October Box

Elderberry Syrup

elderberry juice, cinnamon, ginger, and honey

Elderberry Syrup is one of my favorite daily tonics for keeping healthy, especially during the cold and flu season.  Elderberries are full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and other vitamins and minerals that help the immune system. Take 1 teaspoon a day, or 1 teaspoon every 2-3 hours when you are sick. Medicine has never been such a treat!  Store this product in your refrigerator.

Bee's Knees Tea Blend

mullein leaves, bee balm, hyssop, red clover, nettles, anise hyssop, licorice root

A lovely, somewhat spicy, and sweet wildcrafted tea blend. This blend is especially good for when you feel that little cold coming on. Anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, lymph-stimulating, expectorant, nourishing and more. Drink it hot, with or without a little honey or elderberry syrup for added benefit.

Herbal Deodorant

coconut oil, baking soda, corn starch, essential oils of rose, jasmine, lemon and tea tree

Commercial antiperspirants contain ingredients that have been linked to widespread disorders, even Alzheimer’s and cancer! Enjoy our natural alternative—a simple recipe that neutralizes odor and is anti-microbial. Roll a small pea-sized amount of deodorant between your fingers and apply to the underarms.

Mullein & Garlic Ear Oil

mullein flower and garlic infused olive oil

Helpful for ear infections, particularly the type of ear infections that produce a lot of hard wax. This oil will help to soften the wax and clean out the ear canal. Mullein flower helps to reduce pain and inflammation and is a lymphatic stimulant. Garlic gives the oil anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, making this remedy good for infections.  Herbalist Jim McDonald cites this combination to be good for healing up infected piercings too. Store in refrigerator, and use by the end of the month. Caution: if you suspect any rupture of the ear drum, DO NOT use this oil in the ear or put any other products into the ear canal!

Cold and Flu Kyphii Incense

mullein, pine needles, rose, osha root, rosehips, honey, mead, elderberries, white pine sap, Douglas Fir pine sap, makko powder, rosewater

A traditional whole plant incense, this kyphii blend is wonderful to burn and gently breathe to heal lung congestion and sinusitis. Its aromas are clearing and aided when paired with a hot bath. The kyphii this month comes with a charcoal disk. To enjoy the kyphii, light the disk and set on a stone dish or pottery until it becomes red. (I usually break the disk into 2-4 pieces because they burn for a long time and can be quite smoky). Then place a small crumble of kyphii on the charcoal, and inhale the aromatic vapors flowing out of the smoldering incense. (Alternately, you can take a lit coal out of a bonfire or wood stove for burning your incense.)

Member’s choice of one of the following three tinctures:

Kids Cold and Flu Tincture

echinacea, lemon balm, thyme, licorice root, elderberries, cinnamon, ginger, honey, 40% alcohol

Supports the immune system while it aids in fighting off viruses. This tincture can help calm the symptoms of colds and flus, such as body aches, fevers, runny nose and cough. Dosage would be 10 drops (small children) - full dropper (adult), 3 times a day, as a preventive. When symptoms are occurring, take the same amount as often as every hour. Remember to continue taking the tincture for about a week after symptoms have subsided, as this practice will strengthen the immune system and lower susceptibility to other colds, flus, or viruses. You can add your dose to a cup of cold and flu tea. Feel free to sweeten your cup with honey, but remember that any additional sugar can compromise the immune system!

Lip and Mouth Rescue

tulsi, lemon balm, honeysuckle, glycerin, honey, alcohol

This formula is anti-viral, immune-activating, anti-stress, and anti-inflammatory. Use it to respond to the first signs of an outbreak of herpes simplex, and it will tame fever blisters, to stop them from forming. 20 drops up to half a dropper full several times a day (every few hours) during times of stress to minimize outbreak. 

Echinacea Tincture

echinacea, alcohol, water

Stimulates the immune system to produce T-cells, which then fight off invading pathogens. Take 20 drops up to half a dropper full every hour or so, when there are signs that your body is actively fighting a virus (i.e., fever). By the way, did you know that echinacea can also be used topically to fight infection in wounds, and on bites and stings to draw out poison? Wound healing and bite remedies were the prime applications of this plant in many traditional Native American herbal practices.

(When using tinctures, take a drop or two on the tongue and wait 15 minutes, giving yourself time to watch for any unwanted or unexpected reactions to the herb.)

Kombucha

green tea, Wild Berry Zinger tea, sugar

A sweet and tangy blend full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and probiotics, oh my!

Disclaimer: All information here within is for education purposes and is not intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or cure of any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before self-treating.