101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home: A Nerdy Farm Wife's All-Natural DIY Projects Using Commonly Found Herbs, Flowers & Other Plants
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101 Easy
Homemade Products
FOR YOUR SKIN, HEALTH & HOME
A NERDY FARM WIFE’S ALL-NATURAL DIY PROJECTS USING COMMONLY FOUND HERBS, FLOWERS & OTHER PLANTS
Jan Berry
FOUNDER OF THE BLOG THE NERDY FARM WIFE
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Table of Contents
About the Author
Copyright Page
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Dedication
To my husband and children, who are my best friends and biggest fans. Thank you for always cheering me on and being patient while “The Book” consumed our lives for a season. Now that it’s done, I promise more lazy creek days and homemade ice cream, and less computer time and baked chicken (again?!) for supper.
Introduction
Have you ever surveyed your patch of mint or lemon balm and wondered how that one tiny plant you bought in a fit of spring fever five years ago managed to take over half of your flower beds?
I sure have.
In spite of my jungle of a garden, I still can’t resist buying or growing new varieties of flowers and herbs as I discover them. Rather than give up my compulsion, I’ve made it my mission to see how creative I can get in using those plants that surround me.
My goal in writing this book is to share that passion and give you a tiny taste of the possibilities that are growing right around you as well.
I want to show you how to grab a rose from your garden, a handful of dandelions from your backyard or a bunch of basil from your local farmer’s market, and make something beautiful, useful and good for you, your family and your home.
Because I live on a tight budget and Internet shipping costs a small fortune, it’s important to me to use as many ingredients as I can source locally. When you live in rural America like I do, the store options are slim, but I’m still able to find most of my ingredients within a 30-mile (48-km) radius. For the things that do have to be ordered online, I’ve listed a few of my favorite vendors in the resource section in the back of this book.
I try to keep my recipes and instructions pretty straightforward, but if you run into a question or problem, please email me via my website’s contact page, and I’ll be happy to help.
Now if you’re ready to make some fun stuff with me, turn the page and let’s get started!
Getting Started Making Natural, Homemade Products
Common Herbs & Flowers & Their Benefits
Our gardens and backyards are filled with flowers, herbs and weeds that have the potential to provide many fun and useful products for home, health and beauty. If you can safely eat a plant, there’s a good chance that it can be used in other interesting ways as well.
Although I’ve listed details about the ones specifically used to make the projects in this book, this isn’t an all-inclusive list of plants with benefits. Explore the Internet, your library and local bookstore to find articles and books about herbs and edible flowers that grow in your locality. Some common plants, such as roses and basil, are easily recognizable, but always be certain of the identification of what you’re harvesting before use.
Basil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and tick-repelling properties. Taken orally, it has an analgesic (pain relieving) affect on chronic pain conditions and makes a good expectorant in cough syrups. Basil opens up the sinuses, helps headaches, can be used in baths for stress or pain, as a toner for acne, rubbed on bug bites, incorporated in a salve for joint aches and has even been shown in one study to be effective in an antiaging cream. In short, basil is not just for pesto!
Basil & Rose Kombucha Toner
Basil & Lime Lip Balm
Create Your Own Vinegar Hair Rinse
Catnip & Basil Insect Repellant Spray
Basil Mint Sore Throat Spray
Calendula is a well-loved and often used flower that’s included in many skin care recipes. It’s a classic addition to diaper creams for babies, due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and skin healing properties. It may help conditions such as eczema, is a lymphatic (helps relieve congested lymph nodes), good for sore throats and swollen tonsils, helps skin regenerate and is used in formulations to reduce the swelling and appearance of varicose veins. The tea can be used as an antiseptic wound wash. It should not be used internally by pregnant women.
Calendula Whipped Coconut Oil
Calendula Whipped Coconut Butter
Basic Calendula Lotion
Calendula Spice Fizzing Bath Salts
Calendula Spice & Honey Cleansing Scrub
Dry Shampoo for Light Hair Tones
Carrot & Calendula Soap
Bug Bite Powder
Itchy Skin Rinse
All-Purpose Animal Salve
Catnip is a cooling and drying herb. It repels mosquitoes and flies, is a mild analgesic (pain reliever), calms the nerves so a person can rest, is added to bath soaks to relieve stress and can be used in a hair rinse for dandruff. As a tea it may help relieve colds, coughs, upset stomach, nausea, toothache and headache.
Create Your Own Vinegar Hair Rinse
Catnip & Basil Insect Repellant Spray
Chamomile is antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Chamomile has been shown to have a mild cortisone-like effect and is often used in lotions, creams, salves and other products to help relieve rashes, irritated or red skin and eczema.
Chamomile Honey Face Wash
Honey & Chamomile Cream
Calming Bath Soak
Lavender Sleepy Time Bath Tea
Lemon Chamomile Bath Melts
Chamomile Brown Sugar Scrub Cubes
Chamomile Lip Scrub
Chamomile “Almost Castile” Soap
Chamomile Calming Syrup
Cornflower is also called Bachelor Button. The flower extract is used as a skin conditioner and astringent. The petals add color to teas or bath soaks, and contain anti-inflammatory properties. A finely filtered tea can be used to soothe eye irritation and reduce puffiness.
Lavender Blue Mask
Daisy is a common roadside weed found in many places. The flowers can be used for coughs and bronchitis. Common daisies were known in the past as a traditional wound herb for bruises, broken bones, eczema, inflammation and infection, and in more recent years have been the subject of a study that scientifically verified their wound-healing abilities.
Daisy Vanilla Lip Balm
Dandelion may be vilified by those who seek a perfectly green lawn each spring, but it is an important plant in a multitude of beneficial ways. The flowers are among the first food sources for bees. They are also a good source of lecithin, and when infused in oil and turned into salves, lotions and creams, act as a mild analgesic (pain reliever)
and healing agent for painful, chapped skin. The plant tincture stimulates the liver and has been known to clear acne and eczema when taken internally over time. It has also been studied for its cancer-fighting potential. Traditionally, dandelion sap has been used to treat microbial or fungal skin infections along with acne and warts.
Dandelion Thyme Vinegar Toner & Tonic
Dandelion Cuticle Balm
Dandelion Body Butter
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
Dandelion Plantain Chapped Lip Treatment
Dandelion Scrub Bar
Lavender Dandelion Pain Relief Oil
Dandelion Magnesium Lotion
Dianthus is an ornamental bedding plant, with flowers in shades of white, pink and red and are also called “pinks.” The edible flowers can be used as a garnish, but I primarily use them in body care recipes as a natural colorant for bath salts and sugar scrubs.
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
Elder flowers help heal wounds and have been used for generations as an aid to obtaining a beautiful complexion. The berries of this shrub are a proven treatment for influenza.
Elder Flower Eye Cream
Forsythia is a common, bright yellow flowering shrub whose blooms are among the first signs of spring each year. While the autumn fruits are traditionally the plant part used as medicine, the flowers can be utilized in a similar, milder-acting manner. Forsythia is cooling, anti-inflammatory and combines splendidly with honeysuckle to fight viruses. The flowers can also be used in preparations for acne or skin flare-ups.
Forsythia Clear Skin Toner
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
Hollyhock is a cousin to the herb marsh mallow and shares similar soothing, cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. The flowers and leaves can be infused in oil to make salves and creams.
Hollyhock Split-End Crème
Hollyhock Shampoo Bar
Lavender is one of the most loved herbs around. The sweet-scented plant is antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, acts to regenerate skin, soothes inflammation, speeds up wound healing, fights infection, repels flies, fleas and moths and freshens laundry. Lavender can be incorporated in a multitude of products for health and home, including salves, creams, lotions, soaps, cleaners and more. While the flowers are most commonly used, the leaves can be utilized in many recipes as well.
Lavender Castile Soapy Facial Cleanser
Lavender Blue Mask
Lavender, Coconut & Honey Balm
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Calming Bath Soak
Lavender Sleepy Time Bath Tea
Lavender Oatmeal Bath Melts
Lavender Oatmeal Soap
Lavender Bug Bite Sticks
Lavender Dandelion Pain Relief Oil
Four Thieves Vinegar Spray
Lavender Laundry Detergent
Lavender Fabric Softener
Herbal Dry Shampoo or Flea-Repelling Powder
Itchy Skin Rinse
Lemon Balm is a mild stress reliever, uplifts mood and has a marked antiviral effect, especially against herpes viruses, making it ideal for including in lip balms and salves for cold sores.
Warming Ginger & Lemon Balm Bath Tea
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
Chamomile Calming Syrup
Lemon Balm Furniture Polish
Lemongrass is a powerhouse of beneficial properties. It’s anti-amebic and antibacterial, a decoction of the stalk acts as an antidiarrheal, the infused oil is antifungal, the fresh leaves are antifebrile (a fever reducer), a tea of dried leaves is anti-inflammatory and the essential oil is antimalarial. All that, and it smells wonderful, too!
Lemongrass Cream Deodorant
Mint is cooling and pain relieving. It can help ease stomachache, indigestion, headache, nausea and sore muscles. It’s useful in salves for cooling itchy or inflamed skin conditions. While peppermint and spearmint are most commonly used, you can also use orange mint, pineapple mint, apple mint, chocolate mint and other such varieties.
Cool Mint Body Wash
Peppermint Pine Headache Salve
Mint Cocoa Body Butter
Aloe Mint After-Sun Lotion
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Sore Muscle Bath Bags
Energizing Rosemary Mint Bath Tea
Whipped Spearmint Scrub Butter
Classic Peppermint Lip Balm
Chocolate Mint Lip Balm
Mint Lip Scrub
Cucumber Mint Soap
Basil Mint Sore Throat Spray
Fresh Mint Wall Wash
Peppermint & Parsley Fresh-Breath Dog Treat
Nettle is anti-inflammatory, astringent, healing, antibacterial, antimicrobial, nutritious and can be used externally as a treatment for dandruff and acne. It’s included in many hair care formulations to improve scalp circulation and to stimulate hair growth.
Nettle, Coconut & Honey Hair Mask
Herbal Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair Tones
Create Your Own Vinegar Hair Rinse
Nettle & Coconut Oil Vitamin Treats
Oregano is powerful against bacteria and fungus, helps fight upper respiratory infections and contains several vitamins, minerals and potent antioxidants. It’s a great addition to cold care remedies.
Oregano Oxymel
Four Thieves Vinegar Spray
Parsley is best known as a breath freshener. It’s nutritious and high in vitamins A, C and K, helps eliminate the uric acid that causes gout and may be beneficial to animals with arthritis.
Peppermint & Parsley Fresh-Breath Dog Treat
Peony is an old-fashioned garden flower used in this book as a natural colorant for scrubs and bath salts. Use dark pink or red peonies; the palest pink flowers don’t work as well.
Peony & Orange Sugar Scrub
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
Pine is high in vitamin C and antioxidants. The resin is antibacterial and helpful for sore, stiff joints and rheumatism. Pine is very warming and increases circulation.
Peppermint Pine Headache Salve
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Sore Muscle Bath Bags
Orange Pine Floor Cleaner
Plantain is a common weed found in many backyards and driveways. It cools, soothes and moistens and is one of the best herbs for skin irritations, cuts, bug bites and scrapes. For in-field first aid, you can simply grab a leaf from your yard, pulverize it by chewing on it a few seconds, then place it directly on the irritation for relief. Plantain, the green leafy weed, should not be confused with plantain fruit. Plantain makes a very nice infused oil for soaps, salves and lip balms.
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Dandelion Plantain Chapped Lip Treatment
All-Purpose Animal Salve
Rose is a gentle remedy for inflammation. It’s astringent, soothing, cools hot flashes, can be mixed with honey to make a soothing throat syrup and is an excellent addition to skin care recipes. The scent of rose uplifts the spirits and gladdens the heart.
Honey, Rose & Oat Face Cleanser
Basil & Rose Kombucha Toner
Rose Pink Face Mask
Regenerating Rose Balm
Cocoa Rose Lotion Bars
Rose Face Cream
Fizzy Rose Lemonade Soak
Lavender Sleepy Time Bath Tea
Vanilla Rose Bath Melts
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars
Rosy Lip Tint
Herbal Dry Shampoo for Medium Hair Tones
Old-Fashioned Rose Soap
Calamine Rose Lotion
Aloe Rose Sunburn & Hot Flash Spray
Rose Window Cleaner
Itchy Skin Rinse
Rosemary increases circulation, making it wonderful for use in sore muscle salves and recipes for healthier scalp and hair growth. Just a whiff of rosemary has been shown to increase concentration and focus.
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Energizing Rosemary Mint Bath Tea
Create Your Own Vinegar Hair Rinse
Rosema
ry Beard Oil
Four Thieves Vinegar Spray
Sage is warming and drying. It reduces sweating and is a good antimicrobial for sore throat. Since it’s such a drying herb, nursing mothers should not ingest more than normal culinary use, or it may negatively affect milk supply.
Sage Green Mask
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Create Your Own Vinegar Hair Rinse
Four Thieves Vinegar Spray
Sunflowers have skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory properties and are used in formulations for shiny hair.
Sunflower Salve
Sunflower Lotion Bars
Vegan Sunflower Lip Tint
Create Your Own Vinegar Hair Rinse
Sunflower Hot Oil Treatment
Sunflower Shampoo Bar
Thyme is a potent disinfectant, making it a good choice for treating cuts, scrapes and sore throats. It’s also been shown to be highly effective against the bacteria that cause acne.
Dandelion Thyme Vinegar Toner & Tonic
Thyme & Raw Honey Mask
Grapeseed & Thyme Lotion (for Oily Skin)
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Thyme Flaky Scalp Spray
Thyme & Witch Hazel Clear Skin Facial Bar
Lemon Thyme Dusting Spray
Four Thieves Vinegar Spray
Violets are high in vitamins A and C. They’re soothing and cooling, help relieve swollen or congested lymph glands and are good for a dry cough and sore throat. Traditionally, violet leaves and flowers have been used in poultices, salves and massage oils for fibrocystic breasts. They’re also reputed to ease the pain of headache.
Violet Flower Cleanser
Violet-Infused Aloe
Violet Leaf Lotion Bars
Violet & Aloe Moisturizing Cream
Garden Herbs Bath Soak
Floral Salt Foot Scrub Bars