Lavender Distillation Process

It was a bright, hot, dry July day when we went to visit Robyn Wyman at Full Bloom Farms. http://www.fullbloomfarm.ca/

Our purpose was to get the Lavender for our first foray into making hydrosols. We’d bought a still in April, three months before, and had waited in anticipation for the Lavender to be ready.

The day before, I’d purchased 3-four litre jugs of pure water and had sterilized two dozen canning jars.

We purchased five pounds of organic Hidecote and Munstead Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

We were able to stuff about three pounds of it into the cylinder and the onion. The rest we dried; and I am tincturing some of it into alcohol.

We'd bought a 10 Litre Copper Alembic from the Essential Oil Company in Oregon, when we were heading to the coast in April. All hooked up, it is truly a work of art.

http://www.essentialoil.com/product_info.php?products_id=2642&osCsid=0d085b6cc225e6332f786f228ec858e1

The column goes on the boiler and the onion goes on top of that. The copper tube between the onion and the condenser, known as a 'bird's beak', conducts the condensate into the condenser. Cooling water is connected to the top of the condenser vessel through a tube from behind. This water runs around the outside of the coil and leaves via a drain at the bottom front; it is then drained into a collecting tub and is re-circulated back up to the condenser using an aquarium pump. This reservoir needs the water changed periodically to keep it cool.

Norm set it up in his shop. We'd purchased a hot plate to boil the water. We placed 10 Litres of pure water in the boiler, stuffed the column and onion, and connected those with a traditional rye flour paste. We had a sterile, covered, collecting pail in which to gather the hydrosol.

Our whole house and yard smelled like Lavender. We had the grandkids over for the weekend and they loved the smell and were fascinated by the process. They each went home with a gold organza bag stuffed with lavender. They slept better than usual that night.

The essential oil was completely inhabiting the hydrosol so we were not able to collect any on its own. The sterile flower water was collected into a sterile vessel and transferred into sterile jars so it is suitable for cooking and cosmetic use. I keep mine in the fridge. I had a half-jar that I've used as a control. It has been sitting on our bathroom countertop for two months, as I use it every day, and still smells fresh and bright.

Our Lavender hydrosol is wonderfully fragrant, clear, and very healing.

Properties include:

`balancing so ideal for combination skin

`use as a facial toner

`use in combination with helichrysum and other hydrosols for bangs, burns, bugs, and bashes

`calming to the heart and mind - use as a spray to walk through

`add to cosmetic cream as part of the water portion

`use as a linen spray

`spray the kids/babies beds

`spray in front of the kids and get them to walk through the mist

`add some essential oils and make a body spray - shake well before use

`spray on sunburn

`wound healing, promoting tissue regeneration

`antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-imflammatory

2 oz blue cobalt bottle for $18.00 Canadian plus shipping and handling direct to you. Please email me with your location so I can find out what shipping will be and send you a PayPal Invoice. Thank you. LynAyre@telus.net  

We're Back to the Garden

Feverfew

Betony

Tulips

The Whole Group

of Herbs

Just a few weeks ago, we had shades of purple and blue in the garden. Bulbs were blooming. The aroma in the yard was the perfume of spring.

Violet, Iris, Hyacinth

The herbs over-wintered and continued to grow and flourish under the work bench and back stairs, which were covered with poly. This has proven to be a great way to save the herbs for next year. It is wonderful to go out there in the morning and walk among them while sipping my morning coffee. I am grateful.

Sweet Violet

In November each year, we place our plants under the benches and stairs and protect them with a poly shield so they can over-winter safely. Most of them do survive to bring us joy and health in the Spring and for the rest of the growing season.

Last year, I planted some sweet violets. Though they didn't flower, they did produce a prolific crop of leaves. I did several fresh tinctures of the leaves and was rewarded by my efforts.

The tincture colour is the greenest of greens and the taste is sweet and green all at the same time. It gently develops on my tongue and immediately clears my head and uplifts me. I feel this clearing go all the way through my body.

The fresh leaves are edible in salads. Flowers have been known to be candied and placed on cakes and other confectionary items. Flowers can also be made into a jelly.

This plant's leaves are indicated for respiratory complaints such as coughing, congestion, and sore throat. A soothing syrup can be made that is also good for kids.

The dried root can be decocted for use as a laxative.

Today, Feb 18th, it is blooming. The smell of the Sweet Viola is also a sought-after aroma by Natural Perfumers. Descriptors include: fresh, sweet, gentle, alluring.

Alas, it will remain in our dreams as we relentlessly pursue of a doppleganger of this beloved scent though the creation of myriad scent similars.

This year, I'm going to try my hand at enfleurage of this tiny delicate flower. If I am successful, I will post my notes and photos here.

Welcome to Laughing Buddha Gardens

Please enjoy my Power Point Presentation about our gardens.

Warmly, Lyn

http://www.lynayre.com/Links%20%26%20Resources.htm#Herbs

Headache relief

Headache relief
© 2009 Lyn E. Ayre, Ph.D.

Headaches can be caused by a variety of things…
∞ level of hydration
∞ poor bed pillow
∞ bump on the head
∞ spicy food
∞ too much energy accumulating at the Crown or around the Third Eye Chakra
∞ hunger
∞ over-eating
∞ stuffy room
∞ being in a crowd of party-goes
∞ music and/or sound too loud
∞ physiological reasons ie: brain tumour, aneurysm, stroke, blood clot etc…
∞ dilated blood vessels
∞ PMS

the list could go on…

∞ Perhaps a tall glass of cool water would be enough.
∞ A walk in the park or by a fountain, which gives off negative ions, can be refreshing.
∞ Practising avoidance is, in some instances, all that is needed.

Therapies such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Emotional Freedom Techniques (tapping on the meridians) are very good at relieving the symptoms of a headache and the underlying emotional factors.

There is much we can do to prevent a headache and there is a lot we can do once we have one. Headaches seem to be the bane of our existence in the stressed-out Western world. Here are a few ideas from the world of Plant Medicine:

Four Roll-On ideas
To a 10 ml roll-on dispenser filled with 10 ml of oil (jojoba, olive, sunflower, almond etc…) add the following essential oil blend: 4 peppermint, 3 ginger, 2 lavender; OR 4 peppermint 3 lavender, 2 basil; OR 4 spearmint, 3 peppermint, 2 eucalyptus; OR 4 eucalyptus, 3 ginger, 2 basil. Apply this to the hairline at the back of your neck. If you do decide to put it on your face (something I do not advocate) keep the blend away from lines and wrinkles lest the formula find its way into your eyes.


Sniffi-Tube
Fill a lip balm tube with cotton baton and add the above roll-on blends to it. With your finger, close one nostril and sniff; then change to sniff from the other nostril.


Diffuser idea
Into 6 oz of hot water mix 3 spearmint, 3 eucalyptus, and two peppermint essential oils and add to the top part of a diffuser. Light the Soya Candle, which burn cooler and longer and don’t produce soot in the air, and allow the remedy to fill the air. Breathe deeply and slowly.

Meditation idea
Sit comfortably and do some deep breathing. Breathe in through your nose for a slow count of four, hold for three, and release the breath through your mouth for a slow count of nine. If you have any issues doing this breath, shorten the counts of it making sure you are breathing out for twice as long as you’re breathing in. This allows the stale air to be released from your lungs.

Herbal idea
The whole herbs of peppermint and ginger are very helpful with issues of digestion. Make an infusion of one, the other, or both together and enjoy a lovely warm drink after a meal. These two are wonderful for clearing a headache, as well. You can add a small floret of Lavender, if you like, to add a unique taste.

A basin/bathroom sink filled with warm water and a few sprigs of rosemary, lavender, sage, basil, peppermint and/or other aromatic herbs can clear sinuses and offer a refreshing mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Lean over and tent you and the basin with a towel. Remember to close your eyes as these oils are all aromatic and you would not want them to get in your eyes. You can use fresh or dried herb as well as essential oils for this. Use an equal number of essential oils with six drops being the top number.

Pot pouri, herbal carry-bag
Go out and collect aromatic twigs, needles, cones, and branches from your neighbourhood; dry them well; cut or crumble into smaller pieces and place some of it in a decorative bowl. Add any of the above blends to the mix and sniff when you feel a headache coming on. This can also be made into very small particles and placed into a muslin bag to take with you in your purse or briefcase.

I hope you've found these ideas helpful. Have a Safe & Joyous Holiday Season.

Love & Light, Lyn

Organic Tincture and Glycerite Inventory

Nov 22, 2009 $15.55 per 50ml dropper bottle

Ashwagandha Root
Astragalus Root
Betony whole herb
Black Walnut inner bark
Burdock Root
Calendula Flower
California Poppy Flower
Cat’s Claw Bark
Chamomile Flower
Cleavers whole herb
Damiana Leaf
Dandelion Root and Leaf
Devil’s Claw Root
Devil’s Club Root
Echinacea Root
Elderberry
Eleuthero Root (Siberian Ginseng)
Ginkgo Leaf
Goto Kola Leaf
Hawthorne leaf and berry
Lemon Balm leaf
Licorice Root
Mint (four) leaf
Motherwort whole herb
Nettle Leaf
Osha Root
Parsley (medicinal)leaf
Pau D’Arco Bark
Rhodiola Root
Rosemary whole herb
Skullcap whole herb

Saint John's Wort
Vervain leaf/flowering heads
Violet Leaf
Yarrow stem, leaf, flower
Yellow Dock Root
Usnea Lichen

Glycerites

All Better Glycerite

Sleepy Bye Glycerite

California Poppy

Mint

Please email me for further information.

Local to Vancouver, BC, Canada sales only.

Thank you.

Root Tinctures; Glycerites, Hot-Oil Infusions

Remember to sterilize all your equipment and jars so that your product will be safe from the various pathogens around. I use the dishwasher. Wash your hands before you do any work with herbs and make sure they are really dry. Clean all surfaces you will be working on. Osha Root

This is a great time of year to make root tincture as long as the plants are a few years old and the roots are mature. Echinacea, Ginger, Goldenseal, Horseradish, Licorice, and Osha are all wonderful herbs that we can tincture for our family.

Echinacea Root

Dig up the root/s and wash really well removing all dirt. Chop finely and let sit to allow the moisture to evaporate somewhat. The root can also be put in a dehydrator for a few hours. Do this especially if you have only 50% Vodka as the menstruum. 50% Vodka is 100-proof, which means it is half alcohol and half water. The fresh plant, like us, is up to 70% water. If we remove the water portion from the plant material the tincture won't grow a mold.

American Harvest Dehydrator

If you cannot dry the material, then use a stronger alcohol such as Everclear.

I finely chop the root I'm using to offer more surface area for the menstruum to extract the medicinal properties from the plant.

Ginger Root

When adding the alcohol, cover the plant material, shake the jar a bit, and then add an inch of alcohol above that. Use a jar that leaves very little head room.

Astragalus Root

Label the jar with the date, name of the plant, and strength of the alcohol. Start a journal or a 'word file' on your computer to keep track of what you make so you can do it again in the future.

Calendula Drying

There are many awesome books and websites that will let you know the dosage to take. The dosage is different for adults and children so research is very key to this part of the process.

You can also make a Glycerite for kids in the same way as above except that you use organic vegetable glycerin.

Calendula Hot Infused Oil

To make an infused oil, I use the slow cooker and keep the temperature low. Don't allow them to go crunchy.

Using dried herbs and flowers instead of fresh eliminates the chance of mold, mildew, and bacteria invading the product. Always chop them well so there are more surfaces for the menstruum to extract from.

I use the Simplers' Method ie: if I have one cup of dried herb, I add enough oil to cover it by an inch in the pot I'm using. One cup of dried leaves is going to fluff up quite a bit so you can add more oil. One cup of dried root will hardly fluff up at all.

Some say to use five ounces of oil to each ounce of herb. If you go by ounces, eight ounces of dried herb such as calendula flowers or motherwort leaves will weigh less that eight ounces of burdock root. The herbs that allow the oil to go right into them can really fluff up and almost look as though they were just picked. You will need to use more oil with these.

Some also say to use 1 cup of herb to two cups of oil. I find I then have to add more oil as it fluffs up. So, there are many ways to do this. There are many recipes online for various oils.

Calendula Tincture

The most important thing you can add to your tinctures, oils, and ointments, or any other product you are creating, is your love and good energy. If you are doing the harvesting, sing to your plants, ask their permission to be taken, take them gently, treat them kindly, don't approach them if you are angry or not at your best. The same goes for when you prepare them - add love, then joy, then peace, and good health. Whisper to your tincture that it is good medicine made to help people become strong, to help their own self-healing abilities to gear-up.