Post Surgery: How to use aromatherapy to aid healing

From Grandma's Desk:
On December 10, 2012 my husband Bob had double knee replacements. His knee cartilage was completely gone, he had arthritis and 3 previous knee surgeries that left scar tissue. Needless to say his knees were not operating at capacity; he had very limited range of motions, crunching and creaking when he walked, and was always in pain. He decided it was time to take action and get the surgery his doctor had recommended 5 years earlier. So as we prepared for the surgery, got the lower level of our home ready for him post surgery. I began to research essential oils that would help with his healing. I have been using a blend of oils to help with muscle cramps and swelling so I thought this would be a good base. I also wanted something that would help with the scare tissue to make his leg more flexible. This is the formula I used: In a 2 oz. bottle I filled it half way with jojoba and grapeseed oils for carrier oils.
Then I added 21 drops of cedar E.O.
33 drops of Lemongrass E.O.
12 drops Lavender E.O.
3 drops rose E.O.
3 drops tuberose E.O.
26 drops cypress E.O.
12 drops Frankencense for the scare tissue
I used this oil on the back of his legs and calves until the staples and bandages were removed. Once the staples were out I used it directly on the incision. When my husband went into the Dr office he was completely amazed at how well his scare had healed and also the noticeable lack of swelling and bruising. I will say my husband worked hard on his rehab exercises and was very good at using the oils even when I was not there to help him.

And now for Aromatherapy in the Flu Season

From Grandma's Desk:
I have found the most effective way to deal with the flu is to strengthen the immune system, as I stated in my previous blog. Today I would like to talk about using aromatherapy in the classroom, office, and at home to prevent the spread of the flu virus.

First,I want to tell you a little story: During the "Dark Ages" when the witches and healers had been threatened or killed and most were in hiding the plague broke out. There are a lot of guesses on why during the witch hunt this plague was so virulent, but most herbalist and witches will tell you that the ancient ways of healing had been suppressed by the medical and clergy of the time, condemning healers and hanging or burning them as witches. Many of these healers had to hide or be imprisoned. The other thing that happened was they killed the cat population, because most witches (healers) had cats. The cats which killed the rats, the rats carried the fleas that were infected with the plague, so when there were very few cats to keep the rats in check the plague spread rapidly from port to port, mostly via sailing ships. Then you have no healers with knowledge of how to use herbs to stem the tide of the plague. In the midst of this death and dying there were bands of robbers going place to place robbing the dead and dying without consequence of catching the plague. When someone finally thought to ask them how they were preventing exposure to the disease. They were more than happy to divulge their secret "Thieve's Oil" which they applied to their mustaches. I imagine they may have worn a bandannas across their nose and mouth with the oil to prevent illness, and keep the smell of the black death at bay. So I use a Thieve's Oil in my diffuser to prevent germs and viruses from invading our home.

Thieves Blend: equal parts lemon, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, and eucalyptus (these are easily found and not very expensive essential oils) I use 4-6 drops in the diffuser during the day or at the office I work at. These are powerful oils and should not be directly applied to the skin.

You can also put a dab of this on a tissue or handkerchief and keep it handy in case someone sneezes or you are in a public place without a diffuser.

Now if you still get the flu or a cold and need something to help you get through it quickly or you have an infected family member try using a blend for the respiratory system. It is very similar the the Thieves Oil but with a few added oils to help open bronchial and clear sinuses.

Breathing Blend: Eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Thyme, Tea tree, cedar, and ravinsara. These essential oils are blended using several drops (4-8) in your diffuser. This also is a great snore remedy. It helps open the sinuses and bronchials.

You can also order a blended oil by calling me at 406-626-4056 at Grandma's Farmacie. It is a wonderful alternative to antibiotics and nyquil. If you want more information about essential oils please call and I am always happy to help you find what will serve you best.

Flu Season and Some simple remedies

From Grandma's Desk:

The news today stated that it is the worst flu season in history and hospitals are turning patients away. So what should you do to prevent flu or boost your immune system? I have a few ideas but first I want to talk about "flu shots". Are they worth it, do they work, and what to expect from a flu shot. First let me say that I do not get the "flu shots" even though as a nurse I often work with a highly contagious population I feel it is important to build your immune system. I rarely get sick and when I do I take time off and let myself get healthy again. I use home remedies and essential alchemy to build my immune system and decrease my down time. The main reason I do not get "flu shots" is the serum that is used in "flu shots" is made with egg yolk, mercury, and other toxic ingredients that I do not want injected into my body. These things maybe present in small amount but accumulative over time can adversely effect our immune systems. The "flu shot" also only lasts 3 months so if you get your shot in October when they recommend it you may miss it on the 1st round but by January when the "flu shot" wears off you are no longer protected and the second round of the flu is even worse because the flu "bug" has increased in strength. This said I want to relate that the one and only time I got a flu shot this is what happened to me. I was health for October, November, and December, but when January hit I got the worst flu I have ever had and was laid up in bed for a good week unable to take care of my family or myself. I have never gotten a flu shot again (this was over 15 yrs ago and I have never been that ill since). So if you get exposed to the flu early on in the flu season you will get a lighter stain of the flu and you will be immune to that type of flu for life not just 3 months as with the shots. This information was also confirmed by the Doctor I work for. He chooses to get the flu shot 2x each year because of his work with at risk elderly, but he does not inoculate his own family for the very reasons I stated above.

Now I want to write about ways to prevent the flu and boost your immune system. The first and simplest way is with healthy foods, organic, fresh, and seasonal. Winter time is a great time for lots soups and squash,and chicken soup that has actually be scientifically proven to help boost the immune system. One thing I have used for over 30 years to help with colds and flu is garlic. Many people give me the oh yuck face when I tell them about this so there are garlic capsules you can take, but I find them far less effective than a fresh clove of organic garlic from the garden or bought earlier in the year at our local Farmer's Market. I have used this remedy for over 30 years and have found it to be quite successful at the signs of first sniffles. All three of my children have been subject to this treatment and even at a young age of 2 years old were able to swallow it without problems. Used daily during cold and flu season is the most effective way to prevent colds and flu, or at the first signs of sniffles or fever a healthy dose will do the trick. The longer you put it off the less effective it will be.

Garlic treatment: Take a fresh and healthy looking clove of garlic (just one will do), peel it, chop it up very fine. Put the chopped garlic in a large serving spoon then fill the spoon with water. Have near by a large glass of apple juice or water as the chaser. Now you are ready open wide and dump the spoon with garlic and water into your throat. Try not to touch your tongue with the garlic and swallow quickly with a shot of juice or water to help the process. I find I have little to no smell if I take it this way do not chew the garlic and it should not be cooked in anyway. Take a dose in the morning and at bedtime until all symptoms disappear! Usually this only takes 1 or 2 days to start feeling better. The garlic works through the respiratory and is very effective if used at the first signs or symptoms of a cold or flu. This is not that great for a stomach bug it does not work on your digestive system the same way. My husband at first thought this was some form of torture that I had invented but soon came to realize how much healthier he is now that he does a daily dose of garlic. I even got the flu for Halloween and he did not feel it at all.

The second remedy I recommend is Elderberry capsules. You can find these at your local health food store or co-op. I use Elderberry as a natural antibiotic and find that it helps with many different illnesses. It is important to use immediately when you get sick not after you have been ill for a few days. It is always much harder to get rid of an illness if it has taken root in your body. I do not recommend that you take this on a regular basis only when the first signs of illness occur.

Another great immune booster is mushrooms. I take a combination of Reishi, Shitaki, Lion's Mane, Maitake, and other organic dried mushrooms in a capsule form. Mushroom soup is also a great immune booster. The important thing here is to keep your immune system healthy and strong. If you have small children there are many natural remedies for children. If you have a baby the best way to boost their immune system is by nursing and making sure you are healthy too.

There are many other ways to prevent illness: exercise, fresh air, emotional well being, and a positive attitude. Meditation, yoga, and other mind and body exercises will help boost your immune system. Look to nature first and you can stay healthy for many years to come!

Summers gone and fall has arrived!

From Grandma's Desk:
I can't believe it has been July since my last post. The garden has come and gone. We held our annual Lavender Festival and spent 3 weeks in Hawaii! So where do I begin. It has been a hot dry summer with lots of forest fires and smokey skies. Today we had some rain which really helped clear things up and dampen the fire season. I am snuggled into my herb processing room cleaning and distilling Geranium Hydrosol. Filling the whole house with the lovely scents of nature. While in Hawaii I had a chance to go to an aromatherpy workshop and distill Lemon-rose Geranium hydrosol. I also took a garden tour and learned about the native healing plants and foods.
Before we left for Hawaii the garden was in full blown harvest mode. The tomatoes, pepers, & tomatillas were thick in the greenhouse, ripening and ready to burst so I had my hands full making salsa and canning. The following is my basic salsa recipe complements of my friend Suzy Fenn-Shawhan, that I have adapted over the years. I use it as a basic recipe but add and subtract according to what is in my garden.

Basic Salsa

20c tomatoes chopped
2c chopped onions
4T salt
1/2c green onions
3 T pepper
10 cloves garlic chopped fine
1/2c cider vinegar
2T chili powder
2c diced green chilies
1T cummin

Mix all ingredients together and put in sterile canning jars in a hot bath for 20 min.

Roasted peppers from the garden. I roast them on the barbecue then put them in a paper bag to cool and then it is easy to peel them.

Tomatilloes and Roma tomatoes fresh from the garden.

I like to use a food processor to chop my garlic, onion, tomatoes, tomatillos, and chilie peppers.

I put all of the ingredients in a big ceramic bowl to let everything blend and to test the flavor. I also like to ad lots of cilantro. If I use pablano peppers I get a smokier taste. I also change up the chili powder I use for different flavors. I like to add a bit of fresh squeezed lime or lemon. I like to use 1 cup canning jars to give away during the Holiday Season. My husband also likes to trade jars of Karrie's Salsa at work for jerky and other interesting items.

I will be sharing pictures from out Lavender Festival, how to dry fruit quick and easy, and highlights from Hawaii. I almost forgot we also built a cob pizza oven this fall and we will share photos and how to.

From Grandma's Desk:
Today I went to the Post Office to pick up my new Essential Oil distillation still!
It is beautifully made from copper, and works really well. I cleaned everything and put it all together. I gathered some cedar branches from a fallen tree in a cedar grove near our home on Six Mile Creek. Since I knew the still was coming I thought this would be the perfect hydrosol to make my first batch with the new still. I kept the cedar in my herb room sink in a bit of water to keep them fresh. Then I drained off the water to let them dry out as I was putting the still together.

Isn't she beautiful. I think I will call her the "Copper Swan". I love the long neck and the copper condenser that has such a beautiful shine.

I then filled her with filtered water and cedar fronds that were cut into small pieces. This is a 3 liter still so I added about 2000 ml of h2o and then filled the rest full of cedar. I put everything together following the directions. 2 Hours later I had about 750 ml of cedar hydrosol. I have not extracted the oil off the surface yet, as I am waiting for it to settle out. My next distillation will be a batch of lavender that I picked this morning before the sun hit. I will let you know how that goes later today!

From Grandma's Desk: Ginger Cherry Jam

6 cups pitted sweet cherries
1 1/2 cups honey
1 Tbls. finely grated fresh ginger

Have clean jars ready this will make about 6 cups of jam. While the jam is cooking you should have your jar lids ready for putting on the jars. I heat them in a sauce pan of water that I bring to a boil for 5 min. then let them sit in the hot water until you are ready to use them.

Put all ingredients together in a large 2 qt saucepan and heat over medium until it comes to a boil. I let it simmer stirring often until the liquid is clear and the cherries are soft about a 15 min. slow simmer. I then take my hand held blender and blend for 1 min.to reduce the cherries to a nice textured pulp. Then I whip it for 6 min with a wire whip. This releases the natural pectin. I warm the mixture back up to a bubbling brew. Then using a metal measuring cup I pour it into the waiting jars. Clean off the rim of each jar with a damp cloth. Place jar lids on each jar tighten down the lids and place in a waiting water bath let this bath boil for 1o min. then remove jars and let cool. It takes a few weeks for the pectin in the fruit to fully set so don't be surprised if the jam is a bit watery at first.

From Grandma's Desk:
My how time flies when your having fun. After a wonderful 3 weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii, we came home to much needed rain, and more rain and then some snow, and then some more rain. I finally stopped raining around the 4th of July. We have had beautiful cool weather until about a week ago when it warmed up to almost 100 F. But then it rained the last few days and is cool and green and beautiful. The lavender is blooming the salsa garden is abundant with tomatoes, tomatillos, and peppers. The cilantro is coming up everywhere. All the rain has brought us so many blessings and I feel so blessed here in the Six Mile drainage, with the rest of the U.S. having such high temperatures and storms.

Yesterday I spent the day canning organic cherries. They are soooooooo delicious. I have been eating them non-stop since Saturday when I got them at the farmers market. I am so amazed at how great they taste and because they are organic and did not get sprayed down with chemicals I am not experiencing any of the usually intestinal discomfort from eating to many! Yumm, Yummm, Yummmmmmm! But I was afraid I would eat the whole box so I did some canning yesterday to save a little summer goodness for the winter months. I also made cherry ginger honey jam and chocolate liquor soaked cherries are steeping in a jar for later use. Recipes to follow!

We are counting down to the Six Mile Lavender Festival, just 26 days to go. I will post another blog for the Lavender Festival later today!

The Stillroom, or Snowed in and Loving it

From Grandma's Desk:
We have been house bound for the past 4 days. It started snowing Tuesday did not let up until this morning early. We have about 20 to 24" of snow. We spent the last 2 days shoveling, snow blowing, and plowing with the tractor. My husband and I took turns just to keep it from accumulating to the point we might never get out! I was hoping for a bit of snow to keep the lavender plants cozy, and Mother Nature provided. I didn't really have anything important to do so we are staying close to home, and keeping warm.

In between clearing snow and keeping warm I began looking through some old magazine. I came across an article in The Herb Quarterly from the winter 2009, titled, "Wisdom from the Stillroom". I thought it would be fun to share the highlights with you. This article inspired my own "stillroom" last summer when I added an addition on our home to house my tropical plants and where I create my balms and salves, distill my essential oils, do my canning, and run my business. This article explains that a stillroom is where women made and stored their homemade remedies to keep their families healthy. Women of the 17th century did not always have a doctor or apothecary nearby so they had to rely on their own recipes handed down from generation to generation to keep their families healthy. The stillroom was named for a small still that the women used to create medicinal waters of all kinds.

My own stillroom is where I keep my medicinal herbs, tinctures, hydrosols, essential oils, flower infused oils, herbal vinegars, fruit cordials, and the ingredients to make my own herbal medicines. I also keep my home canned salsas, jams & jellies, fruit sauces, spaghetti sauce, and all my dried culinary herbs. We also store our dried fruit, wines, and liquors. It is a cool dry room much like a pantry but with more medicinal purposes. I also have pantry shelves to store jars, canner, still, herb and fruit drier. There is lots of room for empty jars, sieves, scales, mortar & pestle, and other tools I use when canning or making medicinal remedies. The sights and smells are wonderful. Sometimes I just go into my stillroom to fill my senses.

Along with a stillroom a record book or diary must be kept to hold medicinal and everyday recipes. This is an essential to every stillroom to record your ideas, recipes, and information to pass down to your own children and friends. My Stillroom Book started out in a small journal. I soon realized the amount of information could not be contained in one small journal. I now have a 3 ring binder to put this information in. I can easily record my own recipes and have plenty of room for tips, articles from favorite herb magazines. It also becomes a diary of what worked best for which ailment or feedback on my latest salve or balm. This way I keep a record of various things I have tried over the years. I keep a similar book for my garden. What a treasure to leave our children and future generations. Now we might ad a small computer to keep notes on. I like the old fashioned Stillroom Book though, it is easier and appeals to my senses. I can see and smell the unfolding of the stillroom in its pages.

Memory Blend Aromatherapy Recipe

From Grandma's Desk:
This is a blend I started making when I was trying to learn Spanish. I think it helped some and everyone in the class loved it, even our teacher loved using it. I have read studies that state that if you study in the same atmosphere as you take a test your more likely to score higher. Also our sense of smell is our strongest memory cue. It is difficult to always study in the same room as you will be tested. But if you use aromatherapy while you study you can wear a scent or use a personal diffuser to recreate that atmosphere and trigger our memory. So here is the recipe:

For Focus use equal parts Lavender and Rosemary, if putting them on your skin directly add 1 part focus blend to 2 parts jojoba oil. This is great when you are in class and need to be able to really focus on what your are doing.

Memory blend
4 drops lavender
3 drops geramium
3 drops rosewood
3 drops rosemary
2 drops tangerine
1 drop spearmint

use a dropper full of jojoba oil to the blend if you are using on your skin, if using in a diffuser keep it pure essential oil.

apply to temples, forehead, mastoids, brain stem area, also around the ears.
Use in a diffuser or on a tissue for studying then wear on pulse points when it comes time for test taking. It is a lovely blend.

If you feel tired or drousy and need to an easy pick me up use sweet orange essential oil for an easy energy boost. I use this in my personal diffuser when I am driving alternating with zen winter mist from H2O at Home. Both oils can be purchased on www.myh2oathome.com/karrie. Click on the "shop online" button and find the essential oils. There are also great natural cleaning products and other essential oils that are great for your health

Winter Blues? Create a seed cooperative.

From Grandma's Desk:
Do you have loads of old seeds left over from years of gardening? It seems a shame to throw them out, but what should you do with them. In years past I would gather a group of neighbors and friends to have a seed exchange. Usually I have lots of seeds left over after I plant my squash, tomatoes, peppers, melons, etc. I will keep them in a drawer and reuse them every year until they quit sprouting. Occasionally I plant old seeds and nothing sprouts because they have lost their viability. It is fun to get friends together over a cup of tea or bowl of winter soup and plan your gardens together. Decide what seeds to order and share the expense. Make sure you choose from reliable catalogs or local garden stores. Beware of super deals in your Sunday insert magazine, offering trees, roses, or bushes that are so cheap it makes your head spin. I have never had good luck with this type of nursery. Two years ago my husband got an email for some blueberry bushes, the plants were cheap but they didn't tell you how much the shipping was until you had already put in your credit card. Those cheap plants went from $25 to almost $100. We ended up getting the plants in the dead of winter, we lost about 50% in the shipping, and out of the 100 plants only about 2 survived. We have yet to see any blueberries off these bargain bushes. So beware of to good a deal. My best luck has come from the local garden shop for seeds, fruit trees, and bushes. Another important aspect of gardening in Montana is to pay attention to the zones. If it doesn't list a zone it probably won't make it in Montana. It is a great time to gather with friends and neighbors over a warm cup of tea and share your gardening dreams. It will keep your winter blues to a minimum and make some life long friends.

From Grandma's Desk: Saturday brought a wonderful surprise. A box of fresh picked tangerines from my stepmother's garden. The greatest part about these tangerines is my son planted a seed over 15 years ago that turned into a tangerine tree. We kept that tree going in our house in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for 6 years then it started getting to tall for the living room. So on my next road trip to Arizona I put the tree in the car and headed south. My stepmother has a small fruit orchard in her back yard with pomegranites, oranges, grapefruit, and now tangerines. She planted the tree in her back yard and for the past 2 years has been getting a few tangerines. Last year I brought a few home to Adrian and put in his stocking. This year a whole box arrived with the most delicious fruit in it. Sweet juicy and easy to peal! Yum, I can hardly wait till he gets here this week so he can share the fruits of his labor. So this New Year I will plant seeds that are sweet, juicy and easy to peel! What a lovely thought as we enter the new year 2012. Keeping in mind it takes many years and sometimes many hands and hearts to make the sweet fruit of our lives.

Is it Spring Yet? Or should I just eat more chocolate!

From Grandma's Desk: I woke up this morning to 42 degrees and the patter of rain on the roof. It is Dec. 29 in the mountains of Montana! As the seed catalogs arrive so does the spring weather? I think this weather is via the garden fairies who want to see us plant lots of beautiful flowers in our gardens. Even though it is not yet January the weather makes our brain think spring and before you know it you have sent away for $100 worth of seeds and gardening tools just so you don't miss the first opportunity to eat fresh peas from your garden. Instead of ordering seeds to early I begin to plan my garden so I am not wasting valuable resources on things that will never come to fruit or flower in my zone. Although we live on the shady side of the mountain in winter I know that Spring is only a few months away. It is time to get out my garden journal from last year and begin to remember. I love planning the next year of gardening. Even though it will take many turns and u-turns before the final design is in.I like to dream of the possibilities. My mountain garden has really changed how I garden and when I plant. I have found it is best to spend some time away in early spring so that I don't jump the gun and plant to early then get frustrated with a late frost and loosing my valuable starts. Last year I went to Hawaii in February & came home to begin my garden atarts. Then as March arrived I had herbs and tomatoes that were a bit leggy even though I have lights and a green house it was a bit early. I think this year I will wait until early March or even April to plant seeds indoors. I can't plant tomatoes or peppers outside until late May or June and even then they are in a greenhouse. Last year we had a frost around the 4th of July! So with Christmas behind me and the New Year to look forward to I meditate on my lavender staying warm and viable under a blanket of snow until Spring really is here. I think I will wait to order seeds until I have a plan and a chance to inventory what is left from last years supply. I try not to over buy from the seed catalogs but wait until our local seed sources are available. I feel the seeds I buy from Montana seed producers are best suited for Montana. The local gardeners and seed companies know better than companies in warmer or moister climates. I will seeds that I gathered myself from my garden last year and only buy a few new varieties to test and see if they are hardy enough for my Mountain Garden Home. For now I will plan my Montana Garden of Eden and envision the possibilities. While enjoying a cup of sipping chocolate and other dark chocolate delights. Dream of snorkeling in Hawaii and get out the graph paper for this years design possibilities! "I feel sorry for plants that are obliged to make a struggle for life in uncongenial situations because their owner wishes all things." Elizabeth von Amim. From the book Zen and the art of Gardening.

From Grandma's Desk: For Christmas my niece Lindsey gave me some wonderful homemade lotions and potions. One of the potions was a face wash she made from Olive Oil and Castor Oil. It is fantastic. Instead of using soap or cleanser that tend to dry out the skin this blend of oils cleans the dirt off your skin without drying or stripping the bodies natural oils. It is very simple and wonderful 8 parts Olive Oil and 2 parts Castor Oil. Use a small dab in your hand then massage it into your skin leave on for a few seconds then wipe off with a moist warm cloth. My skin cleared up in 2 days. This morning before washing my hair I applied it to my scalp and it made my hair beautiful and my scalp felt healthy and not itchy as before. Thanks Lindsey for a wonderful Christmas gift.

Winter Joy-

From Grandma's Desk:
I created this essential oil formula to go in my diffuser during the long, cold winter months when we get very little sunshine on our house and don't go outside much because of the cold. Use in a diffuser or with a carrier oil if you want to put it on your skin. I like to use Jojoba Oil as a carrier as it is closest to our own bodies oil and is very soothing.

Winter Joy Essential oil Recipe

10 drops Ylang Ylang
12 drops Lavender
6 drops Jasmine
6 drops Palo Santo
12 drops Clary Sage
9 drops Frankincense & Myrrh

I have also added St John's Wort and Sandalwood oil when using on the skin need 60 drops of Jojoba Oil or fill a 1 ounce dropper bottle or another great way to use is a roll on bottle that you can roll on pulse points to help those winter blues!

I have gotten some very positive feedback from friends and family on this one.

Something Special for You

From Grandma's Desk:
Greetings,

Special One-time discount on Floracopeia Essential Oils!

Karrie Westwood is now partnered with Floracopeia, a global botanical therapeutics and essential oils provider. Through Floracopeia we will provide our customers with the highest quality essential oils and other botanical aromatic treasures. We want to share this with you and we have included a "Special Aromatherapy Essence" invitation to try these amazing products with a special 25% off discount when purchased online only.

To receive the discount, simply enter the affiliate code "pfoutspfarm" in the box at http://www.floracopeia.com/discount to receive a special coupon code just for you.

We have seen and heard many amazing testimonials from people using our aromatherapy products which have helped them significantly with various health conditions.

Floracopeia was established by David Crow to help preserve and promote the use of pure, organic, sustainable essential oils and aromatherapy products. As you explore the world of fragrances extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, seeds, and woods you will gain an appreciation and better understanding of the healing benefits.

All the best,
Karrie

Natural Remedies for ear pain

From Grandma's Desk:
I first discovered that antibiotics do not always work when my infant grandson had numerous ear infections but none of the antibiotics we gave him worked. Then someone suggested we try garlic oil in his ear. Since we were desperate for a cure we tried garlic in a capsule form and dribbled a few drops in his ear and it worked! A few months after this I was at a street fair in Jacksonville, OR and I told her about my grandson and she had ear drops made from Lavender essential oil and Olive oil. I bought a bottle from her, but she was kind enough to give me her formula which was 1 part lavender essential oil to 10 parts olive oil. Use 3 drops in the affected ear twice a day until the pain is gone. This has been a tried and true formula for my family ever since. We have never had to use antibiotics for an ear infection since learning about this! The Lavender smells much better than the garlic oil too.

Etsy.com

I just set up my shop on Etsy I only have my Nature's First Aid Kit for sale but will be adding to the shop as time and energy allows. So link to: www.etsy.com/shop/grandmasfarmacie.com
See you there. If you haven't discovered Etsy yet it is a trip unto itself. It is the ebay of handmade goods and antiques. There is lots of fun stuff on there! Let me know what you think.

Honey Jams!

     I have just finished making a batch of Blueberry Honey Jam using no pectin, besides the blueberries and Honey I also added 2 T lemon juice and juice of one lime. I let it simmer for 30 min. then whipped it with a handheld blender till smooth, then used a wire whip for 6 min. The whipping seems to help set it and thicken it, releasing the fruits natural pectin. It tastes great and we will see in a few weeks if it has set. I did this with some raspberry jam a few weeks ago and it turned out amazing. I did strawberry but did not quip it and it seems a bit runny.
      If you have other great successes with honey in your cooking let me know it makes such a nice jam and I also like to can with it.