A herbal infusion is a stronger version of herbal tea. Generally the leaves, flowers and/or berries parts of the plant are used. Hot or boiling water are usually poured over the herbs but you can make infusions with cold water. I like to boil the water, take it off the heat for one minute and pour it over the herbs. Herbs like peppermint which contain volatile oils are not to be boiled—if you do so you will lessen the effect of the volatile oil.
Herbal infusions are one of the most potent ways to absorb the medicinal constituents. The body readily absorbs warm liquid and can extract the concentrated herbal properties easily.
You can use about 1/2–1 tbsp. of herb to 1 cup of water. I use a canning jar and seal it for 2–6 hours; once it’s infused you can store your infusion in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can use honey to sweeten your infusion. Take 1/8–1/4 cup up to four times a day.
Once you’ve made an infusion you can customize it to your taste the next time you make it. For instance, when I infuse skullcap in the amount of 1 tsp. to 2 cups of hot water, it’s so bitter that it’s as strong as I can take it. With a herb like red clover which tastes nice, I use a tbsp. per cup. Learn about the herbs you are using and let your intuition guide you.
Some commonly infused herbs are:
Elderflower for fever
Dandelion for weight loss/liver
Hyssop for a congested cough (expectorant)
Lemon Balm for gas (carminative)
Red clover for fertility
To learn more about herbal infusions check out Susan Weed’s site.
Calendula officinalis is the Latin name for Marigold, which is also know as Pot Marigold. C. officinalis is a beautiful flower which is a yellow to bright orange, and even after it’s been dried it’s still radiant. This herb has been used since Egypt ruled and has had a long, popular spot among herbal remedies. It is known for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
I’ve used Calendula as a tea; the sent and taste is mellow and not offending at all. If you wanted to add the cold tea to juice, your child would probably not be able to tell. I sweeten it with unpasterized honey to give it a pleasant taste. I personally find it to have a calming affect. It’s very good for the eyes, topically and internally. It’s has nutrients such as carotene, calcium, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C and E.
It is also a healing herb for rashes—you’ll find it as a main ingredient in many diaper creams. Just recently I made a Calendula and Roman Chamomile salve for my friend’s horse, as she wanted something for his hooves. Essential Oil of Roman Chamomile has the same qualities as Calendula and it’s also an anodyne and a nervine just to name a few more of its properties. After such a long winter the horse’s hooves need some conditioning. The slave is keeping his hooves in good shape.
Calendula officianlis is safe for most (including babies and children), but you should proceed with caution if you have allergies to Ragweed or Chamomile.
We often think of fevers as being a very negative condition for the human body; really though a fever is your body’s way of healing itself. You have a fever if your temperature over 38.° Celcius/99.° Fahrenheit. A fever is a sign that your body is fighting off a viral or bacterial infection if you take medication at the first sign of a low fever you are helping the growth of this bacteria or virus.
Symptoms of fevers are: feeling flushed or looking pale, skin is hot to touch, shivers, feeling sweaty and thirsty. If your fever does not rise above 39.4° C/103°F it’s usually safe to allow your body to sweat out the infection. For Fevers that go over this you will want to seek medical attention If there is a sore neck that accompanies your fever or it last for more then three days seek health care. . If you have any other underlying health conditions you need to consult your health care practitioner for advice (always error on the side of caution).
Drinking lots of water helps to lower your temperature and to aid in the elimination toxins. Sweating also helps to rid your body of toxins. Do any of you remember your mother covering you up and putting wool socks on you when you had a fever? I sure remember that. If you need to bring the fever down try a luke warm bath. If the fever is too high it can cause damage so you want to make sure your fever is in the safe range that kills infection but does not harm you.
There are many herbs that will help you perspire while in a febrile condition. All the herbs I list will be safe for children but also good for adults as well.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) is a great herb for fever it has relaxing qualities and can be mixed with a bit of fresh ginger if you want something a bit stronger.
Peppermint (Mentha X piperita L.) is a tasty tea for fever it also has nervine qualities which help with irritability you can use this alone or with
Elderflower (Sambucus can.) These two herbs an ounce of each is Dominion Herbal College’s Flu Remedy.
For all of the above remedies I like to use a tablespoon of herb to 2 cups of just boiled water. You can adjust the dosage to what seems to work for you or your child. Adults want to use more for kids you might want to use a little bit less. I would adjust for taste too with children. If it tastes to strong for them you can dilute the tea. I infuse it in a canning jar for a few hours, strain out the herb and add a bit of honey to sweeten. You can take up to a 1/4 cup every 30 mins for children and 1/2-1 cup every 30 mins for an adult.
If your sick and reading this I hope you are feeling better soon.
Newborns don’t need fancy soaps or store bought shampoos in fact they are unhealthy for a baby’s delicate skin. All you really need to use is some warm water. After washing your child in warm water use a little bit of Virgin Olive Oil and give the child a nice massage. I’ve always give my children massages after bath time and I think it’s a nice bonding time for us. The oil will help to dissolve any accumulations of oil on the skin. It’s also good to rub some gentle on their head. This will help to prevent cradle cap. Don’t ever use any nut based oils on a baby, they cause allergic reactions that could be anaphylactic!
Once your child is older you can use a bit of baking soda in the bath water this will help to cleanse the skin in a natural but not over drying way. You can use baking soda and water to wash the child’s hair as well. Baking soda is also a great deodorizer and will help loosen any grease; toddlers can get pretty messy at times.
Diaper rash can be a painful issue for many children. Use oatmeal in the bathwater. I use my old stockings and cut of the foot sections and fill it with oatmeal and throw that in the bath tub with the kids. When you use the nylon filled up to with oatmeal to gently wash your child you will see how soapy oatmeal can be. Calendula (Marigold) oil can be very healing on diaper rashes; try to find an organic brand or source.
For older infants, children and adults alike I like to use tea bags in the bathtub. If you need to try to calm a child before bedtime Organic Chamomile tea could do the trick. If they are in a baby tub just use one teabag if they are in a full size tub you can use two. For an adult if you don’t have any ragweed allergies you can use as many as you want. This water is great for rinsing off the hair as well.
I’ve used all the above remedies myself and can vouch for them as being safe, reliable and affordable.
Happy Washing~
This is one of my new favorites. It’s has a wonderful smell; a woody green scent. Google some images of skullcap it’s a gorgeous looking plant with beautiful purple flowers. It is bitter; in a tea form if you use about cup 1 1/2 of water to 1 tablespoon of loose herb it’s drinkable (Don’t boil skullcap.) Personally I like the bite to it, probably because it’s so agreeable to my constitution. I have other family members that use it as well so I’m feeling like this is one of those herbs I getting to know on a personal level.
Scutellaria lateriflora L. (Skullcap) is known for its nervine, antispasmodic and tonic qualities. I use it as a tea and I know the source is good because of the smell of the dried herb and the action it has on me. If you can’t find a good dried source for your skullcap then you can also find this herb in a tincture form and you will get excellent results with a tincture. Tincture forms of herbs are stronger then teas or infusions of dried herbs. The main use for this herb is anxiety and sleeplessness. My husband finds the antispasmodic quality very helpful, as he would often get muscle cramps at night that would wake him up.
Most herbs that have a bitter taste have tonic properties to them, but this herb will most likely make you feel sleepy, so if you want a nutritive boost and you need some help with anxiety or sleep troubles this herb could be very helpful to you.
* A note about boiling there are many herbs that can be used for tea but you don’t want them boiled. What I do is boil my water, wait for it to stop boiling then pour it over my tea. Easy peasy 
Contraindications
Skullcap should never be boiled. Overdoses of the tincture are possible so follow the instructions on the label or your health care providers instructions.
