THE HOME APOTHECARY Home Crafted Recipes Using Herbs and Essential Oils

By Jackie Ritz

I’m Jackie, a thir tysomething mother of two and wife of an Army Veteran. I’m the headmistress behind The Paleo Mama website and author of Everyday Natural: Living a Pure and Simple Life Is Not As Complicated As You Think 1.

My journey into crafting my own herbal recipes star ted when I was pregnant with my f irst child nearly 11 years ago. I remember reading the ingredients for the f irst time on my sunscreen bottle and then searching online for what “oxybenzone” could do to my unborn baby. Then I found out that my hair dye had lead in it, my body wash had known carcinogens in it, and in my deodorant was aluminum, which is a known hormone disruptor.

So I purged my drawers and dresser tops of these dangerous products and star ted making my own. Not only did I discover that it was fun to create homemade products for my health, my home, and my children, but it was also so much cheaper, and I was saving money!

This passion into getting my hands dir ty with ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, cacao butter, bentonite clay, essential oils and herbs, led me to the desire to learn more about these beautiful gifts of the ear th through having my own herbal garden, dabbling into permaculture principles, attending plant and mushroom walks, and, eventually, through attending herbal medicine school to become a trained herbalist.

I am conf ident that once you make your f irst batch of homemade body butter, or create a nightly ritual of sipping on my Golden Milk latte, you will fall in love with the ar t of herbal medicine making. There is something so cathar tic about creating your own healing recipes and seeing your own apothecary overf lowing with tinctures, infused honeys, body butters, home-crafted cleaning products, medicinal bone broth, and delightful tea blends.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and are able to create some beautiful gifts for yourself, your family and your friends.

In love and gratitude,

Jackie Ritz

1 Jacqueline Ritz, Everyday Natural: Living a Pure and Simple Life Is Not as Complicated as You Think (Lake Mary, FL: Siloam, 2017).

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The Home Apothecary: Home-Crafted Recipes Using Herbs and Essential Oils | 9

HerbsAstragalus, sliced thinCalendula, whole f lowers German Chamomile f lowersCardamom, hulledCinnamon chips or sticksComfrey root or leavesEchinaceaElderberry berriesFennel SeedGingerHibiscus “roselle” calyxesLavenderLemon balmLemon verbenaRoseStinging NettlesValerian

Recommended Herbs & Supplies to Start Your Apothecary

Essential OilsLavender Lemon Peppermint Wild Orange Tea Tree Frankincense Eucalyptus Grapefruit Vetiver

Body Care SuppliesAlmond OilArrowroot Baking Soda Beeswax pastillesBentonite Clay Castor oil Coconut oilCocoa butter wafersFractionated Coconut oil (liquid coconut oil)MCT oil Olive oilJojoba oilShea butterSugar (brown, white, raw, sucanat, etc) Vitamin E

You can f ind my recommended brands on my Home Apothecary resource page.

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All PurposeHealing Salve

When you have little ones in the house, there seems to be an endless supply of boo-boos, bug bites, and itchy skin. This all-purpose salve is good for so many things and is perfect to have on hand, throw in a diaper bag or purse, or keep in the car. The coconut oil and olive oil bring nourishment to the skin, while the beeswax is known to lock in moisture, foster cells, and protect skin from damaging environmental factors.

This salve uses a calendula oil infusion. If you have the option, choose whole dried calendula f lowers and not just the dried petals. There is a lot of medicine in the f lower-part of the calendula.

Yields 1 - 1/4 cup

Materials Needed

Method

• 1/2 cup of coconut oil• 1/2 cup of olive oil• 1/4 cup of beeswax pastilles

1. Macerate the calendula f lowers in your food processor with the 1/2 cup of olive oil until it resembles a pesto-like consistency.

2. Put the coconut oil, olive oil, beeswax and calendula f lowers in a double boiler and bring to a simmer. Slowly heat for 30 minutes to 3 hours, making sure to not let the oil get hotter than 110 F (think bathwater temp). Keep an eye on the water in your double boiler. You do not want to let your herbs get too hot.

3. Strain the mixture into a bowl through a cheesecloth making sure to wring out all the oil, getting every last drop.

4. Let cool for a few minutes.5. Add the essential oils and stir. Pour into a glass jar and store for up to a year at

room temperature, twice as long if you refrigerate.

• 1 cup of dried whole calendula f lowers• 20 drops of tea tree essential oil • 20 drops of lavender essential oil

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GrapefruitSugar ScrubYields 3 cups

This is a wonderful scrub to use in the morning or give to a friend who needs to practice some self care. It’s so energizing and smells so delicious that you might be tempted to taste it. Go ahead, give it a taste…it’s all natural!

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Materials Needed

Method

• 2 cups of white sugar• 1 cup of coconut oil*• zest of 1 grapefruit

1. Mix the sugar and oil in a glass or stainless steel bowl. The oil should completely coat the sugar. If you use coconut oil, you may need to melt it f irst before mixing it in.

2. Add your essential oils, grapefruit juice, and zest and mix thoroughly.3. Store in a glass jar and remix ingredients before each use.

*If you want the coconut oil to remain liquid at room temperature, then use fractionated coconut oil or MCT oil.

• 1 tablespoon of squeezed grapefruit juice • 10 drops orange or tangerine essential oil • 15 drops grapefruit essential oil

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Oil Cleansing Method

Essential Oil Add-Ins:• Rose • Lavender • Neroli • Blue Tansy

Method1. Mix equal par ts of one of these carrier oils with castor oil depending on

your skin type. Add a drop of essential oil to your oil cleansing mix. Be careful to not get essential oils in your eyes as it can burn. If you do, use milk or a liquid carrier oil (olive, almond, fractionated coconut oil) to rinse it out.

2. Rinse your face lightly with warm water. Pour the oil in the palm of your hand and gently apply to your face using circular motions for about two minutes.

3. Put a hot washcloth over your face and allow to sit for minute or two. Slowly wipe the oil off using the washcloth. Keep removing any makeup or dir t, making sure that all the oil is absorbed into your pores and your face is no longer oily.

4. Pat dry and add a few drops of my Blossom Facial Serum to the right.

Blossom Facial Serum

Materials Needed• 1/4 cup of dried whole calendula f lowers• 1/4 cup of dried rose petals or buds • 1/2 cup of almond oil • 1/2 teaspoon of vitamin E oil (to preserve) • 10 drops each of lavender, geranium, yarrow and myrrh essential oils

Method1. Put the almond oil, calendula f lowers, and rose petals in a double boiler and

bring to a simmer. Slowly heat for 30 minutes, making sure to not let the oil get hotter than 110 F (think bathwater temp). You can, alternatively, add the f lowers and oil to a glass mason jar and set in a window for a few weeks, or skip this step altogether and just use straight almond oil.

2. Strain the mixture into a bowl through a cheesecloth making sure to wring out all the oil, getting every last drop.

3. Mix in the vitamin E oil and the essential oils. Add a few dried calendula and rose petals to your clear jars for a beautiful display. Pour the serum mixture into your jars. Essential oil roll-on bottles or glass dropper bottles are ideal for applying. The serum will last six months to a year.

You are going to absolutely fall in love with this f loral infusion serum! You can put this beautiful serum in a dropper bottle or a roll-on essential oil bottle and apply to your face, neck, and décolleté morning and night. It’s excellent for aging skin and helps to restore moisture.

Yields 1 cup of serum

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• Geranium • Cedarwood • Frankincense • Tea Tree

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(Measurements vary depending on the person’s size) • epsom salt, magnesium f lakes, or Dead Sea salt• Baking soda if water is unf iltered• therapeutic-grade essential oils • coconut oil or olive oil

Materials NeededA detox bath is where you sit in a bathtub of hot water and epsom salt for at least 20 minutes. Detox baths are wonderful for helping your body to f lush toxins, strengthen the immune system, relax sore and tired muscles, and promote a restful sleep. Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt is loaded with magnesium, which is an essential mineral to a worn-out body. Do not take a hot detox bath when you have a fever! Use lukewarm water if body temperatures are elevated over 98 degrees.

Immune Boosting Detox Bath

A Few Tips: • Don’t wash your hair on detox bath night or get your head in the bath water. The

coconut oil is very greasy if it gets in your hair. • Don’t wash your body with any soaps or harsh cleansers. Your pores are open, and

you want them to absorb the magnesium and oils. I recommend using a bar of castile soap if you must wash. Otherwise skip the soap.

• Try to stay in the bath for 20 minutes to get all the benef its of magnesium and to assist your body to sweat out toxins.

• Drink lots of water before, during, and after!

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Step 1

Step 2

Step 3Add the epsom salt, Dead Sea salt, or magnesium f lakes to a tub of hot water.

Epsom salt dosage: • For children under 60 lbs, add 1/2 cup to a

standard bath.• For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 1 cup to a

standard bath.• For people 100 lbs and up, add 2 cups or

more to a standard bath.

Add the baking soda (optional).

Adding baking soda to a detox bath helps to neutralize the chemicals in the water, especially chlorine. If you have well water, you can skip this step. But, if you are unsure about your water purity, or if you know that it is not f iltered, then add in some baking soda.

Baking Soda Dosage:• For children under 60 lbs, add 1/4th cup to a

standard bath.• For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 1/2 cup to

a standard bath.• For people 100 lbs and up, add 1 cup to a

standard bath.

Mix the liquid coconut oil or olive oil and essential oils together (dosage below).

Look below for the correct coconut oil and essential oil dosage. Add both ingredients to a small cup and mix together.

Coconut Oil Dosage: • For children under 60 lbs, add 1 tablespoon

to a standard bath.• For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 2

tablespoons to a standard bath.• For people 100 lbs and up, add 3

tablespoons to a standard bath.

Essential Oil Dosage: • For children under 60 lbs and over 2 years

old, add 4 drops to a standard bath.• For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 6 drops

to a standard bath.• For people 100 lbs and up, add 10 drops

to a standard bath.

Essential Oil Suggestions: • Calming and Relaxing: lavender, ylang

ylang, roman chamomile, or cedarwood • Immune Boosting: orange, frankincense,

tea tree, or lemon• Respiratory Suppor t: eucalyptus,

peppermint, or cardamom• Digestive Suppor t: peppermint,

cardamom, or lemon

Immunity Boosting Detox Bath Recipe

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Materials Needed

Method

• 5 whole vanilla beans• 1 cups of bourbon, brandy, rum or vodka (I prefer bourbon for a

robust f lavor but if you want a more tasteless alcohol, use vodka)

1. Split your vanilla beans in half lengthwise and chop in small pieces (leave the pulp inside). I like to leave one of the vanilla beans whole for a beautiful presentation.

2. Place your vanilla beans in a glass jar, cover with your alcohol of choice, and cap tightly.

3. Allow to sit for 3 to 6 weeks, shaking your jar daily to fully extract the vanilla.

4. You have two options for bottling your extract. You can leave the vanilla beans in the jar or you can strain them out. Personally, I like to leave mine in my jar. It creates a stronger vanilla extract and allows me to top my extract off with plain alcohol when I see it getting low.

Your extract will last indef initely, however if you are topping it off with alcohol when it gets low, you might want to replace the vanilla beans yearly with fresh ones.

HomemadeVanilla Extract

The f irst time I tasted homemade vanilla extract was the last day I ever purchased store-bought. Homemade vanilla is so rich, delicious, and simple to make, plus it makes a perfect gift. Homemade vanilla extract requires some forethought, as do all good things in life.

Yields 1 cup

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Once you make the switch to homemade detergent, you’ll wonder why you waited so long. This recipe costs only $0.02 a load and leaves your clothes smelling fresh and soft. Since this recipe uses a grated bar of soap, be sure to wash with warm water so the water can properly dissolve the soap. Also, this recipe is high eff iciency (HE) safe!

AmountUse 1 tablespoon of the detergent for smaller loads and 2 tablespoons for a larger load. Be sure to wash with warm water to dissolve the soap effectively.

HomemadeLaundryDetergent

Materials Needed• 3 cups of borax • 3 cups of washing soda • 3 cups of baking soda • 2 bars of soap, grated • 15 drops of wild orange essential oil• 15 drops of lemon essential oil

Method1. Grate the soap with a cheese grater. 2. In a large bowl, mix the borax, washing soda, and baking soda. 3. Toss the soap in a food processor, then add about 1 cup of the powdered

mixture from the bowl (this allows your food processor to process the soap into smaller pieces without sticking to the blades).

4. While the food processor is on, drop the essential oils into the mixture. 5. Take the grated soap out of the food processor and add it to the large bowl. 6. Store in a large container.

Yields nearly 1 gallon

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My life changed the day I said yes to what I had only dared to imagine — a simple and natural life that allowed me to eat wholesome foods and care for my family with the beautiful gifts of the ear th. The f irst time I grew echinacea in my garden, I knew I was hooked. When I dropped that f irst drop of lavender essential oil on my palms and inhaled its soothing and calming scent — I knew that I had just tapped into the power of plant medicine.

My dear reader, you don’t have to know it all in order to take the f irst step into utilizing herbal medicine. You don’t have to be an aromatherapist or an herbalist to care for your family. You just have to be willing to learn, get your hands a little dir ty (or oily), and allow nature to take care of you.

I don’t for one second believe that we as humans were left here on the ear th medicine-less. Look around you — take a deep breath, and understand that even that breath was possible because the trees are doing their work.

Afterword

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