This is how I wash all of my clothes & linens:
infrequently
in cold water
by hand or with like colors in the washing machine
with a homemade liquid Marseille soap laundry detergent
line dry
Very rarely I will wash something in warm or hot water (like towels) but usually I don’t find this to be necessary.
One really important note before I get into all of this is that I’m really talking about natural fibers here. Over the years I’ve been able to slowly reduce and replace synthetic fibers with natural ones, and I’ve noticed that natural fibers really don’t get as smelly! Which makes sense when you think about it: imagine how wearing a plastic bag would trap in all that yuck. Whereas linen and wool, for example, are naturally anti-bacterial.
I only wash clothes when they’re stinky or really dirty. We wear our clothes several times before washing—especially in the wintertime when personally I don’t sweat as much and my clothes don’t really get stinky or dirty. I wear many layers, so smaller items like socks & undergarments get washed more frequently, sometimes even just by hand. Main garments like dresses, pants, and shirts get put in the laundry pile after… a week of wear? A month? It really depends. Rather than tossing them straight in the laundry basket, we hang them up to air out overnight (only if they’re stinky), or put them back in the closet. I almost never need to wash sweaters and other overlayers, especially if they are wool.
A great tip I once heard: wear your underwear into the shower, and wash them in there as you wash your body, then hang to dry. I find this to be extremely practical and environmentally responsible.
I also use aprons to protect my garments from getting splattered while cooking or herbal potion making. I don’t mind wearing a slightly dirty apron, and while I love my aprons, their purpose is to get dirty so I don’t shy away from that happening.
for stains: I have a few different approaches.
If you can catch it in the moment, you can almost always rinse out a fresh stain with cold water!
For mild stains, I’ll rub a slightly dampened bar of Marseille soap on the dry stain.
I’ve also had success with soaking a stained item in Sodium Percarbonate (similar to oxygen bleach) or Sodium Carbonate (Washing Soda). Usually I mix up to 1/4 cup of this in hot water (I feel like they need the heat to dissolve). Then I let it cool down before putting the stained item in. Let it soak for several hours or overnight, then wash as usual. This has worked on turmeric stains, which are the hardest stains for me to remove! (Read & heed warning labels for these ingredients—they are strong and need to be used with caution and wisdom!)
Other methods: sprinkling salt on a wine stain, adding baking soda to the washing machine, distilled white vinegar, Buncha Farmers stain remover bar soap…
a note on drying: We don’t have a dryer (which is common in Europe) and I’ve dreamed of having a backyard laundry line for years. Before having a private yard, I would dry our clothes on a drying rack on the porch, or inside by a heater, sunny/open window (depending on the season), or near the wood stove. When I had easy access to a laundromat, I would often pay to dry bulky items like towels and sheets. Everything else dries in about a day in the cold season, and just a few hours outside when it’s warm.
for folks who use cloth menstrual pads: What I try to do is immediately rinse the bloody pad/period underwear in cold water, and then hand wash (in a small mixing bowl) with my homemade liquid Marseille soap. Then I wring out really well (or toss in the washer for the spin cycle), and line dry. It’s basically the same process if I don’t wash it while it’s still fresh, just harder to get all the blood out. I usually soak it in a bowl of water for a few hours, with some tea tree essential oil if it’s smelly. Then proceed. If they’re really dirty, after getting most of the blood out/handwashing, I will toss them in with a load of laundry, if I happen to be doing laundry. Side note: It’s a lot of work, but I LOVE using cloth menstrual pads/underwear. They work really well, and are so much more comfortable! It also feels really good to not be buying & throwing away loads of plastic/trash every month. If I’m feeling extra witchy, I’ll save some of the blood/water (no soap) and return it to the earth, offer it to a plant, or water the garden.
* I’d like to acknowledge here that I don’t have children, and that might change my approach to laundry!
blender
nut milk bag (often found at your local health food store), or a clean cotton or muslin cloth bag
optional: fine mesh sieve (I just use this to rest the nut milk bag on as I’m straining the milk)
1 cup nuts or seeds
4 cups filtered water, plus more for overnight soaking
sea salt
optional: 1 tablespoon natural sweetener, to taste (maple syrup or honey are my favorites)
optional: spices like vanilla extract, cinnamon & cardamom powder
Soak one cup of nuts overnight in plenty of filtered water.
The next morning, strain off soaking water and rinse the soaked nuts well.
Add the rest of the ingredients to a blender: soaked nuts, 4 cups filtered water, a pinch of sea salt, 1 tablespoon sweetener, and a splash of vanilla & pinch of cinnamon powder
Blend on medium for a few minutes, until mixture is white, frothy, and well-ground.
Strain milk through a nut milk bag, and squeeze every last drop of your precious milk out of the pulp.
In my home, one batch of nut milk never lasts more than 3 days. Whatever I don’t drink right away, I keep in the fridge. It will separate and this is completely normal! Just give it a good shake before drinking.
This means I don’t quite know how long it will last, though once I forgot to refrigerate a jar and it ended up just smelling sour like yogurt or kefir. As someone who makes fermented foods and drinks regularly, I’ve learned to really trust my nose. My unofficial advice: if it smells bad, rotten, or repulsive… don’t consume it! ;)
I’ve made nut milk out of almonds, cashews, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts. I imagine other nuts and seeds would work, I just haven’t tried it yet. So far, my favorite combinations are cashew milk and almond-pecan milk.
I use nut milk in coffee, chai, baked goods, oatmeal, and on its own: warmed with added spices and herbs, or cool.
B O N U S - as a barista, this homemade nut milk steams like a dream!
Store-bought nut milk is often filled with stabilizers, emulsifiers, gums, and preservatives, not to mention canola oil. I like to stay away from ingredients that “my grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” This is advice comes from one of my favorite food advocates: Michael Pollan in his mini book ‘Food Rules’.
I find that a lot of nuts I find in stores are rancid. I like being able to choose the quality of nuts I buy. Tip: keep nuts in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. Bonus points to all the health food stores that sell & store their nuts in a refrigerator!
By soaking the nuts overnight, you reduce and hopefully eliminate the presence of phytic acid in your homemade nut milk. I’m not sure if large companies making shelf-stable nut milk are including this step. Phytic acid is a natural and very beneficial coating on seeds (including grains, nuts, etc), locking in nutrients until the seed is ready to sprout and grow. In our bodies, however, it can cause digestive stress, wear at the gut lining, contribute to increased food sensitivities, and prevent optimal nutrient absorption. Traditional preparations of foods (“slow food”) always include soaking or otherwise processing all seeds to make them more digestible. Some other examples aside from soaking are roasting, sprouting, or fermenting (think sourdough bread). A great resource in this area is Sandor Katz’ “The Art of Fermentation.”
This is a very special oil infused with the mystical, locally grown plants of bay laurel, saffron, and immortelle, and combined with fragrant, rich essential oils. The hearth fire represents the ordinary yet sacred temple of the home. Of primal needs being met, and more; it is a source of light and warmth, a place of gathering, sharing, eating, of creative fire, abundance, sensuality in all senses of the word… the hearth fire was tended and maintained continuously and reverently in cold climates from Samhain to Imbolc, the cold, dark months.
I named this special oil Hearth Fire because it is my belief that our bodies want and need to be tended as carefully and reverently as the important hearth fires of our homes. Anointing the body with fragrant oil is an act of sweet, mindful care, respect, and a splash of necessary indulgence. May the spirit of these precious plants infused in this oil nourish the hearth fire of your body, your sacred vessel that carries you everywhere in life.
Always begin with one pump of oil, warmed in the palm of your hand. I like to work up my body, before or after a shower or bath. Starting with one foot, and working the oil into the skin, moving up the leg, repeating for the other leg… continue working up the body, warming pump by pump of oil in your hand as needed. Massage the oil into the skin until it is absorbed. If you like, you can apply when your body is still damp to help it spread, or add a spritz or two of hydrosol as suggested with the Golden Hour serum.
When I need extreme moisturizing, I’ll add a pump of Hearth Fire or another handmade herbal body oil to a pump of body lotion, then add some aloe vera and spritzes of hydrosol. I mix this all in my palms, and apply to the body. It is an incredibly rich and indulgent treat for the skin.
INGREDIENTS
olive oil infused with saffron, immortelle & bay laurel, vitamin e oil, rosemary co2, propolis extract, and essential oils of clove, bay laurel & oakmoss
please note: this oil does contain a higher, aromatherapeutic amount of essential oil, which can be irritating for some folks. Please use caution and wisdom when pregnant and breastfeeding, and for young children. Do not ingest this oil, as essential oils are never meant to be consumed, and do not apply directly to mucous membranes like the eyes, mouth, or other orifices.
Loam is a soap-free, lightly exfoliating daily facial cleanser and masque treatment. I’ve been using some variation of Loam as my facial cleanser for several years, and my skin couldn’t be happier! Soap cleansers can be extremely harsh on the skin, stripping our precious natural oils away. While I don’t know for certain, I have a strong suspicion that skin imbalances come from a lack of topical and internal nourishment, especially including plenty of oil and water moisture, and a rich “diet” (application) of nutrients. I had skin issues for years, and was frustrated when they continued even after I cleaned up my diet! However, I was approaching my skincare with the eyes of strong treatments (even natural ones). The mentality alone was doing a number on me! Once I started approaching my skincare and self-care with the goal to pamper, feed, nourish, and soothe, my skin responded immediately and I haven’t turned back!
All of this to say, I formulated this cleanser to be extremely balanced: the green clay has a drawing action, pulling blockages from the pores. The ground oats are soothing, softening, and provide important nutrients for the skin. And the herbs offer antimicrobial action through their sweet aromatic volatile oils, and the grounding-renewal energy brought by roots and seeds.
I keep a bottle next to my shower or bath (just make sure the contents don’t get wet!). Simply sprinkle a coin-sized amount into the palm of your hand, wet with a few drips of water, and combine with your finger to make a spreadable paste. Apply using very gentle circular motions to the skin of the face and neck. I don’t recommend too much exfoliating for the skin, it isn’t necessary. While these ingredients are gentle unlike something harshly abrasive like apricot kernels, I still don’t recommend scrubbing too much. Apply with a light touch or press into the face. Always use this feather-light touch around the skin of the eyes, and anywhere it feels sensitive. About once a week, I will do a more thorough exfoliation, but still keep it relatively gentle!
Add a teaspoon of Loam to a small bowl or teacup. Add some sort of healing, natural liquid (see ideas below), and optionally some serum or other oil, and mix until you reach your desired consistency. Paint onto the skin of the face and neck using a brush or light fingertips, and relax for 10-20 minutes as it works its magic. Rinse well, and follow immediately with a spritz of toner or hydrosol, serum, and crème.
liquids: hydrosol or natural floral water, freshly brewed herbal tea like chamomile, lavender, rose, basil, etc., witch hazel, aloe vera gel, honey, etc…
oils: for the most deluxe masque ever, add some of the Golden Hour serum in. You can also just use a small splash of olive oil, or other oil you use on your skin
Many clays are known for their powerful drawing action, and are often used in a variety of first-aid applications. Loam would be an excellent poultice applied to bites, stings, minor cuts and scrapes, and rashes. It also (unsurprisingly) makes a good spot treatment, especially for pustule-like blemishes or stubborn blackheads. My final favorite use for this outside of a facial cleanser is an armpit wash! I don’t use soap on my body regularly for the reasons listed above. I find it harsh and unnecessary, and just wash with water instead. Sometimes, if I’m extra stinky, I’ll apply the leftovers of the Loam I’ve used on my face to my armpits, let it sit for a few minutes as I’m showering, and then rinse.
ingredients: green clay, oats, fennel, lemon balm, marsh mallow root, burdock root, calendula, anise seed, thyme, lavender & chamomile
A vibrant oil-based serum, golden like the light of the sun, infused with skin-healing and softening herbs. This formula is essential oil free, and its sweet aroma comes from the whole plants infused into the oil, and the natural fragrance of the plant oils themselves.
You can use this as a daily moisturizer in combination with a toner/hydrosol, or as a softening, illuminating, pre-moisturizing treatment to deliver nourishing & important nutrients to the skin. While I don’t personally practice oil cleansing for the face, many customers have used my serums for oil cleansing.
I start by infusing vibrant herbs into a locally grown + pressed olive oil. This potent oil is then strained out, and I add some very special fatty CO2 extracts. I call them “fatty” because they resemble the nourishing fatty oils like olive oil, avocado oil, etc. These CO2 extracts are not essential oils, and are an efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible method of making fatty oils. The result is of a much higher quality than “cold-pressed” oils, with significantly higher levels of nutrients extracted, and with a longer shelf life. I work with an excellent European-based company who make the highest quality CO2 extracts and oils I have ever used! I’m so excited to share them with you all.
rosehip seed co2
A gorgeous, slightly red-orange oil. I’ve never experienced it before, but this rosehip seed oil has a subtle floral aroma. Rosehip seed CO2 is high in Vitamins E and A, promotes cell regeneration, efficiently healing scars, encourages skin elasticity, and helps to reduce trans-epidermal water loss, keeping the skin supple and hydrated.
sea buckthorn pulp and seed co2
These are two separate CO2 extracts that I combine and add into this serum. Sea buckthorn pulp is extremely rich in the rare palmitic & palmitoleic acids, which are natural skin lipids. This makes it especially well-suited to maintaining healthy, vibrant skin. Sea buckthorn CO2 extract is another excellent healing skin oil, promoting cell regeneration and the healing of wounds, scars and damaged skin, is excellent for burns, is specified for pre-and post- sun exposure, helping to prevent premature aging of skin due to environmental stressors. It’s high in Vitamins E, A, and C, and rich in minerals. Combined, these two co2 extracts are an extremely vibrant reddish-orange liquid, capturing the magnificence of the sunshine they soak up all summer long.
To use as a moisturizer, add one pump of this oil to the palm of your hand along with a few spritzes of hydrosol or natural floral water. Combine in your hands, and apply after cleansing & toning to a damp face and neck, massaging thoroughly into the skin.
To use as a pre-moisturizing treatment, apply after cleansing and toning. Work 1 full pump (or less) into the skin of the face and neck, massaging until the oil is absorbed into the skin. Follow with your usual moisturizer (I recommend this one!)
As it is packed with extremely powerful (yet gentle) healing herbs and extracts, this serum makes an excellent addition to your herbal medicine chest. Use it to soothe minor burns, to aid in the scar-healing phases of wounds, and as a spot treatment for blemishes.
INGREDIENTS: olive oil infused with chamomile, comfrey, immortelle + yarrow, rosehip seed co2, sea buckthorn fruit + seed co2, rosemary co2, vitamin e oil, st. john’s wort tincture, propolis extract & calendula co2
This crème is a serious miracle worker! It’s been my best-selling product from the start, for good reason! I originally formulated it for myself (to be the most magical wonderful facial creme ever—my skin needed serious nourishing) and packed it with the most healing, magical ingredients I could imagine. Face Potion has gotten an upgrade since I’ve moved to France, reflecting the highest quality ingredients that are sourced locally here in the wilds of Provence and the southern French Alps. Ambrosia is a healing balm, deeply nourishing the skin and spirit.
This is what really makes this crème so powerful and healing.
local raw chestnut honey - a rich, dark honey that is especially high in antimicrobial and antioxidant constituents, like manuka honey. In general, honey is one of my favorite ingredients for the skin! It’s a humectant, meaning it helps hydrate the skin with water-based moisture, drawing it deeply into the pores. The antimicrobial properties are excellent for cleansing, and also help to treat breakouts. We often overlook things that are so gentle, common, and simple, but I’ve turned to honey first to use for wound care for minor and major scrapes, cuts, burns, bites, stings, and rashes. Finally, honey (and really all things that bees produce) is nothing short of a magical, alchemical miracle. The nectar of flowers, song of the bee, and light of the sun transformed into something delicious, beautiful, solid, and healing. Thank you, bee sisters.
beeswax - I use vibrant, aromatic beeswax from local beekeepers
local propolis extract - propolis is an aromatic and sticky resin-like substance that bees make to seal the hive and protect it from infection. It’s made from aromatic tree sap and beeswax, and is a very common remedy here in France. Folks chew on propolis or take the extract for immune support. Topically, it is highly anti-microbial.
local royal jelly - this is a precious substance, and is produced to feed the Queen of the Hive. It is all she eats, and a diet of solely royal jelly is the only difference between a worker bee and a Queen, giving her a significantly longer lifespan—years rather than weeks. Topically, it is an incredibly potent wound-healer. I believe royal jelly to be powerfully healing to any environmental stressors to the skin, and also to have a “fountain of youth” effect, or rather more desirably a “fountain of naturally glorious aging” effect.
calendula co2 extract - This is a thick, semi-solid CO2 extract. The consistency is like very very cold honey, or even butter. In the jar it looks dark, almost a burnt amber brown, but a small dab rubbed on the skin is the most vibrant bright yellow-orange, just like calendula blossoms. If you’re familiar with calendula, it has a very particular smell. It’s not aromatic like lavender or rose, it has a subtle earthy-sweet aroma, and this CO2 extract embodies that. I feel like it’s important, and reveals how this extract captures the true spirit and maintains the integrity of the healing spirit of the plant. Calendula is my favorite vulnerary (wound-healing) herb. It encourages skin-cell regeneration, it’s anti-microbial, emollient (skin-softening), and it’s another one of those gentle-but-powerful healers. Calendula embodies everything I want this creme to be, and I’m so excited I found the perfect way to include it.
Apply to the skin of the face and neck after cleansing, toning, and applying serum. Ambrosia can be applied morning, noon, and/or night, depending on your skin and the cycles of life & seasons you’re currently moving through. Only a small amount is needed. Dip a clean finger into the pot, and massage thoroughly into the skin.
Ambrosia is a special and powerfully healing product, which makes it a potent addition to your herbal medicine chest! When the skin of my hands, elbows or knees are chapped, cracked, or dry, I’ll apply some Ambrosia, working it generously into the skin. Because it is so packed with powerfully healing ingredients, I will also dab it on as a spot treatment for blemishes. I’ve used it for healing scars, soothing skin rashes, applying into the nostrils when they are extremely dry, to chapped lips, to moisturize after a bad sunburn, and even on bug bites. The gifts of the herbs and bees make this a true miracle crème!
note: I add two drops of local, organic lavender essential oil to each jar of Ambrosia. My face is often sensitive to essential oils, but this does not irritate it (or else I wouldn’t do it!). Lavender essential oil is calming, and one of my favorite plants in the world—it was the first plant I really connected with as a child. I’ve been adding a very small amount of a well-made, organic lavender essential oil to this crème for years, and none of my customers have ever reported a negative response.
INGREDIENTS: olive oil infused with lavender, comfrey & nettle, lavender and rose hydrosol, aloe vera gel, beeswax, shea butter, chestnut honey, royal jelly, radish root ferment filtrate, vitamin e oil, rosemary co2, calendula co2, lavender essential oil & propolis extract
There are so many “empty” fields and meadows in France (at least in this area!) I feel like there are many special plants that like to grow in open meadows or at their edges, and I had a hard time finding them in New England (maybe it was just me). I wonder if the plethora here is partially due to the long presence of people farming & cultivating the land here. Anyway, all this to say I found a motherload of dandelion yesterday, more than I’ve ever seen!
Important side note: dandelion and many other “weeds” are often found growing along roadsides, in lawns sprayed with toxic chemicals, and other polluted areas you wouldn’t want to gather from. Many of these plants grow in these areas to help heal the soil from pollution, by absorbing it into the plant and rendering it into something not toxic anymore (or something like that—Japanese knotweed is a great example) OR by drawing nutrients from very deep down up into the top soil, making it fertile again. Not to mention that these “weeds” folks often want to eradicate are usually edible, packed with nutrients, or medicinal. Usually all three! Okay, that ends my annual “please don’t spray the dandelions speech”. Also, if you’re gathering wild plants, it’s really important to consider
if the land/the plant could be polluted
if the plant is endangered or at-risk, and if the patch is big enough to survive/thrive after you gather from it
do you have permission to harvest off this land?
This final one is certainly tricky for folks like me who don’t have any land to their name. My personal thoughts on the matter are that when I harvest, I do so mindfully and as carefully and intentionally and respectfully as possible. (And in gratitude). I feel comfortable with doing so. Okay, tangent over.
Usually with dandelion, I go for the leaves to use in salads & stir frys, but this abundance of flowers inspired me, and I’m making dandelion mead, beer, and an infused flower oil for skincare.
Dandelion mead: separate the petals from the green bits (we saved the green bits to braise for dinner—yum!), cover with water and add raw honey (roughly 1 part honey to 6 parts water). Once it’s active, strain out petals & let it ferment!
]]>This is a post about soap and also why exposure to dirt is important. I’ve been really appreciating the versatility of Marseille soap lately. Marseille is about 2 hours away from where we live, so I consider it a “local” product! It’s an olive oil-based bar soap, and there is quite a bit of tradition and regulation surrounding it, keeping the quality high and pure. I buy the whole bars as well as the soap flakes (note: you can totally grate bars of soap using a cheese grater). I love that the bars come with no packaging, and that I can get the soap flakes from a bulk bin, thus reducing my waste.
What we use Marseille soap for + basic recipes:
BODY wash -
…as needed, which in all honesty is pretty infrequent! Soap is disruptive to our skin’s natural, beneficial flora and pH. It can be overly drying, and frankly isn’t always necessary! I like to use salt scrubs (just mix oil and salt) for a good scrubbing all over, and use my homemade facial cleanser to wash my pits—shop here. I also love taking baths (usually with clay and salts), which is naturally detoxifying and cleansing—no soap needed. Okay, soap rant over :)
washing all our DISHES -
We hand-wash as we don’t have a dishwasher. Mostly, we just lather up a sponge using a bar of soap. It works really well (hot water is necessary for oily dishes). I also make a liquid soap for when you want to soak a bottle or baking dish. (Recipe below)
liquid soap for HANDS / dishes / laundry etc. -
Bring 1 liter water to a boil. Add 50 grams soap flakes or grated soap bar. Let it cool slightly, stir to mix well, and once they’re all dissolved add to your soap dispensers. Sometimes I add a few drops of lavender essential oil, but I LOVE the smell of plain Marseille soap. You can play with the concentration by adding more or less soap flakes/water. I think it might be the temperature, but now that days and nights are warmer, the liquid soap is more of a runny consistency, whereas in the winter it was more of a gel. Works the same though!
STAIN remover -
Slightly wet a bar of Marseille soap, and rub it on the fresh (or old) stain, covering it well. Let this sit and dry completely before running it through the wash, or washing the stain out by hand. This has worked well for wine/oil/tomato sauce stains (and all 3 at once? Haha…)
LAUNDRY -
Add a splash of liquid soap in place of your regular laundry detergent. We cold-wash all our clothes, and this works great. I also use the liquid soap for all of my delicates, including wool, silk, and linens.
MOTH repellent / garment freshener -
I have little bags of the soap flakes hanging in our closets to deter moths from eating our lovely wollens! I also keep a bag with some of my more precious wool yarns, and bags in my underwear & sock drawers—a sweet habit I’ve had since childhood for some reason… (you can also use bags of lavender or other aromatic herbs for your garment-fresheners)
all-purpose CLEANER -
Toilets, tubs, sinks, surfaces… Either with the liquid or lathering up a sponge or rag with the bar soap. I also use citrus-infused vinegar for an all-purpose cleaner. I’ll use these two interchangeably according to my in-the-moment preference, or whatever I happen to have on hand.
Some things that feel connected:
Thyme Herbal recently shared a study showing that children who grow up in homes without a dishwasher tended to have less allergies and stronger immune systems. Hand-washing meaning more exposure to dirt and “germs.”
In an episode of the Michael Pollan ‘Cooked’ mini-series I mentioned a few days ago, a nun-scientist-cheesemaker (pretty rad combo) learned how to make a traditional French raw cheese in a wooden barrel. The woman who taught her told her the wood aspect was very important. When a food inspector wanted her to change to all stainless steel equipment, she decided to do a little experiment and found that E. Coli soon were present in the stainless steel batches and NOT the wooden barrel batches. Upon closer inspection, the wooden barrel was populated with lactic acid bacteria from the milk (what we use to make “lacto”-fermented vegetables, like sauerkraut). The lactic acid bacteria were able to eliminate (or prevent overgrowth of) the E. Coli. I could cry right now just thinking about how we must have evolved so carefully with these wise bacteria beings… how do they know how to eliminate “bad” bacteria (bad for humans) while maintaining “good” bacteria (for humans)??? It’s incredible and awe-inspiring.
In the Nourishing Traditions cookbook by Sally Fallon, I read a similar account of using wooden cutting boards vs. plastic cutting boards. The wooden cutting boards are much less likely to harbor pathogenic bacteria than plastic ones! (She does recommend using a separate cutting board for vegetables/fruits and meats).
In a time when hyper-vigilant sanitizing and washing and sterilizing is in the spotlight, I think it is DEEPLY important and wise to keep in mind that “bacteria” (to broadly classify it) are often not only beneficial but absolutely essential for vibrant wellness. Some fascinating things to consider:
our bodies contain more microorganisms than human cells—we’re outnumbered 10 to 1!!!
depending on an individual’s body weight, that’s anywhere from 2 to 6 POUNDS of bacteria
bacteria in the gut help us digest food, absorb nutrients, and communicate with the brain, affecting mood and all sorts of vital processes… this is just scratching the surface
It’s been shown that rolling in the dirt, eating dirt, being exposed to (***healthy & respectfully raised***) farm animals and pets, hand-washing dishes, growing up in homes without harsh cleaners, eating plenty of bacteria-rich foods (fermented foods), breast-feeding and the bacterial wash of vaginal births… all these build healthy, strong, vibrant, bodies and immune systems.
These things are important to keep in mind in this time—to hold alongside all the new requirements and beliefs around sanitizing and sterilizing and isolating and the messages coming from everywhere saying that exposure to germs is bad and dangerous. I believe that it is important to remember to keep the bacteria parts of our bodies just happy and healthy and well-fed as the human parts.
How can we be respectful of other people’s beliefs and wishes, and maintain the vibrant flora & essential microbiome of our glorious, miraculous bodies?
]]>I was so happy to find this chickweed! I’ve only found it tucked in lawns before, and this stuff is so big and succulent. I’ve always loved its Latin name: Stellaria media. The flowers look like tiny fairy stars... The chickweed is getting dried for infusions and to make an herbal skincare oil. I haven’t had much success with fresh plant oils of “juicy” plants like this—they always turn out kind of skunky (still usable), I call them pepperoni oils. Chickweed is really soothing, excellent for dry skin conditions. You can also eat it fresh! I was maybe going to use the garlic mustard in a pesto (I’m on a pesto kick—but it’s no surprise given the reappearance of all these fresh greens) but we cooked it up in night’s dinner, a leftover tagine.
I find that at a certain point in learning a new language while simultaneously being immersed it in, when I learn a new word, I suddenly hear it everywhere whereas before I didn’t pick it up at all. I noticed the same thing just as strongly when I started studying herbalism and learning to identify different regional plants. Suddenly, I saw them everywhere! Along the roads I drove every day, in the lawns of friends, and by riversides, and near buildings I frequented—even surrounding my own home! It’s a wonderful, exciting feeling. It’s the delight of a child, the open receptivity of the Beginner’s Mind.
I’m getting inspired by dyeing fabric with plants again, and I’m also having so much fun discovering who grows here (since we moved here in late Fall when many plants were in their last stages of life). Learning about traditional/local dye plants is only broadening my appreciation and awareness for the wealth & abundance all around us! It also makes me either a great or terrible person to go for a walk with, depending on your interests…..
For me, and I think for everyone given the opportunity, learning to identify and getting to know the names of the plants (and all non-human beings) around you is incredibly grounding. It creates a deep sense of belonging, the comfort of familiarity, rooting you deeply—not necessarily to your physical/geographical location, but to the Earth herself. Using these plants for food and medicine and adornment and celebration begins to develop the vital relationship between Human and Earth. You begin to see the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things. This mindset is something often lost on the modern, Western human, and we can see how dangerous, detrimental, and devastating that loss has become, for the individual and the collective and the Earth (because it is all connected).
After yesterday’s post, I wanted to share some of my personal practices and musings on respectful gathering of wild plants. I’m by no means fully realized in this regard; I believe learning how to tend and care for and honor the other living beings on the planet will be a life-long learning experience. However, because of the response to yesterday’s post (and also because I’m so wordy and ran out of room!) I wanted to dedicate a full post to this topic. Many of these practices have been introduced by wonderful herbalists & teachers I’ve encountered, including Thyme Herbal and Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book “Braiding Sweetgrass.”
In no particular order:
For harvesting barks: collect from newly fallen branches or limbs, or clip small twigs & get bark from them. Peeling bark off the trunk is at the least stressful and at the most deadly to a tree
Plants in the mint family (and I suspect others as well): clip the stem just above a new segment of two leaves—this is kind of like dead-heading flowers and the plant will sprout new shoots from that point. Mints are usually pretty enthusiastic growers, so it may not be a concern!
In the wild, always harvest from a large patch // don’t take the only plants you see // don’t take the first and don’t take the last // think about the patch thriving: will it survive/thrive after your harvest
Roses: collect only the petals, leaving the center untouched as that will still ripen into the fruit (rose hip)
Berries: leave some for the birds and creatures
Flowers: leave some for the bees & pollinators ✨ if you can, harvest from plants that have new buds waiting to peep out
Sap/resin: pine resin/sap is the tree trying to heal itself from “scars” or damage... I never scrape off the full layer, leaving the trees bare “skin” exposed. I love pine resin harvesting after a wind storm... the resin is pouring out in abundance!
Make sure the plant isn’t endangered or at-risk. United Plant Savers is a great resource for this!
Bring an offering or a gift for the patch you harvest from... this could be something your own hands made, a song, or just the gift of full presence, gratitude & love when you harvest
I believe that ultimately, gathering plants is a natural, good relationship. For a long time I felt uneasy about gathering. But just the act itself brings you closer to nature, opening your eyes to how codependent and interconnected we are. There probably always will be room for improvement, but if you enter into gathering with an open mind and an open heart, I believe only good will come from it
And finally, do be safe and make sure that you are 100% positive on your plant ID. There are many safe edible and medicinal plants, many plants that should only be used with great caution and wisdom, and some plants that are quite powerfully dangerous. But also remember that humans have been relying safely on wild harvesting since the beginning of time. There are many great resources for plant ID out there!
]]>I’ve been using “wild” yeast from a ginger bug to get these fermenting, because it’s a very easy starter to keep on hand and it’s super active! I add about 3 Tablespoons ginger bug per liter of beer. A ginger bug is roughly equal parts fresh grated organic ginger, sugar and water. Each time you use some, you feed it the same thing. I keep mine in the fridge for weeks without feeding and it stays healthy and active! It’s a great starter for fermented beverages (sodas, beers... ginger beer!, etc). I haven’t really found it to impart any ginger flavor to the finished beverage, but I’m a ginger fan so wouldn’t mind if it did.
Looking forward to foraging fresh plants as they start emerging (yarrow, mugwort, lavender to name a few) for herbal beers!
]]>Note: I was totally pleased to read in many sources that the brewing of beer in several traditional cultures was entrusted to the women. I wonder if it’s connected to the fact that many of these brews were made with medicinal herbs and were perhaps used as healing tonics? Needless to say, I’ve begun to embrace the term “alewife”
We made nettle pasta last night! We’ve been playing around with making our own pastas and it’s really quite simple (but kind of time consuming). Most recipes just require flour, water and sometimes egg. You don’t need any special tools except a rolling pin, and for gnocchi you don’t even need that! See the process in the photos above.
This pasta didn’t really taste any different from other handmade fresh pastas we’ve made (aka delicious) but it was so fun to harvest these fresh nettles and make a delicious pasta dinner.
I feel so happy and lucky to have access to a wonderful nettle patch! Nettles are a rich source of many nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, chlorophyll, protein, and phosphorus. They are detoxifying, deeply nourishing, energizing, and supportive of many of the body’s natural processes. One of my favorite adages for the herbal practitioner is: “When in doubt, give nettles,” said by David Hoffman, meaning that any ailment will certainly only benefit from taking nettles! Before I had access to fresh nettles, I would prepare a tea with the dried leaves. It’s one of my favorite go-to morning infusions.
]]>We’ve had access to amazing organic citrus all winter here from Spain & Italy. When I read that bitter oranges are typically used for making marmalade I was excited to try it out! It was a pretty labor-intensive process but breathing in the bright, citrusy aroma was medicine for the spirit. I was fascinated and very pleased to discover that you can use the seeds and membranes to make pectin!! (Packaged pectin is often called for in jam & jelly recipes to turn them from a liquidy goop into what we recognize as a spreadable conserve.)
I love how this preparation uses the whole fruit. I’ve been thinking a lot about practicing “zero-waste” ... not in a trendy or dogmatic way, but in the natural progression of a life-long learner and conscious human who loves the earth way.
The bitterness of the orange peel balances the sweetness in the marmalade, and I would also say helps to activate the digestion! Is there a difference between resourcefulness, respecting the entire fruit/vegetable/animal, and what is healthiest for our bodies?
I think what I’m trying to say is that there is beauty in something that is used in a whole way. Also wisdom, and respect. The more I learn about plants, the more blurred the line becomes between human-animal-plant. All are highly intelligent, individual beings... In times when food is precious (which really is always ), using every part is not only practical, but a practice for deepening our connection to all beings, to the planet and ourselves and each other.
]]>Herbal beer in the making... it looks so beautiful and otherworldly and magical that I had to snap a pic. I’ve been diving deep into fermentation lately, inspired by the works of Pascal Baudar and Sandor Katz... This is going to be a ginger beer with turmeric, yarrow & bergamot. So far I’ve made chaga beer and a simple ginger beer — this batch is a combination of odds & ends I have on hand (whole peeled bergamot leftover from a batch of bergamot-cello). I’ve really been appreciating how these simple beers are a really sustainable way of using herbs (meaning very small amounts of plant yield great flavor). This is particularly exciting for folks who grow / harvest their own plants, as well as for plants like chaga that are becoming “at-risk” in the wild and shouldn’t be consumed in excess. It’s also very inexpensive!
Making beer felt inaccessible until I learned about using wild yeast. Wild yeast is everywhere—in the air and on the skins of plants... Scott made a new sourdough starter when we moved to France and threw in a few whole, fresh juniper berries harvested on the mountain to give it a “jump start”. The berries were coated with that white, yeasty bloom as is also found on grapes and blueberries and plums. Raw honey is another great source of wild yeasts, and we’ve been making herbal meads for years! I think they’re a great gateway to home fermentation!
For the beers, I’ve been using a ginger bug for the yeast. Apparently fresh, organic ginger is crazy rich in wild yeasts—who knew? To make a ginger bug, you just add equal parts grated ginger & sugar to 2 parts water. I maintain it like a sourdough starter, dumping off the excess (or using to ferment a batch of beer) and feeding it. I keep it in the fridge until I’m ready to use it for a batch of something.
On our recent trip to Italy, we visited an Egyptian museum. While I had very mixed feelings about the glorification of stealing historical treasures from a different country, I appreciated the chance to glimpse into the life of an ancient civilization. One of my favorite things were all of the varied fermentation vessels, specifically for brewing beer! Humans have been doing this (fermenting foods) since the beginning of our existence. Reconnecting with these traditions feels like a remembering. Also, thinking about how our bodies evolved over the ages with these bacteria and yeasts and molds is fascinating to think about... fermenting and soaking and sprouting and culturing and all of these wise traditions actually increase the bioavailability of nutrients, help digestive function and absorption, and sometimes even create new nutrients! Anyway... just wanted to share some of what’s been inspiring me lately.
]]>
Respiratory wellness - a lot of winter respiratory woes come from its cold, dry conditions (externally and thus internally!). The mucous membranes of our respiratory system (including in the mouth, nose, trachea & lungs) are meant to stay warm and moist. Mucus is naturally antimicrobial and helps protect the body from external pathogens. By regularly steaming in the dry seasons, we’re helping to support our body do what it naturally wants to do: keep us healthy and in balance.
Facial care - the heat in steam opens the pores and if you add in a handful of fresh or dried aromatic herbs, this will serve as a delightful treatment for the skin.
I also find the practice of steaming to be wonderfully relaxing and meditative, as it is all about deep breathing and invigorating the senses.
large, wide saucepan or bowl
aromatic herbs (see suggestions below)
water
towel
Bring 1 - 2 inches of water to boil in a large, wide saucepan.
Toss in a handful of aromatic herbs of your choice, cover and simmer for 5 - 10 minutes.
Turn off heat, move pan to a heat-safe countertop.
Drape towel over your head to trap in the steam, venting as needed.
Spend several minutes (or until steam dissipates) breathing deeply and slowly, alternating between mouth and nose.
Add a handful of aromatic herbs of your choice to a large, wide bowl.
Pour boiling water over herbs.
Drape towel over your head to trap in the steam, venting as needed.
Spend several minutes (or until steam dissipates) breathing deeply and slowly, alternating between mouth and nose.
note: In the wintertime, steaming happens almost every day in our home! I re-use the same herbs for several days in a row, until they are very noticeably not aromatic anymore. The steeped steam “tea” can also be strained & sipped on, added to a tub for an herbal bath or foot bath, mixed with clay to be used as a facial masque, used as a facial toner, or composted.
RESPIRATORY STEAMS
pine, spruce, cedar, juniper and/or fir springs (fresh or dried)
thyme, sage, mint, rosemary & other aromatic culinary herbs
juniper berries
eucalyptus
FACIAL STEAMS
aromatic floral herbs like chamomile, lavender, rose, etc
mint, sage, tarragon, basil & other aromatic culinary herbs
RELAXATION
lavender, basil & peppermint
fennel, mint & eucalyptus
chamomile, thyme & juniper
*written for Crose Nest
Self-care is a trendy topic these days, and it's no wonder! It seems that our lifestyle gets more and more fast-paced with each passing year, leading to lots of folks feeling burned out. I always appreciate the phrase "You can't draw water from an empty well."
Your well is your life force, the energy that sustains you and motivates you through life. Drawing water can mean taking care of others, going to work, being in relationship with anyone, creating anything, and so much more. None of these things are intrinsically bad. But if you notice yourself becoming resentful about any of these, it is a good sign that it's time to refill your own well, through practicing holistic self-care.
While taking care of our bodies through exercise, food, and personal care are very important aspects of self-care, I'm starting to explore categorizing self-care beyond just this physical level. You simply can't face-mask, jog, and green-juice away too much mind-numbing screen time and the inability to genuinely express your emotions.
And so, I've broken the aspects of self-care into four equal groups:
Physical Self-Care, or caring for your vehicle
Mental Self-Care, or caring for your mind
Emotional Self-Care, or caring for your heart
and Spiritual Self-Care, caring for your soul
I've also added suggestions to each category, not to be accomplished as a checklist, but to spark your imagination and give a good starting point.
movement
nourishment (love-based nutrition)
herbal medicine
bodywork like massage
energy clearing
hydration
Physical self-care suggestions for Winter
Practice gentle movement like Yoga, Tai Chi, or walking in nature
Eat warm, well cooked food in good company
Drink warming teas like ginger, elder flower, or chai to build warmth and immunity
Massage your body with sesame, olive, or coconut oil before or after a shower or bath - at least once a week!
Stay hydrated - add a splash of lemon or ginger to water, or drink warm water only
meditation
affirmations / mantra
quiet time
less screen time
practicing deep presence
learning new and exciting things
witnessing the monkey mind in action
Mental self-care suggestions
Affirmation: I give myself permission to be extra sweet to myself, especially when I'm feeling critical of myself or others.
Loving-Kindness Meditation: repeat this mantra, first saying for yourself, then someone you love or someone you are having a hard time with, and then for all beings. May I be safe, may I be healthy, may I be happy. May my life be filled with ease. May you be safe, may you be healthy, may you be happy...
Set a "quiet time" daily alarm on your phone, and give yourself 10 minutes of uninterrupted space: sit or lie down, close your eyes, and allow yourself to do absolutely nothing but breathe and relax. If you have an anxious nervous system or often feel overstimulated, put in headphones and play a soothing track, burn some incense, and put an eye pillow over your eyes.
journaling (no filter)
expressing / voicing your needs
permission to feel ALL your feelings without judgement
giving and receiving love
caring for someone or something
Emotional self-care suggestions
Start a journaling practice: not to document your life, but to freely and honestly express your thoughts and feelings. A great place to start is Julia Cameron's Morning Pages exercise.
Start noticing how it feels for you to give and express love - to a friend, to family, to your significant other, to a pet, to a child. And notice how you feel as you're receiving love from any of these beings.
Explore the 5 Love Languages, and notice how you like to receive and give love.
Take some time to sit and listen to music that really moves you. Notice how it makes you feel.
spending time in wonder / awe
time with soul family
belly laughing
sharing your uniqueness with the world
imagination & creating
connecting with something greater
Spiritual self-care suggestions
Connect with your childhood self: what activities did you really enjoy? How did you enjoy expressing your creativity? Through art, dance, music, writing? Start exploring those avenues again, or explore new ones. Creating is soul food.
Organize a gathering with folks who love, support, and energize you, and have a good time!
Spend time in nature. (Yes, even in the cold!) Notice what is going on around you, like a curious child. Are there birds, animals, leaves, living plants, dead stalks, snow, frost, is the ground frozen or soft... ? Breathe it in.
Read a book of philosophy, poetry, or a spiritual, religious, or inspirational text that makes you feel energized, empowered, connected, and alive.
Embracing the change of seasons is one of my favorite ways to practice being a healthy and balanced human. It's also a great entry point to the world of holistic health; tuning in with the energy of a season is an exciting, accessible, and bite-sized way to start to implement new practices.
What do I mean by "energy of the season"? For me, energy means the weather, the food that's growing, what's happening in nature, elements that are dominant, as well as the more subtle information we're receiving, and how all of these aspects affect the way we feel, behave, interact, and also how the natural world around us does.
On a day-to-day, moment-to-moment basis we take in and emulate the energy that surrounds us. We can observe this on many levels - when you spend a lot of time with the same group of people, for example, you begin to pick up their behaviors, thought patterns, beliefs, and speech. You might feel more peaceful while in the forest, or more anxious watching a scary movie. Just as these very tangible examples effect our physical health, we are constantly becoming attuned or 'entrained' with the more subtle energies all around us - for better or worse! Now, before you start to go down that black hole, imagine how we can use this information to our advantage - for example, by choosing to harmonize with the natural energies of a season rather than battling them.
For more information on entrainment and coherence, check out The Heart Math Institute!
Late summer is a lovely time of year. Though fleeting and perhaps overlooked, it has much to teach us about the medicine of transitions. We move through many transitions throughout life, big and small: sleeping to waking, starting school, going to work, getting a new job, quitting a job, menstruation, menopause, births, deaths, new marriages and partnerships and relationships, moving to a new home... these are all transitions, and opportunities to practice more compassion, love, and patience with ourselves.
I'm reminded of this potent bit of wisdom recently shared in the wonderful Moonbeaming Newsletter offered by Sarah Gottesdiener of Modern Women:
I give myself permission to be extra sweet to myself when I make big mistakes.
I give myself permission to be extra sweet to myself when I make big mistakes.
Perhaps we could shift this affirmation to I give myself permission to be extra sweet to myself when I make transitions, big or small - to use in seasons of transition.
The element of late summer is earth, the organs to support are in the upper digestion tract (stomach, spleen + pancreas), the colors to bring into our homes and bodies are deep golden yellows and oranges, and the taste is sweet. The earth element is grounding, nourishing, cozy, and this season teaches us all about nurturing ourselves.
Here are some of my favorite grounding + nurturing practices to help synchronize with the energy of late summer, or to turn to in any time of transition.
Routines help us energize, and motivate us by getting clarity and intention around what we value—and prioritizing them. A great place to begin to implement rhythm + routine in your daily life is in the morning and evening. Now, structuring a morning or bedtime routine is a topic for a whole other post! For now, I'll share a list of my favorite practices to include:
herbal tea or warm, spiced milk
sitting quietly, letting my body/mind wake up (m)
burning incense + smudging
gentle stretching or yoga
journaling
turning phones + screens on/off 1 hour after waking/before sleeping
morning + nighttime walks
breathing exercises or meditation
pulling a tarot or oracle card
making breakfast + coffee, and sitting down to eat it (m)
foot baths or foot massage
affirmations or gratitude practice
turning off bright lights + lighting candles, salt lamps, soft lights
To begin to structure your own morning or bedtime ritual, draw inspiration from this list, and write your own list of practices that sound grounding, uplifting, and luxurious to you!
Adding in an oil massage before getting in the water stimulates lymph movement, and softens & hydrates the skin. Foot soaks are a quick and simple form of self care. Add in a handful of epsom salts and herbs for added medicine! Soaking and massaging the feet draws our energy down from our busy minds, and feels incredibly grounding and releasing.
As the mornings and nights begin to get cooler, don't forget to dress accordingly! Preserving our summer heat is a key factor in building up deep winter immunity. Wear light scarves, socks or slippers, and layers.
As this season focuses on nourishing our upper digestive organs, it's particularly important to help them out by making sure the food you eat is easier to digest. Start to cook your foods more in this season, focusing on steaming or braising greens and veggies, adding in broths, and eating most (if not all) of your food warm. It's also a lovely time to fire up the oven again.
To help kindle your digestive fire, drink warm ginger tea or warm lemon-ginger-honey water in the mornings and evenings. Sit while eating whenever possible, share meals with roommates, family + friends, and always take a few grounding, calming breaths before digging in. Bon appétit!
A balance of long days in the fields, processing + storing food for the winter, plus community, celebration, and honoring the abundance of life-sustaining gifts received from Mother Nature. How can we connect with this aspect of long summer in an era of seemingly endless abundance? Here are some ideas:
shop at your local farm stand and imbibe with what is in season
participate in a community harvest
host a potluck, or other celebratory gathering with friends
gather seasonal herbs (goldenrod, mugwort, staghorn sumac, elderberry...)
shop at your local farm stand and imbibe with what is in season
participate in a community harvest
host a potluck, or other celebratory gathering with friends
gather seasonal herbs (goldenrod, mugwort, staghorn sumac, elderberry...)
Herbs to support the energy of this season are nutritive, sweet + slightly bitter, and building. Some favorites are oat straw or milky oat tops, astragalus, ashwagandha, hawthorn, shatavari, fenugreek, cinnamon, cardamom, licorice, and fresh ginger. A great way to prepare all of these dense, rooty and mineral-rich herbs is a decoction or a milk decoction.
supplies needed:
medium saucepan or soup pot (depending on how much you want to make!)
fine mesh strainer, cheese cloth, or cloth bag
herbs + water *use 1 T herbs per quart of water*
optional: milk (cow/sheep/goat or nut/grain milk)
optional: honey, maple syrup, molasses, or other natural sweetener
directions:
Add herbs and water to the pot. I usually add about 1 p water + 1 p milk, if using
Bring to a boil, and let simmer at least 20 minutes.
Strain, sweeten to taste, and sip peacefully.
Dear reader: This blog is intended for sharing general health information that I feel confident and safe using in my home and everyday wellness routine. The information presented here is not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any illnesses or diseases, and should not be used in place of medical advice. Please use caution, wisdom, and respect when adding anything new into your own wellness routines, and consult with your trusted medical practitioner - especially if you are taking pharmaceutical medications.
An oxymel is a remedy from ancient Greece and Persia; the most simple version is made of equal parts vinegar and honey. The word oxymel means acid (oxy) and honey (mel). Oxymels were used to treat a wide, nearly never-ending variety of complaints, from digestion and respiratory dis-eases to circulation, fevers, sore throats, and more. Its companion remedy was the "hydromel" (water and honey), more commonly known as mead, or honey wine.
Rosemary Gladstar, fondly referred to as the "Godmother of American Herbalism," coined the term 'Fire Cider' for a panacea-like folk remedy specifically used for building immunity and aiding during cold/flu season. Guess what? This famous folk remedy is an oxymel!
So, if you want to be clever, you could take into consideration the mineral-extracting power of vinegar, and the traditional uses of oxymels (respiratory, digestion, circulatory, etc), and choose herbs that excel in these areas to make a super formula! Or, you could simply formulate it to be delicious.
Oxymels are a wonderful example of "food as medicine", and can be used to flavor teas, water, or whip up into vinaigrettes! Oxymels can also be used as a base for cough syrups, a sore throat gargle, or to make hydrating switchels (a natural electrolyte drink).
Nutritive Oxymel with nettles, dandelion, seaweed + fresh parsley
Garden Oxymel with sage, rosemary + thyme (could turn this into a lovely vinaigrette)
Digestif Oxymel with fresh tarragon (my favorite!)
raw apple cider vinegar or other fruit vinegar (do NOT use distilled white vinegar)
raw honey
fresh garden herbs, or dried herbs from Crose Nest!
a wide glass jar
a plastic lid OR wax paper + any lid
Choose your herbs. If you have culinary herbs growing or in your spice cabinet, use them!, draw inspiration from the ideas above, or come into the shop for ideas.
If using fresh herbs, loosely pack the jar full of herb. If using dry herbs, fill jar 1/3 full of herb.
Add vinegar to 1/2 full mark on jar.
Fill the rest of the jar with honey.
Mix well. If using fresh herbs, tamp down to make sure plant material is completely covered.
Cover with a piece of folded wax paper + metal lid to prevent rusting, or with a plastic lid.
Let sit for 2-6 weeks. Strain, cover tightly, and store in a cool, dry place (or the fridge!) Use within 6 months.
note: When I make homemade herbal or fermented products for my own use, I rely on my senses of sight, smell, and taste to make sure they are still good and not "expired." Since vinegar and honey are already shelf-stable, an oxymel should last for quite a while! If I taste or smell something that is foul and not vinegar-y anymore, or off-putting in any way, I will put it in the compost. If I notice surface mold growing (though unlikely in a vinegar!), I just scrape it off carefully with a spoon, and continue to use as long as it smells and tastes right.
another note: When you're making straight infused vinegars - especially with fresh plants and very raw vinegar - you might start to grow a vinegar mother! (This is happy news.) If you're familiar with kombucha, they resemble a SCOBY. You should search online for pictures of vinegar mothers if your jar is growing something kind of scary looking, as well as how to preserve a vinegar mother and use one to make your own homemade vinegar. I've done this in a simple way once, making basic apple cider vinegar and it was delicious!
Dear reader: This blog is intended for sharing general health information that I feel confident and safe using in my home and everyday wellness routine. The information presented here is not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any illnesses or diseases, and should not be used in place of medical advice. Please use caution, wisdom, and respect when adding anything new into your own wellness routines, and consult with your trusted medical practitioner - especially if you are taking pharmaceutical medications.
I believe a great part of tackling winter immunity is giving extra loving to your lymphatic system. This system helps our body get rid of waste, toxins, and transport white-blood cells (infection-fighting heroes!) throughout the body. (So, really important for building and maintaining good immunity!) Did you know that our lymph consists of a beautiful, system-wide network of vessels similar to those that carry around our blood? :
"Unlike blood circulation, the lymphatic system does not have a pump. Lymph is moved through its vessels slowly, sent along when it is squeezed by surrounding muscles--in other words, good old exercise! ...Pressure changes in the thorax during breathing also help to pump the lymph; here is another cleansing effect of deep breathing." (from Pip Waller's Holistic Anatomy, an engaging and awe-inspiring book on our miraculous bodies that I highly recommend to anyone who is intrigued!).
We often are more sedentary in the wintertime, which I believe contributes to lessened immunity and more sickness!
Some simple ways to encourage lymph movement:
massage (from a professional, partner/lover, or self-massage)
Yoga
dry skin brushing
exercise & movement
deep breathing
alternating hot + cold in the shower, bath, sauna, etc.