I recently decided to go a little nutz in the kitchen. I had a special friend that I wanted to create some special gifts for. I have all these lovely tea mixes and ingredients from The Bulk Herb Store just lying around, so I got to work. I wanted to create a nice gift basket which would include a little bit of something for everything a mama could need from shiny hair to bug stings on the kids.
I started with some simple things like premixed bentonite clay in a jar with some printed instructions on how to use. I've already written quite a bit on bentonite in my last blog post, and you can find that information in the following link.
I also made some green salve and some hand cream. I actually just added aloe to my green salve to make the hand cream. I used half olive oil and half coconut oil to make it less greasy and add all the antimicrobial benefits that coconut oil provides.
It's so creamy and wonderful and smells so Earthy and natural. I love this stuff. I think the hand cream would be good for diaper rashes and a friend suggested it might even make a good balm for cow's udders.
THANKS, Shoshanna and Practical Herbalism for making this such an easy thing.
These together cover a multitude of booboos and problems, but I wanted more. I decided to create a clay/herbal facial, a sugar/herbal foot scrub (I've made something similar before as gifts with lavender and salts.), and a hair spritz/detangler.
Orange Delight Sugar Foot Scrub
A foot scrub can be made with a selection of salt or sugar, herbs and some kind of moisturizing oil. Table salt is not recommended as it's drying and harsh to the skin. Sea Salt is full of minerals and is also antimicrobial. It's great for exfoliation and softening of the callouses on the feet and hands. Sugar is a milder abrasive and works well, but obviously doesn't have all the lovely minerals that are contained in sea salt, but it adds a bit of sweetness to the fragrance.
I took the herbs and chopped them in my coffee grinder to make a finer powder and mixed in an equal amount of sugar. Then, I added enough olive oil to make it all stick together. Then..just because I could, I added a couple of drops of orange essential oil (optional) because I just love the fragrance of oranges. Put in a glass jar and store on your shelf.
To use this scrub, after a bath, sit on the edge of tub and take a small amount in your hand and use to rub circles on the bottoms and sides of the feet. When finished massaging the feet, rinse and dry. Your feet should feel clean, invigorated and very soft.
Ginger Snap Clay Mask
This project was loads of fun and very easy too! I used another of Bulk Herb Store's tea mixes and some Bentonite Clay.
1. Grind tea mix in coffee grinder to make fine powder.
2. Sift ground tea through a sieve (strainer) to remove larger, unground bits.
3. Mix tea powder and clay together in glass container. (Do not use any metal.)
4. Add water and mix with a wooden spoon or stick.
5. Allow to sit on counter for about 30 minutes to an hour to allow clay to fully expand.
6. Put in glass container with plastic lid for storage.
To use: Spread a thin, opaque layer across the face, avoiding eyes, mouth, nose and hairline. Allow to sit on face for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse with water and/or a soft cloth.
My daughter and I used this mask together. It's very tingly and might be uncomfortable for anyone with sensitive skin or eyes. It was very refreshing. It tightened our pours and made the skin feel so clean and soft, even the day after.
I strained this in two steps to make sure that there wouldn't be any debris in my mix to clog up the tube on the squirt bottle. First I ran it through a wire mesh strainer to get out all of the larger chunks. Then I ran it through a coffee filter to remove the finer bits.
To make using a coffee filter easy, I laid the coffee filter over the top of a canning jar and put the ring on top to hold it in place.
Be careful not to overfill or the tea will begin to drip out the sides.
If the water level is too low, add a bit more water after straining to bring the water back to 1/2 cup.
3. Add other ingredients and mix well. I used a glass jar with a lid and shook it.
4. Place in spray bottle. (I picked up an 8oz spray bottle at Walmart for a buck or you could use an old hair spray bottle.)
To use, spritz on hair whenever you want a quick detangle, a bit of shine or even a bit of fragrance for your hair. Orange and other citrus essential oils are very effective at removing unwanted odors from the body and the air.
I also made some bentonite clay toothpaste similar to that recipe that Shoshanna wrote about in the last newsletter. I made mine sweet instead of savory. If you want more info, check my previous blog on Bentonite Clay for the recipe.
I put all of these lovelies into 4oz jelly (canning) jars along with the squirt bottle and threw everything in a box. What fun for yourself and what a great gift idea for your friends and relatives.
NOTE: I used plastic replacement lids on all jars that contained Bentonite Clay. The metal will hurt the clay and the clay will cause a metal canning lid to deteriorate over time.
I was introduced to bentonite clay a few years back and to be honest, I wasn't sure what to do with this gray dirt. I tried mixing and using it and found that it was a yucky, messy, pain to mess with. I did find out just how effective it was in countering the pain and effects associated with bee and wasp stings and other such maladies. I also did a cleanse very similar to Bulk Herb Store's Detox+ containing bentonite clay and was amazed at the results.
Because of these discoveries, I found it prudent to do some more digging. Surely--there was an easier way to use this stuff. I am a lover of convenience just like everyone else.
Below you'll find some interesting tidbits and some of my better discoveries about Bentonite Clay.
A friend of mine who had done extensive research gave me some pointers. He pointed out that mixing clay depends on the type and brand of clay. Not all clays are created equal and they all require different amounts of water for the best mixture and texture.
Bulk Herb Store sells Redmond brand sodium bentonite clay. It is recommended for this particular type of clay that you use 2 parts water to 1 part clay for a nice pasty consistency - much like sculptors' clay.
Add the clay powder to a jar that will hold 3 times the measurement of clay. Carefully pour the water into the clay and allow it to sit (covered or uncovered doesn't matter) for several hours for smaller amounts to several days for larger amounts. If you're mixing pounds and gallons, it is recommended that you layer the clay and water for the most efficient results.
For our household, I wanted a small but plentiful jar of clay made up, ready for the various bites, stings, allergic reactions, etc. that will come. I used a 12 oz jar that I got from some food or other I had purchased previously. It took about 2 days for it to mix to the consistency I like and it spreads so nice any thickness you like.
My friend also informed me that you could spread this clay on a paper towel or some other cloth (instead of directly on the skin) and use as a poultice. This causes the majority of the clay to stick to the cloth when you are finished, which reduces cleanup.
If you want to mix the clay for drinking, use the same technique, but use about 8 oz of water to 1 Tablespoon of clay. Allow it to sit on the counter for several hours to a couple of days. Shake vigorously and drink up. I tried this myself and it worked like a charm.
If you're in a hurry, mixing clay to drink can be a tedious (chunky) experience. Adding powdered herbs and/or activated charcoal to the clay before adding the water can cause the clay to suspend in the water instead of clumping, allowing you to drink it without gagging down mud. Keep in mind, if you choose to do it this way, you are not allowing the clay to fully absorb water to capacity. This will cause it to steel water from the intestines. This is OK AS LONG AS YOU DRINK ENOUGH WATER TO COMPENSATE. 16 oz of water with each heaping teaspoon of clay consumed. NOTE: When taking clay internally, it is also wise to increase fiber intake to keep the bowels moving and prevent potentially toxic constipation.
Mixing sodium bentonite clay for baths can be this easy as well. Take 2 to 4 cups of clay and put in a 2 gallon container and fill with water. Allow this to sit for a couple of days and stir with a wooden or plastic spoon. Pour this mixture into the tub and add enough water for soaking in the tub. Sodium bentonite clay can be added directly to the bath water if you're in a hurry, but again, it's messy and clumpy and hard to disperse throughout the water. If you choose to do it this way, grab clumps of clay while bathing and rub between the fingers and on various parts of the body to allow maximum coverage of the exposed skin. When the bath is finished, get out and allow the water to sit still for 30 minutes to an hour. Any undissolved bits of clay will sink to the bottom and stick to the tub when you drain it. Wipe up any residue with a paper towel and throw it away.
In a recent edition of the Bulk Herb Store newsletter, a recipe for bentonite clay toothpaste was posted. I was completely intrigued. All the benefits of clay and so soon after learning how best to mix and use it. BONUS! However, the thought of salty, dirt-flavored toothpaste really didn't appeal. A few days after I learned of this recipe, my husband complained of a toothache and asked me to make the toothpaste. I knew he wouldn't use it often if it didn't taste good, so I tried a few substitutions of my own.
I added black walnut hull powder, cayenne, xylitol, whole ground cloves and essential oils.
I omitted the baking soda and salt because of the taste but also because I believe they can be overly abrasive if used too often. I also omitted the cinnamon as I didn't have any on hand. It tasted fabulous (even without the cinnamon), but the boys (and men) in my house all said they didn't care for the grit that came from using ground cloves, so I tried again and used the method Shoshanna mentioned in the newsletter and boiled the cloves instead.
I also increased the amount of clay and black walnut hull powder to compensate for the loss of powder from the cloves. I have yet to get my dear husband's review, but I was quite impressed with my powers of invention (or modification as the case may be.).
Below you'll find both the original recipe posted in our newsletter and my own personal recipe based on the original. Either would be a great addition to anyone's medicine cabinet. You can also use both to create your own version of bentonite clay toothpaste.
1. Mix the first four ingredients in a medium saucepan, and boil 30
minutes. While that’s heating, mix 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1
tablespoon Celtic Sea Salt and set aside.
2. Next place 1 cup of Bentonite Clay into a glass bowl. Note: it is
important to use a glass bowl and wooden spoon because when the
Bentonite Clay gets wet, it sets up an electromagnetic reaction which
will absorb the particles inside of a metal bowl, or the toxins out of a
plastic one.
3. Remove saucepan from heat and strain off herbs, catching the
liquid in a glass bowl. Slowly add the salt and baking soda mixture.
Expect it to foam and bubble. This is the cinnamon and the baking soda
reacting to each other. While it is still frothing, pour the liquid
mixture into the bowl of Bentonite Clay, and whisk briskly. The foam
will start to settle down and a smooth paste should start to form.
Continue adding the remains of Bentonite Clay until the desired
consistency is reached. Store in glass jars and avoid any contact with
absorbable metals.
1. Boil cloves in 2 cups of water until resulting "tea" is reduced to approximately 1/3 cup.
2. Meanwhile, mix all dry ingredients in glass jar.
3. When clove tea is finished, strain off into a measuring cup.
4. Add to dry mixture and mix with spoon (I use the handle because it's smaller and makes less of a mess.)
5. Add essential oils and mix well.
6. Put lid on jar and set aside for several hours to allow clay to expand to capacity.
7. Will thicken upon standing.
If you feel the paste is too runny add more clay a bit at a time. Keep in mind it will thicken, but it's much easier to add extra clay if needed before it expands. The mixture in the photo on the left will thicken but will most likely still be fluid even after expansion of clay. The photo on the right shows a thicker version and will set up quite thick and will more resemble a paste.
This toothpaste isn't pretty and it doesn't look very attractive mushed all over your teeth, but it feels so clean and makes my teeth just shine.
CAUTION: If you have a plastic or composite sink, this toothpaste may stain your sink. Brush your teeth in the stainless or porcelain sink in the kitchen or use a stainless steel bowl to prevent staining. This is true of most herbs. Keep in mind many ancients used herbs and plants to dye clothing and hair. I have stains all over my sink, but I honestly don't care.
If your toothpaste and soap scum make your sink look grungy, use a dry towel or wash cloth and some dry baking soda to clean it off. Only use water AFTER all the grunge is rubbed off. I've never found anything that works better or faster for shining up the sink and the bathtub.
I have received several emails about using bentonite clay metal skeletal pins, metal fillings, braces and other various metal in the body.
I have every reason to believe, not only will it not hurt your bridgework, but that you would be high risk for metal poisoning and the side effects that come with it. Using bentonite clay would reduce the amount of metals that could be absorbed into the body and therefore keep you healthier and happier than you might have been before. All that and clean teeth too! Who could ask for more?
We at the Bulk Herb Store are not licensed medical practitioners and for liability purposes cannot diagnose or dispense medical advice. This blog and its entries are for educational purposes only and are not intended to prevent you from obtaining treatment for medical conditions from a licensed physician or other appropriate medical practitioner.
I also made some green salve and some hand cream. I actually just added aloe to my green salve to make the hand cream. I used half olive oil and half coconut oil to make it less greasy and add all the antimicrobial benefits that coconut oil provides.
I took the herbs and chopped them in my coffee grinder to make a finer powder and mixed in an equal amount of sugar. Then, I added enough olive oil to make it all stick together. Then..just because I could, I added a couple of drops of orange essential oil (optional) because I just love the fragrance of oranges. Put in a glass jar and store on your shelf.
To use this scrub, after a bath, sit on the edge of tub and take a small amount in your hand and use to rub circles on the bottoms and sides of the feet. When finished massaging the feet, rinse and dry. Your feet should feel clean, invigorated and very soft.
1 Tbsp Ginger Snap Tea
2. Sift ground tea through a sieve (strainer) to remove larger, unground bits.
I strained this in two steps to make sure that there wouldn't be any debris in my mix to clog up the tube on the squirt bottle. First I ran it through a wire mesh strainer to get out all of the larger chunks. Then I ran it through a coffee filter to remove the finer bits.
NOTE: I used plastic replacement lids on all jars that contained Bentonite Clay. The metal will hurt the clay and the clay will cause a metal canning lid to deteriorate over time.
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