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How to Make an Herbal Steam to Decongest – Sydney | Northern Beaches | Woollahra NATUROPATH

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A 5 minute mixup of herbs and salts to use in medicinal baths, steams and inhalations to decongest and clear the nasal passageways.

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Overview of Pregnancy Caution Drug Categories ABCDX

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Our recommended sources - herbal reference list

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Our recommended sources - herbal reference list

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How to make Herbal Steam for decongesting

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How to make Herbal Steam for decongesting

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How to Make an Herbal Steam to Decongest – Sydney | Northern Beaches | Woollahra NATUROPATH

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A 5 minute mixup of herbs and salts to use in medicinal baths, steams and inhalations to decongest and clear the nasal passageways.

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Passionflower, which floral parts can you recognise?

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Passionflower, which floral parts can you recognise?

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the operculum, also known as a calyptra, is the cap-like covering or "lid" of the flower or fruit that detaches at maturity.

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The Process of Germination and establishment of the photosynthetic leaves

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The Process of Germination and establishment of the photosynthetic leaves

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...meaning irregular flower shape, not radially symmetrical

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Dandelion, or possibly Cats Ear .....blissful xoxo

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Dandelion, or possibly Cats Ear .....blissful xoxo

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Bettina also has posted this in the BB in the Announcements section. It gives you the contact info for raw material suppliers which will be so useful for your medicine making. Plan ahead so you leave enough time for things to get to you via post.

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Use this excel spreadsheet to calculate childrens dosages. You'll need the Adult dosage to start with.

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Use this to see liquid extract alcohol proportions

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Herbal Medicine Reference List for BHM106 

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Herbal Medicine Reference List for BHM106 

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Use this list to assist with selecting sources for information for your assessments.

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Fascinating the resemblence to a flower created by planetary movements

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Fascinating the resemblence to a flower created by planetary movements

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Our first herbal botanist: Elizabeth Blackwell. 

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Our first herbal botanist: Elizabeth Blackwell. 

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To save her husband from debtors prison, the talented Elizabeth Blackwell drew, etched, engraves and hand coloured botanical prints as well as publishing the herbal book 'A Curious Herbal' in 1735. See her prints here....https://www.botanicalartandartists.com/about-elizabeth-blackwell.html

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About the ARTG

The publicly accessible version of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is the reference database of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It provides information on therapeutic goods that can be supplied in Australia.

Please note: the ARTG is a record of the contents and classification details of therapeutic goods. It is not intended to provide guidance, advice or recommendations on those goods.

Unless exempt, therapeutic goods not entered on the ARTG cannot be supplied in Australia.
Search the ARTG
For a more detailed search we have a trial (beta) ARTG search version that has been developed for larger screens and Chrome browser.

Therapeutic Goods not in the ARTG

Exempt therapeutic goods: Exempt therapeutic goods do not need to be included in the ARTG. However, as these products are considered therapeutic goods, they must comply with all relevant legislative requirements for therapeutic goods. Details of exempt therapeutic goods are provided in Schedules 5 and 5A of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990.

Unapproved therapeutic goods: There are special circumstances where individuals can access unapproved therapeutic goods. For more information see: Access to unapproved products.

Using the ARTG search function

You can search the ARTG for both medicines and medical devices.

Enter your search term into the search box on the TGA website. You can search using:

the product name

licence details

sponsor details

active ingredient names

the ARTG identifier number.

The ARTG public summary contains information about the product including the ARTG start date, the effective date and more.

The ARTG start date is the date the product was added to the ARTG. The effective date is the date the last change to the entry came into effect.

Products remain on the ARTG unless:

the sponsor requests that the product be cancelled

there are concerns about the safety of the product that result in regulatory action

the sponsor does not pay the necessary charges.

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Searching the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)

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The publicly accessible version of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is the reference database of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It provides information on therapeutic goods that can be supplied in Australia. Please note: the ARTG is a record of the contents and classification details of therapeutic goods.

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Search Results for "gel" - H E R B A L W E L L - Sulin Sze

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My super easy, homemade Nettle & Spearmint Eye Gel is that refreshing, cooling and soothing (totally) natural relief you've been waiting for to nourish tired eyes. Not only that, but Nettle brings an astringent action that gets to work on tightening the delicate skin around your eyes so the effects are not only healing, they're beautifying!

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White Egret Orchid

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Check out the life cycle of a Strawberry

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Check out the life cycle of a Strawberry

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Paper on the Prebiotic Potentials of Slippery Elm and other herbs

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Paper on the Prebiotic Potentials of Slippery Elm and other herbs

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Prebiotic Potentials of Slipper Elm and other Herbs

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The herbs we ingest to be well are inextricably connected to the processes that produce them.

This is true for all herbs. It is especially true for herbs we take for our health.

Learn more

"If we choose to use plants as our medicine, we then become accountable for the wild gardens, their health and their upkeep."
- Rosemary Gladstar

Many people assume that in buying remedies made from herbs they are buying the healthy alternative. In fact it isn't so simple.

Learn more

"To be interested in food but not food production is clearly absurd."
- Wendell Berry

Learn more

Press enter to begin your search

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The herbs we ingest to be well are inextricably connected to the processes that produce them. This is true for all herbs. It is especially true for herbs we take for our health. Learn more "If we choose to use plants as our medicine, we then become accountable for the wild gardens, their health and their upkeep."

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Practitioner Only Product

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IN ESSENCE...

"Carrier Oil" is a term given to base oils that dilute essential oils before topical application, as the latter are much too potent to apply directly to the skin.

Despite also being referred to as vegetable oils, not all Carrier Oils are derived from vegetables; many are pressed from seeds, nuts, or kernels.

Carrier Oils are also referred to as "fixed oils," due to the fact that they do not quickly evaporate from the skin's surface and remain "fixed" on the skin.

A Carrier Oil is a vital aspect of an aromatherapy massage or a natural cosmetic, as it can affect the benefits and usefulness of the essential oils and the color, scent, therapeutic properties, and shelf life of the final product, respectively.

Each Carrier Oil is comprised of different components that exhibit distinct characteristics, such as color, viscosity, and penetration speed, while offering therapeutic properties.

WHAT ARE CARRIER OILS?

Carrier Oils have been used since the time of ancient Greece and Rome when aromatic oils were used in massages, baths, cosmetics, and medicinal applications. In the 1950s, Marguerite Maury, the first person to use individually prescribed combinations of essential oils for the individual's desired therapeutic benefits, began diluting essential oils in a vegetable Carrier Oil and massaging them into the skin by using a Tibetan technique that applies pressure along the spine.

"Carrier Oil" is a term generally used in the contexts of aromatherapy and cosmetic recipes for natural skin and hair care. It refers to base oils that dilute essential oils before topical application, as the latter are much too potent to apply directly to the skin.

Despite also being referred to as vegetable oils, not all Carrier Oils are derived from vegetables; many are pressed from seeds, nuts, or kernels. Carrier Oils have also earned the moniker "fixed oils," due to the fact that they remain fixed on the skin. This means that, unlike essential oils, they do not quickly evaporate from the skin's surface or have the strong, natural scent of plants, which makes them ideal for controlling essential oil concentration and reducing the strength of an essential oil's aroma without altering its therapeutic properties.

A Carrier Oil is a vital aspect of an aromatherapy massage or a natural cosmetic such as a bath oil, body oil, cream, lip balm, lotion, or other moisturizer, as it can affect the usefulness of the massage and the color, scent, therapeutic properties, and shelf life of the final product, respectively. By providing the lubrication required for a massage, the light and non-sticky Carrier Oils effectively allow the hands to glide easily over the skin while penetrating the skin and carrying the essential oils into the body. Carrier Oils can also prevent the potential irritation, sensitization, redness, or burning that can be caused by the undiluted use of Essential Oils, Absolutes, and CO ₂ Extracts.

COMPOSITION OF CARRIER OILS

Each Carrier Oil is comprised of different components that demonstrate distinct characteristics, such as color, viscosity, and penetration speed, while offering variable combinations of therapeutic properties; thus, they have valuable effects even when used on their own. Carrier Oils generally contain components such as fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that improve the look and feel of skin and hair by adding moisture, soothing irritation, and reducing the effects of dryness. The choice of a Carrier Oil is dependent on the desired result.

Though not all the constituents listed below apply to all Carrier Oil varieties, these are the main constituents in most varieties:

MINERALS are known to:

Brighten dull complexions

Protect against environmental stressors

Balance oil production while remaining gentle on sensitive skin

Encourage exfoliation

Firm and tighten skin for a smoother appearance

Maintain skin's moisture level

VITAMINS are known to:

Maintain and repair vital skin tissue

Control acne

Reduce lines and wrinkles

Hydrate skin to promote a healthy glow

Exhibit anti-inflammatory properties

Even out skin tone

STEROLINS are known to:

Reduce age spots

Repair sun damaged skin

Minimize the appearance of scars

Moisturize and soften skin and hair

OLEIC ACIDS are known to:

Maintain the softness, suppleness, and radiance of skin and hair

Stimulate the growth of thicker, longer and stronger hair

Reduce the appearance of aging, such as premature wrinkles and fine lines

Eliminate dandruff and thereby support hair growth

Boost immunity

Exhibit anti-oxidant properties

Prevent joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain

LINOLEIC ACIDS are known to:

Moisturize hair and promote its growth

Facilitate wound healing

Be an effective emulsifier in the formulation of soaps and quick-drying oils

Exhibit anti-inflammatory properties

Soothe acne and reduce chances of future outbreaks

Promote moisture retention in skin and hair

Make oils feel thinner in consistency, thus being beneficial for use on acne-prone skin

VITAMIN E is known to:

Exhibit anti-oxidant activity, which delays the appearance of the symptoms of aging such as wrinkles

Repair and improve the appearance of damaged tissue

LECITHIN is known to:

Soften and soothe the skin and hair

Keep dry, brittle skin and hair hydrated, thus restoring the moisture and luster

Increase circulation and thereby enhance the health and strength of the hair and skin

PHYTOSTEROLS are known to:

Boost collagen production

Relieve skin of sun damage

Promote the growth of newer, firmer skin

Boost immunity

Reduce the appearance of scars and other unwanted blemishes

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS are known to:

Produce and maintain the skin's natural oil barrier

Hydrate skin to promote a supple, youthful appearance

Nourish cells and eliminate bodily toxins

Protect skin by creating an antimicrobial barrier against harsh environmental elements

Moisturize skin to prevent the premature signs of aging

Reduce water loss through the skin's surface

Enhance the texture and softness of skin and hair

SELENIUM is known to:

Exhibit anti-oxidant activity

Slow the appearance of wrinkles

Facilitate the healing of burns, wounds, and other uncomfortable skin conditions

MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES are known to:

Eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi

Offer intense moisture

Condition the hair and eliminate dandruff

Boost hair growth

PALMITOLEIC ACID is known to:

Delay the appearance of premature aging

Moisturize and tighten the skin

Promote the growth of shiny hair

Enhance the brightness of the complexion

Boost the growth of healthy-looking nails

Enhance skin elasticity to prevent symptoms of premature aging, such as wrinkles

EXTRACTING CARRIER OILS

Although true Carrier Oils are obtained mostly from nuts and seeds, there are a few exceptions to this - Coconut Oil, for example, is extracted from its 'copra,' which is the white inner flesh, and Jojoba Oil, which is actually a liquid wax, is extracted from a shrub that has leathery leaves. To obtain oils from nuts and seeds, they undergo one of the following processes: Cold Pressing, Expeller Pressing, Oil Maceration, and Solvent Extraction.

COLD PRESSING is a chemical-free process that involves placing the nuts or seeds in a horizontal press that has an 'expeller,' which is a rotating screw. The screw drives the nuts and seeds through a barrel-shaped hollow and compresses them until the high pressure squeezes out the oil, which seeps out through the opening, while the 'meal,' or the debris, remains inside the barrel. The oil is then filtered, resulting in the finished product. Due to the absence of solvent residues in Cold Pressing, the outcome is cleaner, purer oils that are higher in natural colors and scents.

Due to the friction that is created, some heat is produced during this process, despite its name; however, this heat causes little damage to the oil. The hardness of the nuts or the seeds being pressed determines the temperature of this produced heat. The harder the nuts or seeds, the higher the required pressure to extract their oils, which results in higher friction and thus higher heat.

EXPELLER PRESSING is a mechanical processing method of extraction that is similar to Cold Pressing in that it involves the use of a hydraulic press that generates heat. It is important to note that all Cold Pressed Oils are Expeller Pressed, but that all Expeller Pressed oils are not unavoidably Cold Pressed. Oils that have undergone only Expeller Pressing have not been processed to maintain low heat levels and this can potentially damage an oil's delicate nutrients. If the temperature rises above 120 ᵒC (250 ᵒF) it is no longer considered to be Cold Pressed and is rather called Expeller Pressed.

Expeller Pressing is more commonly identified by the abbreviation RDB, which stands for " Refined, Deodorized, and Bleached. Expeller Pressed oils are typically RDB, which stands for "Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized." This refinement process helps to remove impurities, improve the color or texture, or stabilize the shelf life, making these oils suitable and economical for use as cosmetic bases.

Refining involves introducing the oil to a weak base solution to turn the free fatty acids into soap. It is centrifuged and washed with water until the pure oil remains.

Bleaching involves removing or improving the oil's color and clarity by passing it through an earth or clay and filtering the oil. Deodorizing removes unpleasant or strong odors by vaporizing the oil and vacuuming its volatile aromatic substances.

Another refinement process is Winterization, which involves cooling a Carrier Oil and filtering it to remove the solid crystallized portions in order to achieve a lighter, clearer oil.

OIL MACERATION is used for botanicals that do not hold a sufficient amount of oil to be obtained through the pressing methods. One of the advantages of this method is that the resulting oils retain the pleasant fragrances of the botanical matter used, and these scents can be imparted to skincare products.

A Macerated Oil is a vegetable oil that is used in the same manner as a solvent or a base oil in order to extract the fat-soluble properties of other botanical materials and become infused with their therapeutic properties. For this reason, a Macerated Oil is sometimes referred to as an Infused Oil. The most commonly used base oils are Olive or Sunflower Oils.

When infusing herbs, dried botanicals are used in order to prevent the risk of microbiological infection from wet botanicals. First, plant material is bruised and soaked in the base oil for a set extent of time. Sometimes low heat is applied to the base oil to facilitate infusion. The plant material is then filtered to eliminate any traces of plant matter, resulting in the final product that will contain the therapeutic properties of both the vegetable oil and the infused botanical material. The same base oil can sometimes continue to be infused several more times with additional plant material.

Refined oils are ideal for use in natural cosmetics, as oils with dark colors and strong odors can negatively impact a finished cosmetic product.

SOLVENT EXTRACTION is a method that is applied to Carrier Oils in the same way it is applied to essential oils. It involves soaking botanical material in a solvent such as Ethanol, Petroleum Ether, Hexane, or Methanol. The cell membranes of the plant matter are ruptured and its oils are synthesized with the solvent. The solvent is then filtered out and the resulting oil is bottled. A low concentration of solvent residues can remain in the oil, thus preventing it from being 100% pure.

CARRIER OIL CONTRAINDICATIONS

Peanuts fall into the category of legumes and are, therefore, not considered to be "true" nuts; however, like true nuts, they continue to share in the potential to cause allergic reactions, regardless of their concentration. Because nut oils generally do not contain the proteinaceous part of the plant, which would cause the allergic response, they are usually not allergenic, but it is highly recommended that Peanut and nut-derived oils be avoided by those with nut allergies, as an oil's purity cannot be guaranteed. Instead, these oils can be substituted with other hypoallergenic oils.

QUALITY OF CARRIER OILS

A high-quality Carrier Oil will be as natural and as unadulterated as possible and it will ideally be Cold Pressed. Organic Carrier Oils are most commonly perceived to be of the highest quality, but even these will eventually go rancid over time. The quality of an oil can be determined by the following factors: Aroma, Method of Extraction, Consistency and Rate of Absorption, Natural Fatty Acids and Tocopherols, and Shelf Life, among other characteristics.

AROMA Typically, Carrier Oils are either odorless or they have mild, distinctive aromas that are faintly nutty, sweet, and/or characteristic of the nut or seed from which they are derived.

METHOD OF EXTRACTION The ideal Carrier Oil for use in natural products is a Cold Pressed (Raw), Organic, Unrefined, Extra Virgin oil. Carrier Oils that are truly "raw" will not have been heated more than 45 ᵒC (110 ᵒF). Carrier Oils that are unrefined will have been filtered to eliminate dust or small particles without compromising the oil's nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids. Extra Virgin Carrier Oils will have only been pressed one time.

CONSISTENCY AND ABSORPTION The consistency of various Carrier Oils can be either thick or thin. The choice of either viscosity is a matter of personal preference. The intention behind using the oil will also be a determining factor in preference for consistency. For example, a light oil with fast absorption and an absence of a greasy residue would be a high-quality oil for oily skin or hair, as it would penetrate the skin quickly without clogging pores. On the other hand, a rich, deeply moisturizing oil is of better quality for treating severely dry and damaged skin or hair.

NATURAL FATTY ACIDS AND TOCOPHEROLS Carrier Oils contain beneficial and restorative fatty acids that lend the oils their nourishing and moisturizing properties. These are the constituents that offer regenerative and stimulating properties to promote the look and feel of younger, fresher, and healthier hair and skin. Tocopherols such as natural Vitamin E act as natural preservatives. Some Carrier Oils have a high nutrient content but are too rich to use on their own or their odors are too overpowering. In these situations, they can be diluted in other Carrier Oils (e.g. Richer oils can be combined with lighter, odorless oils). To customize and create the ideal Carrier Oil, several can be blended to also change or combine their therapeutic properties before application.

SHELF LIFE Carrier Oils that are high in unsaturated fatty acid content will generally have a shorter shelf life and can last up to 6 months, whereas oils with a longer shelf life can last 1-2 years. To maintain an oil's quality and maximize its shelf life, it should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Carrier Oils with natural antioxidant properties, such as those with high Vitamin E or Lauric Acid content, have longer shelf lives, as these constituents either prevent oxidation or slow down the process. Other Carrier Oils can be combined with these anti-oxidant Carrier Oils to have their shelf lives extended.

STORING CARRIER OILS

Many rules for storing essential oils also apply to storing Carrier Oils. Specifically, they should be stored in cool, dark places away from strong and direct light, especially sunlight. Although refrigeration is acceptable for most oils and although it helps preserve freshness there are some oils, such as Avocado, that should not be refrigerated, as this can negatively affect some of the oil's significant, delicate constituents. After refrigeration, some oils may appear to be solid or cloudy, but their clarity will be restored once they return to room temperature.

Some Carrier Oils become rancid rapidly, but their shelf lives can be extended by adding 1% of Vitamin E (Natural) Oil, which acts as a preservative. This is an especially good idea when using Borage, Evening Primrose, Flaxseed, and Rose Hip Carrier Oils, among others.

TYPES OF CARRIER OILS

Carrier Oils can be categorized by their solidity: Hard and Soft

HARD OILS are solid at room temperature. To use them, they must be melted into a liquid state. Hard oils add firmness to a finished product, and without a sufficient amount of a hard oil, a product such as a soap bar will feel soft or sticky. The most popular hard oils are: Palm and Coconut.

SOFT OILS are liquid at room temperature. They add nourishing and moisturizing properties to a finished product. Without a sufficient amount of a soft oil, a product such as a soap bar will be brittle and will begin to crack. The most popular soft oils are: Olive, Canola, Rice bran, and Sweet Almond.

When formulating a natural product and substituting one oil for another, most hard oils can replace other hard oils and the same goes for soft oils replacing other soft oils. To choose a substitute oil, consider the texture and the contribution of the oil that is being replaced: What does it contribute to the recipe in terms of firmness, moisture, or even lather? Proceed to select a replacement oil with similar properties and this will ensure that the original recipe retains its potential in the resulting product. On the other hand, if the intention is to soften the original recipe, a hard oil can be replaced with a soft oil.

CARRIER OIL PRICES

Carrier Oil prices depend on the types of plants from which they are derived, whether the plants are endemic or exotic, their botanical names, their therapeutic values, whether they undergo organic processing, the quantity being purchased, and the supplier it is purchased from.

CARRIER OILS USES & BENEFITS

Although seemingly counterintuitive, it is necessary for essential oils to be diluted in order to work effectively, and this is why Carrier Oils are required. Applying essential oils "neat," that is without dilution, can lead to skin sensitization or allergic reactions caused by the concentration of essential oils, rapid evaporation of the beneficial yet volatile essential oils from the skin's surface due to the absence of an oil to help them penetrate deeper into the skin, and the inability of essential oils to be spread across a wider area of skin. While there are a few exceptions to the fact that essential oils will harm the body if applied neat, it is best to dilute them with a Carrier Oil before use, otherwise, the resulting bodily harm will make waste of the essential oil, the effort, and the money spent. Aside from enhancing skin's absorption of essential oils, Carrier Oils offer therapeutic properties through their beneficial components, including nourishing constituents that our bodies cannot produce on their own, such as essential fatty acids.

CARRIER OILS GUIDE

Condition skin to rejuvenate complexion, especially in mature or prematurely aging skin

Repair damage caused by dryness

Soothe itching and discomfort caused by burns

Reduce appearance of scarring

Essential Fatty Acid Oils

Hydrate and soothe itchy, dry, inflamed, and acne-prone skin

Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-septic

Balance essential fatty acid deficiency and skin's oil production

Balance hormones

Demonstrate reparative and astringent properties that facilitate wound healing

CARRIER OIL ABSORPTION RATES

VERY FAST

THESE OILS ARE

Considered to be drying, because they are quickly absorbed by skin and do not leave a greasy residue

High in polyunsaturated fats

These light oils are quickly absorbed by skin but leave a smooth, silky finish. Skin will feel moisturized rather than greasy

Apricot Kernel (CP)

Camellia Seed (CP)

Grape Seed

Meadowfoam

Safflower

Canola

Fractionated Coconut

Prickly Pear

Broccoli Seed

These oils could feel gummy or waxy before they warm up to body temperature. They tend to leave skin with a slight oily residue

Carrot (Macerated, CP)

Pomegranate (Refined, CP)

Sea Buckthorn (CO2)

Black Currant Seed

Tamanu (Madagascar, CP)

Avocado (Refined, CP)

Castor

Oat

Flax Seed (CP)

Sweet Almond (Sweet Virgin, CP)

Kuikui Nut (CP)

Olive (Extra Virgin, CP)

Sunflower (CP)

These oils may need to have gentle heat applied to them before use. They tend to feel heavy on the skin and leave a thick, oily, and moisturizing barrier on the skin but are absorbed by the skin eventually

Higher in saturated fats and have a longer shelf life than those that dry quickly

*These rates are general and may vary between suppliers, as the speed of absorption depends on the method of extraction. These are largely New Directions Aromatics' Carrier Oil absorption rates.

CARRIER OIL DIFFUSERS

When diffusing essential oils in most nebulizers and electric diffusers, Carrier Oils are not required; however, they can be incorporated into reed diffusers in place of a water and alcohol base to lessen the otherwise potentially overpowering aroma of an essential oil.

WHERE TO BUY CARRIER OILS

Carrier Oils can be purchased just about anywhere - at health food stores, grocery stores, online through the website of a preferred vendor, and directly from essential oil companies. When purchasing, it is a good idea to consider the purpose of using the oil and the oil grade required for the intended purpose. Reputable companies that distribute quality Carrier Oils are highly recommended.

New Directions Aromatics has been selling high quality Carrier Oils for over 20 years and, as well as being cruelty-Free, NDA is Kosher, Vegan, and USDA Organic (U.S. Department of Agriculture) certified. As validated by our ISO (The International Organization of Standardization) certification, Quality Assurance is of highest importance to us, thus we provide meticulous documentation and certifications for each of our products to ensure that superior quality is always supplied to our customers.

We source our products from ethical producers all over the world and, if there are products that we currently do not sell, we have the ability to obtain them on a special-order basis. Due to on-going relationships with leading distilleries and farmers all over the world, New Directions Aromatics offers the most competitive prices by eliminating the need for multi-level marketing that sells products through middle-men at inflated prices.

IMPORTANT: All New Directions Aromatics (NDA) products are for external use only unless otherwise indicated. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and it should not be used by anyone who is pregnant or under the care of a medical practitioner. Please refer to our policies for further details, and our disclaimer below.

Read Disclaimer

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Carrier Oils - What are Carrier Oils - Uses & Benefits for Skin & Hair

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"Carrier Oil" is a term given to base oils that dilute essential oils before topical application, as the latter are much too potent to apply directly to the skin. Despite also being referred to as vegetable oils, not all Carrier Oils are derived from vegetables; many are pressed from seeds, nuts, or kernels.

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This is a 95% EtOH product, not essential for the course but just in case you're interested :)

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Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany (Rectified Spirit) 190 Proof 95%

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An extremely high proof Polish spirit traditionally used as a base for liqueurs and tinctures. We recommend exercising extreme caution when consuming this product. Often used as a substitute for the ‘Everclear Grain Spirit’, Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany is a (190 Proof) 95% alcohol grain spirit, p…

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Balm and Cream base recipes by Carolyn Stubbin

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Balm and Cream base recipes by Carolyn Stubbin

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accessories & labels therapeutic remedies 100% natural haircare gift ideas & vouchers reference books habitat pure indulgence bodycare workshops lyn webster's make ingredients perfect potion skincare perfumes by amor aromatherapy creating cosmetics aromatherapy

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bioregulatory medicine recipes - balms & ointments

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Amor Aromatherapy : Recipes - Balms & Ointments - Creating Skincare Bottles, Accessories & Labels Therapeutic Remedies 100% Natural Haircare Gift Ideas & Vouchers Reference Books Habitat Pure Indulgence Bodycare Workshops Lyn Webster's MAKE Ingredients Perfect Potion Skincare Perfumes by Amor Aromatherapy Creating Cosmetics aromatherapy, essential oils, mica, cosmetic packaging, perfumery, mineral makeup, cosmetic kits, perfumery kits, low allergen, gluten free, dairy free, wheat free, nut free, natural remedies, aromatherapy company, homemade cosmetics, home made cosmetics, DIY cosmetics, mydiykits, createityourselfkits, diycosmetics, naturopathy, natural therapies clinic, bioregulatory medicine

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Joybilee® Farm | DIY | Herbs | Gardening |

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The window to the soul

You've heard it said that "the eyes are the window to the soul." Tired, burning, strained eyes, dry, wrinkled eyes, bagged eyes, or smile lines, these features get more pronounced the older we get. When your eyes are tired your whole body is tired. Even when you feel bagged your eyes don't have to have bags. Elder eye cream will improve the look and feel of your hard working eyes, brightening your soul just a little bit, too.
Hint: This would make a lovely gift for your Mother (or yourself) on Mother's Day.

I recently received a review copy of Jan Berry's new book 101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health & Home from Page Street Publishing. This book is the kind of book you'll love. It's full of amazing and enticing photography, herbal recipes, and step by step instructions to make your own cosmetics, toiletries, and cleaning products from the plants and weeds in your garden, plus a few basic oils and bases. My Elderflower eye cream is an adaptation from this book.

Who is Jan Berry?

Jan Berry is the blogger at The Nerdy Farm Wife. Jan has been blogging and writing about natural remedies, soap making, and natural cosmetics since 2012. She's a homesteader, homeschooler, and natural DiYer. You can find out more about Jan here.

101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health & Home

101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health, & Home is a full length, traditionally published book being released at the end of March. You've seen books that promise 101 recipes before but they end up being the same recipes that everyone else is publishing. How many recipes for putting lemon peels in vinegar does one person need?

But this book isn't the same-old same-old. Every recipe is an original. While I noticed that some of the recipes seem a bit familiar, Jan has her own twist on them utilizing the fresh herbs and flowers from her garden with traditional techniques.

Jan and her publisher, Page Street Publishing, gave me permission to share this recipe for eye cream from Jan's new book.

Elder Flower Eye Cream

(adapted from the recipe in 101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health & Home, A Nerdy Farm Wife's All-Natural DIY Projects Using Commonly Found Herbs, Flowers & Other Plants(Page Street Publishing:Salem, MA, 2016). Page 88. Used with permission of the author.)

This eye cream is made with rich oils to help combat puffy eyes, crow's feet, and sagging skin. It will soothe tired eyes, and alleviate dry skin around the eyes. It may even reduce the visibility of fine lines.

While some anti-aging eye serums are oil based, like the one in my own book The Beginners' Book of Essential Oils (#ad), this one is a lotion. A lotion is an emulsion made with both oil based and water based ingredients. If you've made mayonnaise you can make a lotion.

These oils are luxurious. While you may think that argan oil, mango butter, and Rosehip seed oil are pricey. It is much less than buying name brand eye serum. Instead this eye lotion contains no damaging chemicals, only nutritious moisturizers and skin healthy herbs.

Have a look at what's in it:

Argan oil from Morocco is a nut oil that improves and repairs skin texture. It is used for hair care as well as skin care. It's a bit pricey but you only need a tiny bit. If you have a nut allergy, you may also react to argan oil so proceed with caution. Although Jan recommends sweet almond oil, olive oil can be substituted in this recipe, for those who have nut allergies.

Rosehip seed oil is renowned for its antiaging, regenerative actions. It reduces the appearance of scars and smooths out wrinkles. Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, it's nourishing to the skin.

Mango butter is another oil that reduces the appearance of fine lines and softens and conditions the skin. It's skin nourishing.

Elder flowers are an age old therapy for a flawless complexion. Rosemary Gladstar mentions elderflower water as a facial astringent. while modern research has shown elderflowers to be rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Dig Deeper into the wisdom of the elder

Dig deeper into elderflowers and their benefits by download our free printable Elder Materia Medica with useful Elder Recipes here.

Frankincense essential oil soothes that burning sensation in tired, strained eyes.
Get your elder recipes and materia medica

Elderflower Eye Cream for Women of a Certain Age

Author: Jan Berry for Joybilee Farm

Yield: 2 ounces 1x

Category: DIY beauty

Method: Lotion making

(adaptation of the recipe in the book)

YIELD: 2 OUNCES (60 ML)

1 tbsp. (14 ml) elderflower-infused argan oil (3 tbsp. (14 grams) of dried elderflowers plus 75 ml argan oil)

1 tbsp. (14 ml) mango butter

1/2 oz. (14 g) beeswax, grated or pastilles

1 tbsp. (14 ml) rosehip seed oil

10 drops of Frankincense essential oil

1 ½ tbsp (22 ml) distilled water

To make the elderflower infused argan oil, place 3 tbsp. of dried elder flowers in an 8 oz/250ml jar. Cover the flowers in the jar with 5 tbsp. (75ml) argan oil. Place a lid on the jar but don't tighten the lid. Leave room for any pressure build up to escape. Put 2 inches of water on the bottom of your crock pot . Turn the crock pot on its lowest setting. Simmer the argan oil and elderflowers for 2 hours. Keep the temperature under 115°F if you can. I used the yoghurt setting on my Instant Pot, and left the jar in for 8 hours. Turn off the heat. Remove the jar from the crock pot and place it on your kitchen counter. Allow the jar to come to room temperature naturally.

Strain the infused argon oil, reserving the oil. Press the plant material through a potato ricer to get the last of the oil. The oil next to the plant material is the richest in antioxidants and beneficial properties so you'll want to retain as much of it as possible. Discard the spent elderflowers. They can be composted.

Measure 1 tablespoon of infused argon oil you'll need for the recipe and set aside the remaining argon oil for another use. Place the measured elderflower-infused argan oil, mango butter and beeswax in a heatproof jar or container. Set the jar down in your crock pot, and add 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of hot water in the bottom. Heat on low just until the beeswax has melted. Do not exceed 155°F.

As soon as the wax is melted remove from heat and stir in the rosehip seed oil. Let the mixture cool to around 85 to 95°F (29 to 35°C). Add the frankincense essential oil.

In a small saucepan, heat the water slightly until it matches the temperature of the oil. The oil and water portions really need to be within 5 degrees Fahrenheit (about 3 degrees Celsius) of each other for the most successful emulsion.

This next step is the tricky part. If you've made homemade mayonnaise you'll know how to make an emulsion.

Put the warm oil mixture in a bowl. Using a hand held mixer, or immersion blender, begin beating the warm oils. Slowly drizzle the water, a few drips at a time, into the oil mixture as you continue beating it. It may take around a minute to accomplish this step. Beat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the mixture begins to look like whipped cream.

If you're adding a natural preservative, (see page 28 of the book) check the temperature to see if it is correct for the preservative of your choice. The choices are more complex than the breadth of this article. Please see the book for more details.

Spoon the finished eye cream into a glass jar. If you didn't add a preservative, keep the cream in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.

You'll find 100 more creative and useful recipes in Jan's new book. The recipes include:

Herbal home remedies

Salves and Balms

Homemade soap

Body butters and lotion Bars

Creams and lotions

Haircare

Lip care

Skin care

Bath salts, soaks, melts, and scrubs

Pet care

Nontoxic cleaning solutions

Where this book really shines

The photography is inspiring. The recipes are short and use few ingredients so you won't have to wait for a Mountain Rose order before you can enjoy making the recipes up with herbs and flowers from your garden. I love that Jan Berry's recipes don't require a huge order from your online herb supplier. She utilizes ingredients found in your garden or in the wild.

The selection of fresh herb ingredients is manageable and local. 27 commonly available herbs, like hollyhock, dandelion, mint, and lavender, are listed with their botanical benefits to help you choose your ingredients.. Where exotic oils are called for, Jan offers suggestions for cheaper substitutions, so you can avoid a purchase if necessary. For instance instead of argon oil, Jan suggest sweet almond oil.

Jan gives tips on harvesting and preserving your herbs and flowers so that you can use them in these recipes after you've put your garden to bed.

If you are just beginning to explore natural remedies and herbs, this is a safe introduction to a few easy to grow herbs and how to use them. Making these recipes is a really good introduction to the study of plants and their uses, while improving your wellness and removing toxic chemical products from your home.

This is the kind of book you'll keep handy for inspiration this summer, on the shelf right beside Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health.

Update: I've been using this book for a few months now. I'm so impressed with the wealth and diversity of DiY products included. I've used it for inspiration for a number of projects this summer, while my garden is producing such treasures as plantain, rose petals, yarrow, self-heal, dandelions, and violets. So many of the recipes would make fabulous gifts, too, so consider drying herbs now to make gifts in the fall for the Christmas/Hannukah season. I heard a rumour that author Jan Berry is working on another book. I can't wait.

Buy the book here.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. This represents my honest opinion of this book. This post contains affiliate links.

Photos ©Jan Berry, The Nerdy Farmwife

Another lovely elderflower eye product

Before you leave grab your FREE printable to find out more about using elderflowers and other gifts from the elder.
Elderflower eye serum for night time use Get your elder recipes and materia medica

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The window to the soul You've heard it said that "the eyes are the window to the soul." Tired, burning, strained eyes, dry, wrinkled eyes, bagged eyes, or smile lines, these features get more pronounced the older we get. When your eyes are tired your whole body is tired.

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Source: Clarke, I. and Lee, H (2003) Name that Flower. 2nd ed. Melbourne University Press.

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Source: Clarke, I. and Lee, H (2003) Name that Flower. 2nd ed. Melbourne University Press.

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Beautiful Rose family plant picture by Lizzie Harper

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Beautiful Rose family plant picture by Lizzie Harper

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Note the compound leaves, alternately arranged, thorns, stipules, numerous stamen on the flowers and more...

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This elderberry gummy bear recipe is not only yummy, but also great for your immune system.

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Hey there! Welcome to my world of totally natural and powerful healing medicines. Medicines from nature. Medicine from Source. I'm a naturopath and herbalist with extensive clinical experience working with a range of health conditions including hormonal, metabolic, mental health, sleep and more.

I've brought together years of clinical and teaching experience, academic skill and curiosity to bring you this blog. I hope you enjoy it! If you do, leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!

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Throat soothing Elderflower Gummies in 4 easy steps

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Hey there! Welcome to my world of totally natural and powerful healing medicines. Medicines from nature. Medicine from Source. I'm a naturopath and herbalist with extensive clinical experience working with a range of health conditions including hormonal, metabolic, mental health, sleep and more.

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Written by Raychel on June 13, 2017

Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master's degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn't thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.

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Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master's degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals.

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A great book to celebrate the intelligence of plants while you relax in the term break

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A great book to celebrate the intelligence of plants while you relax in the term break

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A journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise
Elizabeth Gilbert

An extraordinary book, showing how the factual, objective approach of science can be enriched by the ancient knowledge of the indigenous people. It is the way she captures beauty that I love the most - the images of giant cedars and wild strawberries, a forest in the rain and a meadow of fragrant sweetgrass will stay with you long after you read the last page
Jane Goodall

With deep compassion and graceful prose, Robin Wall Kimmerer encourages readers to consider the ways that our lives and language weave through the natural world. A mesmerizing storyteller, she shares legends from her Potawatomi ancestors to illustrate the culture of gratitude in which we all should live
Publishers Weekly

The gift of Robin Wall Kimmerer's book is that she provides readers the ability to see a very common world in uncommon ways, or, rather, in ways that have been commonly held but have recently been largely discarded. She puts forth the notion that we ought to be interacting in such a way that the land should be thankful for the people
Minneapolis Star Tribune

Beautifully written . . . Anyone who enjoys reading about natural history, botany, protecting nature, or Native American culture will love this book
Library Journal

Reading this book was like looking at the world afresh. Radical, hopeful, honest and wise, Robin Wall Kimmerer has woven us a precious heartsong for difficult times
Helen Jukes

Robin Wall Kimmerer opens a sense of wonder and humility for the intelligence in all kinds of life we are used to naming and imagining as inanimate.
Krista Tippett

In a world where only six percent of mammalian biomass on the planet now comprises of wild animals, I longed for books that pressed me up against the inhuman, that connected me to an inhuman world. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer moved me to actual tears
Alexandra Kleeman, THE MILLIONS

I give daily thanks for Robin Wall Kimmerer for being a font of endless knowledge, both mental and spiritual.
Richard Powers, The New York Times

In Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer tackles everything from sustainable agriculture to pond scum as a reflection of her Potawatomi heritage, which carries a stewardship 'which could not be taken by history: the knowing that we belonged to the land.' . . . It's a book absorbed with the unfolding of the world to observant eyes?that sense of discovery that draws us in.
NPR

Professor and botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer knows that the answer to all forms of ecological unbalance have long been hidden in plain sight, told in the language of plants and animals, minerals and elements. She draws on her own heritage . . . pairing science with Indigenous principles and storytelling to advocate for a renewed connection between human beings and nature.
Outside

Kimmerer eloquently makes the case that by observing and celebrating our reciprocal relationship with the natural world, one can gain greater ecological consciousness.
Sierra Magazine

Braiding Sweetgrass is instructive poetry. Robin Wall Kimmerer has put the spiritual relationship that Chief Seattle called the 'web of life' into writing. Industrial societies lack the understanding of the interrelationships that bind all living things?this book fills that void. I encourage one and all to read these instructions.
Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation and Indigenous Environmental Leader

Braiding Sweetgrass is the book we all need right now. It is a vision of a new world, of reciprocity, gratitude and seeing the living world for what it is: an abundance of gifts. Kimmerer is uniquely placed to braid indigenous knowledge with scientific learnings and she does it with kindness, ingenuity and a poet's prose. It is truly the text for our times.
Lucy Jones, author of Losing Eden

One of the most beautiful books I've ever read.
Daily Herald

Remarkable, wise and potentially paradigm-shifting
Guardian

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Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

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A journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise Elizabeth Gilbert An extraordinary book, showing how the factual, objective approach of science can be enriched by the ancient knowledge of the indigenous people.

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How to make totally natural house cleaning products

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Cleaning products are one of the first places that Keepers of the Home look to eliminate toxins and chemicals from our households.

For me, making homemade all-natural cleaning projects was a logical first step, because I love to follow recipes, which is all that is really involved in making your own cleansers!

I spent hours scouring the internet back in the day for ideas, suggestions, recipes, and useful hints on the topic of homemade cleaners. After lots of trial and error, I have found a few that are my go-to faves, and I'm sharing them today so that you don't have to do all of the leg work!

Before I get into the specific recipes, though, let me just say this: white vinegar and baking soda clean Just. About. Everything. You'll see it's the main combination in a bunch of the recipes below, but there are oodles of other things it can clean, too! (You'll get a chuckle out of all the ways my daughters have learned to use it, too!)

So, with that said, let's start in the kitchen.

Maybe you've seen my post with Must-Have Homemade Kitchen Cleaners. Out of those, my most-used cleaner is an all-purpose cleaner, great for all kinds of hard surfaces:

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix the vinegar, essential oils and a little water before adding baking soda in a clean spray bottle (glass is best). Then fill to top with water. I use about a 12 oz bottle. Gently shake to mix ingredients, and then spray, wipe with a cloth, and allow it to dry.

Here are some other cleaners to use in the kitchen:

Homemade "Soft-Scrub" Cleaner

1 ½ cups baking soda

½ cup environmentally safe liquid laundry soap (ECOS, for example)

10 drops tea tree, lavender, or lemon essential oil

Mix baking soda and laundry soap in a mixing bowl, stirring vigorously to combine into a paste. Add essential oil and mix well. Store in an airtight food container.

If the mixture begins to dry out, add a small amount of water and mix well.

Homemade Disinfectant Wipes

1 cup water

¼ cup with vinegar

8 drops tea tree oil

8 drops eucalyptus essential oil

8 drops lemon essential oil

Empty "wipe" container (baby wipe, for example)

15 - 20 squares of cloth (old t-shirts work well, as do old dish towels or similar material)

Fold and place the cloth squares into the empty wipe container and set aside.

Combine in a mixing bowl the water, vinegar, and 3 essential oils, stirring until well mixed.

Pour this mixture over the cloths in the container where they will soak in and be ready for you to pull out and use!

Launder and repeat as often as the cloths hold up!

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap

Combine distilled water with salt, stirring until the salt is dissolved.

In a separate bowl, combine the vinegar, Sal Suds, and lemon juice. Stir this mixture into the salt water mixture, and stir until thickened.

You may wish to add 10 - 15 drops of lemon essential oil both for scent and for disinfectant properties.

Pour mixture into a recycled dish soap container for storage.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

1 cup salt

2 cups baking soda

2 cups Borax

1 cup of Lemi-Shine (non-toxic, found in the detergent aisle)

Mix all ingredients together. Transfer to an air-tight storage container. It will last a long time: each load uses only 2 tablespoons of detergent! (I recommend keeping white vinegar in the rinse agent compartment, too.)

Homemade Oven Cleaner

½ cup baking soda

2 - 3 Tbsp water (or more/less)

White vinegar (1/2 cup or so)

In a small bowl, mix ½ cup of baking soda and stir in 2 - 3 tablespoons of water, adjusting as needed to get a spreadable paste.

Spread this all over the walls of your ovens, rubbing it in for a scrubbing effect.

Let that mixture rest overnight.

In the morning, you will put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz everywhere you see baking soda, which will create a foaming action. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, rinsing until clean.

Homemade Drain Cleaner

¼ - ½ cup baking soda

¼ cup white vinegar

Sprinkle baking soda down the clogged or smelly drain, and follow that with the vinegar. Let the bubbling mixture sit for an hour or so, then pour boiling hot water down the drain to rinse.

Depending on how smelly or clogged the drain is, you may need to repeat the process again. Once you do it regularly, you'll find that one time usually takes care of it!

Moving out of the kitchen, let's talk bathroom cleaning.

A lot of the same principles that apply to cleaning the kitchen carry over into the bathroom.

For example, vinegar and baking soda still play a large role, and the disinfectant power of certain essential oils is key. Here are some of my favorite ways to tackle one of the most-used rooms in the house:

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Did you notice I didn't write "Homemade" in the title of this one? That's because technically the ingredient I'm about to tell you about isn't homemade - and it's going to blow your mind!

Are you ready??

Kool-Aid.

Yep, the nectar of our childhoods is an amazing toilet bowl cleaner. Specifically, the lemonade Kool-Aid. Here's the poop, er, I mean scoop:

Lemonade has citric acid, which helps clean the toilet bowl. (So does the old Astronaut Orange Beverage TANG, but does anyone actually have that anymore?)

All you have to do is flush your toilet, sprinkle a package of Kool-Aid lemonade around the sides and scrub with a toilet bowl brush. Let this sit for several hours (overnight is best), and then flush in the morning.

It's just that easy!

Homemade Mirror and Glass Cleaner

Combine everything in a spray bottle. Shake to mix well. Spray onto glass surface and wipe clean.

Be sure you shake well to fully integrate the cornstarch, which is the ingredient that reduces streaking. You'll want to shake before each use.

Homemade Air Freshener

12 - 15 drops of pure essential oil (grapefruit, lemon, orange, lavender are favorites)

½ cup white vinegar

1/12 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake, and spray to freshen the room! (Shake before each use).

You can experiment with higher ratios of vinegar to water and upping the essential oil if this is not strong enough for your preference.

Moving into the Laundry Room now...

Homemade Non-Toxic Liquid Laundry Detergent

½ cup Borax

½ cup washing soda (i.e. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Laundry Booster)

½ cup of Dawn dish soap (every mother of baseball-playing, grass-stain gettin' boys knows this!)

4 cups hot water

Clean, empty gallon plastic jug (i.e. recycled juice/milk jug)

Combine the first three ingredients in the container (you may need a funnel to get it in there) and then pour in the water to dissolve the ingredients. Fill the container to the top with cold water. Shake before each use. For a standard-sized load of laundry, ¼ cup should work. Use a little more for a more heavily-soiled load.

(Note: This has worked in HE washers with great results!)

Homemade Stain Remover

There are a few ways I like to tackle stains in the laundry room. First, let me just say that a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution is a super stain remover! I've used it on lots of stains where I spray it on, let it soak, and then launder as normal. (Note to moms of girls just getting their first periods: there is nothing better to deal with the "Aunt Flow" stains in the underwear or on the sheets!)

There's also the mixture of washing soda and white vinegar. You simply sprinkle the washing soda onto the stain, spray with white vinegar that has been diluted in a 1:1 ratio with water. Scrub the paste into the stain and let it stand for about 20 minutes. Launder as normal.

For really tough stains, like grass stains, the magic of Dawn dish soap comes in handy. This one calls for a bit of a recipe:

2/3 cup Dawn dish detergent

2/3 cup ammonia

6 Tbsp baking soda

2 cups warm water

Mix together all ingredients, and then pour into a spray bottle. Spray onto the stain, let it rest a bit, then launder as normal.

Because of the ammonia, you should NOT want this in chlorine bleach!

Homemade Fabric Softener

5 ½ cups water

15 oz bottle of your favorite hair conditioner

2.5 cups white vinegar

20 drops of essential oil for fragrance (optional, especially if your conditioner has a nice scent)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour into empty storage container (such as empty fabric soft container).

Use approximately ¼ cup per normal washload prior to the rinse cycle.

Homemade Dryer Sheets

This is super easy to do! Find a bunch of hubby's old t-shirts (not his beloved old t-shirts, but the others!) and cut them into washcloth sized squares.

Next, you will take some of the homemade fabric softener from the recipe above, and fill about ½ of an airtight, lidded storage container with this. Place the t-shirts in the container, and press them down to soak up the fabric softener.

Squeeze out excess before tossing a square into the dryer with your clothes. These are obviously recyclable, and don't have to be laundered between uses!

And finally, to the living areas of the house.

Homemade Dusting Spray

1 Tbsp castile soap

15 drops lemon essential oil

2 cups water

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake gently to combine. Use as you would any typical dusting spray, either spraying onto a clean cloth and wiping, or spraying on the surface and wiping. (I'd start with the first option, or test a small area of the furniture first).

Homemade Wood Polishing Spray

¾ cup olive oil

¼ cup white vinegar

30 drops essential oil, optional (I like lemon, orange, or lavender best)

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake vigorously. Spray directly on wood furniture and buff with a clean, dry cloth. Shake before each use.

Homemade Carpet Freshener (With Added Benefits)

In addition to freshening the smell in a room, this combination of ingredients can disinfect, kill fleas and their eggs, and act as a rodent deterrent.

2 cups Borax

1 cup baking soda

10 drops essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Store in an air-tight container. When you're ready to use, just sprinkle around the carpet and let sit for about half an hour. Vacuum up, and you're good to go!

Homemade Carpet Stain Remover

Sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let it sit for about 10 minutes, then vacuum it up.

Next, mix 1 Tbsp Dawn dish soap, 1 Tbsp white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water.

Sponge this onto the stain and blot with dry cloth, repeating until stain disappears.

So, those are the go-to recipes that I find most helpful around the house. Here's another great article with some additional natural cleaning tips if you'd like some more ideas. Let me know if you've got a recipe or potion that works wonders in your household!
What are your favorite homemade all-natural cleaning recipes?

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The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes

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Cleaning products are one of the first places that Keepers of the Home look to eliminate toxins and chemicals from our households. For me, making homemade all-natural cleaning projects was a logical first step, because I love to follow recipes, which is all that is really involved in making your own cleansers!

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Interested in Australian indigenous medicine and bush food?

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Interested in Australian indigenous medicine and bush food?

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Check this out on Facebook

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Australian Aboriginal Bushfood and Medicines

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Australian Aboriginal Bushfood and Medicines. 21,430 likes · 26 talking about this. Welcome - Australian Aboriginal Bushfoods and Medicines is the focus of this page. The aim of this page is to...

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For some insights into the various elements of GMP

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For some insights into the various elements of GMP

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Have a look at lots of the varied plants in this family

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The Myrtaceae, consisting of trees and shrubs found in the tropics, subtropics, and temperate Australia, comprises about 140 genera and 3,000 species. The leaves are most commonly opposite, and frequently are glandular dotted; stipules are absent or vestigial. The flowers are actinomorphic, commonly with a 4-5-parted calyx and corolla that is frequently reduced and inconspicuous compared to the well-developed androecium of numerous stamens. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of 2-5 carpels, a single style and stigma, and a partly to wholly inferior ovary with 2-5 locules and 2-many axile ovules (or occasionally a single locule with intruded parietal placentation). The fruit is usually a berry or loculicidal capsule.

Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.

Calli stemon citrinus, red bottle brush. Note reduced perianth, prominent androecium, and inferior ovary.

Eucalyptus citriodora, lemon-scented gum. Note the inferior ovary and the prominence of the androecium as the attractive unit of the flower. Note also that Eucalyptus is exceptional in that the calyx is extremely reduced and the corolla forms a lid that falls off as a unit when the stamens expand.

Eucalyptus deglupta, Mindanao gum. Very large tree from Indonesia with striking orange and green streaked smooth bark.

Eugenia uniflora, Myrtaceae, Surinam cherry. Shrub or small tree from Brazil wit h white flowers and edible, spicy, red, 8-furrowed fruit about 2 cm in diameter. The corolla and androecium are more or less equally conspicuous in this species.

Loph ostemon confertus, Myrtaceae, Brisbane box, brush box, vinegar tree.

Melaleuca quinquenervia, paper bark. Note the conspicuous clusters of stamens in the flowers. Capsular fruits are on the right. A strip of the pape ry bark is also visible.

Myrciaria cauliflora, jaboticaba.

Pimenta dioica, allspice. This leaves of this species emit a strong but ve ry pleasant aroma when crushed.

Psid ium cattleianum, strawberry guava. This is a very common invasive tree in Hawaiian forests.

Psidium guajava, guava. Shrub or tree from tropical America, with yellow or brownish lemon-shaped and sized fruit, pink or cream colored inside. Used for jam, jelly and juice.

Syzygiu m cumini, Java plum, jambolan plum. Tree from E. Indies and Burma, with white flowers and purple to black, globose, edible fruit.

Syzygium jambos, rose apple. This is a large tree with edible fruit. Note the very dominant nature of the androecium in the open flowers.

Syzygium malaccense, mountain or Malay apple.

Plant Family Access Page
Home Page

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The Myrtaceae, consisting of trees and shrubs found in the tropics, subtropics, and temperate Australia, comprises about 140 genera and 3,000 species. The leaves are most commonly opposite, and frequently are glandular dotted; stipules are absent or vestigial.

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Learn all about medicinal plants of the Myrtaceae family with the latest research and recipes

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Learn all about medicinal plants of the Myrtaceae family with the latest research and recipes

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About the ARTG

The publicly accessible version of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is the reference database of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It provides information on therapeutic goods that can be supplied in Australia.

Please note: the ARTG is a record of the contents and classification details of therapeutic goods. It is not intended to provide guidance, advice or recommendations on those goods.

Unless exempt, therapeutic goods not entered on the ARTG cannot be supplied in Australia.
Search the ARTG
For a more detailed search we have a trial (beta) ARTG search version that has been developed for larger screens and Chrome browser.

Therapeutic Goods not in the ARTG

Exempt therapeutic goods: Exempt therapeutic goods do not need to be included in the ARTG. However, as these products are considered therapeutic goods, they must comply with all relevant legislative requirements for therapeutic goods. Details of exempt therapeutic goods are provided in Schedules 5 and 5A of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990.

Unapproved therapeutic goods: There are special circumstances where individuals can access unapproved therapeutic goods. For more information see: Access to unapproved products.

Using the ARTG search function

You can search the ARTG for both medicines and medical devices.

Enter your search term into the search box on the TGA website. You can search using:

the product name

licence details

sponsor details

active ingredient names

the ARTG identifier number.

The ARTG public summary contains information about the product including the ARTG start date, the effective date and more.

The ARTG start date is the date the product was added to the ARTG. The effective date is the date the last change to the entry came into effect.

Products remain on the ARTG unless:

the sponsor requests that the product be cancelled

there are concerns about the safety of the product that result in regulatory action

the sponsor does not pay the necessary charges.

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Searching the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)

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The publicly accessible version of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is the reference database of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It provides information on therapeutic goods that can be supplied in Australia. Please note: the ARTG is a record of the contents and classification details of therapeutic goods.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Making Herbal Salves and Lotions

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An herbalist shares step-by-step instructions for making your own natural remedies at home. Whip up therapeutic creams, oils, and salves with these 6 herb-infused recipes.

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"Salves are usually stiffer than ointment, containing more beeswax.

Ointments are softer, made with less beeswax, and are easier to smooth over skin. A salve can be stored in a tin, while an ointment is more suited to a jar with a tight lid that will help prevent melting and leaking in hot weather."
https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2016/06/making-salves-and-ointments.html

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One is never enough! Double Fertilisation

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One is never enough! Double Fertilisation

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Can you answer this question? "What two fertilisation events make up DOUBLE FERTILISATION in angiosperms?". Here's the answer: there are two fertilisations because the generative cell found in pollen releases two sperm cells when it finally reaches and enters an ovule (where an egg can be found). One fertilises the egg and the second sperm cell fuses with the two polar nuclei in the ovule. Check this video for an in depth overview of Double Fertilisation:

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Check out http://www.biologyreference.com/Fo-Gr/Fruits.html for a nice condensed summary of fruit and some handy graphics

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What is the Difference Between True Fruit and False Fruit - Pediaa.Com

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The main difference between true fruit and false fruit is that true fruit or the eucarp develops from the mature, ripened ovary, but bulk of the false fruit

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Try our natives in balms like Lemon Myrtle and Eucalyptus

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Try our natives in balms like Lemon Myrtle and Eucalyptus

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sulin Sze (@gaia_herbalist)

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sulin Sze (@gaia_herbalist)

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let's get waxy!

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Ointments, salves and balms are terms sometimes used interchangeably. They tend to refer to firm, herbal-infused oil based remedies with a topical use. They are made with herbal infused oils with a wax to harden them. They sometimes contain essential oils and tinctures for added medicinal effects and preservation.

A basic ointment recipe can be remade with different ingredients for different purposes. They make an ideal addition to home-remedy medicine chests.

When you make your own ointments, you know exactly what went into them and for a fraction of the cost of ones you would buy at the store. They last a reasonable amount of time (usually 1-2 years).

They are so simple to make, and once you know how, you will be giving them to everyone. It's addictive!

What is the difference between ointments, salves and balms?

The terms generally mean the same thing, though some people define them slightly differently depending on what was added to the oil base, such as herbs, essential oil or wax type. But no one agrees in the same way. Balms and salves are also used by some to refer to creams that also have a water part.

In medicine and pharmacy, firm, oil-based remedies are most often classed as ointments (or in old medical latin 'unguentum'). In our herbal training this is what they were called and so this is the name we tend to use. For the rest of this article, however, we will use the word ointment.

What are ointments suitable for?

Ointments are used as topical rubs. They are ideal for things like skincare and muscle and joints.

They are not usually suitable for things like eczema and rashes where a hot sticky oil may worsen it. In hot, itchy conditions like this, opt for a cooling cream instead.

How do you make an ointment?

Ointments use a base of herbal-infused oil hardened with a wax or butter.

If you haven't visited the page already, please click hereto learn how to make infused oils.

The basic beeswax recipe, how to use essential oils and troubleshooting can be found on the next page.

There is also a third page about vegan options.
Click on the button below to access these: for behind-the-scenes videos, exclusive advanced library, and live make-alongs... The price of a coffee helps support the herbal community

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Making Ointments: Part 3 - Handmade Apothecary

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Ointments, salves and balms are terms sometimes used interchangeably. They tend to refer to firm, herbal-infused oil based remedies with a topical use. They are made with herbal infused oils with a wax to harden them. They sometimes contain essential oils and tinctures for added medicinal effects and preservation.

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a key feature of the Asteraceae family

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Other articles where head is discussed: inflorescence: Indeterminate inflorescence.: A head (capitulum) is a short dense spike in which the flowers are borne directly on a broad, flat peduncle, giving the inflorescence the appearance of a single flower, as in the dandelion (Taraxacum).

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This is a growth style in plants, characterised by smaller flowers at the tip of the floral axis. View to learn more...

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What is the MATURATION STYLE of an inflorescence?

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What is the MATURATION STYLE of an inflorescence?

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Let me tell you all about it! There are two ways flowers grow on a stem and the difference is where the new flowers emerge from. If the stem apex leads new flower growth then all growth underneath the stem apex (I.e lateral stems) are subservient. This is Racemose maturation style otherwise known as Indeterminate.  New flowers will always emerge at the stem apex, as you see in this image. Does this mean that smaller flowers are found at the apex or base of the flower stem? At the apex of course! The other style is Cymose, where it’s quite the opposite story.

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I know it's a bit to take in initially, but once we start looking at plant families, you will become more intrigued by the inflorescence types that they contain. Test your knowledge by working out which inflorescences are featured in this crossword. Enjoy!

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(A) An extraordinary being capable of long haul flying
(B) A dried up old fruit full determined to keep a species alive
(C) A soft, furry, lovable thing
(D) All of the Above
Answer: D. Yes! More about CYPSELAS this term

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Pretty magical. The structure of the modified calyx helps Dandelion spread its seeds. And then there's the matter of the vortex....

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How a Vortex Helps Dandelions Fly | ScienceTake

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Here is Dandelion Taraxacum officinale. Can you see the bracts surrounding the flower head? They are pouring out from beneath the receptacle and the green sepals are above them, wrapping where the petals were. Although by this stage the flower has undergone a miraculous transformation from yellow capitulum flower head into a cypsela seed head.

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(Previously known as the Umbel Family: Apiaceae
Umbelliferae) Plants of the Parsley or Carrot Family

The Parsley Family includes some wonderful edible plants like the carrot and parsnip, plus more aromatic spices found in your spice cabinet, such as anise, celery, chervil, coriander, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel and of course, parsley. But unlike the Mustard or Mint families, the Parsleys are not all safe for picking and eating. In fact, the Parsley family is among the most important families of plants to learn, since it includes the deadliest plants in North America: poison hemlock and water hemlock. Note that the hemlock tree is totally unrelated.

For identification, the most distinctive pattern of the Parsley family is the "compound umbels". Notice how all the stems of the flower cluster radiate from a single point at the end of the stalk, kind of like an umbrella. At the end of each of these flower stems there is another umbrella of even smaller stems, hence the "compound umbrella" or "compound umbel". To be a true umbel, the stems or spokes must all radiate from exactly the same point. Other flowers like the common yarrow may appear to have compound umbels, but look closer and you will see that the flower stems are staggered off the main stalk, so the yarrow is not a member of this family. Another pattern of the Parsley family is that the stems are usually, but not always hollow. Kids have been poisoned using hemlock stems for straws.

When you recognize the compound umbels of the Parsley family then you know you have to be careful. You must be 100% certain of what these plants are before you harvest them for food or medicine. More than that, you must be right! People die just about every year thinking they have discovered some kind of wild carrot.

So how do you distinguish the poisonous members of the family? Don't rush it. You might think that learning plants is just a matter of filling up the disk space in your head with data, but there is a bit more to it than that. No matter what you study, whether it is plant identification, art, or math, you learn by connecting neurons in the brain to build a neural network for processing the information. Getting started is the most dangerous time, because all the plants tend to look alike-- kind of green mostly. Just practice pointing out compound umbels everywhere you go, starting with the dill or fennel in the garden. The more you practice this and other family patterns, the more you will learn to see just how unique and different each plant is.

When you are proficient at recognizing the major plant families, then go back and start studying more of the individual plants. Even then, avoid rushing to conclusions. Keep in mind that when your goal is to find an answer, then you will find one, whether it is right or not.

If you are positive that you have identified a member of the Parsley family correctly, that's good. Now wait and see if you are still sure of your answer in a few days or a week. When you get good at recognizing certain species every time you see them, then you might consider trying out their appropriate edible or medicinal uses. Worldwide there are about 300 genera in the Parsley family, representing more than 3000 species. About 75 genera are native to North America.

Key Words: Compound umbels. Usually hollow flower stalks.

Please e-mail Thomas J. Elpel to report mistakes or to inquire about purchasing high resolution photos of these plants.

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Apiaceae: Parsley or Carrot Family. Identify herbs, plants, and flowers.

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(Previously known as the Umbel Family: Apiaceae Umbelliferae) Plants of the Parsley or Carrot Family The Parsley Family includes some wonderful edible plants like the carrot and parsnip, plus more aromatic spices found in your spice cabinet, such as anise, celery, chervil, coriander, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel and of course, parsley.

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Infused honeys, electuaries and pastilles....by Kiva Rose

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Honey is an excellent and traditional vehicle for many herbal medicines. Its sweet taste improves the perceived palatability of many remedies, its own innate healing properties increases its effectiveness, and its ability to extract or preserve a wide range of botanical constituents makes it nearly ideal in a wide range of situations.

Honey is a wonderful method of delivering both concentrated, low-dose medicines as well as food-like herbs. It can be used internally, as well as externally in the form of burn or wound dressings. Honey-based preparations are easily put together, and recipes like that for pastilles can even be done by children and are a great way of introducing young ones to the fun and effectiveness of herbal medicine.

Herbal Infused Honey - An herbal honey that has been infused with a fresh or dried plant that imparts its medicinal or culinary properties to the honey. The plant matter is usually cooked into the honey or allowed to steep in room temperature honey for specific period of time in order to most efficiently extract the flavor and medicine from the herbs.

Electuary - Here, an electuary specifically refers to powdered herbs mixed with honey to create a paste.

Pastilles - A thick, semi-solid electuary formed into small pills or balls.

Fresh Plant Infused Honey

In general, herbal honeys are often best made with fresh plants. A fresh plant honey in the folkloric method can be created by simply chopping up enough fresh herbs to fill a jar and then covering with honey, being sure to stir until the plant matter is completely coated and all air bubbles are stirred out, topping off with honey as necessary.

A more precise recipe involves placing 1 part (by weight) chopped fresh plant(s) to a jar and then adding 2 parts (by volume) honey (you may need to gently warm the honey to make liquid enough to pour), and then stirring to evenly distribute honey, release air bubbles and completely coat the herb. Depending on the texture and fluffiness of the plant, this may be difficult to achieve and may require chopping or grinding the plant matter very finely in order to actually be able to cover the plant entirely with honey. While consistency in preparation is helpful and desirable, so is flexibility and function, so feel free to adjust proportions and measurements as needed.

In both methods, the honey is sealed in an airtight jar, and left to steep (out of the sun or direct light) for appr. 4 weeks before straining (reserving honey), bottling and storing in cool, dark place. Especially when the honey is infused with a plant with a high water content, you may wish to store your honey in the refrigerator to avoid possible fermentation.

Dried Plant Infused Honey

A dried plant herbal infused honey is made by taking 1 part (by weight) dried plant, usually roughly ground, and blending with 5 parts (by volume) honey, being sure to stir enough to thoroughly distribute the honey and release any air bubbles. You may need to gently warm the honey in order for it to pour easily.

With very aromatic plants, it may only be necessary to let the honey sit at room temperature for several weeks in order to extract the desired healing properties, but in many cases, more medicine can be pulled into the honey by gently heating the honey and herbs in a double boiler on low heat for 8-12 hours.

When the honey is ready, warm gently until it is easily pourable and then strain, reserving honey. Bottle and store in a cool, dark place until needed.

Electuary

An electuary can be made by simply adding a finely powdered herb to gently warmed honey, with the proportion varying according to the purpose and plant. There is more variation in this recipe than many of the others because the finished texture of the electuary is important and will vary a great deal with the specific herb being used. Remember that the honey will thicken as it sits, so add a little (about 5-10%) less than you think you want for the desired texture and thickness.

Dried herbs tend to work best for this preparation, but it is possible to use fresh finely chopped non-woody plants if desired. Additionally, it may sometimes be helpful to heat the honey and herbs together over a low heat (usually in a double boiler) for 8-12 hours to further extract the flavor and medicine of the herb into the honey. When the electuary is completed, it is usually advisable to run it through a medium fine sieve to remove any large chunks of plant matter while retaining the powder.

Pastilles

Pastilles are a thick electuary made into small pills or marble sized balls often used as throat lozenges or as a convenient way of consuming small amount of whole plant matter. They are made in the exact same way as electuaries but often with a mucilaginous herb as the base, such as Malva, Althaea or Ulmus to help hold the pastille together

When creating the paste, be sure to slowly add just enough warm honey to your herbs to make a thick paste, about a teaspoon at a time. If it gets too gooey you can add more herb powder to thicken it back up. Keep in mind that the gooier it is the harder it will be to dry it. Then take small pinches of the dough and make about marble sized (or smaller) balls, setting them aside on a piece of wax paper or something similar.

After you've finished the whole batch, let the balls dry in a warm, dry place. You could put them in the oven at a very low temperature, on top of the fridge or in the wood stove warmer. Depending on what method you use and your climate, they'll be dry and fairly hard within a few hours to several days. You want them dry to help prevent spoilage and so that they dissolve slowly in the mouth rather than being just a gooey lump.

Once they're dry, wrap each one separately in wax paper, cling wrap or similar and then store in an airtight moisture-free container. If stored properly, they'll often last several years. The mucilaginous and astringent properties tend to last a lot longer than the volatile oils, so you'll notice a slow change over time, with the gooey soothingness usually the last property to go if you used a nice mucilage like Ulmus bark or Althea root.
Notes on Honey Quality
Honey itself has many notable medicinal qualities and utmost care should be taken to purchase the highest quality honey possible for medicinal uses. Raw local honeys are preferred and will also greatly enhance the flavor of the medicine.

Fresh Plant Infused Honey

* High quality honey

* Fresh plant matter

* Appropriate sized jar

* Something to stir with (a wooden chopstick can work well)

* Measuring cup and scale

1. Roughly chop plant matter and add to jar in the ratio of 1 part (by weight) herb to 2 parts (by volume) honey, stirring well to distribute the honey and release any air bubble.

2. Cover with air-tight lid.

3. Leave to infuse in a room temperature to warm place out of direct light for about 4 weeks.

4. When finished, strain, reserving honey.

5. Store in a cool, dark place.

For example: We could take 1 ounce (measured by weight on a scale) of coarsely chopped fresh Salvia officinalis (or other aromatic species), place it in a jar, then cover it with 2 ounces (measured by volume in a measuring cup or something similar) gently warmed (to make it more pourable) honey. We would then stir it well, cap tightly and allow to steep for about four weeks before straining and bottling. Be sure to store in a cool, dark place.

Dried Plant Infused Honey
Ingredients
* High quality honey

* Fresh plant matter

* Appropriate sized jar

* Something to stir with (a wooden chopstick can work well)

* Measuring cup and scale

1. Use coarsely ground plant matter and add to jar in the ratio of 1 part (by weight) herb to 5 parts (by volume) honey, stirring well to distribute the honey and release any air bubble.

2. Cover with air-tight lid.

3. Leave to infuse in a room temperature to warm place out of direct light for about 4 weeks.

4. When finished, strain, reserving honey.

5. Store in a cool, dark place.
Warm Infusion Variation
1. Roughly chop plant matter and add to a double boiler in the ratio of 1 part (by weight) herb to 2 parts (by volume) honey, stirring well to distribute the honey and release any air bubble.

2. Infuse over low heat for 8-12 hours, stirring occasionally. Cover during infusion if using aromatic herbs.

3. When finished, strain, reserving honey.

4. Store in a cool, dark place.

For example: We could use 1 ounce (measured on a scale) coarsely ground Rosa spp. petals to mix with 5 ounces (measured in a measuring cup or similar) of honey in a glass jar. We would then stir it well, cap tightly and allow to steep for about four weeks before straining and bottling. Be sure to store in a cool, dark place.

Electuary

Ingredients

* High quality honey

* Finely powdered dried herbs (this can be done in a coffee grinder, vitamix, mortar & pestle or optionally, purchased in powdered form.)

* Appropriate sized jar

* Something to stir with (a wooden chopstick can work well)

1. If you're making a compound electuary with multiple herbs, you'll want to blend the powders first, before involving the honey.

2. Add gently warmed honey to jar.

3. Add powdered herbs, about a teaspoon at a time (more if you are making a very large amount of electuary), stirring as you go, until you reach the desired consistency.

4. Cover with airtight lid.

5. Ideally infuse for at least a week before using.

6. You may wish to strain out any larger chunks at this point through medium fine sieve.

7. Store in cool, dark place.

Variation: Warm Infusion Electuary

1. If you're making a compound electuary with multiple herbs, you'll want to blend the powders first, before involving the honey.

2. Add honey to double boiler.

3. Add powdered herbs, about a teaspoon at a time (more if you are making a very large amount of electuary), stirring as you go, until you reach the desired consistency.

4. Infuse at low heat for 8-12 hours (or more, depending on the plant), stirring occasionally and being sure to cover if infusing aromatic herbs.

5. You may wish to strain out any larger chunks at this point through medium fine sieve.

6. Store in cool, dark place.

Pastilles

Ingredients

* One or more electuaries, made a little extra thick to facilitate the pastille making process. Additionally, it is often best (depending on the specific use intended) to use a mucilaginous herb such as Althea root or Ulmus bark as base (constituting about 50% of the herb powder used) to better hold the pastilles better. These herbs are also consistently soothing, anti-inflammatory and widely applicable to a variety of inflammatory or viral ailments.

* Extra herbal powder for rolling pastilles in. Usually this is something like Ulmus or Althea but a blend could be used or something like Rosa petals.

* Baking sheet

* Wax paper, parchment paper, butcher paper or something similar to wrap the pastilles in.

* A tin with a tight-fitting lid or something similar to store the pastilles in.

1. Form the honey/herb dough into small balls, about the size of a marble. If the dough is too gooey, add more herb powder to the mix, excessive gooeyness will result in pastilles that are very difficult to properly dry. If it is too crumbly, you can add a bit of warm honey, stir thoroughly and wait for the dough to firm up again.

2. If the balls are at all sticky (they usually are), roll them in the extra powder.

3. Place on baking sheet.

4. Allow to slowly dry, either in the open air (a fan will speed up the process) or on your oven's lowest setting (or in a wood-burning stove, in the very bottom of the oven) or some place similar. Depending on your area's temperature and humidity, they could take anywhere from 6 hours to several days. They're ready when firm to hard.

5. Wrap individually in paper and store in a sealed tin.

6. Keep in a cool, dark place until needed.

Considerations: Honey may not be appropriate for children under a year old.

Appropriate Herbs:

Nearly any plant can be utilized through one of the above honey methods. Aromatic herbs tends to work best for plain infused honeys, but electuaries and pastilles can work with just about any plant that can be ground to a fine powder, although some will taste much better than others.

Please note that if you choose to purchase your herbs in powder form that due to the increased exposure of surface area to oxidation, they will often be weaker and break down much more quickly than other herbs. It is therefore imperative to use them as quickly as possible and to always buy from a reputable company or individual. Personally, I far prefer to grind my own herbs in almost all cases (except, as with Ulmus bark, a hammer-mill or something similar is needed), so as to guarantee the freshness and efficacy of the remedy.

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Infused Honeys + Electuaries + Pastilles - Kiva Rose

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Honey is an excellent and traditional vehicle for many herbal medicines. Its sweet taste improves the perceived palatability of many remedies, its own innate healing properties increases its effectiveness, and its ability to extract or preserve a wide range of botanical constituents makes it nearly ideal in a wide range of situations.

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Turn Bloomed-Out Roses Into Unusual and Sweet Rose Hip Jelly

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Fresh rose hips make an easy and delicious jelly. This five-ingredient recipe is a frugal way of turning your bloomed-out roses into an edible treat.

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The sweet taste of childhood summers fills this jar of Honeysuckle Jelly. It's a mixture of summer and childhood and can be used for so many things!

I know a couple of months back I was obsessed with Honeysuckle.

I discovered it had so many uses and I adore it in all the things.

Okay maybe not everything but there are a lot of things that Honeysuckle really adds flavor too - and this Honeysuckle Jelly is incredible!

It's a mixture between the taste of summer or the sweetness of childhood all wrapped up in a flavorful, delicious Jelly.

A jelly that makes some of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten! Absolutely incredible!

I remembered trying Honeysuckle Jelly when I was much younger, and I knew I wanted to make some.

I was dying to find that flavor again. I seem to have found it with this recipe.

I won't lie, it takes a lot of those beautiful little blossoms to get a good flavor, but it's totally worth it!

I always grab way more than I need which is like shopping bags full.

But I always find a use for them and because of this I have plenty of recipes to share.

I have no qualms about sticking my spoon right into that jar and taking a big old bite of that jelly straight off the spoon.

It's the perfect amount of sweet, with a floral undertone.

It's incredible!

And it's not just good on bread.

It's great on pancakes, waffles, ice cream and more!

And if you want even more honeysuckle recipes, just check out these honeysuckle recipes.

Are you ready to make your own Honeysuckle Jelly?

Below the recipe are recipes for even more fun with Honeysuckle!

Ingredients

6-7 cups yellow honeysuckle blossoms, remove green tips

6 tablespoons powdered pectin

4 cups of boiling hot water

⅓ cup of fresh lemon juice

4 ½ cups of granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Gather your honeysuckle blossoms. Remove all greens and debris. Rinse in a colander.

2. When removing the green tips don't remove the stamen, it will pull all that amazing flavor out.

3. Boil 4 cups of water.

4. Place the honeysuckle blossoms in a tall jar or pitcher with a lid, and pour the hot boiling water over them. Allow this to sit for 12 hours (overnight).

5. Using a sieve, strain the flowers from the Infusion Water.

6. Heat the infusion water in a large pot on the stove until boiling. Add the powdered pectin and the lemon juice. Boil for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

7. Stir in the sugar and heat continue heating on medium high stirring constantly.

8. When the mixture hits 220 degrees you're done.

9. Ladle the liquid into the jars leaving about a ½" of head space at the top.

10. Seal the jar with the lids. Flip the jars upside down for about 10 minutes.

11. Flip them upright and place in a cool, dry place for 24 hours to continue cooling. You should hear them pop when they seal.

12. When completely cooled, be sure to test jars for proper sealing.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave us a rating below and then share a photo on Pinterest or Instagram and tag us @dailydishrecipes or #dailydishrecipes - we can't wait to see what you've made!

Want a few more unique jelly/jam recipes?
Honeysuckle Jelly
The sweet taste of childhood summer's fills this jar of Honeysuckle Jelly. It's a mixture of summer and childhood and can be used for so many things!

Blood Orange Marmalade
A little bit of sunshine in a jar. This Blood Orange Marmalade has a sweet, yet subtly tart citrus flavor that makes you think of a sunny day!

Corn Cob Jelly
This delicious Corn Cob Jelly is light, sweet and incredibly delicate and delicious. It tastes a whole lot like honey on anything you spread it on.

Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam
The sweet summery goodness of Blueberries, the tangy taste of lemon and the sweet spiciness of basil combines in this gorgeous and very delicious jam.

The sweet taste of summer in a jar of Watermelon Jelly. This jelly is delicious and goes great on a slice of bread, topping pancakes or waffles or even used in fruit salad or baked goods.

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Honeysuckle Jelly | Childhood Summer in a Jar - How to Make

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The sweet taste of childhood summers fills this jar of Honeysuckle Jelly. It's a mixture of summer and childhood and can be used for so many things! I know a couple of months back I was obsessed with Honeysuckle. I discovered it had so many uses and I adore it in all the things.

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While a sore throat can occur at any time of the year, they are particularly common during Cold & Flu Season due to allergies, viral infections, mucous drainage, or other irritations. Thankfully, there is an herbal preparation that is quite useful to soothe a sore throat, and it's super easy to make. Join me today to learn how to make herbal sore throat pastilles for your fall home apothecary.

If you haven't already, I'd love for you to subscribe to my YouTube channel. If you have any questions or comments about this video, feel free to leave them on YouTube or here on the blog. I love connecting with you, and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have.

Enjoy, friends!

📹 VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 📹

10 Must-Have Herbal Preparations for the Fall Apothecary - https://youtu.be/I5Xi4H660y8

🖥 BLOG POSTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🖥

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DIY Herbal Sore Throat Pastilles - Growing Up Herbal

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While a sore throat can occur at any time of the year, they are particularly common during Cold & Flu Season due to allergies, viral infections, mucous drainage, or other irritations. Thankfully, there is an herbal preparation that is quite useful to soothe a sore throat, and it's super easy to make.

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Making Herbal Pastilles with Rosalee de la Forêt

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Making Herbal Pastilles with Rosalee de la Forêt

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Making Herbal Pastilles with Rosalee de la Forêt

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HONEY, ELDERBERRY & GINGER THROAT LOZENGES recipe

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HONEY, ELDERBERRY & GINGER THROAT LOZENGES recipe

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Irena Macri | Healthy & Delicious Recipes

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First, you have to make a ginger and elderberry decoction. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 8-10 minutes and then strain and reserve the liquid. Store the liquid in a clean, sealed jar. Use the liquid to make tea, lozenges or to add to a cold drink such as soda water.

Lightly coat a 12-piece silicone mold (I used a silicon ice tray) with some coconut oil. Making the actual lozenges.

Place the decoction liquid, coconut sugar, honey and cream of tartar in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until it comes to a gentle boil. Once boiling, do not stir. Leave to gently boil for about 20-30minutes.

At about the 25-minute mark, begin to test the mixture to see if it's ready. You do this by dripping a small amount with a teaspoon into some iced water to see if it immediately hardens to toffee.

Continue to gently boil and test until the mixture comes to the 'hardened cracking' stage when dripped into iced water. When this stage has been reached, take off the boil and evenly pour the mixture into the silicone mold.

Place the mold in the fridge or freezer and allow to chill. Turn out the mold and store the lozenges in a glass container in the fridge. Separate the layers with some baking or parchment paper to prevent from sticking.

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Homemade Lozenges with Honey, Ginger & Elderberry

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First, you have to make a ginger and elderberry decoction. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 8-10 minutes and then strain and reserve the liquid. Store the liquid in a clean, sealed jar. Use the liquid to make tea, lozenges or to add to a cold drink such as soda water.

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Flowers are so incredibly intelligent, find out how...

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Flowers are so incredibly intelligent, find out how...

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Jonathan Drori: The beautiful tricks of flowers

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So beautiful...

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Rosaceae
Plants of the Rose Family

If you have ever buried your nose into an apple, rose, strawberry, or cherry blossom, then you know the Rose family. Roses have alternate leaves, which vary from simple to trifoliate, palmate, or pinnate. The whole leaves or smaller leaflets are frequently more or less oval-shaped with serrated edges, which is a good secondary pattern for recognizing the Rose family. As for the flowers, there are typically 5 (rarely 3 to 10) separate sepals and a similar number of petals. There are a minimum of 5 stamens, but often many more, usually in multiples of five. Many flowers of the Rose family, especially those of the Rose subfamily, have several to numerous simple pistils, or the pistils may be united at the base, with the styles separate, making a single compound pistil with numerous styles. Either way, the result is a distinctive, fuzzy-looking center surrounded by lots of stamens. Plants of the Rose family form many different fruits, varying from fleshy fruits to various false fruits, dry seeds, capsules, or follicles.

Worldwide, there are about 100 genera and 3,000 species. About 50 genera are found in North America. The Rose family produces many edible fruits. Tannins are common in the vegetation, giving astringent properties. Cyanide compounds are found in the leaves and fruits of some species.

In the early 1900s, botanists reclassified the former Spirea, Plum, and Apple families as subfamilies within the Rose family. In response, Robert Frost poemed,"The rose is a rose and was always a rose. But the theory now goes that the apple's a rose, and the pear is, and so's the plum, I suppose. The dear [Lord] only knows what will next prove a rose. You, of course, are a rose - but were always a rose."

Taxonomists have since determined that the Spiraea, Plum, and Apple subfamilies did not represent genetically distinct lines, but should more properly combined as a single subfamily, now known as the Almond subfamily, Amygdaloideae. When you have a specimen in hand, then read through each of the subfamilies to narrow down the choices for identification.

Key Words: 5 sepals and 5 petals with usually numerous stamens. Oval, serrated leaves.

Subfamilies of the Rose Family
Rose Subfamily | Dryad Subfamily
Almond Subfamily: Spiraeas | Plums | Apples
Please e-mail Thomas J. Elpel to report mistakes or to inquire about purchasing high resolution photos of these plants.

Rose Subfamily: Rosoideae
These members of the Rose Family have numerous stamens and numerous styles.

Most flowers of the Rose subfamily have a slightly domed receptacle beneath the pistils. Some species resemble Buttercups with their numerous stamens and numerous simple pistils attached to a cone-like receptacle. But it is easy to determine the difference. There are often stipules at the base of leaves in the Rose subfamily, but never in the Buttercups. Stipules are small, leaf-like growths at the base of the leaf stems.

Plants of the Rose subfamily have multiple separate pistils (sometimes basally united). Botanically speaking, the ovary from each pistil matures into its own fruit, which is a dry seed (achene) in most Roses. However, there are some interesting false fruits. In the rose, for example, each ovary produces a dry seed, all of which are enclosed within a fleshy receptical that greatly resembles a fleshy ovary. The strawberry is similar, but inverted, with the dry seeds embedded on the surface of a fleshy receptical. The raspberry, however, does have fleshy fruits; the ovary of each simple pistil swells to create an aggregate fruit covering a domed receptacle.

Dryad Subfamily: Dryadoideae

In the flowers and shrubs of the Dryad subfamily, the ovary matures as a dry seed (achene). The style remains attached to the ovary, usually forming a distinctive feathery plume attached to each seed. (Also found in Geum triflorum and Fallugia paradoxa of the Rose subfamily.) Like members of the Pea family, Dryads associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, forming nodules on the roots. The bacteria absorb nitrogen from the air and make it available to the plants. In exchange, the plants photosynthesize sugars for the bacteria. .

Almond Subfamily: Spiraeas - Amygdaloideae

The Almond subfamily includes the former Spiraea, Plum, and Apple subfamilies. There was some genetic overlap between these groups, which necessitated combining them. For example, some genera were previously classified as Spiraeas, but are more closely related to Plums or Apples. Nevertheless, the traditional grouping remains useful for the purposes of identification.

Spiraea-type plants are mostly shrubs with foamy-looking, dense clusters of usually small white or pink flowers, often with stamens dangling beyond the petals. Unlike the Rose subfamily, these plants do not have stipules on the leaves. The ovary is positioned superior with 2 to 5 (rarely 1 to 12) simple pistils, which may be partially fused at the base. Fruits of this group include capsules, follicles (unicarpellate dry fruits that split along a seam), or sometimes achenes (dry seeds).

Almond Subfamily: Plums - Amygdaloideae

Plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and almonds are all included in the Prunus genus. With most of these species, we eat the fleshy fruit and throw the pit away, but in the almond ( P. dulcis), we discard the fleshy fruit and crack open the pit to eat the nut. The ovary is positioned mostly or wholly superior and usually consists of a single carpel (unicarpellate) (2 to 5 carpels in Oemleria) forming a single chamber that matures as a drupe (a fleshy fruit with a stony seed). Next time you see one of these fleshy fruits, notice the "seam" down one side, and the almond-like pit in the middle; those are the obvious marks of Prunus and it closest allies.

The fruits and/or nuts of any species of Prunus are technically edible, but the nuts contain amygdalin, a glycoside that breaks down into benzaldehyde and cyanide. Benzaldehyde is the source of the bitter almond flavor, often utilized in cooking. The degree of bitterness is a good indicator of the concentration of amygdalin in the raw nut. Amygdalin, also known as laetrile or Vitamin B17, is considered beneficial in small doses, but excess consumption leads to cyanide poisoning. Cyanide prevents cells from utilizing oxygen in the bloodstream, resulting in asphyxiation at the cellular level. Proper cooking, drying, and/or oxidation destroys the cyanide, making the pit-or rather the nut inside the pit-edible.

Almond Subfamily: Apples - Amygdaloideae

If you find a Rose family plant with fleshy fruits and a five-pointed star on the bottom then it belongs to the apple group of the Almond Subfamily. The only other fleshy fruit of the Rose family with a five-pointed star is the rose itself (see the Rose subfamily). In apple-type flowers, the ovary is positioned inferior, leaving the remains of the flower attached to the tip of the fruit. The fruit is a false fruit known as a pome. Rather than being formed as a swollen ovary, the fleshy fruit is formed from the enlarged receptacle around the ovary.

All of these apple-type fruits are more or less edible, although some, like the mountain ash ( Sorbus), can be highly sour-astringent. Other cultivated members of the Apple subfamily include the apple ( Malus), pear ( Pyrus), quince ( Cydonia), loquat ( Eriobotrya), Christmasberry ( Photinia), and Pyracantha. The fruits of most of these plants are sweeter after a frost. Note that berries from the Heath family / Blueberry subfamily have a similar five-pointed star from the leftover sepals.

There are more
Rose Family pictures
at PlantSystematics.org.

Return to the Plant Families Index
Return to the Wildflowers & Weeds Home Page

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Rosaceae: Rose Family. Identify plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees.

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Rosaceae Plants of the Rose Family If you have ever buried your nose into an apple, rose, strawberry, or cherry blossom, then you know the Rose family. Roses have alternate leaves, which vary from simple to trifoliate, palmate, or pinnate.

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For those interested in the therapeutic effects of this magical plant

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Health benefits of Hawthorn Blossom | Herbal Medicine

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some insights...

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Incredible...

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A post shared by ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔟𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔪•☤•𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔶 (@ritual_botanica)

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All the basics on Flowers with my 5 minuter on Flower parts

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All the basics on Flowers with my 5 minuter on Flower parts

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The Wild Medicine Academy "5 minuter' series is a short audio/visual webinar style lesson that covers foundational concepts and practices in natural medicine. Get your Botanist hats on Green Hearts! It's time to look at plant classification, an important concept and tool for medicinal plant identification. Presented by Sulin Sze.

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This paper has lots of visuals and great summaries of key flower related concepts

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Where the ovary is located in relation to other flower parts such as the sepals and petals, determines it's position. Check out this video for a review

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Flower Morphology: Ready for the Challenge

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Flower Morphology: Ready for the Challenge

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There's much to learn about flowers and we are only touching the surface! But after you've read through your notes, have a go at this crossword and consolidate your learning. Enjoy!

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Amaze yourself with how much you have learnt about plants every day, look twice at those leaves, stems and flowers! What can you recognise in this flower? Look at the numerous stamen, and see how the ovary in the middle sits above the receptacle? The petals are brightly coloured too. These are all aspects of the Ranunculaceae family

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Flowers are divided into 4 whorls. These are (from outside to inside):
1. The sepals (all the sepals make up the CALYX)
2. The petals (all the petals make up the COROLLA)
3. The stamen (all the stamen make up the ANDROECIUM)
4. The carpels or "pistils" (all the carpels make up the GYNOECIUM)
This webpage provides more insights....

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The following points highlight the four essential accessory whorls of a flower. The essential accessory whorls are:- 1. Calyx 2. Corolla 3. Androecium 4. Gynoecium.

Accessory Whorls # 1. Calyx:

The calyx is the outermost accessory set of floral leaves, consisting of sepals. Sepals are usually green inconspicuous bodies. They protect the essential whorls against mechanical injuries and desiccation in the bud stage.

So, their function is mainly protective. Sepals of some plants become coloured like the petals and are called petaloid, e.g. Caesalpinea (B. Krishnachura). In Mussaenda one of the sepals is transformed into a flat leaf-like structure (Fig. 88). In the sunflower family the sepals are modified into hairy bodies called pappus which help in the dispersal of fruits.

If the sepals are free the calyx is called polysepalous, and they are united the calyx is gamosepalous. The gamosepalous calyx is more or less like a tube in which the number of sepals may be easily determined by counting the teeth or lobes. In many cases sepals fall off before the flowers fully open out. They are called caducous sepals, e.g. Poppy; while in others they fall off with other parts after fertilisation.

These are deciduous sepals. In some flowers sepals persist even up to the fruit stage and are called persistent, e.g. brinjal, tomato. Sometimes they not only persist but grow to form a part of the fruit, as in Dillenia (B. Chalte), Physalis (B. Tepari). These are called accrescent sepals.

Accessory Whorls # 2. Corolla:

It is the second accessory whorl of the flower, the individual parts of which are called petals. They make the flowers showy and attractive, as the petals are brightly coloured and often sweetly scented.

The function of corolla is twofold:

Firstly, the protection of the essential whorls in the bud stage; and

Secondly, the attraction of insects for pollination.

The petals of Polyalthia (B. Debdaru), custard apple, etc., are called sepaloid, as they are green and sepal-like in appearance. If the petals are free, the corolla is called polypetalous; and if they are united, it is gamopetalous.

The free petals often have two parts-a narrow stalk called claw and the upper flat blade known as limb. Petals having claws are said to be clawed, as in pink, radish, mustard (Fig. 89, 1). The corolla is regular, if all the petals are similar in size and shape; if they are dissimilar, it is irregular.

Forms of Corolla:

Different forms of corolla are found in flowers. They may be free or united, regular or irregular. It is, by no means, easy to give a precise account of all the forms found in nature.

The following are the principal and more common forms (Fig. 89):

A. Polypetalous Regular:

1. Cruciform:

It consists of four free clawed petals arranged in the form of a cross (Fig. 89, 1). Examples-mustard, radish. It is characteristic of the mustard family (Cruciferae).

2. Garyophyllaceous:

It has five clawed petals, the limbs of which lie more or less at right angles to the claws, e.g. pink (Fig. 89, 2).

3. Rosaceous:

It is composed of five petals without claws, e.g. roses, tea (Fig. 89, 3).

B. Polypetalous Irregular:

1. Papilionaceous:

It looks more or less like a butterfly (papilion=butterfly). It consists of five free petals. The largest and the outermost one is called standard or vexillum; two lateral ones are known as wings or alae; and the innermost two, called keel or carina, unite to form at boat-shaped body. Examples-- pea (Fig. 89, 4 & 5), beans, Sesbania (B. Bak). It is characteristic of the pea family (Papilionaceae).

C. Gamopetalous Regular:

1. Tubular:

Here the petals unite to form a tube-like body having lobes or teeth at the tip, by counting which the number of petals is determined, e.g. disc florets of sunflower, marigold (Fig. 89, 6).

2. Campanulate:

Five petals unite to form a bell-shaped corolla, as in gourd (Fig. 89, 7), Physalis (B. Tepari).

3. Infundibuliform:

It consists of five petals which unite to form a funnel-shaped corolla gradually spreading towards the tip, e.g. Datura (Fig. 89, 8), Thivetia (B. Kalke).

4. Rotate:

Here the tube is short and the spreading limbs are arranged more or less at right angles to the tube, giving the corolla wheel-shaped appearance (Fig. 89, 9), e.g. brinjal, Nyctanthes (B. Shieuli).

5. Hypocrateriform:

It is like the rotate one but with a comparatively long tube (Fig. 89, 10), e.g. Vinca (B. Nayantara).

D. Gamopetalous Irregular:

1. Bilabiate or Two-Lipped:

Here the petals by union form two parts with an open wide mouth between them. The lower part is made of three petals and the upper of two (Fig. 89, 11), e.g. Ocimum (B. Tulsi), Leonurus (B. Drone).

2. Personate:

It is like the bilabiate one but the mouth is closed, as the two lips are placed very near each other, e.g. snapdragon (Fig. 89, 12), Lindenbergia (B. Basanti).

3. Ligulate or Strap-Shaped:

The five petals are united in such a way as to form a short tube at the base, but they spread out above like a strap, e.g. ray-florets of sunflower, marigold.

Appendages of the Corolla:

The corolla is often provided with spurs or long projections, as in Balsam (B. Dopati), and outgrowths, called corona, which enhance the beauty of the flowers. Corona is present in passion-flower (B. Jhumko) as a beautiful whorl of outgrowth between the corolla and the androecium.

Nectaries, the honey-secreting glands, are sometimes present at the base of the petals. These are natural extra-devices for attracting insects for pollination.

Aestivation is the mode of arrangement of sepals and petals in the bud stage in respect to one another (Fig. 90).

It is of the following types:

(i) Valvate, when the members either touch or lie side by side very closely but do not overlap, as in Calotropis (B. Akanda), Artabotrys (B. Kantali champa).

(ii) Twisted or contorted, when the members are arranged in such a way that each of them is overlapped at one margin and overlaps the next member by the other margin, as in China-rose.

(iii) Imbricate. It is modification of twisted arrangement where one member is completely external, i.e. overlaps by both the margins, one member is completely internal, i.e. is overlapped at both the margins and the rest remain arranged as in twisted aestivation, e.g. Cassia (B. Kalkasunde).

(iv) Vexillary: Here out of five petals the largest is the outermost. It includes two laterals which, in their turn, enclose the innermost two. It is characteristic of papilionaceous corolla like pea, Sesbania (B. Bak).

The accessory whorls calyx and corolla are often referred to as perianth. In monocotyledons the perianth is not differentiated into two sets, as in tube-rose, Crinum (B. Sukhadarsan), etc. If the lobes are free, the perianth is polyphyllous and, if united, it is gamophyllous. In grasses the perianth is represented by a pair of small scales called lodicules.

Accessory Whorls # 3. Androecium:

Androecium is the third set and the first essential whorl of the flower. It is composed of stamens or microsporophyll's which are male organs. A stamen has usually two parts, viz. a slender stalk called filament and a swollen body at the tip of the filament known as anther.

The anther has usually two lobes on the two sides; each lobe, in its turn, has two bag-like bodies, called pollen-sacs or microsporangia, which contain innumerable small unicellular pollen grains or microspores.

In China-rose one pollen-sac is present in each anther lobe. The prolongation of the filament which holds together or connects the two anther lobes is called connective. Vascular bundle runs through the connective to convey food to the growing anther.

All stamens do not always bear fertile anthers. In Cassia sophera (B. Kalkasunde) four out of ten stamens are sterile. They are called staminodes. In Canna (B. Sarbajaya) staminodes are coloured and petal-like in appearance. Outgrowths on the stamens, called staminal corona, are found in Calotropis (B. Akanda).

The stamens are of the following types according to the modes of fixation of anthers to the filaments:

(i) Basifixed or innate, when the filament is attached just to the base of the anther, as in mustard (Fig. 91).

(ii) Adnate, where due to the presence of a well-marked connective the filament seems to run throughout the whole length of the anther, e.g. Michelia (B. Champaka).

(iii) Dorsifixed, when the filament is attached to the back of the anther, as in passion-flower, Sesbania (B. Bak).

(iv) Versatile, when the filament is attached at the back of the anther by a sharp point, so that the anther may freely swing in air, e.g. grasses, paddy.

With the maturity of the anthers the two pollen-sacs coalesce due to the fact that the wall between them breaks up. Pollen grains then remain scattered in the cavity.

The anther dehisces or bursts to liberate the pollen grains, so that they may be carried by different agencies to the stigmas of flowers. Dehiscence takes place mostly by longitudinal splitting, as in Datura, by pores formed at the apices of anthers, as in brinjal, or by a number of valves (valvular), as in cinnamon.

The stamens of a flower may be of equal or unequal length. Ipomoea (B. Kalmi) has five stamens, all of which are of unequal length. Flowers of mustard family have usually six stamens in two whorls.

Two of the outer whorl are short and four of the inner whorl have long filaments. They are called tetradynamous stamens (Fig. 91). Leonurus (B. Drone), Ocimum (B. Tulsi), etc., have four stamens, of which two are long and two short. They are called didynamous stamens.

Stamens may unite amongst themselves or with other whorls. The union of similar members is called cohesion; and that of dissimilar members is spoken of as adhesion.

Cohesion of the Stamens:

As the stamens have two main parts -filaments and anthers, two conditions in cohesion are possible:

(i) Stamens may unite by filaments, anthers remaining free; or

(ii) They may be united by anthers, filaments remaining free (Fig. 92).

The union by filaments results in the formation of bundle or adelphy. If one such bundle is formed by union of filaments, the stamens are called monadelphous, as in China- rose, cotton.

If two bundles are formed, they are diadelphous, as in pea, Sesbania (B. Bak); and when more than two bundles are formed, they are called polyadelphous, as in silk-cotton. On the other hand, when they unite by the anthers, filaments remaining free, the stamens are called syngenesious, as in gourd, sunflower.

Adhesion of the Stamens:

The stamens may unite with the next lower whorl, i.e. corolla or perianth, or with the next upper whorl, the pistil. When they unite with petals, stamens are called epipetalous.

Almost all the flowers with gamopetalous corolla have epipetalous stamens. If they adhere to perianth lobes, stamens are called epiphyllous, as in tube-rose. The stamens are called gynandrous, when they are attached to the pistil e.g. Calotropis (B. Akanda).

The pollen-sacs or microsporangia of the anthers contain some special cells called pollen-mother cells or microspore-mother cells. Each of them undergoes reduction division to produce a tetrad of pollen grains or microspores. These are small dusty unicellular bodies usually round or oval in shape. A pollen grain has protoplasm with a single nucleus surrounded by two coats.

The inner coat, known as intine, is thin, delicate and made of cellulose; and the outer coat, called exine, is thick, cutinised and often provided with warty or spiny projections. Some un-thickened areas or weak spots, called germ pores, are present here and there on the exine.

The uninucleate pollen grains generally become bi-nucleate before liberation from the sacs. In some flowers the pollen grains, instead of remaining loose, are aggregated together into masses called pollinia, as in Calotropis (B. Akanda), orchids.

Accessory Whorls # 4. Gynoecium or Pistil:

Gynoecium or pistil is the last and innermost set of floral leaves occupying the central position on the thalamus. It is composed of carpels or megasporophylls which are the female organs of the flowers.

A carpel has usually three parts:

(i) The basal swollen portion is the ovary,

(ii) The slender cylindrical region is the style which usually ends in the receptive spot

(iii) Stigma.

The ovary contains one or more egg-shaped bodies known as ovules, which are nothing but immature seeds. Pistil may be made of one, two, three or many carpels. Accordingly they are monocarpellary, bicarpellary, tricarpellary or polycarpellary. The monocarpellary pistil is called simple, while others are termed as compound.

Foliar nature of a carpel is evident in a simple pistil which may be compared to a simple leaf. If the leaf is folded along the mid-rib, the two margins meet forming a hollow cavity, which resembles a simple pistil.

The line where the two margins meet is known as ventral suture and that corresponding to the mid-rib is the dorsal suture. Along the ventral suture soft cushion-like bodies or ridges, called placentae, are formed to which the ovules remain attached.

The compound pistil is called apocarpous, when the carpels are free. Here all the carpels remain inserted on the thalamus, each having its own ovary, style and stigma, as in Michelia (B. Champa), Artabotrys (B. Kantali champa).

But if the carpels are united, the pistil is known as syncarpous where the common ovary and style are usually formed, carpels usually remaining free only in the region of stigmas, e.g. China-rose (Fig. 98), cotton, Datura.

The style normally is the slender cylindrical continuation of the ovary. In Ocimum (B. Tulsi) family the ovary is four-lobed and the style originates from the base of the ovary or from the thalamus. This type of style is called gynobasic (Fig. 93). Usually styles are deciduous, but silky persistent ones are found in maize.

The stigma is the terminal receptive spot. It may be flat and sticky due to secretion of stigmatic fluid, and feathery in case of monocotyledons. These are devices for facilitating reception of pollen grains.

The ovary may be unilocular [uni = one, loculus = chamber) or multilocular (multi = many, loculus = chamber). The ovules or mega sporangia remain attached to the cushion-like parenchymatous protuberances of the ovary, called placenta, and the mode of arrangement of the placentae is known as placentation.

Types of Placentation (Fig. 94):

1. Marginal:

Marginal placentation is characteristic of the pea family, where the pistil is simple, and placenta bearing the ovules lies at the ventral suture.

2. Parietal:

Here the pistil is polycarpellary and the placentae are distributed at the regions where the margins of the carpels meet. The ovary is unilocular and the placentae groups correspond to the number of carpels present, e.g. papaw, gourd.

3. Axile:

In axile placentation also the pistil is polycarpellary. The margins of the carpels, instead of meeting, bend downwards to form an axis at the centre. Placentae bearing ovules are distributed around the axis. So the ovary becomes multilocular, the number of loculi being equal to the number of carpels present, e.g. orange, China-rose, Datura.

4. Free Central:

Here the placentae are present around the axis, as in axile placentation, but due to the absorption of the partition walls the multilocular ovary is rendered unilocular. Sometimes remnants of the partition walls may be noticed. Example-pink

5. Superficial:

It is also like axile having many chambers but placentae with ovules are present all over the inner surface of the partition walls, as in water-lily.

6. Basal:

Here the ovary is unilocular, and the placenta bearing a single ovule develops directly on the thalamus at the base of the ovary, e.g. Sunflower, Dahlia.

The ovule or mega-sporangium develops into the seed after fertilisation. Each ovule is an egg-shaped body, having a stalk called funiculus, by means of which it remains attached to the placenta.

The main soft body of the ovule is known as nucellus which remains surrounded by two coats called integuments. The integuments, outer and inner, almost invest the ovule, only leaving a small opening, known as micropyle, at the tip. In some ovules only one integument is present.

The broad basal region, where the integuments meet the nucellus, is known as chalaza. An oval body, failed embryo-sac, is embedded in the nucellus towards the micropylar end. The embryo-'sac has usually eight nuclei. Three of them aggregate at the micropylar end foiling the egg-apparatus.

The middle one of the three is the egg or female gamete, and the other two are called help cells or synergids. Three collecting at the chalazal end are known as antipodal cells; and the remaining two, called polar nuclei, either lie side by side or fuse up at the central region, forming what is known as definitive nucleus (Fig. 95). The embryo- sac is the most important part of the ovule.

Formation of the Ovule and the Embryo -Sac:

The ovule originates as a small rounded protuberance of soft tissue (nucellus) on the placenta. Gradually collar-like outgrowths or integuments begin to develop which cover the nucellus, leaving an opening, the micropyle, at the tip.

Before complete formation of the integuments a hypodermal cell at the apex of the nucellus becomes conspicuous. This is the megaspore-mother cell. It undergoes reduction division to produce four cells in a row, what is known as linear tetrad.

Three of them generally disintegrate and the innermost one survives. The nucleus of the functional mega- spore now divides by mitosis into two, which move to the two ends of the megaspore. Each of them again divides twice. So that four nuclei are present at each end.

Three of them at the micropylar end form the egg-apparatus with the central prominent egg and the two synergids. Three aggregated at the chalazal end constitute the antipodal cells. The remaining two, often called polar nuclei, move to the centre of the megaspore to produce the definitive nucleus (Fig. 96).

This is an outline of the process of normal type of development of the embryo-sac in the angiosperms.

Forms of Ovules:

Ovules are of the following types (Fig. 97):

(1) Orthotropous or straight, when the ovule is erect with the funiculus, micropyle and chalaza in the same straight line. Here micropyle lies towards the apex and chalaza towards the base.

(2) Anatropous or inverted, when the ovule is inverted due to overgrowth of the funiculus, so that micropyle lies at the base near the funiculus and chalaza at the other end. This type is more common.

(3) Amphitropous or transverse, where the main body of the ovule is placed more or less at right angles to the funiculus, e.g. Lemna (B. Kshudi-pana).

(4) Campylotropous or curved, where the main body of the ovule is curved or bent becoming horse-shoe-shaped and is arranged more or less at right angles to the funiculus, e.g. mustard.

Floral Diagram:

The parts present in a flower and their arrangement with reference to one another may be represented by diagrams called floral diagrams. They have a number of concentric rings corresponding to the floral sets present, where united and free parts can be shown. The position of the floral axis is represented by a 'dot'. The best idea about a floral diagram may be had by cutting a floral bud crosswise.

Floral Formulae:

Floral formula represents the parts of a flower with their respective position. Some signs and symbols are used here. K stands for calyx, C for corolla, P for perianth, A for androecium and G for gynoecium. Union is shown by putting the letters within brackets, and adhesion, by lines above the whorls concerned.

Members of the same set present in two whorls are represented by putting '+' (plus) sign between them, co stands for many members in a whorl. The superior or inferior ovary is indicated by putting horizontal lines below or above the number representing carpels.
Formulae of a few common flowers arc-given below:

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4 Essential Accessory Whorls of a Flower | Botany

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ADVERTISEMENTS: The following points highlight the four essential accessory whorls of a flower. The essential accessory whorls are:- 1. Calyx 2. Corolla 3. Androecium 4. Gynoecium. Accessory Whorls # 1. Calyx: The calyx is the outermost accessory set of floral leaves, consisting of sepals. Sepals are usually green inconspicuous bodies.

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It makes sense that the male parts of a flower are called the “sta””men”. The stamen are composed of 2 parts. What are they called?
A. Carpel and filament
B. Anther and filament
C. Calyx and corolla
The answer is b. And together all the stamens in a flower make up the Androecium (Andro=man, oecium =house of). Can you see the Androecium here?

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Check out my longer audiocast talking about leaf anatomy, arrangement, attachment and more....

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Check out my longer audiocast talking about leaf anatomy, arrangement, attachment and more....

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Presented by Sulin Sze, Creator of the Wild Medicine Academy, this audiocast begins with the function of leaves and then goes on to discuss and outline leaf parts, their functions and positioning as well as leaf arrangement and attachment styles.

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Check out my five minute overview of leaf anatomy

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Check out my five minute overview of leaf anatomy

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Sulin Sze

Creator of the WMA, herbalist, naturopath, educator. For 15 years Sulin has operated a successful herbalism and naturopathy clinic in Sydney, Australia while also writing educational content and lecturing in accredited Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine programs both online and face to face. She is a trained Herbalist, Naturopath, Homeopath, Iridologist and Nutritionist and has post graduate qualification in Complementary Medicines Management.

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Sulin Sze Creator of the WMA, herbalist, naturopath, educator. For 15 years Sulin has operated a successful herbalism and naturopathy clinic in Sydney, Australia while also writing educational content and lecturing in accredited Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine programs both online and face to face.

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Dandelion is very useful, and it is not just an obnoxious weed found in your lawn. It can be eaten or drank as a tea or that famous dandelion wine; you can also make dandelion jelly, or use the yellow blossoms to create a herb-infused oil.

Dandelion oil smells like summertime, and it is great for aching muscles and joints. It also has calming properties that can be combined with lavender to make a soothing stress-relief topical. This dandelion oil is a great introduction to making infused oils from your fresh herbs, and it's a perfect springtime project.

Dandelion Oil Supplies

Dandelion oil requires no special ingredients or equipment. You probably have everything you need right there in your kitchen.

Glass Container: This is the perfect excuse to use recycled glass jars or old canning jars.

Breathable Lid: A coffee filter, cheesecloth, or similar woven cloth works perfectly.

Rubber Band or Canning Jar Ring: Used to secure the cloth to the top of the jar.

Olive Oil: Grapeseed oil is a great option for the base oil as well.

Dandelion Flowers: Enough to fill your container of choice.

Even though you will not be ingesting this oil, it's still best to choose dandelions that have not been sprayed with chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Many people still see the dandelion as a weed and go to great lengths to kill it. Be sure that you harvest any dandelions from a chemical-free lawn or field.

How to Make Dandelion Oil

The process of making dandelion oil could not be easier. It's a simple cold infusion that uses the heat and light of the sun to extract the useful properties from the dandelion into the oil. Preparing the oil takes just a few minutes.

It's best to allow the infusion to set for at least 2 weeks, though you can go as long as a full month to make it even more aromatic. Because you will be using a cloth lid, there's no need to worry about mold growing in your infusion jar. The airflow will take care of any unwanted growth.

1. Pick enough dandelion blossoms to fill your glass container.

2. Pour olive oil over blossoms until they are fully covered.

3. Using a wooden handle of a kitchen utensil, or a chopstick, carefully poke the mixture to remove air bubbles.

4. Cover glass container with a breathable lid, such as a coffee filter or woven cloth, held on with a rubber band.

5. Place it in the sun to steep for a minimum of 2 weeks.

6. Strain out the dandelion and store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

It's best to store your infused oil in a cool, dark place. Dandelion oil is also known to go rancid after a year, so plan on making a fresh batch each spring and tossing out any unused oil.

How to Use Dandelion Oil

Dandelion oil is designed to be applied topically, not consumed. This means that it should be applied to your skin or used in homemade beauty products. If you would like to eat or drink dandelion for its healing properties, you should make an herbal jelly or liqueur or simply enjoy it as a dandelion tea.

Dandelion includes pain-relieving properties, and the oil can simply be rubbed into sore and tense muscles or joints.

The infused oil is also known to be excellent for its calming effects and reducing any feelings of stress.

Add the oil to homemade salves and balms that are easier to apply topically and can be packaged for travel and gifts.

Dandelion oil is also an excellent skin moisturizer, either on its own or in a salve or balm. Try adding it to a 2:1 mixture of shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. As the balm cools, it will solidify and become an excellent everyday moisturizer.

Due to all of these healing and calming properties and it's spring fresh fragrance, dandelion oil is an excellent companion for lavender essential oil. Use the two in tandem with any of the homemade products mentioned.

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It's Easy to Make Your Own Healing Dandelion Oil

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Dandelion is very useful, and it is not just an obnoxious weed found in your lawn. It can be eaten or drank as a tea or that famous dandelion wine; you can also make dandelion jelly, or use the yellow blossoms to create a herb-infused oil.

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Travel Deep Inside a Leaf - Annotated Version | California Academy of Sciences