Tinctures
Tinctures are an example of the type of liquid herb found in some health
food stores. These are generally meant for internal use. Due to allergies,
the general possibility of contraindications, and the varied internal
safety factors of various herbs, I will focus only on the process rather
than the specific herbs. Please consult a doctor and/or do your own
research to determine what herbs would be beneficial and edible in regards
to your needs.
How to Prepare a Tincture:
Ingredients:
1 ounce of herb(s)
4 ounces of water
12 ounces of apple cider vinegar
Process:
1. Place all ingredients in a sealed jar for two weeks. Ideally, this will be somewhere where the jar gets significant amounts of sunlight.
2. Shake twice daily.
3. Use internally as desired or directed by a physician.
It’s simple, but effective. And, again, it takes practice to get the
result exactly like you want it.
Old-Time Remedies
Here, I have collected a few remedies used by people for years
and years. You may or
may not have heard of all of them. Some I learned in school, one I learned
from my grandmother, another from my mom. Since the recipes have lasted to
be put in to this article, I find that to be a good indicator for their
effectiveness.
Granny and Aunt Modine’s Homemade Nasal Spray
One afternoon at my grandparents, I stumbled across my grandmother mixing
salt, soda, and water. Had she been planning on baking something, I
wouldn’t have questioned this. However, I knew she had no plans to bake
that day.
So, I asked. “What are you making, Granny?”
“Nasal spray,” she
replied.
Now, forgive me, but nasal spray is one of those things that I
just never thought of as being do it yourself. However, Granny swears by
it. Her sister got the recipe somewhere, and they both use it any time
they feel any nasal issues starting to prevent the issue from actually
developing. And, it actually seems to work rather well. So, the recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup of warm water
Some old nasal spray bottles (disinfected, of course)
Process:
Simply heat the water in the microwave, dissolve the first
two ingredients in the water, then pour in to your storage containers.
Snort as needed. It’s cheap, simple, and effective—our overall goal in
life, correct?
