Simply Natural Nessa

Unlike the honey cough drops you find at the store, these drops are made from real, raw honey with no other sweeteners. Plus, they’re flavoured with real, organic herbs to help provide immune-boosting properties. You can also use Manuka honey which provides antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. RECIPE: 🌿 2 cups water 🌿 1 tbsp slippery elm 🌿 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or lemon zest 🌿 1 tbsp grated ginger 🌿 1 tbsp dried peppermint 🌿 1 tbsp dried oregano 🌿 1 tbsp dried fenugreek seeds 🌿 1 1/2 cups raw honey 🌿 1/4 cup slippery elm powder, for coating the cough drops 🌿 1/4 cup powdered stevia, for coating the drops (optional) 🌿 Silicone candy moulds or parchment paper 🌿 Wax paper (for wrapping the drops) To Make: 1. In a medium size saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. 2. Add 1 tablespoon of each herb you’ll be using into a medium size bowl and pour the boiling water over the top of the herbs. Let the tea steep for at least 20 minutes or until the water is cool. 3. Strain out the herbs using a nut milk bag and use 1 cup of the herbal tea for the next part of the recipe. 4. Pour 1 cup of the herbal tea into a medium saucepan. 5. Add the honey and heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it reaches 150°C (300°F). At this point, remove it from heat quickly so it doesn’t burn. 6. Pour the mixture into candy moulds, or drop teaspoons of the mix onto a large sheet of parchment paper. 7. If you are not using moulds, you will need to form the mixture into cough drops by hand. Let the mix cool until it is cool enough to touch without burning your skin (this will take 10 to 15 minutes), and immediately and very quickly form it into cough drop shapes with your hands or a teaspoon dipped in ice cold water (which helps to reduce sticking). 8. Once completely cool, toss the drops into a jar with a mixture of slippery elm powder and stevia to prevent them from getting sticky in the humidity. Give the jar a good shake to cover all sides of the lozenges, then tap off the excess powder and wrap each one in wax paper. Place the wrapped drops in a jar with an airtight lid. 9. Use as needed for coughing, congestion or a sore throat. #coughdrops

Rosemary oil can be used to help soothe dry scalp, itchy scalp, dandruff, and promote faster hair growth, add shine, and seal in moisture to keep hair looking hydrated and healthy. Rosemary is a vasodilator, meaning it has the ability to dilate blood vessels, increasing blood circulation to the scalp which, in turn, stimulates hair growth. This helps to maintain healthy hair and prevent hair loss from excess shedding and breakage. RECIPE: 🌿 1/2 cup fresh rosemary leaves (removed from woody stems) 🌿 1 cup (or more) of a carrier oil like olive oil To Make: 1. Place the rosemary in a clean, dry mason jar, then fill with olive oil until the rosemary is completely covered, with about an inch or so of oil sitting above the level of the rosemary. Leave at least one inch of space at the top of the jar to allow for the rosemary to expand. 2. Tightly cap the jar and place it on a warm, sunny windowsill for four to six weeks. Shake once or more daily. 3. Once the oil has infused, strain out the rosemary leaves using some cheesecloth or a nut milk bag, and compost the rosemary. Alternatively, only strain as much as you need and leave the rest of the oil with the rosemary until ready to use. 4. Pour the infused oil into glass bottles or jars and store in a cool, dark place away from direct light and heat. 5. To use this oil, part the hair and apply a few drops of the infused oil onto the scalp. Continue to do this all along the scalp, parting hair and adding oil as you move across. 6. Use your fingertips to massage the oil into the hair and scalp, then leave it on for at least 20 minutes before washing off. Alternatively, apply the oil before bed and leave it on overnight. Make sure to lay a towel over the pillow so the oil doesn’t go everywhere. Wash the oil off the next morning. 7. This rosemary oil can be used several times a week or daily. #rosemaryoilforhair #haircare #rosemary #rosemaryoil #longhair #naturalhair

While the flowers are steeping, the natural active resins within the lavender buds are extracted and drawn into the oil, making it a concentrated oil full of the herb’s healing properties. Herb infused oils are a more gentle version of the therapeutic properties found in essential oils, as they come in a more diluted form. RECIPE: 🌿 1/2 cup (4 oz) dried lavender flowers 🌿 2 cup (16 oz) extra virgin olive oil (or jojoba oil or sweet almond oil) 🌿 Glass quart-sized mason jar 🌿 Cheesecloth or a nut milk bag To Make: 1. Start by crushing the dried lavender flowers gently with the back of a spoon. This helps to release the aromatic oils found in the lavender. 2. Place the crushed lavender flowers in a glass jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice. Ensure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil. 3. Seal the jar tightly with the lid and place it in a cool, dark place to infuse. Allow the lavender flowers to steep in the oil for at least 2-4 weeks. 4. Once the infusion time is complete, strain the lavender flowers from the oil using a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or a nut milk bag. Squeeze the cloth with the plant material inside to extract as much of the infused oil as possible. 5. Transfer the strained lavender infused oil into dark glass bottles for storage. Amber or cobalt blue bottles are excellent choices as the dark glass helps protect the oil from light exposure, which can degrade the oil over time and cause it to lose its potency. 6. Store the bottles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, such as in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry. 7. This lavender infused oil will have a mild aroma to it. It will not be as strong as a true essential oil. To give the oil extra fragrance, you can add a few drops of your favourite organic lavender essential oil if you choose. 8. Over time, oil can become rancid, developing a stale or unpleasant odour. If the infused oil smells unpleasant or has changed colour, it should be discarded and a fresh batch can be made. The shelf life of lavender infused oil is approximately one year. #lavender #infusedoil #herbaloils #lavenderoil #lavenderinfusedoil

Most coconut shell candles available are often quite expensive and contain paraffin wax, a petroleum-based wax that, when burned, can release toxins and chemicals like soot, toluene, or benzene into the air which have been found to be harmful to our health when inhaled. By making your own candles at home, you can ensure the wax you’re using is clean, fragrance-free, and non-GMO. RECIPE: 🌿 1 cup organic coconut wax, shredded (or more // depending on the size of your coconut shell) 🌿 2 cups organic soy wax flakes (or more // depending on the size of your coconut shell) 🌿 Metal pitcher or large glass jar 🌿 Cooking thermometer 🌿 Coconut shell 🌿 Wooden wick with a metal stopper 🌿 100 drops of essential oil of choice To Make: 1. Measure out the wax by taking your coconut shell half and fill it up with wax to around the 3/4 mark. From there, double that amount of wax and that is how much you’ll need. 2. Pour the coconut wax and soy wax into a metal pitcher and place the container in a large pot of water, filled just enough to cover the outside of the container. Bring the water to a boil. 3. Turn the heat down to medium heat and stir the wax occasionally until melted. 4. Remove the wax from heat and allow it to cool slightly before adding in the essential oil. Stir to combine. 5. Dip the metallic end of your candle wick into the melted wax, and, using the hot wax to stick the wick in place to the centre of your coconut shell. 6. Use a thermometer to test the temperature of the wax, and once it reaches 62 °C (145 °F), it’s ready to start pouring. It’s important to wait until it cools to prevent the heat from cracking the coconut shell. Pour around 75% of the candle wax into the coconut shell. 7. As the wax begins to harden, the top of your coconut shell candle may have a few cracks or marks on the waxy top. To help fix this, pour the remaining wax over the top. 8. Let the candle cool at room temperature for at least 24 hours before burning. Trim the wick to about 1 to 1 1/2cm above the level of the wax. 9. It is recommended to leave homemade candles to cure for a minimum of 3 days to develop a stronger scent when burning. #coconutcandle #coconutshellcandles

When paraffin wax candles are lit and burn, they can release harmful chemicals like benzene, acetone and toluene into the air, which are known carcinogens, along with other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. Some wicks, especially in cheaper candles, may contain lead or other heavy metals. Beeswax candles, however, may help to purify and improve indoor air quality by releasing negative ions that bind to and neutralise positively charged airborne pollutants like dust, pollen, and other allergens. RECIPE: 🌿 1 lb 100% pure beeswax, either in pellets or as a block 🌿 1/2 cup coconut oil 🌿 25 tea light candle cups 🌿 25 1 1/4-inch pre-tabbed cotton wicks 🌿 Metal pitcher 🌿 Bamboo skewers or paddle pop sticks To Make: 1. Pour the beeswax into a metal pitcher and place the pitcher in a large pot of water – filled just enough to cover the outside of the pitcher. Bring the water to a boil. 2. Turn the heat down to medium heat and stir the wax occasionally until completely melted. 3. While the wax is melting, prepare the wicks by cutting pieces that are approximately 1 1/4 inch long. You may need to trim them at the end, so cut the wicks at a length that is slightly longer than what you’ll need. 4. Hold the wick using small tongs or old tweezers and lower it into the melted beeswax for about 10-15 seconds. This will allow the beeswax to soak into the cotton wick. Lift your wick out of the wax and immediately place it on some parchment paper to dry and harden. After a couple of seconds, you can gently straighten the wick. 5. Next, place the hardened wicks into the stainless steel wick tabs, and attach the wicks to the bottoms of the tea light candle cups. 6. Once the beeswax has melted, stir in the coconut oil with a bamboo skewer or a paddle pop stick, then remove the saucepan from heat. Keep the pitcher in the hot water to ensure the wax stays melted. 7. Carefully pour the melted wax into each tea light cup, filling the wax to the top. 8. Allow the wax to cool and harden completely before lighting, which may take around 1 to 2 hours, or overnight. 9. If needed, trim the candle wicks to approximately 1/4 inch before lighting. #tealightcandles