How do I make a tea with organic loose herbs and what on earth is a Decoction?
04 Nov 2010 3 Comments
in God's Green Herbs, tea, Baby & Child Health, Green Living, Flu & Cold Tags: tea, moms, chamomile, Echinacea., Herb, Infusion, Melissa officinalis, organic herbs, Steeping, Decoction, how to make tea, how, cup of tea, loose herbs
Today I had a friend call me to ask how she should make an infusion (cup of tea) with the Organic loose Lemon balm and Echinacea she purchased from La Chica Organica’s herbal store.
She was a little confused because she had heard me on a CD I did where I am teaching moms how to prepare a decoction for their little ones. This CD is not available on this site, but will be available in the future in the form of a video.
So just in case you’re wondering here is how you make a cup of tea.
Now I must interject here for a moment and let you know that depending on the herb you are using you might have to make a decoction instead of an herbal tea infusion. Decoctions are another way to prepare herbs for your cup of tea.
An Infusion is also called steeping. Steeping is best when using plants, soft leaves, and flowers that have volatile oils. Peppermint, Lemon Balm and Chamomile flowers are examples of herbs you would prepare for tea using an infusion.
A Decoction is always made by cooking the herbs. Decoctions are meant for roots, stems, barks, seeds like Fenugreek and coarse leaves. The reason its important to cook the herbs is that by cooking you are allowing the herbs to break down and release their medicinal properties into the water. Elderberries, Astragalus, and Echinacea root are samples of herbs you would prepare as a tea with the decoction method.
If you’re making an infusion with your loose herbs you will have to:
Boil water and once its boiling turn off heat. Place your organic loose herbs in a glass tea-pot, glass or ceramic jar or cup. Then pour the boiling water over the herbs, cover and let steep for 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on your preference for strength. Once steeping is complete strain your tea, sweeten with raw organic honey, coconut nectar or stevia and enjoy.
To make a decoction:
Put herbs and water in a pot together. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce heat keep covered and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Once your done strain and enjoy with your favorite sweeter as mentioned above.
Now if making tea is not your thing but you want to take herbs to boost your immunity or help with digestion or set the stage for a good nights sleep you might consider making a tincture with La Chica Organica’s super easy, inexpensive tincture kit. You can read all about it here.
<Have a great weekend>
LCO
How to bring down a Fever Naturally
25 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, Flu & Cold, God's Green Herbs, tea, Vaccinations Tags: chamomile, fever, health, Herb, herbal baths, Infusion, lower fever, natural fever reducer, Organic, tea
Did you know you can use herbal baths to help assist fever in adults, young children and babies? There are several herbs like chamomile that contain properties that promote perspiration which in turn cools the body down resulting in a lowering of the fever.
You can prepare 1 or 2 quarts of chamomile infusion by using one well-rounded teaspoon of dried chamomile for each cup (8oz) of water. Pour the boiling water over the herbs, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain off the herbs and pour into warm bath water.
You can also sponge bathe a young child with the warm infusion if you don’t want to put them in the bathtub. However never keep sponging your baby with fever once shivering begins. You should stop immediately as shivering increases body heat and can lead to a seizure.
This infusion of Chamomile can also be given orally to children at a rate of 1/4 a cup every 2 hours until fever comes down and then continue to give 3 times a day for 2 to 3 days after fever is gone to aid the body in its recuperation. I use a dropper for babies since they are not likely to drink from a cup when sick. Adults can enjoy a cup of chamomile tea every 3 to 4 hours during fever until it comes down.
La Chica Organica sells a fantastic mix of organic herbs called Herbal Fever Assist Bath & Tea™ that can be made into a bath and a tea to assist the body during a fever.
Make your own Herbal Perfume
09 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Allergies and Asthma, Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, Preggo Mama Tags: Beauty, chamomile, Flower, Herb, herbal perfume, lavender, Perfume, Vodka
I love making perfumes and sprays to use instead of toxic overpriced designer brand perfumes.
A great and fast way to do this is to grab some flowers you may have in your own home or you can purchase at your local health food store or through LCO.
For your blend you might consider using
- Fresh or dried organic Rose Petals or Geranium Flowers
- Fresh or dried organic Lavender flowers
- Fresh or dried organic Chamomile flowers
You will need to pick up an inexpensive bottle of Vodka – not to drink but to extract the herbal properties from the herbs.
So once you choose your ingredients combine them all in a glass jar (like a recycled pasta jar) and add vodka until the liquid rises above the herbs by at least 1 inch. Put on the cap to fit tightly and store in a cool, dry and dark place making sure to shake once or more per day. After 3-6 weeks, strain the herbs and pour your lovely perfume into a glass bottle with a spray/mister top.
Spray when you want a little lift – it’s a quick, natural, non toxic alternative to most perfumes.
Free Offer: Mama’s Back to School Health Kit
29 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, Non Toxic Pest Control, tea Tags: back to school, bug bites, chamomile, cold and flu oil, free organic balm, free organic offer, free organic tea sample, natural cure for cold and cough, natural cures, natural treatment for lice, Organic, organic raw honey, peppermint, plantain herb, raw honey, safety health kit, Spearmint, tincture for pink eye, Xylitol
School is right around the corner, are you ready?
I know we have begun sorting uniforms and stocking up on required school supplies but most importantly in our family; Mama has begun making salves, tinctures and custom herbal teas and blends for all the possible ailments that can arise this coming school year.
I have had a great response to my Mama’s Back to School Health Kit from many moms. I actually decided to do this from requests I received for a practical, affordable and healthy kit that moms and dads could just grab and use during the school year.
Whether you just need a jar of raw certified organic honey and some immunity boosting lemon balm tea or you need a natural rub for colds and flu. I’ve got ya covered.
Please see here for details on some of the items you can get in your customizable kit.
And, as an added bonus if you order between $10-$30 of items from Mama’s Back to School Health Kit, you will receive a free bag of Organic Echinacea and Lemongrass loose tea which makes between 25 to 30 cups of tea. If you order between $30-$70 of items you will also receive a free bag of Organic Echinacea and Lemongrass loose tea and a free sample of Mom’s Miraculous Salve which is a must have in every home. Orders over $70 qualify for both free items above and a free sample of organic basil, thyme and eucalyptus.
Please email me at LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com if your interested. Kits are being made as we speak and will be ready in the coming weeks.
P.S.
In order to keep product prices low I have not incorporated a shopping cart or ordering features to my site. I can bill you using Paypal where you can securely pay using any account or credit/bank card. You can also send me a check in the mail.
God Bless and happy summer!
Mama’s Back to School Health Kit – Be Prepared before School Starts
24 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, Non Toxic Pest Control, Preggo Mama, tea Tags: back to school health kit, bug bites, chamomile, cold and flu oil, natural cures, natural treatment for lice, Organic, peppermint, plantain herb, raw honey, safety health kit, Spearmint, tincture for pink eye, Xylitol
I wish we still had 3 more months of summer break. Just the thought of early morning traffic, coughing children and flu season really don’t encourage me to want to have the kids start school again.
Let’s face it no matter how clean you are or how well you raise your kids they are likely to get sick from one of their buddies at school. They are also bound to slip and fall and have a bu-bu you’ll need to kiss and make better or have a midnight tummy ache.
But what troubles me more about starting school is that I saw how germs traveled when I was volunteering as a lunch room mom in my children’s school.
Children from kindergarten all the way up through elementary would cough, sneeze and then touch their friends, their food and the food around them. They would rub stuffy noses then scratch their eyes and keep eating.
Hand washing was allowed after lunch but by then the germs had traveled into little ears, eyes and noses where they would eventually cause havoc.
So how can a mom be prepared this upcoming school year for the bumps, bruises, lice, colds, coughs, tummy aches and everything in between?
Make yourself a little Health Kit with things purchased at your local health food store. You can also pre-order a custom-made kit from La Chica Organica by emailing me at LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com for details. Having a health kit comes in handy for last-minute emergencies and trips and it saves time and money.
Here are some items I will have available that you can request for your “Mama’s Back to school Health Kit”. Most of these items are made in La Chica Organica’s herbal lab using Organic herbs and infused oils.
Here are some items available for your custom kit:
- Moms Miraculous Salve™ for cleaned wounds, cuts, sprains, bug bites, stings, sores, diaper rashes, and dry chapped skin. Works well as a mosquito repellent too! This salve contains organic herbs that help draw out infection and reduce inflammation so its uses are endless and a must have for any mommy. We use several tins of this throughout the year.
- Roses to the Rescue Balm™ – for the little girls in your life, but moms dads and brothers will love it too, just don’t tell the boys it’s made with rosesJ This salve has Organic unrefined Shea butter, Rose petals, Chamomile and some other Organic herbs in a base of almond oil with a drop or two of Organic Geranium Oil. It can be used for irritated skin, chapped lips and anywhere in between. I use it to soften rough feet at night after a day at the beach. This balm can also be placed in the fridge and placed on sunburned skin for a healing and cooling effect.
- Herbal Flu & Cold Rescue Balm – for rubbing on nose, chest, back and feet during flu season
- Immunity Boosting Loose Tea for Cold and Flu
- Mama’s Cold and Flu Rescue bath
- Help my Tummy Loose Tea
- Chamo Power Set with Organic loose Chamomile, tincture bottle & dropper to make herbal drops for itchy eyes related to pink eye, sty’s and allergies
- Loose the Lice ™loose herb kit for preventing lice
- Herbal ear drops for aiding with pain and infection (a must have in our home)
- Jar of Organic raw honey for scratchy throats and sweetening tea
- Non Toxic Natural Bug Repellent
- Plantain Leaf loose herb - This is a must have in our home and everyone’s home. Leaves can be crushed or chewed and used to quickly stop the bleeding of an open wound, stop the pain and inflammation or bites and stings, and relieve the itching from poison ivy.
- Natural mini cough drops in re-sealable miniature bags for kids to carry in their backpacks and mom inside her purse
- Nasal Spray with Xylitol for flushing out infection causing bacteria
- Small bag of powdered Organic Rose hips for using in smoothies to boost immunity since they have a higher Vitamin C content than citrus fruits.
I will be preparing custom kits in the coming weeks.
If you are interested please email me and reserve your spot as kits will go fast and once I run out I won’t have more until December. I can design kits based on your needs as a family.
Order yours now by emailing LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com for details and pricing.
P.S.
In order to keep product prices low I have not incorporated a shopping cart or ordering features to my site. I can bill you using Paypal where you can securely pay using any account or credit/bank card or you can pay me in person with cash or a check.
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