Herbs have always been a part of my life but until I began
working for my mother and aunt I had never studied or had a particular
fascination with herbs. For me herbs were always a constant in my life. Whenever
I had a headache or was stressed over a class Mom always had the best herb to
cure whatever ailment I had. I knew they worked, I knew we had them but I had
never really focused on how or why.
So as I began studying herbs I was amazed by how virtually
every plant has a purpose. As the plants and my knowledge grew I was thrilled
to put what I had learned to work, which made me have an affinity toward
certain plants.
Calendula:
I’ve always admired how full and vibrant Calendula flowers
are but I had never used the plant for anything other the soap we make. Both my mother and aunt would rejoice
whenever they had a great crop or were given Calendula by Marci Tsohonis but I could
never figure out why. Was it the color it made in the soap? The smell? No, it
couldn’t be the smell.
And then I tried my aunt’s Busy Day facial, which contains
Calendula. Even though my day’s of acne are (well, almost) behind me I still
enjoy using this mask because it does an amazing job of exfoliating my skin and
keeping my face clear when breakouts occur.
As I’ve been taking Sue Hess’s homesteading class as well as working with
Susanna Reppert-Brill at The Rosemary House I have also learned how useful the
plant can be. Since it is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, it is great to use
as a salve for bumps and scraps as well as a lotion for skin problems. If used
in a tincture or tea it can be ingested for digestion or menstrual issues.
Lavender:
For years I did not enjoy the scent of Lavender. Many use
Lavender to wind down before bed or to use in scones, cookies, and other
delicious recipes. For me it reminded me of the painful days where I forgot
sunscreen at the beach or when I was a child and my mother was forced to give
me a lavender bath so I would fall asleep after a nightmare.
You can imagine why it wasn’t my
favorite.
That fortunately changed this summer while I was working on
a Lavender wand at Sue Hess’s home. I was so amazed by how quickly the entire
class took a more relaxed turn as we began to weave and the porch became filled
with the scent of Lavender. Even now I keep a Lavender wand in my car to roll
during traffic jams. It fills my car with the fragrance and I’m more at ease as
traffic comes to a complete stop on I-83.
Mullein:
I first noticed this plant this summer on the highway and
could not get over how it looks like an alien life form. Before I knew it, it
had shot up everywhere and I could not help but look at its bright yellow
stalks as I walked through hiking trails or into our woods.
Once I had learned the name of the plant I had asked Susanna
Reppert-Brill about it and she was eager to tell me everything she knew. One
use I learned from her was to use it as a preventative for fevers and earaches.
It is also used for breathing problems or sore throats and
stomach issues. Often taken as a tincture or as oil drops in the ear for
earaches and fever.
These are my most recent obsessions. As the seasons change
I’m excited to learn more about harvesting, uses, and autumnal herbs as well. Even
though I have known about herbs all of my life, it’s amazing to finally
understand them.
Sources:
Calendula:
Lavender:
Mullein:
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