Arnica (Arnica montana and Arnica fulgens) is an herb that grows in the mountainous areas of Europe, Siberia, and Canada. It also grows in high altitudes of the north-western United States. The rhizome (root) and flowers are used in herbal medicine to treat swelling and bruising.

Flowers are harvested when they are at the peak of blooming, and the rhizomes in autumn, when nutrients and healing constituents are stored in the roots for winter.

Uses

Arnica creams, ointments, gels and tinctures are the usual forms. Homeopathic “pillules” and gels are also common forms of the herb. Arnica is …

* 1 oz dried comfrey leaves
* 1 oz dried calendula flowers
* 2 cups olive oil
* 1 oz pure beeswax
* 4 drops tea tree
* 4 drops lavender essential oils
* 1 400 vit E

Heat herbs in olive oil over low heat for about 5 hours. Do not let the oil boil or bubble. A Crock-Pot or the lowest temperature setting on a range should be suitable for heating this mixture. (If the lowest setting is too hot, turn off the heat once it has warmed the oil…it should keep warm for at least and hour….then repeat the …

Bathe the area with warm water to which you have added the following:

* Lavender 5 drops
* Tea Tree 2 drops

Use this mixture for every 2 cups of water

Put 3 drops of lavender on a piece of gauze and place it over the cut. Renew it twice a day and expose the cut or wound to air on the third day if
possible.

A muscle pull in your back, whether upper or lower back, will impact your athletic activities and your daily living activities. Your back is integral to all your activities, including standing, sitting, walking and bending. Even lying flat in bed your back provides support to the pelvic area and shoulders. Your back does more for the support of your body than you might initially believe.

One of the problems with having a muscle pull upper back is that there is no real way to splint it or protect it they way that you …

Low back pain is a rather common occurrence in today’s world. Low back pain can be caused from osteoporosis changes, disc degeneration, muscle strains and sprains and over use injuries from lack of strength.

The muscles of the low back give the power and strength for activities we take for granted every day, such as standing, walking and lifting. The ligaments of the low back act to provide support and stability.

The most common to the athlete and young person is the low back pain muscle pull from athletic activities or twists and turns in …

* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* 3 to 4 tablespoons beeswax
* 3 tablespoons cocoa butter
* 2 teaspoons lanolin
* 10 drops vitamin e oil
* 15 drops lavender oil

Combine the olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and lanolin and heat thoroughly in the top of a double boiler. Remove from the heat. Add the vitamin e, lavender oil and beat well. Pour into little jars and allow the mixture to cool before covering.

Gnats and Midges Bites

Dilute 3 drops of Thyme in 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar or lemon juice and apply to the bites. This should stop the irritation.

Or as an alternative, just dab on neat Lavender

Bedbugs and Flea Bites

To avoid risk of infection, bathe the bitten areas and apply neat Lavender. Alternatively, dilute 3 drops of Thyme in cider vinegar and apply over the bitten area. Eucalyptus is another option-use as you would Lavender.

Get your herbs and oils at a place you can trust!

Starwest Botanicals not only utilizes their own milling and packaging …

A blood clot is the most common cause of a blocked coronary artery. Usually, the artery is already partially narrowed by atheromas. An atheroma may rupture or tear, narrowing the artery further and making blockage by a clot more likely. The ruptured atheroma not only reduces the flow of blood through an artery but also releases substances that make platelets stickier, further encouraging clots to form.

Uncommonly, a heart attack results when a clot forms in the heart itself, breaks away, and lodges in a coronary artery. Another uncommon cause is a spasm of a …

* 1 Tablespoon echinacea root tincture
* 1 Tablespoon distilled water
* 1/8 teaspoon lavender essential oil
* 1 Tablespoon bentonite clay

Combine the tincture, water and lavender essential oil.

Add this mixture to the clay, stirring slowly as the liquid is absorbed. The resulting paste should be tacky enough to adhere to the skin. Apply directly to bite as needed.

Store this remedy in a container with a tight fitting lid, so that the mixture will not dry out. If it does dry out, stir in enough distilled water to turn it back into a paste.

You must remember, though, that …

Insects are a frequent problem during the warmer summertime months. For many people they are nothing more than a pain in the neck; for other people they may become a severe problem.

This is particularly true for folks who receive bee stings and anaphylactic shock kicks in. Even if you believe you do not know somebody with this sort of allergic reaction to bee stings, it is a good idea to know how to respond. Your actions may spare a life.

Folks do not frequently think about how dangerous a bee sting may be, unless they have …