From the Herb Basket – 4

How to make disinfectant wipes:

1/4 cup dried lavender flowers, 1/4 cup dried rosemary, 1/4 cup dried sage, and 2 cups of white vinegar. Add all the ingredients to a quart mason jar. Cap the jar and place it in a cool area. Infuse this mixture for seven days. Strain out the herbs, add the liquid to a spray bottle. Use this herb infused disinfectant for wiping shopping carts, door handles, and other public objects. I moisten a few paper towels with the spray and place the towels in a zip lock bag. Use these after you have handled money. The spray and the towels have a clean, crisp scent, and the spray kills bacteria and common germs. If the spray is too strong add 1/2 cup of water. Carry a few bottles in the car while you’re out running errands. All three of these herbs are antibacterial and so in the vinegar. Much better for you and the environment than harsh chemicals.

Herb ice packs:

Keep these frozen until needed. Use 3 ounce Dixie paper cups, add 5 fresh mint leaves to each cup, and fill with water. Freeze. To use: peel the paper cup half way down, hold by the bottom of the cup and “ice” the injury. Great to take along in a cooler for sports related sprains. The ice helps with swelling and the mint contains menthol to help soothe the skin. These little ice packs are good for muscle aches and pains. Also good for bee stings, rashes and poison ivy.

Sore throat gargle:

2 cups of boiling water, 2 teaspoons of fresh or dried sage leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of table salt. Add the sage to a heat proof bowl or a large coffee mug. Slowly pour the boiling water over the sage and steep for 20 minutes. Strain out the sage and add the salt. Stir to blend. Gargle several times each day. Spit out the mixture and rinse with plain water. The sage and salt will help with a sore throat or a cough from smoking.

Herbal antiseptic spray:

2 tablespoons of fresh or dried thyme, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 cups of boiling water. In a large 16 ounce mug or a teapot, add the thyme and pour the water over the herb. Allow the water to cool to lukewarm. Strain out the herb and add the lemon juice to the thyme water, stirring to blend. Pour the mix into a spray bottle, shake gently before using. Spray into your mouth and throat several times each day. This is strong, but it works ! It will help heal a sore throat and hoarseness from smoking.

Simple sauna:

We would all like an afternoon at a spa, but most of us can’t afford to indulge in this. When I’m tired or stressed, I use my shower as a sauna. I turn on the water as hot as I can stand it, and toss a few tablespoons of finely minced or powdered dried herbs on the bottom of the tub. You can also use a few drops of essential oils if you prefer the oil over the dried herbs. All that warm steam releases the healing vapors of the herbs. Good for a stuffy nose or a head cold. I like to use rosemary and lavender and sometimes peppermint. The dried herbs flow into the drain and leave a sweet scent in the shower. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to relax. Towel dry and slip into some warm pajamas.

~ Meadow Walker