Cally The Hedge Witch

Pot Marigold, Calendula officinalis Pot marigold is a short-lived, perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family and is often grown as an annual. They are commonly used as ornamentals and sometimes for medicinal preparations. The flowers are yellow or orange with a 2- to 3-inch flowerhead, tworows of hairy bracts and a single or double ring of ray florets aroundthe central disc florets. Flowers appear year-round when the weatheris suitable. The fruit is a thorny archene. Edible Use Pot marigold flowers are edible. They are used in salads and as a garnish in some dishes. The leaves are also edible, but bitter and unpalatable. Medicinal Use S kin Diseases, Cuts, and Irritations Pot marigold leaves and flowers are soothing to the skin, and I use them to treat all kinds of skin problems from acne to sunburn and rashes. The leaves make a healing poultice for minor cuts,scratches, and skin irritations. Place the bruised leaves directly on the skin. The leaves soothe inflamed skin and help ...

Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew is an herb that I highly value for my own use. I have long suffered from migraines and nothing I tried offered any help, until I found this miracle herb. This bushy perennial is a member of the Aster Family and grows along roadsides, on rocky slopes, walls, waste places, and is cultivatedin some home herb and ornamental gardens. It likes full sun or partial shade and dry soil. Also known as Chrysanthemum parthenium, wild chamomile, and bachelor’s buttons. Plant Identification Feverfew grows into a bushy shape, approximately 1 to 3 feet tall. It grows from a taproot, sprouting round, leafy stems. The leaves are yellow-green and pinnately divided into slightly rounded divisions. The upper leaves are more lobed and toothed. The leaves have a distinctive bitter aroma and taste. Flowers appear in June to August, depending on how far north I travel. The flowers are daisy-like, only smaller, with a large yellow disk and short white rays. The center disk...

Make an apple cider vinegar (ACV) solution. Instead of putting vinegar directly onto your pet’s skin, which can irritate his/her skin, you need to make a diluted solution. Mix up 1 cup of ACV, 1 quart warm water, and 1 ounce of Castille soap. This diluted solution is powerful enough to deal with fleas and ticks, but not so strong that you will be able to smell it. If you want to add something extra to help repel the fleas and ticks from your pet, add 2-3 drops of lavender or cedar oil to the mixture. The scent of the oil will help keep the fleas and ticks off and also give the solution a pleasant smell. You can also add 2 ounces of aloe vera to the mix as well. It will help moisturize your pet’s skin and repel the fleas. ACV is nontoxic to dogs and cats. However, if your pet has sensitive skin, change the ration of ACV to water in your rinse to one part ACV, three parts water. Wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing. Fleas and ticks can bite humans too, which may cause itchi...

I love syrups, they are a lovely way to take your medicine. I’ve added this video as she is making an elderberry honey and syrup. She does waffle on a bit but I’ve enjoyed watching her and she knows her stuff. I do collect elderflowers and elderberries to make syrups, cordials and much more. Here’s my own recipe for Elderberry syrup . I take it every day and it wards off colds and flu as it is a great immune booster.

I love making my own creams and lotions. The video below shows how to make good basic cream and love that she adds vitamin E into the mix. Now go a bit further, I add Aloe Gel straight from my plant and Frankincense and Turmeric essential oils. Then I add Hyuloric acid as this makes this a great anti aging cream. I have added links to my two favourites and very reasonably priced. Honestly, my friends can’t wait till they receive their creams and perfumes as gifts.

What is the difference between a decoction and an infusion? Most people are familiar with an infusion which is what people do when they put a tea bag or tea ball in a cup of hot water and allow it to steep a couple minutes before drinking.  Infusions are used to extract vitamins and volatile ingredients from soft ingredients like leaves, flowers, citrus peelings, etc.  Green tea, black tea, peppermint tea and chamomile tea are examples of an infusion.  The short brewing time helps to retain the volatile ingredients while drinking. A decoction is used to extract primarily the mineral salts and bitter principles of plants from hard materials such as roots, bark, seeds and wood.  These hard materials generally require boiling for at least 10 minutes and then are allowed to steep for a number of hours.  The tea is boiled down and concentrated so that water needs to be added before drinking.  The word “decoct” means to concentrate by boiling.  Essiac tea and taheebo bark tea are ...

I found this video to be very good. Not only does he provided details on the preparation of the tincture but some of the pitfalls in the strength of herbs. I think we need to be discussing these pitfalls further, maybe in another post as the information is so very important. All right, what’s a tincture? You’ll be glad you asked. It’s an herbal preparation in which certain parts of a plant, including essential oils and minerals, are extracted into a alcohol High-proof alcohols typically make the best solvents. However, organic apple cider vinegar and vegetable glycerin are also used on occasion (generally for children’s preparations). Tinctures are taken orally, often deposited directly beneath the tongue, and a single dose (two droppers full) produces the same effect as a cup of herbal tea. But tinctures are concentrated and absorbed by the body more easily than tea, thanks in large part, to the alcohol. Tinctures boast a variety of nutritional and medicinal benefits. They are used fo...

Gathering dandelions is a perfect way to introduce kids to the joy of wildcrafting, or to experience it firsthand for the first time. In addition to their culinary uses (topping salads, making infused vinegars, etc), they also have properties that make them ideal for skincare. Dandelion blossoms are full of anti-inflammatory antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids and minerals that support and protect your cells, soothe skin irritations and nourish dry skin. For example, both dandelion flower and leaf extracts protect against UVB-related photoaging and senescence (aging at the cellular level). Let’s make the Dandelion Oil, shall we? On a bright dry day, go forage for dandelion blossons, just take the heads and do leave some for the bees, this is their first source of food for the year. Soak the heads in water for a while to get rid of any pests and then rinse them thoroughly. Place the heads on a tea towel or kitchen roll and if leave until the flowers have completely dried out. Move...

As a sufferer of arthritis, I have used capsicum cream, I was supplied by my Doctor but then made my own and found it very effective, more so than just taking painkillers. I have a severe allergy to diclofenac which is the main ingredient in medicines and creams produced for joint and arthritic pain, so pretty much obliged to seek herbal remedies. The fruit of the capsicum plant is used to make medicine. Capsicum is most commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, and other painful conditions. It is also used for digestion problems, conditions of the heart and blood vessels, and many other conditions. A particular form of capsicum causes intense eye pain and other unpleasant effects when it comes in contact with the face. This form is used in self-defense pepper sprays. How does it work ? The fruit of the capsicum plant contains a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin seems to reduce pain sensations when applied to the skin. Applying creams and lotions containing capsai...

Personally, I would use Avocado oil for any non-cooking infused oils, it is great for the skin. The video shows the basics of making an infused oil and it can’t be rushed, leave it to get the best from it. It is easy but you do need to check and shake regularly, ensuring a lot of air doesn’t get into the jar or it will send the oil ‘off’. Also make sure you add detils of what the oil is and when it was prepared. Once you have your oil, you can then proceed to make a salve. Try making a garlic infused oil, great to put on pizza or pasta. This is the quickest way but I do lay down some garlic oil. Use 6 cloves of garlic to one litre of oil. Pour oil into your jar, roughly chop your garlic and add to the oil and let it sit for 2-4 weeks. Give it a shake once or twice a week but don’t open the jar. Once opened, it’ll keep in the fridge for ages. HOW TO MAKE A HERBAL SALVE

It isn’t difficult and it is so enjoyable to make salves, oils and tinctures. At the most basic level to make a salve you will need only two ingredients you will need wax such as beeswax and you’ll need an herbal infused oil. This can be an herbal oil that you have made yourself or you can actually purchase herbal oils that are already made for you. But I do highly recommend making your own oil it will be far superior to anything that you can purchase. You can find your beeswax from beekeeper’s or you can also purchase it from candle supply stores or maybe even craft supply shops. I get mine from a local bee-keeper straight from the hive. You can certainly find it in herb and health food stores. Just make sure that it’s pure and untreated and you want to make sure that it really smells like honey you’ll know you’re getting a really good quality that way. So what we’re going to do is melt the beeswax in a pan. Some people use a double boiler but ...

The Dandelion is an herbaceous plant that really is much more than just a nuisance in your yard. For all purposes, the Dandelion leaves are at their best just as they emerge from the ground and they are very distinct as nothing really resembles this at all. Depending on when you harvest the Dandelion leaves will determine the bitterness of them but it is an appealing bitterness. These leaves that are considered an herb blend nicely with salads and do well either sautéed or steamed. Many claim the taste is similar to that of endive. People who are into eating the fruits of nature claim that it is perfectly acceptable to eat the Dandelion flower as well. Some claim that they make outstanding fritters if they are battered up and fried and make a colorful contribution to any stir fry. Dandelions leaves are actually extremely nutritious, much more so than any herb that can be purchased in the stores. They are higher in bets carotene than carrots are and they have more iron and calcium and i...

Sage is a relative to the mint family. It is common for Sage to be ground, whole or rubbed but is generally in more of a coarse grain. Sage is grown in the United States but is also grown in Albania and Dalmatia. Sage is a very popular herb in the United States and is used quite frequently for flavoring such things s sausage, pork, lamb, and other meats, salads, pickles, cheese, and stuffing. The smell of Sage is very aromatic and distinct. Sage loves to hang around in the kitchen with Thyme, Rosemary, and Basil. They work very well together. Sage is normally one of the main herbs in stuffing for poultry but is often added to lamb and pork dishes as well. Sage is very strong and should be used sparingly as a little goes a long way. Sage, like many other herbs develops its full flavor the longer it cooks and withstands lengthy cooking times which might be why it is so good when used in the stuffing for the Thanksgiving turkey that cooks for about five hours. If you grow your own Sage yo...

Burdock is a plant that is related to the daisy family. It is also closely related to Echinacea, Dandelion, and Feverfew. Burdock is an herb but it is one that has been much neglected when it comes to getting attention. Back in ancient times the Greeks used the roots, the seeds, and the greens and used them for healing purposes. Throughout the Middle Ages Burdock was used for both food and medicine. Today, Burdock is still used for such things as easing liver problems and digestive disorders. It was also found to be very effective for cleansing the skin for problems such as acne and also to assist in digestive problems. To this day throughout Europe the stalk and the greens are still eaten because they hold such valuable nutrition and vitamin values. As more and more research is being done on Burdock many new and interesting discoveries are cropping up. A relationship is being examined between Burdock and its anti fungal and anti bacterial properties, and even more important it is show...