by Meg McGowan
natural inclination to share that which has brought us joy
those of us who have discovered the subtle pleasures of a life infused with herbs may even proselytize a bit.
herbs add a sensual dimension to everyday life, bringing our attention into focus, if only for a moment.
medicinal standpoint, there is the satisfaction of knowing how to take care of yourself and the sense that you are working with your body rather than against an invading army. Psychologically, you benefit from enhanced or altered moods through aromatherapy. In cooking, you achieve the depth of flavor that makes a dish distinctive and makes dining a delight.
The holiday season offers us an opportunity to share with others the benefits that we have discovered. By giving herbal gifts, we are truly giving a bit of ourselves — something that we have come to value, our experience. The recipient's personality, interests, and lifestyle will, of course, indicate what type of herbal gift would be most appreciated.
A window sill herb garden might please the person with a love of plants or cooking. Chives, lemon balm, mint, scented geraniums and parsley are easy to grow indoors. So is ginger, and now is the time to start ginger plants, which take about a month to sprout. Cut a four-to-six inch piece from a large, fresh ginger root. Plant it, eyes up, cut side down, and place it in a sunny window.
A selection of organic herbs and spices is another idea for someone whose heart is in the kitchen. Frontier has just introduced three new combinations — Mama Garlic, Pepperman, and Herby. Mama Garlic is a blend of certified organic garlic and herbs. Pepperman is a zesty combination of chili, Anaheim, red and green bell peppers, and black peppercorns. Herby is a flavorful mix of more than fifteen herbs and vegetables.
Outdoor enthusiasts may find a basic herbal first-aid kit useful. Tea tree and lavender are multifaceted essential oils that can be used in situations ranging from contact with poison ivy to burns. Both can be applied directly to the skin without a carrier oil. Cayenne tincture or powder can be included to stop bleeding, treat shock, and increase circulation. Echinacea tincture provides an immune system boost in cases where there is a risk of infection. It can also be applied topically. Bach Flowers' Rescue Remedy mitigates the emotional trauma of any crisis. An herbal salve, such as Dr. Burt's Comfrey ointment from Burt's Bees, helps to soothe and heal cuts, scrapes, burns, and other wounds. Homeopathic arnica tablets and ointment are indispensable for treating physical trauma such as sprains, breaks, bruises, and muscle strain. For the uninitiated, write out simple instructions for using each component. (You may also want to include an assortment of bandages, gauze pads, and tape.) For more detailed information, either Herbal First Aid and Health Care: Medicine for a New Millennium by Kyle D. Christensen (Lotus, 2000) or Natural First Aid by Bridgette Mars (Storey, 1999) would make an appropriate companion gift.
If the travelers you know prefer the comforts of home, consider an aromatherapy room spray to shift energy and dispel odors in cars or hotel rooms. Try Aura Cacia's recipe for Uplifting Citrus and Spice Spritzer. Blend ten drops bergamot, forty drops sweet orange and thirty drops clove bud with five drops each of ginger, cinnamon, lemon and nutmeg essential oil. Use a ratio of twelve drops of the synergy you have created to one ounce of tepid distilled water and pour into an opaque glass spray bottle. Include directions to shake well before use. Or create a bedtime blend. Experiment with lavender, geranium, bay, cedarwood, carrot seed, celery seed, coriander seed, chamomile and clary sage (though not all at once!) to blend a relaxing and nourishing spray suitable for use before bed. An herbal eye pillow is an extra, thoughtful touch.
Aroma Naturals' Aromatherapy To Go candles also instantly transform a sterile or stale atmosphere, using only pure, natural plant ingredients. The candles are available in eight scents: Ambiance, Inspire, Meditation, Relaxing, Romance, Serenity, Soothing, and Vitality, and are packaged in conveniently portable tins. You can choose from two sizes: the larger size burns for fifty hours; the smaller, for twenty-five hours.
For those who cherish a bit of indulgence or deserve a moment of respite from the requirements of their world, wonderful herbal bath and personal care products abound. V'Tae offers beautifully packaged gift sets featuring four-ounce sizes of massage oil and body mist and a five-ounce packet of bath salts. The package is tied up in cellophane with a satin bow and adorned with a rosebud. One of the five fragrances — Prosperity, Invigorating, Stress Relief, Sensuality or Victorian Vanilla — is sure to be a perfect fit. Victorian Vanilla is simply infused with vanilla absolute. The other four fragrances are rich, multi-layered scents.
Prosperity is an especially appropriate choice for blessing the coming new year. It incorporates essential oils to increase prosperity, disperse negativity, aid in purification, physical energy, general health and well being. V'Tae's statement of purpose: "To take respectfully from nature, to add to our creativity and to contribute to this planet rather than deplete it," supports the spirit of true giving.
If you're a beginner or you are short on time, but wish to add a spark of your own creativity, herbal bath salts are an easy holiday project. Aura Cacia's recipe for Lavender Orange Mineral Bath is a lovely example: mix two tablespoons sea salt with one tablespoon baking soda and one and a half teaspoons borax. Separately blend five drops each of lavender and orange essential oil. Add the blended oils to the mixture of sea salt, baking soda and borax, combining thoroughly. To make a calming bath, replace the orange essential oil with Roman chamomile, sandalwood or patchouli.
You may want to present an assortment of single-use bath salts, individually packaged, or you could increase the recipe and present enough salts for numerous baths in an attractive glass container. (If you're truly ambitious, whip out the hot glue gun and affix some dried herbs and flowers to your package of choice.)
Beyond Betwixt Between by Carla J. Nelson (Herbal Gatherings) is a magical story for children that weaves together elements of herbal medicine, plant lore, and environmental awareness. It tells the engaging tale of Pitter and Patter, fairy twins born during a spring rainstorm. Credible characters and a carefully crafted plot combine to develop a theme of interdependence as the lives of fairies, humans, and plants touch and entwine. Not available through bookstores, Beyond Betwixt Between and its recently released sequel, Fairy Craft Gardens and Teas can be ordered directly from the publisher.
What we choose to give, even in small, seemingly unrelated ways, affects what is valued and what has credibility in our world. We should choose to give herbal gifts, not just because they are trendy, but because they offer a richness we have come to appreciate as well as benefits yet unrealized that we believe in. Herbal wisdom has traditionally passed from person to person, its truth grounded in personal experience rather than scientific dictum. As we continue this tradition of sharing, we affirm that there are many valid ways of knowing.
