Witchvox Article

Author: Danielle.dyer
Posted: March 20th. 2011
Times Viewed: 2,377

To make a flower essence, you will need a thin glass bowl, a handful of the flowers of your choice, and some spring water. Begin by rinsing the flowers quickly with the spring water. Lay the flowers in the bowl and pour enough water over them to cover them. Set the bowl outside or in a very sunny window for three to five hours. Sunning the flowers will let their healing properties seep out and into the water.

When they are done sitting, strain out the flowers and pour the essence into sterile glass bottles. Fill the bottles half way with the essence and then fill the rest of the bottle with brandy or vodka. This liqueur is used to preserve the essence so that it will remain useful for many years to come. If you do not wish to use alcohol, a teaspoon of honey or vitamin E squeezed from a jelly vitamin capsule will also work. These can be used alone or they can be mixed for a certain remedy. ***See note.

*Aloe Vera - use for that burned out feeling.
*Angelica - gives a feeling of protection and helps you to receive guidance from spiritual beings.
*Arnica - use for treatment of deep shock or disappointment.
*Basil - helps to polarize and balance sexuality and spirituality.
*Blackberry - helps to translate ideas and goals into workable activity.
*Borage - builds self-confidence.
*Calendula - helps to put warmth into conversation or social dealing.
*Cayenne - helps you to accept changes and move toward a definite goal.
*Chamomile - gives you a serene disposition.
*Red Clover - imparts calm and steady behavior and helps you to become more self-aware and self-contained.
*Black Cohosh - gives you the courage to confront abusive or threatening situations.
*Dill - helps you to appreciate and enjoy all the gifts of life on a daily basis.
*Echinacea - heals feelings that have been shattered by trauma.
*Evening Primrose - helps to form committed relationships.
*Garlic - gives you a sense of wholeness.
*Goldenrod - helps balance inner sense of self with social consciousness.
*Golden Yarrow - helps to heal tendency to withdraw from social contact.
*Iris - places you in touch with higher sensitivities and helps you express artistic abilities.
*Lavender - gives spiritual awareness and sensitivity.
*Mallow - helps you reach out to others.
*Milkweed - gives the strength of ego necessary to stop dependency on food, drugs, or alcohol.
*Mugwort - allows you to harmonize psychic forces.
*Mullein - gives strong sense of conscious and truthfulness.
*Nasturtium - gives radiant warmth that you are able to impart to others and attracts others to you.
*Pennyroyal - gives you clarity of thought.
*Peppermint - stops mental lethargy and helps balance metabolism.
*Pink Yarrow - gives loving awareness of others and stops self-absorbency.
*Queen Anne�s Lace - gives spiritual insight and helps integrate psychic abilities with spirituality.
*Rosemary - helps correct poor connection of soul and spirit with the physical body and improves memory.
*Sage - gives ability to perceive higher purpose in life.
*St. John�s Wort - illuminates consciousness and gives strength to deal with disturbed dreams and psychic experiences.
*Scotch Broom - Makes you feel optimistic about the world and happenings in general.
*Self-Heal - causes healing from within and sense of wholeness.
*Sunflower - gives balances sense of individuality.
*Tansy - helps you to become purposeful in action toward goals.
*Violet - elevates spiritual perspective and makes you highly perceptive.
*Yarrow - creates beneficial healing forces and helps you to have compassionate awareness of others.
*Yerba Santa - frees up your emotions so you can feel a full range of emotions.

How to Prepare A Tincture
Tinctures are used in salves or as is. Oils are used mainly as salves and alcohol based tinctures are used internally. To prepare a tincture, gather a glass jar, the herb or herbs that you wish to use, and some alcohol (vodka) or olive oil. This will be prepared much like the flower essences above, but you will allow the flowers to sit for several weeks instead of several days.

Oil Based Tinctures
Place the herb inside the jar and cover it with the olive oil. Seal the jar and place it somewhere where it will receive sunlight for several weeks. Three, six and nine are good numbers of weeks to allow the tincture to sit. After you take the tincture inside, you can strain out the herbs if you like. Add several tablespoons of honey to the oil or two broken vitamin E capsules to the tincture to serve as a preservative. Be sure to label each bottle as to its contents and uses.

Alcohol Based Tinctures
Make the alcoholic tinctures the same way you would the oil-based tinctures. Pour some kind of alcohol over the herbs such as vodka. Since alcohol is a wonderful preservative, you will not need to add any other preservatives. Pour the tincture into sterile glass bottles and label them with their contents and directions for use. Alcoholic tinctures are added to juice and teas as remedies for such things as headache, joint pain, cramps, cold, etc.

Basic Salve Preparation
Lotions and salves for wounds if made very thinly. Melted beeswax is useful in thickening tinctures that are too thin. If the salve is too thick, add some more oil to the mixture. Beeswax can be kept in jars and melted in the microwave when needed. It is not messy and will keep forever.

When preparing your salve, heat the oil based tincture you plan to use for it in a pan. Never use a pan made of aluminum, as it will destroy the medicinal properties of many kinds of herbs. Add small amounts of melted beeswax at a time to reach your desired thickness. Let the mixture cool to test the thickness before you warm it again and add it to its new container. There is no need to add any preservative. Be sure to label the container with its contents and directions for use. Salves will keep for years and will not need to be re-prepared until you run out.

If you wish to make a salve from fresh herbs, just heat two cups of olive oil to almost boiling and add a large handful of the herb or herbs that you wish to use. Simmer the salve from 20 minutes to three hours depending on the herb. Some herbs will take longer to fully release their medicinal properties. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and allow it to sit until it is completely cool. Strain and then reheat the oil and add the beeswax and preservatives of honey or vitamin E capsules. Be sure you add a preservative to inhibit bacteria from forming in your salve. Let cool and test for thickness. Pour the salve into a sterile container and be sure to label it with its contents and directions for use.

***Note: Research possible toxic properties and reactions of all plants before ingesting internally. Always do a test with lotions, oils and balms on a small patch of skin to check for allergic reactions. Do not use any herbal preparations if you are pregnant or nursing. Do not use on or administer to children or animals.

ABOUT...

Danielle.dyer

Location: Vallejo, California

Other Articles: Danielle.dyer has posted 2 additional articles- View them?

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Danielle.dyer... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).