Welcome to the Apothecary

  • Rosemary

    the brains of the operation

  • Chamomile

    the pressure release vavle

  • Calendula

    the anti

  • Thyme

    doesn’t time heal all

  • Mint

    gastro hero

  • Ginger

    fire.

  • Lavender

    keep calm

  • Honey

    liquid gold

  • Garlic

    the Godfather

Rosemary’s Recipes

Lavender Bath Salts

Soak up magnesium, soak out stress
Bouquet of dried lavender flowers from the garden in a glass jar ready for making a bath cachet, sleep sachets, herbal tea blends to improve sleep as it calms the nervous system when used as plant medicine

2 cups Epsom salts

1 cup pink sea salt

½ cup baking soda

20 drops lavender essential oil

¼ cup dried blooms

Marigold Gold

All purpose salve
Marigold or calendula is widely used in natural skincare. Herbalists have relied on it for centuries for its gentle, soothing properties using infused oils for skin irritation, salves for minor cuts and scrapes, and compresses for promoting healing

1 cup of calendula (kul-LEN-juh-lah aka marigold) infused oil

Pack a mason jar full of dried calendula flowers, then fill jar with oil of choice (olive, sweet almond, or jojoba oil)

Leave 4-6 weeks away from light, strain, store

*Quick infuse method – place in a slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours

4Tbs Beexwax pellets or shaved beexwax

2Tbs Shea butter (optional for added richness)

4 drops essential oil like lavender for aromatics

Melt the wax and oil in a glass measuring cup or double boiler over low

Stir well until wax and oil are blended

Remove from heat, add shea butter and essential oil

Carefully, pour into clean glass jars or tins (funnel is highly recommended)

Cool with lids off, then store at room temperature

Ginger tea for tummy

For digestive upset
Herbal concoction containing lemon and mint water with fresh ginger, star anise, cardamom pods, honey. Lemons are high in vitamin C, citric acid and can increase iron absorption. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger giving it benefits

2 inches of ginger, sliced

2 cups of boiling water

2 inches peppermint leaves + stem

Muddle the peppermint stem to release the natural oils. Add sliced ginger, pour in boiling water, cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.  Squeeze lemon and drop of honey, stir and enjoy

To ease tension and aid digestion

Chamomile tea

A glass teapot with chamomile flowers inside, placed on a surface with dried chamomile flowers scattered around.

1 cup boiling water

1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers or 2 to 3 tablespoons of fresh flowers

Steep, covered, for 5 minutes, strain, enjoy

*Chamomile contains bitters so the longer it steeps, the stronger the bitters. A drop of honey helps for people over one

Drink 2 to 3 cups daily; this her has lasting effects if used over a period of several weeks. It is beneficial to incorporate complementary herbs such as lemon balm or rose petals

Lemon balm and rose are best brewed fresh, so their delicate leaves release their essence at lower temperatures than some heartier herbs. So, if using lemon balm and rose, add to steeped mixture after two minutes, then strain at minute 5 and enjoy!

To relieve eye strain, puffiness, dark circles

Eye Bags…tea bags really

My preferred way to brew is to use loose tea leaves and a strainer, disposable tea bags have their perks; No cleaning the loose leaves from your strainer, and they serve double duty as eye packs!

Brew an extra strong cup of chamomile tea using two tea bags or brew two cups; one to enjoy hot, and one for later to reheat or enjoy iced.

Cool until comfortable, recline and place one tea bag on each eye. Note, if you have small children and they see you in this position they will immediately ask for a snack…pack of gummies in the pocket is a wise move.