Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (8 page)

Yields:
approximately 14 oz. of mouthwash

Application:
use morning and evening

Storage:
16-oz. plastic bottle (an old mouthwash bottle is ideal)

Shelf life:
2 weeks in a cool, dark cupboard

Mix all the ingredients in a glass bowl or pitcher and pour into the bottle.

Remedies

There are so many remedies for common ailments that you can easily make yourself for pennies. Many of the commercial preparations we buy, such as cough syrups and lozenges, are expensive and pretty useless, and they can contain a number of horrendous dyes and additives. I always make my own.

I highly recommend starting a medicinal herb garden (see “Green Girls Grow!”), as it’ll save you a lot of money and ensure you have a supply of all the herbs you need. If you don’t have the time or space, you can buy all the herbal ingredients for the following remedies from grocery stores or from Mountain Rose Herbs (www.mountainroseherbs.com).

The healing properties of the herbs I recommend in the following recipes are gentle, safe, and extremely effective. However, if you are seriously ill, you should consult your physician before using them.

Best Ever Cough Syrup

This is easy to make and magically helps even the most stubborn of coughs. It’s a great general cold remedy, as it helps you expectorate the mucous.

Yields:
approximately 12 oz. of syrup

Application:
use when coughing (see Dose, below)

Storage:
14-oz. dark glass bottle (an old cough medicine bottle would be perfect) in a cool, dark cupboard

Shelf life:
3 months

1.
Place all the ingredients except the honey in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.

2.
Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes.

3.
Strain off the solids and return the liquid to the pan.

4.
Simmer until the liquid has reduced down to about 1½ cups.

5.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

6.
Add the honey and stir.

7.
When the syrup is cool, transfer to your bottle.

Dose:
Children under 12 years: 2 tsp. three times a day

Adults:
3 tsp. three to four times a day

Cough Syrup for Dry Coughs

I know from raising a little girl who’s prone to coughs that not all coughs are alike. Lola’s dry cough needs an entirely different treatment than the one she gets with a cold. This recipe will help coat the throat and ease the annoying tickle of a dry cough.

Yields:
approximately 8 oz. of syrup

Application:
use as needed for a dry throat and cough (see Dose, below)

Storage:
8-oz. glass jar, in the fridge

Shelf life:
1 month

1.
Place the water, marshmallow root, and slippery elm in a saucepan over medium heat.

2.
Bring to a boil and allow it to simmer for half an hour, or until the liquid has reduced down to about 1 cup.

3.
Remove from the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before stirring in the honey.

4.
Pour into your jar and seal tightly.

Dose:
2 tsp. up to four times a day

Cough Drops

Lola loves these cough drops because she thinks they’re just candy. It’s a great way of getting these healing herbs into a little one, and I love them, too. The process is similar to that of making cough syrup, only this time you’re using sugar instead of honey. The herbs used are decongestants. They are also antibacterial and antiviral, as well as soothing. You will need a candy thermometer for this recipe.

Yields:
approximately 2 cups of drops

Application/directions:
suck on a drop every 3 hours

Storage:
glass or plastic container with air-tight lid (a mason jar is perfect)

Shelf life:
1 month

1.
Place all the herbs (except the slippery elm) and the boiling water in a large saucepan, cover, and simmer gently for 20 minutes.

2.
Strain the herbs and pour the liquid back into the pan.

3.
Add the sugar and boil until the thermometer reaches 290 to 300°F.

4.
Pour onto a greased baking sheet and allow to cool.

5.
Cut or break this herby taffy into small pieces and roll each piece in the slippery elm powder.

Warming Chest Rub

Many of the commercial chest rubs are made with petroleum jelly or mineral oil, which I try to avoid. Instead, you can prepare this incredible healing balm with oils and butters that will feed your skin.

Yields:
approximately 4 oz.

Application:
Rub a quarter-size dollop of balm onto your chest before going to sleep.

Storage:
4-oz. dark glass bottle with a sprayer closure, in a cool, dark cupboard

Shelf life:
1 month

1.
Heat the jojoba oil, beeswax, and butters in a bowl set over a large pan of boiling water, until everything has melted.

2.
Remove the bowl from the heat and set it aside to cool for 5 minutes.

3.
Mix in the essential oils and, before it thickens too much, pour into a dark glass jar. Wait until it has completely cooled before you screw on the cap.

How to use:
Scoop out a teaspoon-size dollop and work between your fingers before rubbing on your or your child’s chest. You can also apply a dab under your nose.

Antiviral Steamy Inhalation

I live in a very dry region and I am very susceptible to sinus infections. I prepare this steam inhalation at the first sign of any trouble and it nearly always works well enough to keep me from having to take any medication.

Yields:
enough for 1 application

Application:
use inhalation up to 3 times a day when congested

1.
Boil 4 cups of water in a teakettle. The moment it comes to a boil, carefully pour the water into a large bowl and cover the bowl with a towel.

2.
Add the essential oils to the bowl. It’s best to have the bowl placed right at the spot where you’re going to sit for your inhalation. You don’t want to have to move an open bowl of boiling water!

3.
Lift the edge of the towel and poke your face in, so that your mouth and nose are a few inches away from the water. Try to keep the towel over your head to prevent any steam escaping.

4.
Take at least 10 long, deep breaths. Rest and then repeat.

Soothing Acne Gel

Bright orange marigold flowers are also known as calendula flowers, and they are enormously helpful in treating all kinds of skin conditions, especially acne. They contain salicylic acid, which is found in many commercial acne creams. However, commercial creams also contain other harsh ingredients that can dry out your skin. This preparation is a cooling gel for inflamed skin.

Yields:
approximately 4 oz. of gel

Application:
use morning and evening, after cleansing and toning

Storage:
4-oz. dark glass bottle with pump dispenser, in the fridge

Shelf life:
8 weeks

1.
Boil the water. Place the flowers in a large glass bowl and cover with the boiling water. Steep for half an hour.

2.
Place the flower and water mixture in the blender and process for 30 seconds.

3.
Strain the mixture through a piece of cheesecloth into a glass measuring cup.

4.
In another glass bowl, dissolve the gelatin in 2 tbsp. of cool, filtered water. Slowly add the marigold infusion, stirring constantly.

5.
Add the vodka and the tea tree oil. You may need to stir and mash the mixture to make sure you break up any lumps of gelatin.

6.
Use a funnel to pour into your bottle.

Best Hand Sanitizer

Most hand sanitizers contain toluene, a solvent that is toxic for you and the environment. This recipe contains specific essential oils that will fight even the toughest germs out there. I suggest making it in 2-oz. bottles and giving one to everyone in your family to carry around with them. I made one for each child in Lola’s classroom. Because the bottle is less than 3 oz., you should be able to travel with it on an airplane, which is the kind of place where you’ll really need it. You can make an alcohol-free version by substituting water for the alcohol, but it won’t be quite as potent.

Yields:
approximately 2 oz.

Application:
spray on hands and wrists repeatedly throughout the day

Storage:
2-oz. dark plastic bottle with a sprayer closure, in a cool, dark cupboard

Shelf life:
6 months

1.
Pour the water and vodka into the bottle, leaving half an inch empty at the top of the bottle.

2.
Add aloe vera, glycerin, and the essential oils. Shake gently.

Insect Repellent Spray

Now that DEET, a pesticide that is typically found in insect repellents, has been found to be extremely toxic, I like to make my own spray. There are plenty of great natural alternatives that you can buy, but they are pricey and this works just as well for the whole family.

Yields:
approximately 2 oz.

Application:
use morning and before you go out in the evening

Storage:
2-oz. dark glass bottle with a sprayer closure, in a cool, dark cupboard

Shelf life:
3 months

1.
Add the essential oils to the lavender flower water and pour into your bottle.

PMS Reliever

Rose (
Rosa centiflora, R. damascena
) is the ultimate essential oil for helping to relieve those PMS blues. It’s cooling, relaxing, and is commonly used as an antidepressant. It’s expensive, but since you use just a few drops at a time, a
¹
/
₈
-oz. bottle should last you a long time.

Yields:
enough for 1 application

1.
Place the sweet almond oil in a small jar or mug and stand it in a bowl of hot water until the oil has warmed through.

2.
Add the essential oil and gently massage over your neck, chest, arms, and belly.

Period Pain Soothing Pack

A castor oil pack is a magical remedy for relieving period pains and any menstrual disorders. It’s the ultimate TLC remedy for when you just want to curl up and get cozy.