A Practical Guide To Herbology

A Practical Guide To Herbology

A Practical Guide to Herbology

Lesson Three: Soothing Salves

Salves are a simple yet effective way of applying the medicinal qualities of herbs. They’re the consistency of a cream at room temperature and portable for on-the-go topical application. By combining various herbal-infused oils, an individual can address a variety of ailments, from arthritis to asthma. Each salve can be customized to the individual to treat a specific illness or can be general all-heal tool in your first aid kit. 

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Base Ingredients

Herbal-infused Oils

To craft a salve, you must start with herbal-infused oils as your primary base. For this, there are two components: your choice of herb(s) and your choice of carrier oil(s). Some commonly used carrier oils are olive, grapeseed, almond and safflower. 

At the end of this post, there will be an overview of common herbs and carrier oils so that you can make an educated decision when crafting your herbal-infused oils.

Here are two basic methods of infusion:

Solar Method (Folk Method)

Take a sterilized jar and fill ⅓ to ½ of it with your choice of dried herbs.

Cover with your carrier oil. Add around 500 IUs of vitamin E oil for every 8 oz. of carrier oil to prolong shelf life.

Cap the jar tightly and place in a sunny space - either outdoors or indoors. Shake it daily.

Allow the mixture to infuse for 2 to 3 weeks, or until the oil takes on the colour or aroma of the herb within. 

Once the oil is ready, strain using a cheesecloth and bottle into a tinted sterilized jar. Store in a cool, dark place.

Slow Cooker or Stove top (Fast Method)

Place your choice of dried herbs in your slow cooker or pot and cover with your carrier oil. Add around 500 IUs of vitamin E oil for every 8 oz. of carrier oil to prolong shelf life.

Gently heat the herbs on very low heat (100 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 1 - 5 hours until the oil takes on the colour and scent of the herb. You can cook it for longer at 100 F if you would like.

Turn off heat and allow to cool. Once the oil is ready, strain using a cheesecloth and bottle into a tinted sterilized jar. Store in a cool, dark place.

Do not use fresh herbs when crafting herbal-infused oils. They contain moisture and promote the growth of mold, especially if infused via solar method.

Wax

Waxes are frequently used in making cosmetics, body care products and salves: they help to bind and emulsify ointments and lotions. They also function as a natural hydrating ingredient and alleviate itching for those with sensitive skin.

The most commonly-used wax for crafting salves is beeswax; however, vegans and those with allergies can utilize carnauba wax which is sourced from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree.

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Method

Once the herbal-infused oils are prepared, the process of making a salve only takes a few minutes. Here are the steps involved in the process:

On low to medium heat, warm the herbal-infused oil(s) in the top of a double boiler or in a small saucepan. 

Add the wax. Once the wax has melted, remove from heat.

If any, stir in any additional ingredients of your choice, such as essential oils.

Pour into your designated container(s).

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Recipes

Soothing lip salve

3 tbsp beeswax

3 tbsp aloe vera gel

2 tbsp oil of choice

8 drops essential oil of choice (optional)

Salve for minor scrapes, bites and burns

1 ½ cups comfrey-infused oil

1 ½ tbsp coconut oil

¼ cup (55g) beeswax

Healing salve

1 quart (1 litre) of oil infused with equal parts St. John’s wort, comfrey, peppermint and lavender

¼ cup (55g) beeswax

Salve for backaches

1 cup ginger- and peppermint-infused oil

2 tbsp (22g) beeswax

First aid salve

1 cup St. John’s wort-infused oil

2 tbsp (22g) beeswax

Salve for rheumatoid arthritis

1 cup ginger- and licorice root-infused oil

2 tbsp (22g) beeswax

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Common Carrier Oils

Almond oil, sweet: A fantastic carrier oil that contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E. It’s an effective emollient for moisturizing both skin and hair and is easily absorbed by skin.

Argan oil: This is a staple in moisturizing skin and hair care products. Argan oil contains tocopherols, phenols, carotenes, squaline and fatty acids - it’s a truly luxurious oil.

Evening primrose oil: Prized for its health and cosmetic benefits.

Grapeseed oil: A common base for many creams and lotions - it’s the go-to carrier oil since it’s especially useful for skin types that do not absorb oils well and does not leave a greasy feeling.

Olive oil: The most commonly-used oil in cosmetics and hair care.

Safflower oil: A highly-moisturizing oil that soothes troubled skin. 

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Common Herbs for Health and Wellness

Aloe Vera: Excellent for treating burns, cuts and scrapes.

Arnica Montana: These flowers offer strong anti-inflammatory properties. (Do not use in open or bleeding wounds. Long-term use can cause skin irritation.)

Black Cohosh: Offers anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits. (Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Can cause gastric discomfort in some individuals.)

Blue Vervain: Relaxes the nervous system and offers reliable pain relief for rheumatism, joint pain and neuralgia. (Do not use during pregnancy.)

Chamomile: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. (Do not use if on blood thinners or if allergic to ragweed.)

Chickweed: Wonderful for making soothing poultices to treat rashes, skin irritations, minor burns and itching.

Comfrey: Alleviates pain and inflammation; works well on cuts, scrapes, insect bites, burns and rashes. (Do not use on children.)

Echinacea: Antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral. (Do not use if you have tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or if you are allergic to ragweed.)

Ginkgo Biloba: Natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and great for treating allergies and asthma. (Do not use if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), or blood thinners.)

Goldenseal: Antiviral, antibacterial and excellent for dealing with minor cuts and wounds, sinus infections, respiratory congestion, sore throats and more! (Do not use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or if you have high blood pressure.)

Mullein: Great for first-aid treatment of minor wounds, burns and insect bites.

Plantain: Antimicrobial, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory; great for treating wounds, insect bites and minor aches and pains.

Sage: An excellent remedy for colds and fevers, hot flashes, painful or heavy periods, rashes and sore throats.

St. John’s wort: A strong antiviral; treats arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle aches and sciatica. (Do not use if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).)

Witch Hazel: An effective remedy for acne, cuts and scrapes, insect bites, minor burns and sunburns.

Images are under the Creative Commons License.

Information published is from my personal grimoire and has been accumulated over the years through a variety of books and resources while residing in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Cuba and Canada.

For more information regarding salves and recipes, feel free to visit Hello Glow, Wellness Mama, The Herbal Academy and Monterey Bay Spice Company.

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1. The source

Where does your power come from? What drives you to better yourself? Where can you find your fuel?

2. Get it going

How can you use this power source in your life to stay motivated? Where and when will this fuel come in handy?

3. The power

What is this power? What does your power mean? How does it affect you and others?

4. Making use of it

What can this power be useful for? What parts of your life can benefit from your power?

5. The reason

Why do you specifically have this gift? How can your and other’s life benefit from your ability?

6. Advice

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Gather: an amethyst crystal, salt, a rose petal, lavender, purple string, and a small jar

Bless the salt, rose petal, and lavender with the charged amethyst and chant “peaceful dreams, peaceful sleep, please watch over me”

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Pendulum Dowsing

Pendulum Dowsing

One of the most commonly used tools for divination and dowsing is a pendulum. The art of using a pendulum is something that anyone can learn and master, and enjoy experimenting with. Here we offer an introduction to using a pendulum, from how it works, and what you need, to how to get started.

What Is a Pendulum?

A pendulum is a symmetrical, weighted object that is hung from a single chain or cord. It’s never made of a magnetic substance, but is often a crystal. It’s also possible to use objects such as a favourite trinket, a bead, a metal ball or even a key. The pendulum is a very simple tool and one that lets the user tune in to their intuitive powers. The pendulum acts as a receiver and transmitter of information, and moves in different ways in response to questions.

What Is Pendulum Dowsing Used For?

Pendulum dowsing can be used in a variety of different ways. In its most simple form, you can use it to answer questions or aid in decision making. Pendulums can also be used for:

Healing purposes and identifying allergies.

To cleanse and dispel negativity in a room.

To help you find lost objects or pets.

To find water or ley lines (dowsing rods are often used for this too, which work in a similar way to a pendulum).

How Does Pendulum Dowsing Work?

A pendulum works by tapping into your intuition and sixth sense. The pendulum acts as a form of receiver and transmitter, from your higher guidance, guardian angels and spiritual teachers. As the pendulum moves, you gain answers in response to questions – it is best suited to use to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. Some people describe the way a pendulum works as being like bringing together the rational and intuitive sides of you (the left and right sides of your brain). When these two elements are brought together, you’re able to make decisions using all the sources, rather than just one of them.

Where Do The Answers Come From?

Many people wonder where the answers come from and debate whether it’s really working, or just the pendulum responding to the movement of the user’s hand. Whilst the pendulum can certainly be made to move with your hand movements, this isn’t the case always and after practice you’ll get to see why. As with any form of divination, using a pendulum involves a certain degree of faith, belief and a decidedly open mind, as the answers come from your intuition and from higher spiritual guides.

What Sort of Pendulum Do I Need?

There are a variety of pendulums available for dowsing, but you certainly don’t have to buy a posh, expensive pendulum to get good results. In fact, the type of pendulum you choose depends in part on what feels right for you. Many people choose to use a crystal pendulum. Clear quartz, for example, is a popular choice, as the crystal is associated with clarity and connecting to a higher purpose. Amethyst, which has a strong connection with the spiritual, is often popular too, as is a pendulum with the calming properties of a rose quartz crystal. Ultimately, whatever your favourite crystal, or the one you feel more drawn to, can be used on a pendulum, as long as it is rounded or pointed at one end. In fact, you could even have more than one pendulum if you wish, with different crystals on them, to use on different occasions. When you are starting out for the first time, you can practice the basic concepts by using a do-it-yourself or handmade pendulum if you wish. For example you could use a rounded glass bead, a metal ball or even a key suspended on the end of a simple piece of cord. When you know you want to try more work with a pendulum, you can then upgrade to a better, professionally made pendulum.

Before You Start Using a Pendulum

Before you embark on having a go at using a pendulum, it’s advisable to cleanse it first and charge it with your own energy. The easiest way to cleanse your pendulum for dowsing is to put it on a windowsill in direct sunlight for a day, so it catches the rays of the sun. To charge it with your energy, hold the pendulum in your hands, closing your hands around it. Then spend a short time (5 to 15 minutes will be fine) sitting quietly, with your eyes closed, focusing your energy on your pendulum. If you’d like to, you can say a pray or ask your spirit guides or guardian angels for their support and guidance when using the pendulum. Once your pendulum is cleansed and charged, it’s a good idea to keep it somewhere safe. Many people like to wrap their pendulums in silk or pop them in a small velvet bag for safekeeping.

How to Get Started With Using a Pendulum

Pendulum Dowsing

Anyone can have a go at using a pendulum, but the main criteria is that you need to start with an open mind and put any doubts to one side. The string, chain or cord of the pendulum should be held between your thumb and forefinger in which ever hand feels most comfortable. Some pendulums have a small metal loop or ring at the top of the chain which can make it easy to hold. Ideally the pendulum chain shouldn’t be too long, especially when you’re first getting started, so if it seems too long or of you’ve got excess string or chord, then you can wrap it lightly around your index finger. When you’re ready to start, sit with your pendulum held between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and run your other hand down the length of the pendulum chain or cord, bringing your hand to rest with the bottom tip of the pendulum in your upturned palm. The pendulum should now be completely still and you can move the hand away from the bottom of the pendulum. As you move it away, the pendulum will probably start moving. This is perfectly normal.

Always be polite

One way to start this focusing process is to try the following process whenever you begin a quest with your pendulum:

1. State what you want to do.

2. Ask, “May I dowse at this time?”

3. “Can I dowse at this time?”

4. “should I dowse at this time?”

always ask these questions before you dowse. Over time more experienced dowsers can shorten the process so that asking the question “Lets Dowse” infers the meaning of all three being asked separately.

If at any stage it says not then don’t dowse, leave it for another time try and keep an open and inquiring mind but always check the answer.

Stay relaxed

Try and be as relaxed as possible (the more relaxed your are, the better your flow of energy will be) and sit watching the pendulum whilst it moves. It may come to a halt after a while and you can begin to have a go at determining the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ response of your pendulum. Ask your pendulum out loud or in your mind, ‘Please show me a YES response.’ Take time to watch the response – it may only be minor at first, but this is normal, as it takes time to get to know how your pendulum interacts with you. Pause for a while, then try the same again asking for the pendulum to show you a NO response. Don’t worry if you can’t tell much difference from the yes and no responses yet – this is perfectly normal at first and you should get to be able to tell the difference with the more practice you get. For example, some pendulums will make wide circular movements in response to ‘yes’ and backward or forward swings in response to ‘no’. It’s helpful to repeat this exercise again, several times, before you’re happy with what your ‘yes’ and ‘no’ pendulum responses are. Sometimes they can change over time and, if someone else uses or inspects your pendulum, you may need to do it again to recharge it with your energy.

What Type of Questions Can I Ask the Pendulum?

The pendulum responds better to questions where there are ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. When you’re starting out and practising, try asking simple questions, like,’ Is today Tuesday?’, ‘Is my best friend’s name Phil?’ or ‘Do I live in the UK?’. This will help you get a better grip of how your pendulum responds and help you gain more confidence in using it. As you get more proficient, you can ask questions about decisions you’re making in your personal life, such as whether to get a certain type of car, whether you can trust someone or whether you’re eating healthy enough food. You can also try fun exercises, such as locating a castle, ruin or water on a map. Hold the pendulum over different parts of a map and see the responses. As you get more experienced, this method can also be used to locate lost people or animals.

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Haute Cuisine Witch: Master of the highest types of cuisine. Uses ingredients you've never heard of, but now can't live without. Can flambe in their sleep. Black truffles. Boxed pasta is an insult to their honor.

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Comfort Food Witch: What most people think when they hear kitchen witch. Wand is a wooden spoon. Pie on the window sill. Makes extras to nibble while cooking. Hufflepuff. Try the mac & cheese. Creative, but there are some recipes you don't mess with. 10 aprons, only wears one. Salt over the left shoulder. Familiar gets people food. Family recipes are hereditary witchcraft.

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yxxrlxcxlbxbywxtch - Your Local Baby Witch
Your Local Baby Witch

WITCHES: IM GONNA START MY GRIMOIRE SOON SO PLEASE STANDBY AS I GATHER THE INFORMATION ON THIS BLOG. THEN I’LL DELETE IT AND POST AS NEEDED OR ASKED. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 🤍

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