Dandelion Flower Infused Oil Making

There are many applications for Dandelion Flower Infused Oil. Here are but a few...

~ Apply oil directly onto irritated or inflamed skin, joints or muscles, with or without added essential oils as desired and as required, 2-4 x daily and consistently for therapeutic use.

~ Make oil into a balm by melting in beeswax or other plant waxes and butters at amounts to suit desired consistency, for a less greasy and more protective external application.

~ Blend with body and facial skin creams at 10-50% for a lighter and more absorbent skin application.

~ Use internally straight off the teaspoon up to 3 x daily as a nutrient and healing herbal remedy to promote tissue cleansing and healthy skin.

~ Drizzle on food as a base for a healthy detoxifying salad dressing, with apple cider vinegar, mustard, garlic, herbs, etc.

To make your own Dandelion Flower Infused Oil at home:

1. Pick lots of healthy looking dandelion flower heads, from a chemical spray free area. Bring a basket or paper bag to collect them in and protect them on the way home.

1a. Optional, but highly recommended extra step: I like to make some sort of nature art with them after picking, sit and connect with them on a picnic blanket and enjoy some tea or snacks near where they grow, do a bit of meditation, stretching, reading or journaling.

2. Make sure you use an appropriately sized, clean and completely dry jar sterilised by submerging jar and lid with freshly boiled water for 5-10min.

3. Fill jar with flower heads to the neck.

4. Cover with a cold pressed oil of your choice, ideally organic to minimise trace chemicals toxicity. I used sunflower in this one for its light texture and extra sunny solar powered energy, but you can use any oil you wish.

You could try grapeseed oil for something, nice and light, easily absorbed. Almond oil is a bit richer but still light and more nourishing. Olive oil is found in most kitchen cupboards, heavier and great for Vit E and anti fungal benefits, but flavour can be quite strong if you are making it for edible purposes. For external applications and dry skin, flavour is less important and richness may be more desirable.

4. Seal with lid (using dried flowers avoids mould growth, or secure piece of muslin over the top, and leave on sunny window sill for 2 weeks at least.

5. Give a shake, turn or stir daily with sterile spoon to ensure that no stagnant pockets of air and moisture from fresh flowers allow mould to develop.

As there is moisture in fresh flowers, it can be good to cover with muslin and rubber band or string to allow moisture to evaporate out. Using dried flowers avoids this issue, but loses some of the lovely fresh vital constituents. For fresh flowers and covered in muslin, stir instead of shake daily for obvious reasons!

If you use a lid on fresh flowers you may want to remove the lid every 2-3 days at first before shaking to check for water evaporation on the lid, leave off for a short while to allow any moisture to evaporate and reseal. Muslin not required when dried, but different if flavours fresh or dried. Either
way promotes healing however so do whatever works best for you. It's all good :)

6. Flowers will settle and shrink a bit, so you can add some fresh ones to top it up after a few days. For an extra potent oil, strain off and press out as much oil as possible after a couple of weeks, and repeat the process using the single infused oil with a fresh jar full of dandelion flowers to make a double infused oil.

7. Strain off through fine sieve, muslin or clean cloth into a sterile bottle or jar, seal well and store in a cool, dry, dark cupboard and use as required. Use within 12 months.

Note: Do not use for anyone with known sensitivities to the Daisy family, aka Asteraceae, Compositae.

One person's healing medicine can be another person's poison, so do patch tests before 24hr before using, particularly for those with sensitive skins. We are all individual and may react differently. This applies to any plant remedy. Check with your local herbalist for guidance.

If you haven't already checked out my dandelion remedies blog for more medicinal benefits and musings on the whole dandelion plant, you can do so here.

I'd love to hear your creative uses and experiences for dandelion flower oil. Do please share your thoughts with me in the comments or social media links below. I look forward to hearing from you :)

Have a sunshiny dandelion day,

Fiona Morris 

Herbalist & Holistic Therapist

www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk

Herbal Wellness Plans | Courses & Workshops | Wild Remedy Walks

Holistic Body Massage | Indian Head Massage | Tea & Tarot Readings

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Love Potion No 1 - Rose & Pomegranate Elixir

This Valentine's Day I decided to get my family in the mood for love by treating them to pancakes for breakfast smothered in Love Potion No 1. aka homemade Pomegranate & Rose Honey Elixir. Here's how I did it so you can recreate it at home if you wish...

The first thing I did was to gather the most heart warming ingredients I could find in my kitchen cupboard. I offered them to the goddess, a reflection of our higher self, infusing them with heartfelt intention, extra potent love energy, and healing blessings.

My Love Potion ingredients included: pomegranate, rose petals, honey - a homemade gift from friends, lemon, water, cinnamon, cardamom, and the most important ingredient, LOVE.

Each item chosen for their sweet or citrus aromas, heart opening colours and emotional uplifting benefits, I first arranged the ingredients on a beautiful blue platter with some special stones lovingly gifted to me and bought myself, including rose quartz and ruby fuchite.

I sprinkled a handful of dried rose petals in to a half cup of water, adding a teaspoon or so of cardamom pods, couple of lemon slices, a stick of cinnamon and brought the magic pot of love to a simmer.

Reducing the gently simmering liquid to about half for about 10-15min, I used a masher occasionally to press and stir the concoction to release the juice from the pomegranates and break open the cardamom pods to release their flavour. I added a few more rose petals for luck.

I then poured the mixture into a bowl through a fine sieve, pressing the liquid out of the herbs and squishing any remaining pomegranate fruit with the back of a wooden spoon.

This left me with a ruby red infusion which I poured into a measuring jug to add honey to (for a vegan option you could try maple syrup, or get it back on the hob to melt in some unrefined sugar).

I added the warm ruby liquid with honey in equal parts, and stirred with spoon until completely blended, adding loving thoughts, wishes and gratitude for the people it's intended for.

And voila! A rose and pomegranate love potion concoction for St. Valentine's day. 

We enjoyed it as a syrup for pancakes. It was delicious and went down a treat...

There was even some left over to enjoy on Pancake Tuesday, and to add to smoothies to make them taste just heavenly! It's a lovely way to get a late winter immune boost with the lemon, cinnamon and honey too.

All the extra smells, colour and texture of the cardamom and cinnamon spices also added to the magic of the potion concocting! The lemon made it really good on the pancakes. The pomegranate gave the elixir a richer red colour than the rose petals do alone.

Although there is something to be said for the simplicity of pure rose syrup. I might try to keep it simple next time to get the full flavour of rose, but I personally can never resist adding a pinch of spice to give it a special twist.

Hope you enjoy giving it a go yourself. Feel free to make it your own with your favourite ingredients. A vanilla pod or star anis, for example, would give it a certain je ne sais quoi.

I'd love to hear what you come up with and your own creative ways to serve it to your dear ones.

Rose petals and cinnamon sticks,

Fiona Morris 

Medical Herbalist, 

Massage Therapist 

& AstroTarot Reader

www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk

Herbal Wellness Plans | Courses & Workshops | Wild Remedy Walks 

Holistic Body Massage | Indian Head Massage | Tea & Tarot Readings

Let's connect: Facebook l Twitter l Blog l Instagram l Pinterest

Click here to receive your Nourish & Flourish Love Letters 

Welcome to share with anyone who might appreciate it!

Remedy Making from Your Kitchen Cupboard

Did you know that we have wealth of natural first aid solutions already in our kitchen cupboards?

Last month I was honoured to be invited to share my knowledge on this topic as a guest workshop leader for Healthy Living in the 21^st Century Meet Up Group by this group’s dynamic host, Jane Jamieson of Enabling Health.

I had the pleasure of taking the 30+ enthusiastic workshop participants, ranging from complete newcomers to herbal medicine to experienced therapists and herbal practitioners, on a whirlwind trip of our ‘Spice Cabinet Superheroes’.

We passed around each ‘Superhero’ around the room while we sniffed and sampled, sharing our healing experiences of each one.

There was such a lively atmosphere that the time just flew, so I had to use my spice-charged superpowers to demonstrate the remedy making at lightning speed. 

These remedies included: 

Ginger Warming Oil

Four Thieves Vinegar

Sleepy Poppy Seed Truffles 

Sage Tooth Powder

I will share these recipes here on the blog for those who couldn't make the live event on a later date.

In the post workshop feedback I was happy to hear that the participants were eager for more, so I'm happy to announce that I'm running an 8 week course exploring kitchen cupboard remedies at a more leisurely pace.

The Kitchen Cupboard Remedies 8 week evening course on Tuesday evenings starting 15th October 7pm-8.30pm. 

This will take place at an exciting vibrant new independent health store and complementary health centre, Natural Foods Etc. opening on Saturday 5th October 2013.

At this series of 8 hands-on herbal remedy workshops we will craft and taste a range of remedies for a host of common complaints, with your own handmade samples and kitchen first aid booklets to take home after.

We will learn to make a variety of lotions, potions, lozenges, creams, oils and ointments using ingredients found commonly in your kitchen.

Book your space online: click here to visit website

Click here to find event on Facebook to invite your friends.

I look forward to seeing some of you on the course.

To your natural health! 

Fiona Morris helps heart-centered creative professionals, health practitioners and wellness adventurers who are ready for expert support to create a firm foundation of self care and healing methods for flourishing health and wellness. 

Fiona is a Medical Herbalist promoting optimal well being through holistic health and herbal workshops and courses, wild remedy walks, wellness consultations and programmes. 

For more info and free report on Fiona's Top 10 Tips to Nourish and Flourish visit: http://www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk and join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/NourishandFlourish

Superhero Snacks: Adventures with Superfoods!

To celebrate the arrival of a new range of organic superfoods at my clinic at Neal's Yard Remedies, Edinburgh, I decided to run a series of four 'Superhero Snacks' workshops to empower people to create a range of delightful treats at home using these nutrient packed energy and immunity boosters.

So, if you are around and about the Edinburgh area in the next few months, I warmly invite you come along to learn how to blast away those mid morning and mid afternoon energy dips with your own home made sustaining superfood snacks.

Enjoy a fun evening with your fellow super heroes and heroines, creating mouth-watering morsels to super charge your days and nights!

Sample some tantalising herb-infused tit-bits and go home empowered with new skills and delights to share with friends and family.

The first episode in our plant powered 4 part series of hands on herbal workshops kicks off on the evening of Wednesday 23rd October. 

Superhero Snacks ~ Part 1: Fuelling Up 

Part 1 of four hands-on herbal workshops

with Fiona Morris, Medical Herbalist 

Venue: Neal’s Yard Remedies

102 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DR

Date: Wednesday 23rd October 2013

Time: 6.30-8pm

Cost:  £10

Spaces limited so book early or join the cancellation list.

Phone Neal's Yard Remedies Edinburgh to book on: 0131 226 3223

Or email: edinburgh@nealsyardremedies.com

Workshops are booked individually. Look out for all of Fiona’s four upcoming Superhero Snack Making Workshops at Neal’s Yard Remedies Edinburgh…

Part 1. Fuelling Up – Wed 23^rd October 2013, 6.30-8pm

Part 2. Blast Off – Wed 20^th November 2013, 6.30-8pm

Part 3. A Force of Nature – Wed 22^nd January 2014, 6.30-8pm

Part 4. The Final Frontier – Wed 19^th February 2014, 6.30-8pm

Also coming to the Nourish and Flourish Blog soon is my monthly Superfoods A-Z series originally written for Neal's Yard Remedies Edinburgh's email newsletter to introduce you some of these herbal stars' finer points, starting with A for Ashwaganda ~ Herbal Horse Power!

To your plant powered wellness!

Fiona Morris helps heart-centred creative professionals, health practitioners and wellness adventurers who are ready for expert support to create a firm foundation of self care and healing methods for flourishing health and wellness.

Fiona is a Medical Herbalist promoting optimal well being through holistic health and herbal workshops and courses, wild remedy walks, wellness consultations and programmes.


For more info and free report on Fiona's Top 10 Tips to Nourish and Flourish visit: http://www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk and join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/NourishandFlourish

Feeling Blue? How to Feel Rosy Again with this Quick Herbal Pick-me-up...

Some days things just don't go my way...

I'm late for work. I can't find my keys and realise I don't have change for the bus... A misinterpreted comment snowballs into an awful argument that takes me by surprise...

After a challenging day at work, I come home to find an unexpected bill in my letter box... I need to pay it off urgently online but my computer is in the shop having crashed last week...

I decide I'll run myself a nice hot bath and soak away my worries with the scent of aromatic essential oils, ahhhh...

But I realise the gas heater timer was not reset and there's no hot water!!!

AAARRRGGHH!!!@*%!!!

In life, days like these are guaranteed.

So when your emotions are frayed, here's a heart warming herbal recipe to help put everything back in perspective...

Honey, Rose and Fresh Mint 'Hug in a Mug'

Ingredients:

Fresh or dried rose petals
Fresh mint
Honey
Hot water


Directions:

1. Select your most comforting tea cup or mug.

2. Add a teaspoon of rose petals and a large bruised sprig of fresh mint (take a deep inhale of each before adding to the cup).

3. Pour over hot freshly boiled water. Infuse for 5-10 mins to your personal strength preference.

4. Strain off herbs and stir in honey to taste, garnishing with an extra small sprig of mint.

5. Sit in a favourite spot with your feet up, put on some relaxing tunes, and enjoy the sweet heart-opening revitalising elixir.

As Mary Poppins says, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." In this case, a touch of honey and rose can help us swallow the bitter pills of life.

The lovely delicate feminine rose aroma reminds us to be kind to ourselves and others and has an uplifting effect. Mint's cooling taste takes some 'heat' out of the situation, with a therapeutic anti-spasmodic effect to help unwind those tense muscles. Honey binds the two with its sweetness. It feels like a real treat, enhancing the self-nurturing effect.

Here are a few more floral tips to get those rose-tinted glasses on again...

• Add 2-3 drops of rose essential oil per 5ml base oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond or grapeseed oil), mix well and store in a small bottle to carry around with you apply to pulse points and rub gently into the chest area when feeling low... Also useful to have on hand to share with friends who are needing support.

• Add distilled rose water to a small spray bottle and spritz into the air to instantly lighten the environment. This is also lovely on hot skin in the summertime and to diffuse an angry atmosphere.

• Rose petals sprinkled into your bath (once the hot water has warmed up!) gives a touch of luxury and helps you feel nurtured and loved.

If rose is not to your taste, do not despair. Try these delightful alternatives... Chamomile, Orange Blossom (Neroli), and Lavender.

Hope you feel inspired by these rose remedies. Give them a go... I'd love to hear your floral experiences, or do get in touch to share your own rose based and uplifting recipes.

Wishing you flourishing wellness and rose petals,

Fiona

Fiona Morris is an Edinburgh-based Medical Herbalist promoting optimal well being and vitality at her holistic herbal health care courses, workshops, wild remedy walks and herbal wellness consultations. For more info about her practice and natural health events visit: http://www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk.

Getting Buzzy with Local Scottish Blossom Honey - Remedies, Recipes and Review of Hood's Honey

As a herbalist I am regularly prescribing concoctions of herbal teas and recommending the benefits of local honey to add a therapeutic touch of sweetness. So I was delighted to be given a complimentary pot of honey to review by Real Foods, one of Edinburgh's natural health heroes, health foods and organic grocery shops.

I noticed that Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey is not just Scottish but also local, based in the village of Ormiston, East Lothian, a stone's throw from Edinburgh. Box ticked! 

Here in Scotland, a reluctant spring has finally sprung! Local honey is a well known remedy to help reduce a sensitivity to spring and summer pollens. You may wonder, "Why is local honey good for allergies"? 

By adding local honey to your diet, you are introducing minute amounts of pollen and bee secretions that support your body in acclimatizing to the very flower pollens in the air that you will be exposed to. 

Take it regularly before and during the hayfever season. This can help minimise unwanted reactions such as sneezing, itching and streaming eyes, nose and throat. Try a spoonful in a cup of peppermint, nettle, chamomile, eyebright and elderflower infusions 3 x daily for a soothing summertime blend.

Sampling Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey straight off the spoon from its honeycomb shaped pot of delicately fragranced goodness, I was impressed by its smooth melting soft set texture. Then tasting it, I was equally pleased by its delicious and naturally sweet warming flavour, with hints of honeycomb wax. Tick, tick, tick!

Having done a little research on the interweb, I discovered that Hood's Honey is a small family run business that produces ethical bee products using traditional methods to very high standards, and has won every top award in Scotland. So, my taste buds were correct and I felt my halo shining a little brighter too. 

Founded by George Hood in 1950, it is now run by his son Stuart Hood. I was tickled to hear that Stuart's earliest memory is getting stung by a bee as a child while getting a bedtime hug from his father George!

Honey is one of the most ancient and remarkable of natural remedies. An Egyptian Papyrus found by Ebers in 1873 is the oldest known medical book in the world containing 800 medical diagnoses and remedies, with around half containing honey. 

A highly effective natural preservative, honey was used in ancient Egyptian times to embalm corpses. Honey has been found among other valuables in Pharohs' tombs, completely intact as honey does not go off! Even today honey is used medicinally as an anti-infective on wound dressings. 

If you are looking for ways to improve your diet, honey is a great sweetener to start swapping with refined white sugary products and to use in recipes that require sugar such as cakes and baking. The oligosaccharides in honey are associated with healthy gut bacterial growth.

Refined sugar is poor in nutrient value and promote inflammation in the body, so alternatives like honey are ideal while starting to reduce the amount of sugar intake. Having said that, honey is still a sugar and affects your blood sugar levels so it is best used in moderation and as part of a balanced diet as with most things.

Here are a few home remedies and tasty drinks recipes to try at home:

Colds and Flu Classic with a twist... Lemon, Ginger and Honey Chai

A warming cuppa with vit C rich lemon, anti-inflammatory ginger, expectorant star anis, analgesic cloves, carminative cardamon, circulatory stimulant cinnamon, and comforting antiseptic honey.

1. Add 3 cups water to a saucepan with peeled sliced or grated ginger (1 thumb-sized piece), stick of cinnamon, 3 cloves, 3 crushed cardamom pods, and 2 star anis. 

2. Bring to a boil and simmer partially covered for 15-20min.

3. Strain and pour into cup with honey and squeezed fresh lemon to taste.

4. Keep warm and cozy in bed and reheat to drink throughout the day. Get well soon!

Garlic and Honey Germ Blaster

When you are feeling under the weather and need an immunity boost, this anti-microbial combo helps to clear an infection or prevent it. The honey takes the edge off the pungent garlic flavour too!

1. Take 1 clove of peeled garlic and chop finely or put through garlic press.

2. Take a teaspoon of honey and mix in with the garlic.

3. Take the mixture straight off the spoon followed by a large glass of water.

Rosemary and Lemon Balm Memory Booster

A great combination to boost circulation and immunity: "Rosemary for remembrance" so the old saying goes. It's rich in reviving volatile oils. Lemon Balm has a lovely citrus flavour, especially when fresh, both have anti-viral properties and research which suggest a boost to the brain - fantastic if studying for exams or feeling fuzzy headed.

1. Put 1 large sprig each of fresh lemon balm and rosemary, or a half teaspoon each of dried herb into a cup.

2. Add hot boiled water and infuse covered for 5-10mins.

3. Strain herbs and add honey to taste. Enjoy an instant mental pick-me-up!

Peppermint and Honey Refresher

A nourishing and delicious cooling summer smoothie to relax in the garden and sip while watching the birds and bees.

1. Take 1 peeled avocado, 2 peeled kiwi fruits, a cup of natural live yoghurt, a large dollop of honey, a handful of nuts and seeds and a handful of fresh mint.

2. Put in a blender and blend until smooth.

3. Pour into a funky glass, garnish with mint or a slice of kiwi. Cheers!

Sweet Almond Milk and Honey 

Do you use dairy milk alternatives? Why not try this recipe and make your own at home? Use on cereals, in smoothies, as you would with dairy milks, or a refreshing drink on its own.

1. Soak 1 cup of almonds in a bowl covered with cold water overnight.

2. Strain off liquid.

3. Put soaked half of almonds in food processor or blender with 1-2 tablespoons honey and 3 cups pure filtered water, and blend.

4. Strain through muslin, clean tea towel or strainer.

5. Repeat with remaining almonds and 2 cups pure filtered water and add to initial mix.

Hope you feel inspired by these honey infused creations. Please do try them out... I'd love to hear how you got on with them, or get in touch to share your own favourite honey based recipes. 

All in all, Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey gets a big shiny gold star and thumbs up from me! 

Thank you Real Foods for introducing me to this lovely locally sourced and health-giving treat.

Fiona Morris is an Edinburgh-based Medical Herbalist promoting optimal well being and vitality at her holistic herbal health care courses, workshops, wild remedy walks and herbal wellness consultations. For more info about her practice and natural health events visit: http://www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk.

Gratitude to: 

Sheila, tea lady extraordinaire at Hanna Cherrie's Teashop (at Gorgeous, 29-35 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5BA) for providing the delightful tea ware and setting for the images above; and

Real Foods, for providing the Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey :)