The cold and flu season can bring havoc and chaos to any household and routine. What can make it worse is having an allergic reaction to the many chemicals found in over the counter cold and flu remedies. Instead of risking your health further, you should consider making your own remedies. Continue reading →

With all the herbal blends, proprietary blends, and essential herbal based oils on the market you may be under the misconception that all of them are safe. You may also be under the misconception that all of them are easy to use, administer, and safe for all ages. The truth is, there are some herbs that should never be used with children in any dosage. These are the herbs that you should look out for when you are buying herbal blends, oils, and natural remedies.

Goldenseal

There is not much information regarding goldenseal and the long term effects of the herb. However, most herbalists and midwives do caution against using the herb with small children, infants, and newborns. This is due to several reports that the use of goldenseal, in medium quantities, have caused brain damage in some children. Because it is unclear in the reported cases how much of the herb was used, it has been designated as an herb that is unsafe for children and should be avoided. Continue reading →

Herbal salves are used to help with a variety of medical issues including congestion and burns. You can usually find salves in over the counter options, but you may notice these options contain chemicals and preservatives you may not feel comfortable with.

In fact, some contain manufactured oils than can be harmful to your skin or to your sinus passages. These issues lead some people to create their own herbal salves. This allows you to control what goes into them and what herbal bases are used. Here are a few tips for creating these salves on your own.

Use the Right Oil Base

One of the key tips to making a salve is to make sure you are using the right oil base. You want an oil that will hold up and work as a salve. You don’t want something that is too thin, but instead something with a bit more solid properties to it. Continue reading →