A Simple Plantain Poultice

Plantain was one of the first herbs my mama ever exposed me to, via a bee sting. This experience included saliva, a kiss and something that resulted in a green mushy paste. Like her, it was one of the first herbs that I exposed my little girl to.

It grows just about everywhere and is a 'foundation' herb in my home apothecary. During the season's of growth, I pick it early in the morning, before the sun has warmed the leaves to hot. Or in the evening, when the leaves have cooled to chill. Most of the time I dry them by laying them out flat after a quick rinsing bath.

When the harvest is dry, my herbal canvas is ready... then comes a cultivation of color in hues of green and oil. Nutrient dense, known for the ability to draw and to purify, powerful in standing alone or being supportive in teamwork.

For a Plantain Poultice:

You will need a handful of fresh, young plantain leaves. Or whatever amount is needed to cover the area where the poultice will be applied. Mush them. Unless it's very close family members, please do not put them in your mouth and chew them up to use... this should be reserved only for those mama's needing to deal with an issue quickly.

Trust me.

Next - apply this green mush to the affected area... and cover with a cloth wrap or bandage. After roughly thirty minutes, remove and repeat. Use as needed. I often buy cotton sheets from the thrift stores and wash them really well, dry them in the sun and then rip them into strips for this very use. 

Please Note: I do not treat, diagnose, nor imply disease/illness prevention. I am an herbalist and not a physician, my statements have not been approved nor evaluated by the FDA. I have received formal education from Vintage Remedies, and am currently saving my dimes to pay for my next learning experience.

Creating a Personal Materic Medica

Between making a home and creating family goals for the upcoming year - I have been rekindling my herbal interests. Somewhere amid reading Homegrown Healing by Christine Dalziel and Botanical Portraits by Ann Swan desire and inspiration struck. Then when I signed up for the Herbal Academy's free Herbal Materia Medica course, that inspiration took hold of my dusty nature journal turned personal 'materia medica' and set my pencils to action.

Paired with a lettering reference from the local library and I had all the tools I needed to begin.

My art class instruction from high school is a bit rusty, but the joys of sitting with the botanical subject and creating a personalized medica and gardening journal has been so healing. This creative is also helping my educational recall and giving me steam to continue to save for my next course.

Have you began your own personalized materia medica?

Frankincense & Myrrh Foot Rub

Playing for me can be anything from gardening to creating herbals in the kitchen. It calms my mind and expresses the herbalist within my heart. Most of the time I create for others, little botanical treasures for health and hope. But this week I created a personalized batch Frankincense & Myrrh foot rub.

The Recipe:

• 1/4 cup of shea butter
• 2 T coconut oil
• 2 T olive oil {or almond}
• 1 T {about an ounce} beeswax, grated
• 15 drops of Frankincense essential oil
• 10 drops of Myrrh essential oil

Directions: melt the beeswax and shea butter over low heat, add the coconut & olive oil. Blend well. When completely melted, remove from heat source and add the essential oils. Blend again. Pour into a small jar or metal tin. Let cool & enjoy!

The Making of Dandelion and Plantain Salve

Dandelions have so many uses, besides being perfect for bees and other pollinators. A simple google search gives us plenty of ideas for creativity and education. However be wise and use discernment when picking a gleaning location, please stay away from areas with pesticide use and along side the road ways.

But Why Dandelion? {Taraxacum officinale}

Besides being widespread and easy to identify, Dandelions are easy to grow and semi easy to harvest. A win win for the beginner and the expert. All parts of the plant can be used, the root for things like - stimulating bile production and as a liver tonic, the leaf for things like - water retention and kidney problems. The flowers can be saute`d for dinner additions or in our case... used in a balm for sore muscles, chapped skin and stiff joints.

And Plantain? {Plantago major}

Again, plantain is wide spread, easy to identify and comes with multiple uses as well. Dandelion and Plantain are great herbs for children to learn basic salve making skills with as well as botanical identification. Plantain is my - most used - go to - for skin issues, because of it's ability to effectively nurture the skin as a whole. From fighting infection to drawing out skin toxins and soothing scrapes, bites and stings. Plantain is priceless. Together - they are gift to be reckoned with.

"Plantain also has styptic and hemostatic properties, meaning that it can help check bleeding." - Rosemary Gladstar, Medicinal Herbs - A Beginner's Guide, page 189

How To Harvest Dandelions & Prepare Them for Salve Making:

I simply walk around my foraging area and snap the flower heads off and put them in a bowl or basket. When I get back home, I rinse them quickly and then spread them out on paper or cloth towel for a couple of days. This allows them to dry out just a bit, as Dandelions are very 'wet' in nature and I don't want my salve to turn rancid because of the excess moisture.

Once the Dandelions are semi dry - they are ready to be used. I prefer the solar infusion method, but in a pinch I will use the oven or crock pot to create the heat I need. I fill a quart sized jar half to two thirds full of the herbs I am using. For this balm {or salve} I am using Dandelions and Plantain. The Plantain has already been completely dried.

Then cover the dried herbs with your oil of choice, such as; olive oil or almond... sunflower oil even. Next set the jar in a sunny location and allow the infusion to happen - please see the links below for more method details. After the desired time has passed to allow for the botanical benefits to transfer from the herbs to the oil, drain and remove the spent herbs. Reserving the medicinal oil for your balm or salve creation.

Basic Recipe Ratio's for Balm/Salve Making: Mix together the desired 'parts' of the medicinal oil to beeswax. Make sure both items are warm, this will help with the blending and thus create a smoother consistency. While in the warm, melted stage, pour the balm into the containers of your choice. Let your balm cool and set, then label and date with the ingredients. I also like to add what the salve, or balm is used for too, especially if I am gifting it.

1 Part Beeswax to 3 Parts Medicinal Oil = firm salve
1 Part Beeswax to 4 Parts Medicinal Oil = soft balm/salve

I am looking forward to using this balm on my - very dry - garden hands and reaping the benefits of Dandelion and Plantain. Go ahead, and give it a try! However, if you are not up for making it yourself or have a desire to support small businesses, please keep us in mind.

 


Recommended Resources:

• The Efficacy of Dandelion Root - Study Article
• DIY Dandelion Balm for Sore Muscles - Joybilee Farm
• How to Make Dandelion Infused Oil -  Homestead Garden
• How to Make a Medicinal Oil - Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth
• How to Make a Healing Salve -  The Herbal Academy

The Highwinds Homestead & Me

This is where I am suppose to share a little about myself and my blog, yikes! How on earth can you share the whole {encompassing} beauty of life, even for one person, on a single {about} page? I don't believe one can even come close...

But as a child, my favorite things to do were to run bare foot through the pastures of my great uncles farm. To slosh in the creeks and play in the fields with my brothers. From climbing apple trees to washing my hair in the rain. The oldest of three, and only girl - I was nurtured by a woman who was {eco} before {eco} was in. We often camped under the stars, gathered fruits of all kinds, and each of us watched the entire process of animal butchering before we were able to reach the steering wheel.

In my late teen years, I began a fifteen year long career in the health care sector, specifically in Long Term Care. Where my focus was {serving} the elderly population with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's. I served as a Nursing Assistant, Recreational Assistant, then as a Recreation Director and Volunteer Coordinator. I enjoyed working with people, and their individuality. It was there that {life} became so very precious to me.

It was also during that season when I met {Yeshua} Jesus, the Creator of my life's tapestry. My life and my {self} have never been the same. I am a daughter, a wife, a mother of three - one of whom I home educated from the fifth grade to graduation, I am a sister and a friend, but most importantly I am {Redeemed}.

Welcome to my online home, where I share my endearments of: agrarian living, the farming of faith and the collecting of hope. Where I take snap shots of the small things and write about natural living, gardening and the pursuit of my holistic education.

The Highwinds Homestead - here we Simply Cultivate Life.

Thank you for stopping by & Enjoy.

- I also confess that I have a strong admiration for chickens and coffee.

Flowerfetti / a simple eco friendly confetti

Hello friend - I am here to share with you a wonderful way to use up those expired herbs that you have tucked in the back of your cupboard.

Flower ~ fetti 

A friend of mine's daughter is getting married, and I was invited to be one of the photographers, and help with the wedding cake. During one of our conversations I suggested creating a special blend of flower-fetti for the exit toss. Basically an eco version of the traditional practice, yet full of fall colors - thus making it perfect for a Sukkot wedding.

Sukkot weddings are at the top of my list as extra special, one of the reasons being the beautiful symbolism that is wrapped into this eight day celebration. Of course all weddings are extra special and beautiful because I believe that weddings are to be Holy business.

Fall Flower-fetti Recipe: {using dried, spent or old herbs to create your special blend}

• Hibiscus - this was put through a small blender to create smaller pieces
• Chamomile - offers a strong floral scent to the exit toss
• Calendula Petals - the main giver of color in my blend
• Lemon Balm - used for hints of green and supports a well rounded scent
• Rose Petals - used for color and scent support
• Lavender Petals - I would have used the buds, however what I had on hand were leaves

I made sure each of my herb choices were dry, and chopped into small - safe tossing pieces. Then I added all of them into a large bowl and mixed well. Once the fetti was well blended, I bagged the mixture in wedding favor bags and tied up them up with a ribbon. To make sure the fetti remains dry, until the special day, I poked a few holes along the sides of the bag with a pin. Creating very small air holes for breathing ability.

There you have a fall, floral supported fetti that is simply beautiful.