Adrienne's Cauldron

Infusing Liquids: Infusing liquids, let's use oils for example, can mold if not processed correctly. This can be a tedious process until you get it down, but is worth it in the end; you will be able to make balms, salves, lotions, and many other things. First we will start off with: Oil Infusion: There are two ways to infuse your herbs/flowers/roots into oil: Solar and Stove-top. Solar: Pick your flower/s or herb/s and d ry them completely to ensure your oil does not grow mold. Add them to a jar and fill with the oil of your choice, make sure it’s sealed tightly. Place in a sunny windowsill and let it infuse for a few weeks  Strain the herbs from the oil and into a clean dry jar. Store in a cabinet or away from sunlight, shelf life: 6-9 Months. Stove-top: Spread fresh herbs out in a single layer on a plain paper towel and let them wilt for a day or two.  The next day, add them to a jar and pour oil – almost to the top of the jar. Set the jar into a pot o...

Carrier Oils Carrier oils are great for infusing oils because they absorb your herbs, flowers, and roots.  These are a few of many great carrier oils: Argan Oil Avocado Oil Coconut Oil Extra Virgin Olive Oil Grape-seed Oil Jojoba Oil Safflower Oil Sesame Oil Sunflower Oil Sweet Almond Oil Be Careful, some oils may contain nuts. Do NOT use if allergic.

Pine & Mint Headache Relief Balm: Uses:  To relieve tension headaches My Mom and I get headaches quite often. I usually get 2-3 a week and became tired of taking aspirin, thus beginning my initial journey to herbal remedies.  This Balm is great! My headaches will typically go away within 15-20 minutes after applying to my temples.  However, for me, this does not work for my migraines. First you will need to infuse your carrier oil with Pine & Mint. Make sure your herbs have not been sprayed.   For my Oil I used fresh Pine Needles and Mint Leaves.  If you're not too familiar with infusing oil here is my "How To:" Now to make the Balm, to make a 2 oz container, use 1/4 cup Pine & Mint oil. Start off with 1/2 tablespoon of beeswax, keep adding until you have your desired consistency. I end up using 2 tbsp. This balm is best firmer, it makes it easier to spread onto your temples and does not get everywhere. However, if you wi...

Storing Herbs: Make sure your herbs are completely dry. If not they will grow mold and will need to be disposed of. Herbs in their whole form last longer,  you will get a much fresher and stronger product.  If you are able, store the whole herb and grind them as needed.  T his may not be possible all the time. Some herbs are easier to store whole than others such as: roots seeds  whole flower buds Store your dried herbs in airtight containers , glass is best. You can use plastic but chemicals could leach into your herbs, be cautious.  Use containers like: glass jars metal tins with screw top lids jars with clamp on lips Make sure your herbs stay out of direct sunlight, store them in a cabinet. You can even use dark tinted bottles for further protection.  You want your herbs to stay cool and dry for maximum shelf life. Do not store them next to a hot stove or in a bathroom. If you follow the steps above, your herbs should last for ...

How to Dry Herbs: There are many methods to dry herbs. Depending on where you live some methods will be better than others. Some may take multiple days others will only take a few hours. In this post I will let you know which worked best for me.  Indoor Drying: It’s not recommend drying indoors, as it’s easy for the herbs to mold. -Use a dehydrator on it’s lowest setting, if possible. -Use an oven on it’s lowest temperature setting (170 or less). -Tie a bunch of herbs or flowers with a piece of string and hang it in a sunny window in your home. -Place them in an old mesh or produce bag (like an onion bag) and hang the bag in a sunny window. DON’T dry your herbs and flowers in a cool or damp place (like a bathroom) out of sunlight. Ensure that they’re in an environment that’s hot, dry, and ideally, in direct sunlight. Outdoor Drying: -Use an old mesh or produce bag (like an onion bag), place the herbs in the bag and set it in direct sunlight. -Use o...