Simply Natural Nessa

True peppermint essential oil you find in store contains around 45% menthol. Menthol is what gives peppermint its soothing qualities. While this is not a true peppermint essential oil, we will be making a peppermint infused oil, which can be used for many different purposes. I love using this peppermint infused herbal oil in my ointments, creams, and lip balm recipes. This oil can also be applied alone as a massage oil to help soothe sore muscles, or to soothe irritated skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties. RECIPE: 🌿 1/2 cup (4 oz) dried peppermint leaves 🌿 2 cup (16 oz) extra virgin olive oil (or coconut oil) 🌿 Glass quart-sized mason jar 🌿 Cheesecloth or a nut milk bag To Make: 1. Start by crushing the dried peppermint leaves gently with the back of a spoon. This will help to release the natural oils found in the peppermint. 2. Place the crushed leaves in a glass jar and cover with the carrier oil of your choice. Ensure that the leaves are completely submerged in the oil to prevent any mould or bacteria contaminating the oil. 3. Seal the jar tightly with the lid and place it on a warm, sunny windowsill to infuse for at least 2-4 weeks, shaking the jar gently every few days. 4. Strain the peppermint leaves from the oil using a cheesecloth. Squeeze the cloth with the plant material inside to extract as much of the infused oil as possible. 5. Transfer the 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 peppermint 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 organic peppermint essential oil if you choose. 8. If the oil smells unpleasant or has changed colour, it should be discarded and a fresh batch can be made. The shelf life of this oil is approximately one year. #peppermint #herbalinfused #peppermintoil

This DIY lavender salve uses a homemade lavender infused oil made from dried lavender buds. Lavender is known for its calming aroma, helping to promote relaxation and possibly improving sleep quality. This salve can be used topically to help moisturise the skin, assist with relaxation, and soothe a variety of skin ailments including mild burns, bug bites, irritation and itching, acne, scrapes, eczema, dryness, scars, dry lips, and more. RECIPE: 💜 1/2 cup (4 oz) dried lavender flowers 💜 2 cups (16 oz) extra virgin olive oil 💜 1 cup (8 oz) lavender infused oil 💜 4 tbsp (2 oz) beeswax (if you choose to add shea butter, only use 3 tbsp of beeswax) 💜 25 drops lavender essential oil 💜 2 tbsp (1 oz) shea butter (optional) To Make: 1. Combine the dried lavender and olive oil together in a 16 oz glass jar. Cap the lid tightly and gently shake to combine the ingredients. Store the jar on a sunny windowsill to infuse for 3-4 weeks. Shake the jar every now and then during this time. 2. Strain out the lavender buds with a cheesecloth. Once strained, the oil is ready to use. 3. Add some water to the bottom of a stainless steel saucepan and place a bowl on top or a large glass jar in the centre of the pan to make a double boiler. Add the beeswax and heat the wax over medium-low heat until it has completely melted. 4. Once melted, remove from the heat and stir through the lavender infused oil. Next, add in the lavender essential oil and stir the mixture well to combine. 5. Carefully pour the salve mixture into your chosen containers. If the mixture starts to solidify while you’re still filling up the containers, place the mixture back on medium-low heat until it liquifies again. 6. Set the lavender salve containers aside (with the lids off) and allow them to completely cool and set at room temperature. 7. Once set, the lavender salve is ready to use. 8. To use this salve, you can either use clean fingers or a salve spoon to collect a small amount of mixture and apply it to the skin as needed. Please bear in mind that a little goes a long way, so only use a pea-sized amount at a time, and apply more as needed. #lavender #salve #naturalremedies #lavendersalve

Marshmallow root is known for its anti-inflammatory effects, helping to soothe ailments such as a sore throat, and is also well-known to support digestion, helping with heartburn, acid reflux, and diarrhoea. This medicinal herb is particularly useful for ailments that affect the respiratory system, the kidneys, bladder, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. RECIPE: 💛 1 cup warm filtered water 💛 1/2 cup organic grass-fed gelatin 💛 1 tbsp organic marshmallow root 💛 1 tsp colostrum (optional) 💛 1 cup raw honey To Make: 1. Combine the warm water with the marshmallow root in a small bowl and set it aside for 5 minutes. 2. Stir the mixture well, then strain out the pulp. Make sure that the liquid makes enough for 1 whole cup. 3. In a stand alone mixer bowl, pour in the gelatin powder and prepared marshmallow root tea. Whisk the mixture slightly with a hand whisk to incorporate, then, if using, add the colostrum powder and whisk again to combine. Set the bowl aside and allow the mixture to sit and bloom for 10 minutes. 4. In a medium-size saucepan, add the raw honey and slowly bring the honey to a boil while stirring. If you have a kitchen thermometer (and I strongly recommend it), you want it to reach at least 115°C (240°F). If you don’t have a kitchen thermometer, keep boiling the mixture for 8 minutes or so, stirring constantly. 5. Turn on the stand mixer with the gelatin mixture inside the bowl and set it to medium speed. Whisk the mix while slowly pouring the honey mixture into the bowl. 6. When the honey mix is added, set the mixer to high speed and whisk for another 10-15 minutes or until the mixture develops into a stiff cream, similar to the consistency of marshmallow cream. 7. Once fluffy, transfer the marshmallow mix into a greased pan or a pan lined with parchment paper (leaving some parchment on the sides to be able to pull up). Place the pan in the refrigerator to set for one to two hours before cutting them into the desired shapes and sizes. 8. Store these marshmallows in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. #marshmallows #marshmallowroot #marshmallow

This DIY rosemary water hair rinse recipe helps to nourish the scalp, boost shine, and strengthen hair naturally without the chemicals and parabens often found in commercial hair care products. According to dermatologist Dr. R. Sonia Batra, ‘[Rosemary] can boost hair growth by inhibiting hormonal changes that lead to hair loss, improving circulation to the follicles, acting as an antioxidant, and decreasing inflammation on the scalp.’ This rosemary hair rinse easily fits into your normal hair care routine and is best applied after a shower. It’s important that this rinse be applied daily to reap the most benefits. RECIPE: 🌿 1 quart distilled water or boiled water 🌿 5 rosemary sprigs 🌿 Glass spray bottle To Make: 1. Boil the water and let it cool down for about 20 minutes or so. 2. Place the rosemary twigs in a large mason jar or saucepan and pour the water over the top to completely submerge the sprigs. 3. Allow the rosemary to steep for at least five to twelve hours (or overnight). 4. Strain the rosemary water into a glass spray bottle (glass or metal is preferred) or a large mason jar. The rosemary sprigs can be composted. 5. After cleaning hair as normal, mix the prepared rosemary rinse with some water, creating a 4-to-1 ratio. 6. Spray liberal amounts of the rinse all over your hair, then massage your scalp in a circular motion (this improves blood circulation even more), massaging all the way down your hair. 7. Ideally, the rosemary rinse can be left in overnight, or it can be washed out with water after one hour. This rinse can be applied daily, or two to three times a week as a leave-in treatment. 8. Store the rosemary water in the fridge to prolong its shelf life. The mixture should last one to two weeks if stored properly. #rosemary #hairgrowth #rosemaryhairoil #rosemarywater

How to Oil Pull to help whiten teeth and improve oral health! This age-old remedy involves using natural substances, like oil, to clean and detoxify teeth and gums. It can help to whiten teeth naturally, among many other benefits, and using certain oils can assist in keeping harmful bacteria in the mouth at bay. Oil pulling simply involves swishing oil – often coconut or sesame – around the mouth for up to 20 minutes to improve oral health. Just like the Oil Cleansing Method, the oil helps to draw out and remove toxins without affecting the teeth or gums. RECIPE: 🤍 1 tablespoon of organic unrefined coconut oil How to Oil Pull (Step-By-Step): 1. Put one tablespoon of the oil into your mouth. Organic sesame oil is traditionally used in oil pulling, and is also the most studied for use in oil pulling, but organic coconut oil works too. 2. Swish the oil around the mouth, moving it around both sides, and in front of, behind, and through the teeth, swishing for 15 to 20 minutes. This allows enough time to break through plaque and remove bacteria, but not long enough that the body starts to re-absorb the toxins. 3. The oil will start to double in volume during this time as saliva builds up in the mouth. At first, it can be difficult to make it the full 20 minutes, so start out by swishing for around 5 to 10 minutes and just build up from there. 4. Spit the oil into the garden, especially if you have a septic system. The oil may harden and thicken over time, which can clog the pipes. Do not swallow the oil as it’s full of bacteria and toxins. 5. Rinse the mouth well with warm water. I swish water around my mouth a few times to remove any remaining oil. 6. To finish, brush the teeth well. I follow up by brushing my teeth with a remineralising toothpaste or tooth powder to remove any remaining oil residue. 7. An alternative is to make these oil pulling tablets. Simply freeze some unrefined organic coconut oil in little cough drop moulds, and place one in the mouth to use to oil pull. #oilpulling #oilpullingbenefits #oilpullingmethod #coconutoil