Aromatherapy

2016-06-30 Super-emollient Lip Salve

 in Aromatherapy / Natural Skin Care by
Our own freshly-harvested, organically grown herbs: marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), calendula (Calendula officinalis), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) before being pressed.

Our own freshly-harvested, organically grown herbs: marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), calendula (Calendula officinalis), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) before being pressed.

Today I made an emollient lip salve with marshmallow!  I was inspired by Rosalee de la Floret who talked in her blog about the topical uses of marshmallow. After nurturing my plants over the last two years I am looking for more and more ways to utilize the amazing emollient properties of Althaea officinalis.  I used freshly harvested leaves and a little dried marshmallow root from last year’s divisions, and added some dried calendula petals (Calendula officinalis) and dried lavender  (Lavandula angustifolia) and warm infused it into safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L.) over a 24 hour period, very gently warming it and then letting it cool down (about 5 times).  I was myself surprised that the plant material retained such vibrancy through the process.  The picture shows the plants before I squeezed out every drop of oil I could get.  Lastly, I added beeswax, cocoa butter and spearmint essential oil.

2016-06-20 Summer Solstice

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Wild Harvest by

The summer solstice is an important point in the year at our latitude. There is light in the sky all night, and the plants seem to reach a critical point in their lifecycles; virtually everything wild blooms, and cultivars seem to double in size overnight.

Wild Rosa dumalis

Wild Rosa dumalis, June 20, 2016

This year on the solstice we walked all around the area where we live collecting wild roses (Rosa dumalis). These roses can be found all over the Swedish countryside, and they clearly love the solstice sun. We harvested and distilled the fragrant flower petals, and are very thankful for this midsummer gift from nature.

Rosa dumalis ready for distillation

Rosa dumalis ready for distillation, June 20, 2016

2016-06-05 Angelica Distillation

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation by

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) – June 5 2016

Angelica bursts into life in the spring, and by the end of May the plants are enormous and beginning to flower. Last week we made candied Angelica stalks, and today we harvested flowers from two of the giants in our garden, and are distilling them as I write this and the smell of Angelica floats through the air.