Jo's Health Corner: alfalfa

Homemade Rosemary & Lavender Soap Makes a Perfect Gift

Don't you just love homemade gifts? They are so personal and thoughtful, and it shows that you really care. Are you going to be making any homemade gifts this season? Here is a recipe for a soothing and moisturizing lavender and rosemary soap that is a favorite in our household. I like to make a personal gift basket with a variety of homemade gifts, and I like to include our favorite lavender and rosemary soap in our baskets.

This recipe is inspired by Sandy Maine's Lavender and Rosemary Soap from her book, "Soothing Soaps for Healthy Skin". I modified it some, and I used 2 tablespoons shea butter, 1 pound of solid glycerin, and 1/4 cup infusion of lavender flower and rosemary leaves. I also added 1 teaspoon dried, chopped rosemary and lavender, and 40 drops of lavender essential oil. I normally add rosemary essential oil as well.

To make the infusion I poured 1 cup of hot water over 3 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs. I let it steep for about 10 minutes.

The infusions are very healing and they also add color to the soap. I like to make it a little stronger than the standard recipe when I make an infusion for soap.

The shea butter and the soap base were melted separately. If you don't have a double boiler, you can do what I do and put bowls on top of sauce pans and let it slowly melt.

First I added the melted shea butter to the melted glycerin, then I added the herbal infusion.

I pour it in various suitable molds. This time I tried this version for a change. Once the mixture was poured into the mold and had cooled slightly, I added the lavender essential oil. Last I added about a teaspoon of chopped, dried, lavender and rosemary. I let it cool.

Doesn't it look wonderful?

Now comes the fun part which is to create some memorable and healing gifts. You could put the whole soap on a fancy platter and decorate it with some dried herbs. Wonderful platters can often be found in antique or thrift stores. Perhaps you already have one in the cabinet?

I decided to make more than one gift out of this soap, so I cut and placed a few pieces in a soap holder. I found this inexpensive soap holder at IKEA last year. You can be very creative and use beautiful glass bowls from antique or thrift stores. I have used items that I've found at estate sales and garage sales for gifts.

I like to add liquid soap to a matching container and include it in my gift baskets.

My mother makes beautiful needle point tablecloths and place mats. They make a nice addition to my homemade gift baskets. My children added a little gift as well. Doesn't it look like wonderful gift?

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

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Spirulina, Bee Pollen and Alfalfa - My Favorite Superfood Supplements

Plenty of foods and supplements are considered super foods. They are considered super foods because they contain all or almost all the nutrients the body needs. Here are a few of my favorite super food supplements we like to use in our family. Not only are they extremely high in nutrients, but they are also fairly inexpensive considering what a powerhouse of nutrients they are.

Spirulina

Spirulina has been my favorite for a few years. I like to add a few capsules to our shakes in the morning. Spirulina is a micro-algae that has a unique variety of nutrients like no other plant or herb. It contains 60 - 70% complete protein compared to a steak's 25% complete protein. Another plus is that spirulina contains vitalized protein while the steak provides denatured protein. This means spirulina's nutrients are intact while many nutrients in the steak are destroyed when cooked. It is a high energy food and it is easily assimilated if digesting animal protein is a problem.

Some of the nutrients in spirulina are gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), linoleic and arachidonic acid. It also contains B12, amino acids, iron, nucleic acids DNA and RNA. Other valuable constituents are chlorophyll and phycocyanin. Vitamin A, C, B1, B2, B6, B9 are other nutrients found in spirulina.

Being high in antioxidants, it counteracts damaging free radicals and promote wellness. In addition to nutrients mentioned, spirulina has high amount of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, chromium and selenium. Spirulina is part of our health building program, but it has historically been used for exhaustion, adrenal support, cholesterol reduction, cleansing, appetite control, and blood sugar control.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa has among the highest amount of minerals in the plant world. It has been referred to as the king of herbs and it has been used for thousands of years. According to Dr. Lepore, N.D, it is one of the best herbs to combat allergies. Lepore also recommends it for Rheumatoid Arthritis due to its high content of potassium and sodium. He refers to it as an almost miracle herb.

It's nutrient content is hard to beat, it covers most of the valuable nutrients the body needs. First of all, it contains 8 digestive enzymes, which aids in assimilation of nutrients. Apart from trace minerals it has a tremendous amount of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and silicon.

It has virtually all the known vitamins, especially vitamin A,E, K, D, B 6. It also contains amino acids.

It is an alkalizing herb. It has historically been used for allergies, arthritis, glandular problems, bowel disorders, over-acidity, osteoporosis, asthma and much more. Large amount can thin the blood and don't use it if you take blood thinners. This is a great all round herb that is perfect for a tight budget. Great for general health building.

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen has plenty of B- Vitamins like B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, and B-12. It contains every nutrient known, and some are Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Folic Acid. It also has about 20% protein and amino acids. Magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, silica, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine and manganese are also present as well.

It is a high energizing supplement and it is widely used by athletes around the world. It supports the immune system and the glands. According to Steven Horne, it combines well with spirulina and licorice for energy and to stabilize blood sugar levels. We use it for extra immune support and as an energy boost.

Thanks for visiting!

Johanna is an aromatherapist and an independent distributor of Young Living Essential Oils. She is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. She received her aromatherapy education at the American College of Health Care Sciences. Johanna also runs Naturally Sports & Wellness with her husband.

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information. Explore her new aromatherapy new blog and find out how you can get her e-book for free. Johanna is also the founder of the new network blog, Living Well Moms, and her posts are published every Monday.