where the soil is dry and drains well. If your soil has high acidity, you can add some lime to it.
Once the plants are in the ground, watering should be done less frequently. Overwatering your transplanted plants is not advisable.
Tips On Growing Rosemary…
Rosemary prefers a Mediterranean climate, which means dry and warm. It is, however, adaptable to whatever conditions it is grown in. Slightly alkaline soil produces a more fragrant rosemary shrub. Rosemary is relatively pest-resistant.
Medicinal Uses Of Rosemary…
Aside from its usefulness in the kitchen, rosemary is cultivated for its efficacy in traditional and alternative medicine, its versatility as a commercial product, and for various ceremonial uses.
This remarkable herb is chockfull of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, and is an exceptionally good source of folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron. It contains rosmarinic acid, a potent antioxidant, as well as numerous compounds that lend it its antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic qualities.
Kiss pain goodbye – Don’t let body pains ruin your day. Take charge and apply rosemary oil to body parts affected by arthritis, sprains, neuralgia, and sciatica. Oil of rosemary is an effective rubefacient that relieves tired and aching muscles.
Improve your memory and focus – The scent of rosemary alone is enough to soothe a worried mind and is conducive to meditation, yoga practice, and quiet time. But, amazingly, rosemary contains rosmarinic acid, an antioxidant that has been found effective in improving concentration and preventing memory loss. Burn rosemary incense or put some rosemary oil in a burner next time you need to relax or focus on a complicated task.
Prevent bald spots – Apply rosemary oil to your scalp to promote hair growth. Rosemary oil and rosemary herb extractions stimulate the scalp and hair follicles, helping prevent premature baldness. Rosemary also helps relieve dryness and itching of the scalp.
Get silky smooth skin and hair – Rosemary is a popular ingredient in hair and skin care products. To experience the benefits of natural and authentic rosemary on your hair, work a few drops of rosemary essential oil onto your scalp and hair, coating it from root to tip. You will immediately notice a change in texture and luster. Use a combination of rosemary tea and nettle infusion as a hair rinse to get rid of dandruff. Use rosemary oil as a post-bath moisturizer to soothe joint problems and treat skin irritations.
An all-around wonder herb – Rosemary is used to treat and/or relieve the symptoms of hypertension, fatigue, colds, scabies, depression, headaches, and lupus. It helps prevent uterine spasms and menstrual cramps, speeds the healing of wounds, and is a natural insect repellant. Scientists have even found that rosemary may have a preventive effect against cancer.
Apart from its role in the kitchen, rosemary has been central to numerous aspects of culture and history. During the Middle Ages, it was an important part of wedding ceremonies. It was used in divination and in witchcraft, and was alluded to in Hamlet and in Don Quixote.
Today, rosemary serves countless culinary and cosmetic uses and can be found in most supermarket aisles and pantries. Try making these three rosemary products from your plants at home…
How To Make Rosemary Tea…
Rosemary is for remembrance, and rosemary tea is for relaxing…
You just need 1 or 2 fresh rosemary sprigs. Wash them well. Put them in a teapot, leaving the needles on the stem, and cover with 2 cups boiling water. Let the tea steep at least three minutes. Leaving it longer makes it more nutritious but also more bitter. Add honey or stevia to counteract the bitterness.
Rosemary oil can be toxic when taken orally. Note that the tea is made by brewing the herb, NOT by mixing the oil with hot water. Don’t consume large amounts of rosemary tea if you are pregnant, diabetic, or hypertensive.
How To Make A Rosemary Hair Rinse / Shampoo…
Regular use of a rosemary hair rinse or shampoo can give you long, healthy locks and free you from dandruff. A rosemary hair treatment is easy and inexpensive to make, and a much safer alternative to chemical hair treatments.
Rinse 4-6 rosemary sprigs in cold water and dry. Hold the stems together and remove the lower leaves. Put the bunch in a paper bag with the lower ends sticking out. Use a string or rubber band to tie the bag and stems together, sealing off the opening.
Let the bundle hang in a dry room for two weeks until the leaves dry. Remove the leaves and use them to make a tea with 2 cups water. Let it steep for a few hours, then strain into a jar and store in the fridge.
If you have dandruff, measure out 1/2 cup strong rosemary tea and add 2 drops camphor oil. Use a cotton ball to dab this directly on your scalp. Wait 30 minutes, then rinse off.
For a refreshing hair wash for normal hair, add a bit of lemon juice, a few drops of lavender oil, and a drop of camphor oil to 1/2 cup strong rosemary tea. Use this to wash your hair, then rinse well.
How To Make A Rosemary Foot Scrub…
There’s nothing quite like a nice foot scrub at the end of a long workday. Prepare this rosemary foot scrub and keep it in a glass jar ready for when you need a relaxing end-of-the-day foot pampering at home.
In a non-metallic bowl, mix together 3 drops rosemary essential oil, 3 drops peppermint essential oil, and 1 ounce sweet almond oil (or your favourite massage oil). Add 1/2 cup cornmeal gradually until you get the desired consistency and texture. Stir constantly until it becomes a paste.
Enjoy your rejuvenating foot scrub.
“Going Herbal” contains everything you need to know to get started with herbal treatments – it includes a brief history of herbal remedies, a guide to buying, growing your own, and storing herbs and essential oils. It also includes a collection of recipes showing you how to easily make tea, lotions, personal care products and more from 30 common herbs from aloe vera to yarrow…
