Here are some of my VERY favorite Stillroom Remedies! 

Onion  Ear  Poultice

1/2 onion, chopped, 1/4  cup water

                Heat ingredients in a pan and bring to a simmer (not a boil), and turn off heat. Strain onion from water (reserving water in pan) and wrap in several layers of cheesecloth, muslin, or a washcloth.  Apply this poultice over the affected ear, lying on the other side. Leave for at least 5 minutes. The onion can be heated and reapplied several times. Do this as many times as needed to ease the discomfort. This old fashioned technique is a little messy, but worth it!  You may also add a drop or two of lavender essential oil, to help calm and ease the mind. This remedy creates a vacuum to help remove liquid and infection.  The heat and antibacterial properties of the onion also help ease the earache  and reduce inflammation.  It is helpful to rub a mullein and garlic infused oil blend around the outer part of the ear and mastoid area if an ear infection is present. 

Adapted by Jonelle Hughes from Kathy Keville's book Herbs for Health and Healing

Peppermint  Cooling  Compress

  An exception to the usual hot fomentation is this compress, used to cool fevers and limit swelling.

½ cup Peppermint leaves

1 quart distilled water

Iced cubes

                Pour boiling water over Peppermint, cover and let steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool.  After the mixture is lukewarm put in freezer or add ice cubes to make it really cold.  Soak a cloth in the tea and wring out so that it does not drip and yet still retains enough liquid to stay cold.  Apply the cloth to the body.  After the cloth warms up, re-soak and re-apply.  Repeat this procedure three to five times, adding ice cubes if necessary, then dry the area thoroughly.

                This preparation stimulates the production of both white and red blood cells and reduces the pulse rate.   Adapted from Herbal Preparations and Natural Therapies by Debra Nuzzi, Master Herbalist

Cough  Syrup

2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons Honey

pinch of Cayenne

Mix and keep in the fridge.  Shake well before using.

USE: For sore or scratchy throat, take 1 tsp. cough syrup as needed

Garlic  Oil

 Crush 10 cloves of fresh Garlic and put in a glass jar.  Cover with  4 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and stir.  Top with the lid.

 The oil may be used within 3 hours, but for the best potency, put the jar in the sun for 3 to 14 days.  Pour the oil off into a fresh bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months or until mold begins to form.  The left-over pulp is great for garlic bread, soups, etc. USE:  Put 2-3 warmed drops in the ear.  Keep the ear up for a few minutes to let the oil absorb.  Use a clean cotton ball in the ear if needed.

The oil may also be taken internally to kill infection. 

Use the oil on fresh salads.  You may also use the oil for cooking, but it will lose most of its medicinal properties when heated.

-Angela Harris, MH

Sylvia’s Hot Toddy– for cold’s, flu, congestion, etc…

Juice from one lemon-fresh

1 tbsp. raw honey

1/2 can frozen OJ -preferably a more natural kind like Trader Joe’s

2 cups water

Sprinkle of cayenne

Heat all (except cayenne) together in saucepan until heated through– pretty warm. Pour into mug, sprinkle with cayenne, and drink it down. Go to bed!

*Variation– add 1 tbsp. slippery elm powder for a super effect!

Mastitis/ Breast  Infection  Remedy

adapted by Jonelle Hughes from Every Woman’s Book by Paavo Airola

Castor Oil

Lavender Essential Oil

4-5 hand towels

Saran Wrap

Heating Pad or Hot water bottle

Heat Castor oil on the stove (not microwave) until it is heated through, not boiling. Add a few drops Lavender EO. Fold hand towel in half length wise. Pour about 1/4 c. (each spot) of oil onto hand towel in the 2 spots where your breasts will be.  Lay across breasts, making sure it is not too hot. Stand up with your hands in the air, and have someone wrap saran wrap around the towel a few times, and above and below, to create a heat seal. Place another hand towel over the saran wrap, sit down, and place heating pad, or hot water bottle over the affected breast. Alternate 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, for as long as you can (at least an hour). If castor oil pack becomes cold, or you have had it on an hour, reheat remaining oil and with a fresh hand towel, reapply, and rewrap.  To nurse the baby, just pull down the side you need to nurse on, wipe off breast and after, replace towel and wrap. You should nurse on the affected breast even if there is pain, this will help reduce the inflammation, and infection. This process creates a heat seal, and basically a vacuum, that removes the bacteria and infection.

Along with this process, the following supplements are vital:

Homeopathic Remedy– Bryonia Alba –4-6 every hour

~ 2 tsp. every 2 hours of Bifidophilus Powder or 2-6  chewable bifidophilus (KEEP REFRIGERATED)

Dilute in a spoonful of clean (filtered) water. This should also be given to the baby this way, 1/2 tsp. in breastmilk or clean water.

~3 squirts of Infection Fighter (Herbalogie.com)every two hours.

~500 mg Vitamin C or fresh citrus fruit

-Also applying myrrh/goldenseal sporin salve (Herbalogie.com) helps with pain and inflammation.

TEAS &  INFUSIONS

                Infusions are made from fresh or dried leaves, stems, blossoms or powdered herbs.  The water soluble parts of the herbs are extracted into water when combined with heat.  The hot water helps release the power of the herb.  Teas are easily assimilated and easier for a weak body to accept.  They may be used hot or cold.  Infusions must be used before they sour or mold and bacteria growth starts, usually within 24 to 72 hours.

Note:  It is common to call herbal infusions, ‘Herb Teas’, however, ‘True Teas’ are infusions from the ‘Tea’ plant only (Camellia sinensis) and include black tea (when fermented), green tea (non-processed) and white tea (from the immature leaves, when the white blossoms are out). 

General Preparation

                1 cup boiling water

                1 tablespoon fresh herb (usually using the leaves or flowers)

                 or 1 teaspoon dried cut or powdered herbs

Pour boiling water over herbs, cover to contain the volatile oils, and let steep 10 to 20 minutes.  Never boil.  Strain and drink, or cool and refrigerate.

Sun Tea:  Using cold water, put the same amounts of herbs to water in a large glass jar.  With the cover on, set in the sun for 2 to 4 hours.  The heat from the sun will do the extraction.

From: Angela Harris-MH

Plantain  Poultice

Mix together goldenseal, plantain, aloe vera and slippery elm with a little water to form a paste.  Apply directly to swollen or injured area.  Cover the poultice with a piece of plastic and tape it in place.  Eases discomfort and irritation, and promotes healing.    Variation:  Use comfrey, slippery elm and white oak bark moistened with aloe vera juice.  

From The ABC Herbal by Steven H. Horne

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.