Below are the recommended herbal dosages and uses:
Dosages are offered as a simple guideline. Remember that herbs are best used in frequent smaller doses throughout the day. Larger quantities are not better in most cases.
Deodorant - Our deodorants are to be applied in a single layer and its best to apply in one direction from up to down. We do not recommend to apply it in a back and forth motion nor to apply it heavily. Use your fingers to gently massage it in the arm pit and surrounding under arm area. You may reapply if needed after heavily sweating or swimming. Keep in mind that this is not an antiperspirant and it is totally acceptable to sweat! It will not plug up the sweat glands. Our deodorant is not made to mask odors with fragrance but it is an herbal blend that offers anti bacterial properties. We do not use any hardeners other than wax, so be aware that a deodorant could soften or melt if left near a heat source or in a car. In the colder months, they could become very hard. You can apply a few drops of water to the top of the deodorant to help soften, before applying. You can also apply it immediately after getting out of a hot shower. Your warm skin will soften it and make it easier to apply. Deodorants are good for one year and sometimes a little more, if well cared for.
Herbal butters and creams are in between a lotion and a balm. They are softer than a balm but not as liquidy as a lotion. Only a tic tac size of a herbal butter or cream is needed for the face or an area needing treatment. We do not use any fillers or bulking agents in any of our creams or butters. All the creams and butters contain raw beeswax that naturally protects and keeps moisture in the skin with a light barrier. Butters and creams are good for one year and sometimes a little bit more, if well cared for. Just remember that they are naturally concentrated and only a tiny amount at a time is needed.
Herbal oils are a form of herbs that have been macerated via cold infusion process over several weeks and then by hand are cold pressed that results in a pure natural therapeutic oil. Our herbal oils are for external use only. For example, for a face serum, only 2-3 drops are needed to cover the entire area of the face. If your using an herbal oil as a body moisturizer, only a few drops spread out along each area is needed. Be sure to store your oils away from heat and light. Herbal oils are good 8 months to 1 year if well cared for. If at anytime the oil smells "off" or rancid, please dispose of it. If the natural herbal scent is no longer obvious, then please dispose of it. Our herbal oils contain essential oils naturally from the plant but are not to be used as "distilled" essential oils and are not appropriate to use in an aromatherapy diffuser.
Herbal syrups or oxymels are usually recommended at 1 teaspoon, 3 times daily for chronic conditions. For acute conditions, it will be 1 teaspoon, 4-6 times per day. (Adult doses) Herbal syrups are usually made with warmed raw honey and infusing herbs into the honey. Its then bottled and stored in the fridge for use. Oxymels are a long process cold infusion of raw honey, raw apple cider vinegar and herbs. Oxymels are moderately shelf stable but will last longer if stored in the fridge. We on occasion offer limited batches of Elderberry, Elderflower and Ginger root syrups. Herbal syrups are stable at room temperature temporarily but its best to store them in the fridge or freeze them. Most herbal syrups can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 months. Syrups and oxymels are made seasonally and not always available. When they are available, we recommend to stock up and purchase extra to store in the fridge or freezer.
Herbal tea is best by consuming 3 cups per day, or up to 1 quart throughout the day. For acute conditions, 2-4 cups per day. If suffering from stomach upset, a chamomile tea with dill seed, consumed throughout the day will help heal and ease symptoms. Fresh brewed herbal tea is good in the fridge for 5 to 7 days. Make a large batch of herbal tea and pour it into a large tumbler to go cup, to be sipped throughout the day. Herbal tea is an excellent beverage to add your herbal tinctures in.
Poultices and Compress are typically used for acute conditions. Apply 2 times per day for 20 minutes with gentle heat. A baking soda poultice can be simply made with water and making it into a paste. Apply the paste to a bug bite and allow the ingredients to sink in through the skin. This also works very well for sunburn. We offer certain scrubs that can be used as poultices in the shower or applied and then wrapped for 20 minutes to then be rinsed off with warm water. Alternate cold and hot compresses to the sinus cavity to help relieve sinus pressure.
Salves and balms are made in a more controlled solid form by using beeswax and solid butters. Only a little is needed at a time to be applied to key areas in need of healing. Salves are soft to where balms are more solid/harder. Salves and balms are good for one year and sometimes a little more, if well cared for.
Tinctures Use 1 full dropper full up to 3-4 times per day. For acute conditions, 2 dropperfuls every 2 or 3 hours for 1 to 3 days; then 2 dropperfuls 2 or 3 times per day for 3 to 5 days, unless otherwise noted on the bottle or directed by an herbalist. Add the tincture to a glass of water, tea or juice, to then consume. Do not use the tinctures sublingual unless diluted. Tinctures can be used daily as a preventative / maintenance or you can increase the dosage as recommended to help treat a sickness, over 5 days. Tinctures are made with a pure single plant and pure grain alcohol. Only two ingredients are used and we never use sweeteners, preservatives or water it down. Our tinctures are handcrafted using time honored methods and processed according to the constituents of each plant. Meticulous attention during the curing period or extraction process yields a potent tincture of high quality. They are made with organically grown and/or wild-harvested plants in a pure 100% proof grain alcohol. Tinctures are easily good for 1 year with some being indefinite, if well taken care of. No refrigeration required.
Toothpaste - We offer two kinds of toothpaste that are all natural and can be used daily. Both of them are to be used on a dry toothbrush. Do not wet your toothbrush before applying the toothpaste on it. Both are safe to swallow but we don't recommend it. Our toothpastes are safe for children to use daily. Use just enough, like a pea size to brush your teeth and be sure to use a very soft bristle and very gently brush your teeth. We encourage you to brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth. No rinsing out required but that's a personal preference. The Mint Whitening Toothpaste is made with coconut oil. Coconut oil will melt if it is exposed to heat. Should your toothpaste melt and separate, stick it in the fridge for about 10 minutes, remove and stir to reincorporate the ingredients. Your toothpaste will not lose its potency if it melts. Toothpaste can be stored in the fridge to extend its shelf life to 6 months but it is fresh made to order, to then be immediately used over the next few months.
Take care of your products to ensure that they will last longer by keeping them away from direct sunlight and away from heat. Never try to change the products ingredients by adding your own or it will unbalance it, causing it to go rancid or not work at all. Keep lids and tops on tight when not in use and out of reach from children and pets. All of our products are food grade but that doesn't mean that its okay to ingest. Most of the products are concentrated and could cause severe stomach upset if ingested. Just like food, if you consume to much of one item, you can become ill.
The herbal dosages have been confirmed through professional journals and long-standing practicing herbalists. ( Dr. JJ Pursell is a board-certified naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist and has work with medicinal herbs for more than 20 years.) Additional references ; (Gladstar, Rosemary. 2012 medicinal herbs) These are just a few of many references used to confirm proper dosages and applications. Our own family and personal testimonials additionally confirm the dosage amounts and uses.
This is how we live and have always used the above dosages and applications within the family for many years.
