Here are some herbal gift ideas for the holiday season. The first recipe is an old Christmas tradition, it involves sticking cloves in oranges. This makes a wonderful smelling gift that can be hung anywhere or placed in a bowl as an air fresher. Start with a handful of whole cloves and several oranges or tangerines, (some stores, like the local Food Conspiracy Coop, have a lovely variety of different tangerines and oranges) then stick the pointed end of the clove into the surface of the tangerine or orange. Create a pattern of your choice.
Next, is a desert favorite: Creosote (aka Chaparrel) Salve. This one involves a blender and a bit of a mess but it is well worth the it! Creosote is a great antimicrobial plant making it good for warts and athletes foot. It can also be used as a first aide treatment for such things as cuts and sunburn. This recipe will create roughly 8 one ounce salves. Here is what you need:
~1 cup olive oil
~1 ounce creosote leaves (dried best)
~1 ounce beeswax
~a blender
~jars
~muslin or an old tee shirt
1. Place olive oil and creosote in a blender. Blend for a few minutes.
2. Strain through muslin or tee shirt into a thick glass jar. (We use canning jars or a glass Pyrex measuring cup is best for pouring)
3. Create a double boil system- We use the ring from a canning jar lid placed at the bottom of a pot of water. Then place the jar or measuring cup on top of this. This is to lift the glass off of the direct heat. Have just enough water in the pot so that your jar filled with oil does not float. Make sure to place the glass in before you begin to heat the mixture as not to crack the glass.
4. Next turn the heat onto medium and add your beeswax. Continue to heat until beeswax melts.
5. Pour into jars
Our last holiday gift idea is a lavender and oats bath soak. All of these ingredients are blended into a fine powder to be bath tub friendly. You can keep it simple with just lavender and oats or add a few things to make it even more therapeutic. The recipe is as follows:
~1 cup lavender flowers
~4 cups oats
~1/2 cup roses
~1/2 cup chamomile flower
~30 drops lavender essential oil
After blending these ingredients well add to a jar, then add the essential oil and shake well.
This always looks great when you label it nice.
Have fun!