HERBS: You're a Budding Herbalist

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You're a Budding Herbalist

by Barbara Fahs

 

If you've ever admired those pretty bottles of herbed vinegar's and oils

at your local gourmet shop or farmer's market, or if you've ever

wondered what's really in " Herbal Essences " shampoo, you're a budding herbalist.

 

Herbs are not only super simple to grow, but the wonderful products you

can make from them are equally easy.

 

Here are a few tips from a gardener who has grown, studied and used

herbs of many kinds for almost 30 years. But in all those years, I've

never actually made a recipe from any of my herb books. Why not? Where

the heck do you find " rose water " anyway? And do I really want to smear

avocado on my face? No, definitely NOT! So I have gotten lazy and wound

up buying more and more of my food and beauty products at the store. I

must sometimes remind myself that it is so easy and inexpensive to make

some of my own wholesome, delicious, and attractive products in my own

kitchen. And so can you.

 

 

Herbal Hair Rinse

 

Who needs chemicals and food coloring in our hair care products? It's so

easy to make your own hair rinse I don't know why everyone isn't doing

it. Rosemary or Lemon Verbena rinse is especially good for oily hair and

makes your hair smell heavenly after your bath. Here's how to make it:

 

Add a heaping handful of dried or freshly cut Rosemary or Lemon Verbena

sprigs to about 1 quart of water, which you've brought to a boil in a

non-metal pan, such as Pyrex. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30

minutes. Strain your rinse and transfer the juice into a non breakable

container, which you can leave in the shower. After you wash your hair,

saturate it with about 1/2 cup of the herbal mixture and do not rinse

your hair again.

 

 

Herbal Iced Tea

 

Tea has become popular again! You can buy it in bottles in your local

grocery store, but why spend the money when it's so easy to make your

own? It's so easy, you don't even have to boil water. Here's how to make

some delightfully refreshing herb tea:

 

In a clean clear glass container, place about 10 4-inch sprigs of fresh

herb of your choice (Try Cinnamon and other Basils, Chamomile flowers,

different mints, etc.). Or you can use dried herbs if fresh ones are not

available. You can even use a tea ball it you want to get high tech! If

you like caffeine, you can include two or three tea bags of either black

or green tea. Fill the jar with good pure water, cover it, and set it in

a sunny spot for several hours.

 

When it's done, strain your tea and pour it over plenty of ice cubes in

a tall frosty glass. Garnish your beverage with a slice of lemon, lime,

or orange, and sweeten to taste. Store the leftover tea in the fridge,

but use it up within several days to get the benefit of the fresh,

fragrant herbs.

 

 

Herb Vinegar and Oil

 

It's no secret that herbed vinegar's and oils are very simple to make in

your own kitchen. You can use herb vinegar in salad dressings, add some

to the water in which you steam veggies, and use it in any recipe that

calls for vinegar. Oils can be used in salad dressings, for sautéing, as

well as for massage and skin care, depending on the herb you select.

 

To make herb vinegar, just follow these steps:

 

Select a good quality apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar. Into a clean

quart size clear glass container, place about 10 4-inch sprigs of fresh

herb of your choice (be imaginative! Try Tarragon, Basil, Savory, or

whatever strikes your fancy or is plentiful at the time) and 2 cloves of

garlic. You can also use dried herbs, but fresh ones contain more

essential oils and are more flavorful and aromatic. Fill the jar with

vinegar and cover it. Set the jar in a sunny spot for one full day.

Store in a cool, dark place. It keeps virtually forever.

 

 

To make herbal oil, follow these steps:

 

Select a good quality olive oil or other oil of your choice. Almond oil

is very nice as a base for massage oil and skin care.

 

For cooking oil, you can choose any culinary herb that strikes your

fancy, such as Bay Laurel, Oregano, Basil, Marjoram, etc. Olive oil,

canola oil, and sesame oil are excellent choices for herbed cooking oil.

Place about 10 4-inch sprigs of fresh herb and 2 cloves of Garlic into a

clean quart size clear glass container.

 

For massage oil, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rose Geranium, or any other of

your favorite fragrances are good choices. Use 10 4-inch sprigs of fresh

herb for each clean quart glass container. Or simply add a few drops of

essential oil of any of these herbs to a nice almond or apricot seed

oil. Fill the jar with oil and cover it. Set the filled jar in a sunny

spot or a warm place, such as over a pilot light of a stove, and leave

it there for about 10 hours.

 

Store your finished product in a cool, dark place. It will stay good for

several months. For convenience and gift-giving, you can transfer your

completed vinegar or oil to smaller decorative bottles -- and don't

forget to add a small sprig of fresh herb to add to the effect.

 

With these simple formulas, you can impress your friends and family with

attractive, homemade gifts, and perhaps embark in some new directions in

your own life that include herbs and the wealth that nature has given us.

 

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