Saturday, January 8, 2011
Taking Care of Your Skin During The Winter Months
Snow has finally reached us in Connecticut and with the cold winds blowing and the low humidity in our homes and workplace, we should really take a look on how to keep our skin healthy looking. Even though there are a large number of lotions, creams and soaps available, take a look on how are they effecting your body overall.
Many of the commercial products might help keep your skin nice and soft, but have you ever taken a look to see what they contain? For example, take a look at your soap label, the next time you un-wrap the packaging. Does it contain olive, coconut, palm, sunflower, almond......oils, shea, coconut, mango.....butters? Does the scent come from essential or synthetic oils? What preservatives have they added?
Since 85 percent of what you put on your skin is actually absorbed into your body, are there ingredients you rather not have absorbed in your body? How is it effecting your health? Something to think about.
I know a number of soap-makers (including ourselves) that are making products that will not only help keep your skin nice and soft, but keep in mind how their products effect the body as well.
Our goal, is to keep the inside and outside of the body healthy. The ingredients that are used are those nature provides us with, without fillers and preservatives. We make our products in small batches, to guarantee freshness, use essential oils (even though we have a few fragrant oils that we used) and use ground up herbal plant materials, honey, and goat's milk. As our business continues to grow, so is our knowledge on how we can use herbs in our everyday life.
Here are some information on ingredients we use in some of our products.
Shea butter: great for skin discoloration, softening extremely dry skin, chapped lips, smoothing out wrinkles, stretchmarks and fading scars. High in Vitamin A and E.
Olive oil: known as "liquid gold", great to moisturize dry hair and the skin. High in vitamins.
Coconut oil: excellent skin softener and moisturizer. Helps reduce the symptoms of skin conditions and supports the natural balance of the skin.
Rice Bran Oil: high in Vitamin E. Helps keep the skin nice and soft. Wonderful to use on your hair.
Sweet Almond oil: easily absorbed into the skin, without leaving a greasy feeling. Helps restore moisture to the skin and help relieve muscle pain. Great oil to combat itching and inflammation. Rich in minerals, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2, B6 and E.
Avocado oil: helps regenerate damaged skin, relieves itchy skin due to skin conditions, highly moisturizing and especially welcomed on matured skin.
The list can go on and on and on.
Other things you can do to help keep your skin healthy: drink plenty of water and add moisture in the air at home or work. Something as simple as leaving out a glass of water on the counter for the dry air to absorb. You don't have to go out and get an expensive dehumidifier. To keep the air nice and pleasant smelling, gather up some herbs from your cabinet such as cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, rosemary, lemon peels or old vanilla beans and make yourself a simmering potpourri mixture. If you have any lavender buds, it makes a wonderful simmering potpourri by itself. Just make sure that you keep an eye on it, if you put it on the stove. Use essential oils to make your own diffusers or sachets place in different area work just as well.
For 2011, we are looking forward in having a few workshops on how to keep your body (inside and out) healthy. We hope you can join us at one of our scheduled gatherings and learn what you can make at home from what Nature has to offer.
Many of the commercial products might help keep your skin nice and soft, but have you ever taken a look to see what they contain? For example, take a look at your soap label, the next time you un-wrap the packaging. Does it contain olive, coconut, palm, sunflower, almond......oils, shea, coconut, mango.....butters? Does the scent come from essential or synthetic oils? What preservatives have they added?
Since 85 percent of what you put on your skin is actually absorbed into your body, are there ingredients you rather not have absorbed in your body? How is it effecting your health? Something to think about.
I know a number of soap-makers (including ourselves) that are making products that will not only help keep your skin nice and soft, but keep in mind how their products effect the body as well.
Our goal, is to keep the inside and outside of the body healthy. The ingredients that are used are those nature provides us with, without fillers and preservatives. We make our products in small batches, to guarantee freshness, use essential oils (even though we have a few fragrant oils that we used) and use ground up herbal plant materials, honey, and goat's milk. As our business continues to grow, so is our knowledge on how we can use herbs in our everyday life.
Here are some information on ingredients we use in some of our products.
Shea butter: great for skin discoloration, softening extremely dry skin, chapped lips, smoothing out wrinkles, stretchmarks and fading scars. High in Vitamin A and E.
Olive oil: known as "liquid gold", great to moisturize dry hair and the skin. High in vitamins.
Coconut oil: excellent skin softener and moisturizer. Helps reduce the symptoms of skin conditions and supports the natural balance of the skin.
Rice Bran Oil: high in Vitamin E. Helps keep the skin nice and soft. Wonderful to use on your hair.
Sweet Almond oil: easily absorbed into the skin, without leaving a greasy feeling. Helps restore moisture to the skin and help relieve muscle pain. Great oil to combat itching and inflammation. Rich in minerals, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2, B6 and E.
Avocado oil: helps regenerate damaged skin, relieves itchy skin due to skin conditions, highly moisturizing and especially welcomed on matured skin.
The list can go on and on and on.
Other things you can do to help keep your skin healthy: drink plenty of water and add moisture in the air at home or work. Something as simple as leaving out a glass of water on the counter for the dry air to absorb. You don't have to go out and get an expensive dehumidifier. To keep the air nice and pleasant smelling, gather up some herbs from your cabinet such as cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, rosemary, lemon peels or old vanilla beans and make yourself a simmering potpourri mixture. If you have any lavender buds, it makes a wonderful simmering potpourri by itself. Just make sure that you keep an eye on it, if you put it on the stove. Use essential oils to make your own diffusers or sachets place in different area work just as well.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Herb of the Month - Cinnamon
Here it is September and the nights will start to get cool and crisp. Some of the leaves on the trees are starting to turn colors and just the other day, I saw a squirrel racing up our maple tree with a black walnut in its mouth. My guess, enjoying it before one of its friends decide to have it instead.
Cool weather reminds me of the spice cinnamon. A spice that is warming to the soul, whether you have it mulled with hot cider or place a stick in your hot chocolate or coffee. This spice is usually used when baking and some like it with pork.
Cinnamon has been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians would incorporate the spice in their embalming mixtures. It was one of the spices that spurred world exploration. The Romans would pay dearly for it and it was highly valued.
The spice comes from a small tender evergreen tree, with inconspicuous yellowish flowers that rise in long pannicles. The leaves are bright red, turning green as it matures, glossy; opposite and about 7 inches long. The tree can grow up to 40 feet in height. The part that is used is the inner bark. As it dries, it curls into sticks or quills. These sticks are then used whole or ground.
East Indian, Moroccan, Chinese, Indonesian, Arabic, Iranian, Scandinavian, Mexican, Hungarian and Greeks use the spice not only with savory meats, but in their desserts. It stimulates the flavors of carrots, spinach, onions, apricots, cherries, apples, blueberries and oranges. It compliments vanilla, fennel, nutmeg, ginger, freshly ground pepper, clove and cardamom. Flavorful in fruit pies to meat pies.
Here's something you can make using cinnamon sticks and other spices, to help freshen the air during the winter months. Take pieces of cinnamon sticks, cloves, broken nutmeg and some ginger root and place it in an open pot of water and simmer for about 15 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on the water level. The spice scent is soothing and welcoming, especially if you will have guests later in the day. You can also create your own dry potpourri, using dried flowers that you grew this past year, adding cinnamon chips, cloves and allspice and nutmegs crushed. Since people can be allergic to essential oils or fragrances, this is a natural scent. For dried potpourri, have it in a enclosed container and when you want to freshen up the room, take the lid off for about 20 minutes, then recap. This will improve the potpourri to mature in scent and you will find with time, it smells better than when you first mixed it.
So the next time you look at the cinnamon you have in the cupboard, think of how you can use it as a tasty addition to your menu. Add a stick to orange or apple juice as it chilling, add it to flavor your hot tea or coffee or the next time you glaze carrots. Remember, cinnamon is not only for your pies.
Enjoy!
Our potpourri mixture has dried sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, bay leaves, citrus peels and tonka beans (which gives it a slight vanilla scent). No essential oils or fragrances are used.
Cool weather reminds me of the spice cinnamon. A spice that is warming to the soul, whether you have it mulled with hot cider or place a stick in your hot chocolate or coffee. This spice is usually used when baking and some like it with pork.
Cinnamon has been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians would incorporate the spice in their embalming mixtures. It was one of the spices that spurred world exploration. The Romans would pay dearly for it and it was highly valued.
The spice comes from a small tender evergreen tree, with inconspicuous yellowish flowers that rise in long pannicles. The leaves are bright red, turning green as it matures, glossy; opposite and about 7 inches long. The tree can grow up to 40 feet in height. The part that is used is the inner bark. As it dries, it curls into sticks or quills. These sticks are then used whole or ground.
East Indian, Moroccan, Chinese, Indonesian, Arabic, Iranian, Scandinavian, Mexican, Hungarian and Greeks use the spice not only with savory meats, but in their desserts. It stimulates the flavors of carrots, spinach, onions, apricots, cherries, apples, blueberries and oranges. It compliments vanilla, fennel, nutmeg, ginger, freshly ground pepper, clove and cardamom. Flavorful in fruit pies to meat pies.
Here's something you can make using cinnamon sticks and other spices, to help freshen the air during the winter months. Take pieces of cinnamon sticks, cloves, broken nutmeg and some ginger root and place it in an open pot of water and simmer for about 15 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on the water level. The spice scent is soothing and welcoming, especially if you will have guests later in the day. You can also create your own dry potpourri, using dried flowers that you grew this past year, adding cinnamon chips, cloves and allspice and nutmegs crushed. Since people can be allergic to essential oils or fragrances, this is a natural scent. For dried potpourri, have it in a enclosed container and when you want to freshen up the room, take the lid off for about 20 minutes, then recap. This will improve the potpourri to mature in scent and you will find with time, it smells better than when you first mixed it.
So the next time you look at the cinnamon you have in the cupboard, think of how you can use it as a tasty addition to your menu. Add a stick to orange or apple juice as it chilling, add it to flavor your hot tea or coffee or the next time you glaze carrots. Remember, cinnamon is not only for your pies.Enjoy!
Our potpourri mixture has dried sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, bay leaves, citrus peels and tonka beans (which gives it a slight vanilla scent). No essential oils or fragrances are used.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Lavender Spa Salt Bar
As the summer days soon come to an end, I try to capture some of the garden scents and enjoy them in a number of ways throughout the year. One that comes to mind is Lavender.
Lavender derived from the Latin word lavare meaning to wash. Romans enjoyed using it to scent their bathwater and to refresh the air in a room (as we would use potpourri). For centuries, Lavender has been used for their calming properties, helping to relieve headaches, depression and a number of other healing purposes. Because of the calming effect and antiseptic qualities it has, children in rural villages in France were regularly given lavender baths to keep them in good health. A bottle of lavender essence can be used as a remedy against insect bites, cuts bruises. In the language of Herbs and Flowers, Lavender symbolizes Devotion.
We, at Bayberry Meadow, enjoy making some of our products with lavender, mixing them with a few other essential oils to come up with a wonderful scent for our soap. We have a Patchouli Lavender, Lavender Amber, Rosemary Lavender, Eucalyptus Lavender and just plain Lavender soaps.
Our newest soap creation we made this past Spring, is our Lavender Spa Salt Bar which contains 2 different types of Hawaiian Sea salts. The Hiwa Kai Black Lava sea salt is solar evaporated Pacific sea salt that is combined with activated charcoal (Alaea clay). This is a sea salt that can be used as a table salt, has a natural saline flavor and has numerous detoxifying health benefits. The second salt is Alaea, which is a traditional Hawaiian table salt. Its an all natural salt, rich in trace minerals found in sea water. Its also enriched with the iron-oxide that is harvested from the red "Alae" clay. With these salts we combined a number of moisturizing oils and unrefined shea butter, lavender essential oil to create this wonderful soap.
Looking for something different to make with Lavender? Lavender cookies were popular with a nice cup of tea during the Victorian era. Here's one you may want to try out, the next time you invite someone over for tea.
Lavender Drop Cookies
1/4 cup of butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lavender buds, crushed fine
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely chopped mint
Preheat oven to 375*F. Cream together the butter or margarine and the sugar. Add the egg and the lavender buds, mix well. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dried ingredients to the creamed mixture, and mix well. Fold in the lemon zest and mint.
Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Watch carefully so cookies don't over-brown.
Other great projects are lavender sachets, using cotton draw-string bags or recycle fabric to make your own pouches or small lavender pillows. They can be placed in linen drawers, closets or in your dryer for a fresh lavender scent.
Enjoy!
Lavender derived from the Latin word lavare meaning to wash. Romans enjoyed using it to scent their bathwater and to refresh the air in a room (as we would use potpourri). For centuries, Lavender has been used for their calming properties, helping to relieve headaches, depression and a number of other healing purposes. Because of the calming effect and antiseptic qualities it has, children in rural villages in France were regularly given lavender baths to keep them in good health. A bottle of lavender essence can be used as a remedy against insect bites, cuts bruises. In the language of Herbs and Flowers, Lavender symbolizes Devotion.
Our newest soap creation we made this past Spring, is our Lavender Spa Salt Bar which contains 2 different types of Hawaiian Sea salts. The Hiwa Kai Black Lava sea salt is solar evaporated Pacific sea salt that is combined with activated charcoal (Alaea clay). This is a sea salt that can be used as a table salt, has a natural saline flavor and has numerous detoxifying health benefits. The second salt is Alaea, which is a traditional Hawaiian table salt. Its an all natural salt, rich in trace minerals found in sea water. Its also enriched with the iron-oxide that is harvested from the red "Alae" clay. With these salts we combined a number of moisturizing oils and unrefined shea butter, lavender essential oil to create this wonderful soap.
Looking for something different to make with Lavender? Lavender cookies were popular with a nice cup of tea during the Victorian era. Here's one you may want to try out, the next time you invite someone over for tea.
Lavender Drop Cookies
1/4 cup of butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lavender buds, crushed fine
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely chopped mint
Preheat oven to 375*F. Cream together the butter or margarine and the sugar. Add the egg and the lavender buds, mix well. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dried ingredients to the creamed mixture, and mix well. Fold in the lemon zest and mint.
Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Watch carefully so cookies don't over-brown.
Other great projects are lavender sachets, using cotton draw-string bags or recycle fabric to make your own pouches or small lavender pillows. They can be placed in linen drawers, closets or in your dryer for a fresh lavender scent.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Lucky Dragon Hyson tea still LOVED by Americans and British alike.
This young hyson green tea became highly favored in the 1700s that the British Tea Tax was actually higher for this variety over other teas. Right from the first sale of tea in England in the mid 1600s, the English took a shine to tea. The government quickly realized the possibilities and levied taxes on tea that remained until the late 1700s. With all the associated taxes on tea and young hyson being taxed even higher, there were all sorts of various schemes done to dodge the taxes. Servants in upper class homes would dry the used leaves and resell them. Smuggling China teas into England reached a feverish peak in the mid 1700s and the ports of France and Belgium were used as the 'jump-off' points for night voyages to Cornwall and Wales. The chancellor of the Exchequer and the East India Company were aware of the extent of their losses and realized that only a large tax cut would make legal imports competitive with contraband tea. Thus finally passing the Commutation Act in 1784.
Young Hyson tea was one of the types of tea that was dumped into the Boston Harbor along with Congou and Lapsong Souchong, which we carry both types of tea as well. The term 'young' was added to distinguish that the tea was made from young leaves (new shoots), which produces a better quality and better tasting tea.
So whether you are an reenactor or a tea drinker that enjoys drinking a fine tasting tea with a bit of history, try having some Lucky Dragon Hyson tea. Definitely not the type of tea you find in tea bags, which are the fannings of tea. Check out our etsy shop for other tea selections that have some history behind them or contact us directly. Makes a great gift for that special tea drinker in your life.
CHEERS!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Herb of the Month - Rosemary
Rosemary has a strong piny scent, which was a token of loyalty and commemoration during the colonial days. A bride would usually have it included in her bridal bouquet for “remembrance”. According to lore and superstition, it will keep nightmares away if you place a few sprigs of the plant put under a pillow, and will attract elves when worn around the neck.
This plant is native to the hills of southern France, where the soil was chalky. It has been known to grow as tall as 5 feet tall, if given the right soil conditions. Most gardeners will propagate rosemary from cuttings during the spring or fall seasons. Take 6 inch long cuttings and place two-thirds of the cutting into a sandy soil, keeping them in a shady location, watering them carefully. They should be ready to transplant in 6 months.
Like juniper and cedar, rosemary has a cleansing and antiseptic properties when burned. During World War II, French hospitals would combine juniper and rosemary to help kill germs in the air. It had been used to purify sick chambers for centuries in Europe. The antibacterial properties are contained in the volatile oil it contains. Nowadays. It is traditionally used as a hair rinse for dark-haired people and is used to help relieve dandruff. It is also used to flavor food and to scent cosmetics. Essential oil of rosemary is a component of many commercially available lotions, perfumes, liniments, soaps, and mouthwash preparations.
More recently, carnosol, a naturally occurring antioxidant compound found in rosemary, has been studied for its anticancer properties. Carnosol appears to be effective against cancer by reducing inflammation and by inhibiting the expression of cancer genes. Carnosic acid, another compound found in rosemary, appears to reduce the risk of skin cancer by protecting skin cells against the effects of ultraviolet radiation.
Rosemary can be used as a seasoning in a variety of dishes including rosemary can be used in a wide variety of culinary preparations, like for example, to season lamb, rabbit, veal, pork, sausages, as well as poultry, egg dishes, fish, pickles and shellfish, rosemary is also added to jellies, fruit jams, dressings and cookies. Asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplants, green beans and peas, zucchini and potatoes, can use rosemary for that extra special flavor. With the flowers of rosemary, the uses can be different. Since these have a milder flavor, they can be candied, preserved, or added to jellies, honey, wine or vinegar. Even olive oil can be flavored by adding a few sprigs of rosemary.
NOTE: Although rosemary can be used in moderation and is an great herb to use, there have been reports that some people may have an allergic reaction to the essential oils in rosemary. Large quantities of anything can be dangerous, and rosemary is no exception. The routine use in cooking is generally considered safe to the general public.
MOTH REPELLENT WITH ROSEMARY
2 cups dried lavender
2 cups dried rosemary
1 Tbs. crushed cloves
Dried peel of a lemon
Bruise all the ingredients together in a small bowl, and divide among muslin bags. Tie, and set among the woolens.
HERB PILLOW WITH ROSEMARY
4 cups dried rosemary
4 cups dried lemon verbena
8 cups dry pine needles
Crush the ingredients together, and fill a small bag to place under the pillow, or in the drawer with nightclothes.
Enjoy!
This plant is native to the hills of southern France, where the soil was chalky. It has been known to grow as tall as 5 feet tall, if given the right soil conditions. Most gardeners will propagate rosemary from cuttings during the spring or fall seasons. Take 6 inch long cuttings and place two-thirds of the cutting into a sandy soil, keeping them in a shady location, watering them carefully. They should be ready to transplant in 6 months.
Like juniper and cedar, rosemary has a cleansing and antiseptic properties when burned. During World War II, French hospitals would combine juniper and rosemary to help kill germs in the air. It had been used to purify sick chambers for centuries in Europe. The antibacterial properties are contained in the volatile oil it contains. Nowadays. It is traditionally used as a hair rinse for dark-haired people and is used to help relieve dandruff. It is also used to flavor food and to scent cosmetics. Essential oil of rosemary is a component of many commercially available lotions, perfumes, liniments, soaps, and mouthwash preparations.
More recently, carnosol, a naturally occurring antioxidant compound found in rosemary, has been studied for its anticancer properties. Carnosol appears to be effective against cancer by reducing inflammation and by inhibiting the expression of cancer genes. Carnosic acid, another compound found in rosemary, appears to reduce the risk of skin cancer by protecting skin cells against the effects of ultraviolet radiation.
Rosemary can be used as a seasoning in a variety of dishes including rosemary can be used in a wide variety of culinary preparations, like for example, to season lamb, rabbit, veal, pork, sausages, as well as poultry, egg dishes, fish, pickles and shellfish, rosemary is also added to jellies, fruit jams, dressings and cookies. Asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplants, green beans and peas, zucchini and potatoes, can use rosemary for that extra special flavor. With the flowers of rosemary, the uses can be different. Since these have a milder flavor, they can be candied, preserved, or added to jellies, honey, wine or vinegar. Even olive oil can be flavored by adding a few sprigs of rosemary.
NOTE: Although rosemary can be used in moderation and is an great herb to use, there have been reports that some people may have an allergic reaction to the essential oils in rosemary. Large quantities of anything can be dangerous, and rosemary is no exception. The routine use in cooking is generally considered safe to the general public.
MOTH REPELLENT WITH ROSEMARY
2 cups dried lavender
2 cups dried rosemary
1 Tbs. crushed cloves
Dried peel of a lemon
Bruise all the ingredients together in a small bowl, and divide among muslin bags. Tie, and set among the woolens.
HERB PILLOW WITH ROSEMARY
4 cups dried rosemary
4 cups dried lemon verbena
8 cups dry pine needles
Crush the ingredients together, and fill a small bag to place under the pillow, or in the drawer with nightclothes.
Enjoy!
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