Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Brews and Potions"

Medicinal herbs may be prepared as infusions, decoctions, poultices and tinctures. They can also be used in the bath, cosmetics, ointments, and compresses. Be sure to consult a professional for diagnosis and a treatment plan. A good place to start research on your own is Michael Moore's South Western School of Botanical Medicine page. Infusion Infusions work best for making tea from leaves and flowers because these plant parts give up their active constituents easily. Allow the tea to steep for 10 to 20 minutes so the therapeutic properties can pass from the herb into the water. To make an infused oil put dried herbs in the top of a double-boiler, cover with oil about an inch over the herb (olive works well for this because it has a fairly long shelf life), let simmer for 2 hours without letting it get too hot or boiling, a temp of 150 F is good. Strain the oil into a clean jar, date & label. Without any preservatives an infused oil will last about a year. Decoction Teas made from roots and twigs are usually brewed by decoction because it's more difficult to extract their medicinal properties. Boil or simmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of the herb per cup of water for 10 to 20 minutes. Poultice A poultice is a paste of chopped, fresh (or dried but remoistened) plant material that's applied directly to a wound or skin infection. It's usually held in place by a wet dressing covered by a bandage. Poultices are typically used to prevent infection and hasten healing. To make a poultice, boil, steam, or pound your chosen healing herb to release more medicinal compounds. Then shape the material into a small, coin-size wad that can lie flat against the wound. Many herbalists recommend mixing 1 part herb with 3 parts water,alcohol, witch hazel or vinegar. Thicken with flour to make the poultice easier to handle and apply. Tincture Stuff dried herbs into a jar, add enough alcohol (usually vodka or everclear, depending on the strength needed for the particular herb)to amply cover the herbs, and screw the lid on. Allow the mixture to stand for about a week, shaking it occasionally. Then strain it,discard the plant material, and store the tincture in a bottle with a dropper lid. Label and date the bottle. Most tinctures have a shelf-life of 2 years. Ointment 2 oz solid fat -such as Crisco, coconut oil, cocoa butter or lanolin 5 oz herb infused olive or grapeseed oil 2 oz herb infused water 1 tsp (approximately) beeswax -shave or grate before use 3-5 drops essential oil, if desired for fragrance or effect Gently melt solid fat, wax and oil over double boiler or carefully in microwave; use low heat and stir until blended. Remove from heat. Put water into blender or mixer bowl and agitate. While water is spinning, slowly pour the oil, fat, wax mixture into the water. Continue mixing until emulsified. You may notice a distinct change of sound as the cream congeals. Remove cream, while still warm, into clean containers and leave open until completely cool. Label each jar with contents and date, be sure to note the date your herbal oil was made if it is much older than your cream. Store in a cool, dark place; should stay fresh for 6 months to a year. Sniff before using and look for mold after 6 months. If the oil and water separate, just stir before using. Compress Make a compress by dipping a clean cloth in an herbal solution - an infusion, decoction, tincture or herbal vinegar. You can hold a poultice in place with a compress, in which case it doubles as a bandage.Or, apply the compress directly to the skin (also called a fomentation).

PRE-RITUAL BATH SCENTS: To cleanse and relax the body before a ritual, and to energize the psychic centers. Fill small sachets of muslin cloth with equal amounts of the following herbs: Basil (for psychic energy) Borage (to strengthen the inner self) Lavender (to banish mental and emotional stress) Centuary (a traditional witch herb) Rue (a traditional bathing herb) Put a sachet into your bath five minutes before you get in, to give the aromatics time to work. DIANA OF THE MOON INCENSE: It is recommended that it be made in the hour and the day of the Moon - i.e. the first or eighth hour after sunrise, or the third or tenth hour after sunset, on a Monday. Thoroughly mix equal amounts of the following: Gum mastic Jasmine Mandrake Orris root add a few drops of wintergreen oil and moisten with a little clear mineral oil. AINE of KNOCKAINE INCENSE: 1/2 oz (15gm) meadowsweet flowers and leaf (gathered when the plant is in full bloom and dried) 1/2 oz (15gm) finely chopped pine needles 1/2 fl.oz. (15cc) lemon verbena oil By the way, meadowsweet blossom also makes a delicious wine. How to Make Honey Powder Scented powders are the talk of the town and if you have ever wondered how to make the Scented Honey Powder you see in catalog's and small boutiques, here is your chance.This powder can be stored in a beautiful salt shaker and sprinkled on your linens as well. 1 tablespoon of vanilla powder (the baking type) 1 cup of cornstarch. Mix then add 1 tablespoon of pure honey to the mixture. Work it in to the cornstarch and rub the crumbs between your hands until it turns into very tiny dust particles. Apply to the body with a large feather puff. Vanilla powder can be found in the baking section of your grocery and if you cannot find it in yours than check a well known mail order source like William Sonoma.

Hair Rinse Rosemary Tea is a wonderful shine enhancing rinse. Brew 1 cup of rosemary tea; let stand until lukewarm, then saturate your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes; rinse with cool water. Circulation & Hair Growth Nettle tea with help had volume & luster to your hair. Just brew 1/2 cup of nettle tea; let cool. Massage onto scalp. Leave on for 5 minutes; rinse. Oily scalp treatment Peppermint tea can reduce an oily scalp. In a blender, puree' 2 cups brewed peppermint tea, 2 peaches (canned or fresh) and 2 tsp. of lemon juice. Apply mixture to freshly washed hair. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel; leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse well. Follow with a light shampoo. Home Brewed Highlights Brew a pot of one of the following, let it cool and then saturate your hair. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse. If your hair is... Red: green tea makes vivid color Blonde: chamomile tea adds golden highlights. Black or Brown: black tea adds richness and shine Gray: ginseng adds a subtle silvery gleam Stress Reducing Compress Chamomile tea reduces inflammation, repairs skin and neutralizes skin irritants. Prepare a pot of iced chamomile tea and stash it in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours. Saturate a washcloth with cold tea; squeeze out and place over face for 15 minutes. Clarifying Toner Fight oily skin and blemishes with strawberry tea. Simply brew 1 cup strawberry tea; let cook. Mix with 1/2 cup witch hazel and four into a clean spray bottle. Store in the fridge; mist face twice daily. Skin Softening Sauna Begin by pulling hair back and cleansing your face. Bring a quart of water to a boil; pour into a bowl with 2 tablespoons rose tea. Cover head with a towel; keep your face at least 6" above the bowl. Steam for 10 minutes; splash face with cool water to close pores. Body Scrub Brew 1 cup peppermint tea; mix with 1 cup coarse sea salt to form a paste. In the shower, scrub over entire body for a good mood and a beautiful glow! Sleepytime Soak Need to relax and unwind? Just add 4 Sleepytime tea bags to a tub of water. It has the same effect as if you drank it. This tea has chamomile and spearmint and it prepares you for a good nights sleep. Moisturize Parched Lips Black tea is high in tannic acid which boots skins moisture level. Saturate 1 black tea bag with warm water. Pres over clean lips for 5 minutes. Reapply if necessary. HONEY POT LIP BALM 2 tsp. olive oil 1/2 tsp. beeswax 1/2 tsp. cocoa butter 1/2 tsp. honey 3 drops essential oil of orange 1 vitamin E capsule Measure oil, beeswax and cocoa butter into a glass or enamel pan. Melt over low heat. A hotplate works well and reduces the risk of overheating the oils. I use a small glass jar to store my lip balm in so I just mix all the ingredients right in that jar then place it in a pan of water to melt the waxes. Stir the mixture often until the wax is melted. Remove from heat and stir in the honey and essential oil. Pinch open the vitamin E capsule and squeeze the contents into the mixture. Stir well. Pour the mixture into containers. Label after it has solidified. If you want your honey to be dispersed throughout the lip balm you will need to stir it as it is solidifying. Variations: Choose any essential oil that appeals to you. Tea Tree oil is good for cold sores and chapped lips. Make your lip balm using an herbal oil in place of the olive oil. Melissa (lemon balm) and Calendula are two of many herbs that can add healing and soothing properties. Alkanet will make red lip balm. Start with one tablespoon to 1/2 cup oil. After heat extraction, check the color. If it is not dark enough for you add more Alkanet and go through the heat extraction process again. Your lip balm will turn out several shades lighter than the color of your oil. LEMON FACIAL SPLASH 2 ounces witch hazel extract 5 drops lemon essential oil 2 tsp. orange flower water ( optional ) Pour witch hazel and orange flower water into a lotion bottle. Add the lemon essential oil and shake well. Label. Shake before using. ROSEWATER 2 cups distilled water 1/4 cup vodka 1/2 cup rose petals 15 drops rose essential.oil opt. Combine ingredients and set in sun for the day. Strain and add essential oils. Refrigerate. Use within two weeks. BREATH FRESHENER 1 part distilled water 1 part 100 proof vodka 1 drop peppermint essential oil per teaspoon of liquid. Place ingredients in a small bottle or atomizer. Shake well. Use one drop on your tongue. Variations: Use spearmint or wintergreen essential oil for flavoring. JASMINE HAND & BODY LOTION 1/4 cup apricot kernel oil 1 tsp. beeswax 1 tsp. cocoa butter 1 tsp. coconut oil 1/4 cup distilled water 1 tsp. aloe vera gel 1/2 tsp. glycerin 5 drops jasmine fragrance oil Melt the butter blend in the oil over low heat then allow to cool. Measure the water, aloe vera gel and glycerin into a deep bowl. Slowly drizzle in a small amount of the oil mixture and beat vigorously with a wire whisk. Continue to drizzle and beat until all the oil is blended into the water. Stir in five drops of jasmine fragrance. Pour into a container, label and enjoy. Variations: Use a flower water in place of the distilled water. Use an herbal infusion, such as Calendula, in place of the distilled water. Experiment with essential oils for different fragrances and therapeutic effects. ALOE ROSE FACE CREAM 3 TBS. herbal oil 1 1/2 tsp. coconut oil 1 3/4 tsp. cocoa butter 1/4 tsp. lanolin 1/2 tsp. (.10 ounce) beeswax 2 TBS. distilled water 1 3/4 tsp. rose water 3/4/ tsp. glycerin 1 TBS. aloe vera gel 1 drop tea tree essential oil Melt the oils, cocoa butter, beeswax and lanolin over low heat. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature. The oil and water mixtures need to be the same temperature for your cream to be successful. Put the distilled water, rose water, glycerin, aloe vera and tea tree oil into a blender. Turn it on medium- high speed then begin to drizzle in the oil mixture. Continue until all the oil is added or until the blender begins to slow down and acts as if it will stop. The mixture should look thick and creamy. Pour into containers and label. The tea tree oil is added to help prevent molds and bacteria from growing. I recommend that you make small batches and that you keep extra cream in the refrigerator. If you keep a container in the bathroom it will stay good for two - three weeks. Variations Try orange or jasmine flower water. You can also eliminate the flower water if you increase the distilled water proportionately. Try using an herbal oil with aromatic or medicinal properties. Add vitamin A or E. Vitamin E will help to preserve oil based cosmetics. Add herbal extracts of ginseng or Calendula. Tired Eyes Papaya tea reduces eye puffiness. Soak 2 papaya tea bags in hot water; Chill and place over eyes for 15 minutes. Elevate Your Mood with Tea Try drinking a cup of the following - Confident: Mint or lemon balm tea Romantic: Drink Rose or vanilla tea Energetic: Try green or ginseng tea. Creative: Orange or clove tea Peaceful: Chamomile or almond tea.