From the Herb Basket – 31

Trichophyton rubrum grows quickly on warm and sweaty feet, leading to a condition known as athlete’s foot. Soaking ones feet in lemongrass tea can help fight this fungus. The active ingredient in lemongrass — citral — kills the fungus on contact. Simmer 2 lemongrass tea bags or 1/4 cup fresh lemongrass in 16 oz. of water for 20 minutes. Pour the resulting tea into 4 cups of water in a basin. After making sure that the temperature is acceptably warm, soak your feet in it for 15 minutes. Dry the feet well afterwards. Wear dry footwear, and dust the inside of the shoes with baking soda.

Some days there’s not enough time to whip up a marinade for steaks, chicken or pork chops before you toss them on the grill. Here’s an easy shortcut: Tie a bundle of rosemary or thyme sprigs together with kitchen string and dip it in olive oil or melted butter. Baste the meat with the herb bundle as it cooks. The heat from the grill releases the herb’s oils into the meat for a delicious flavor infusion.

Taming litter box odor: When you start with a fresh pan and litter, first add a handful of baking soda and 1/2 cup dried peppermint or spearmint to the bottom of the pan. Change the litter more often during summer months.

Save citrus peels and let them dry out. Sprinkle 1 drop of peppermint essential oil on each peel. Place the peels on picnic tables while eating outdoors to repel biting flies and mosquitoes.

Ants at a picnic: Discourage these uninvited crawling pests by sprinkling ground cinnamon around the table legs. The strong scent disrupts their sense of smell and irritates them.

Flying insect trap: Boil 2 cups of water. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 green tea bags. Let the water cool and pour it into a 16 oz. plastic cup. Place the cup a few feet from where you are seated. Insects will be attracted to the sweet smelling liquid and get trapped in it.

If you’re sitting outside by the fire pit and mosquitos start buzzing around you, toss a few fresh rosemary sprigs on the fire. Mosquitoes dislike the odor of rosemary.

Add several drops of lavender essential oil to a few cotton balls and swipe them across your ankles before walking barefoot through grass. The scent discourages gnats and mosquitoes from biting.

Blessed be, sweet ones.

~ Meadow Walker

 

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

Image courtesy of: http://community.homedepot.com/howto/DiscussionDetail/How-to-Grow-Lemongrass-906500000000IkJ