Saturday, July 30, 2011

Bug Bite Season

"This time of year my family is always ready to jump in the lake to keep cool, but I hate seeing my kids with itchy mosquito bites! Is there anyway to treat bug bites without using harmful chemicals or antihistamines that will make us drowsy?" - Tina Bowens

Great question Tina! Nobody likes those pesty biters but luckily there are lots of ways to deal with the itch herbally.

It is best to treat bites and stings by taking something internally so that we can help our bodies defend themselves. Herbs such as Nettles and Licorice are great in this situation because they are antihistamines and help prevent allergic reactions, but will not make you drowsy. Teas or capsules made with these herbs would be optimal after getting bit, or before enjoying your water outing!

To calm the itch, herbs such as Plantain and Lavender are great to use topically. Many of us know that Lavender helps to relax the nerves which is often necessary in this situation for kiddos! It is also one of the few essential oils that can be applied directly on the skin.

Finally, chamomile can be applied to those nasty bumps to reduce inflammation and redness.

For my Buh-By Bug Bite Gel visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/78792715/buh-bye-bug-bite-gel

For questions on how to keep mosquitoes away naturally, or any other herbal concerns contact me at muir-botanicals@hotmail.com

Friday, July 29, 2011

Stretch Marks

Interested in learning how to prevent and help heal stretch marks? Check out this video for more information!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Rumblies in the Tummies

This morning a good friend of mine called and said that her two year old had a  horrible diaper rash and diarrhea with cramping for the last three days. I could hear her little boy crying in the background and was so glad that I had just what he needed in my cabinets.
While diarrhea should sometimes be allowed to run its course in order to rid the body of toxins, it should be treated if it persists more than twelve hours. My first major concern was that he had become dehydrated. I chose to make him a herbal tea using raspberry leaves which will actually help the intestines absorb fluids. For his cramps I added relaxing chamomile to his tea, and had Momma rub a soothing lavender oil on his tummy. Finally for his rash we slathered on some Baby Booty Cream (luckily, I had recently made a batch).
By the time Momma and toddler were back in the car, he was able to sit down on his booty (which he could not do earlier), and all the tears had stopped!
There is no better feeling than when he told me, "thank you" this morning. This is why I love my job!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Making Your Own Green Cleaning Products

This is a demonstration I did at our Home and Garden Show! In this video I show you how to make an All-Purpose Disinfecting Spray, a Window Cleaner and Fly Repellent, and a Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer! I hope you enjoy and learn a lot!