We have used Frankincense and Myrrh for medicine, cosmetics, perfume and incense since the dawn of civilization.
How to Grind Frankincense, Myrrh and other Resins
Plant Alchemy
Ammoniacum. Incense of the Oracle-medicine of the people.
During a trip to the Mediterranean and Africa, I purchased two kilos of the aromatic resin known as Ammoniacum. They were beautiful, fragrant, fresh specimens and of rare quality. They were still as the harvesters had gathered them, many resinous tears pressed into as big a ball as each could manage comfortably. Though steeply priced, […]
Botany for the Distiller-Ethics, Intelligence, and the Pursuit of Quality
While we fashion our tools and equipment by mimicking Nature’s processes and rhythms, the art and artistry of a thing is drawn from within us, independent of the tools we work with.
A Distillation Workshop in the Apothecary’s garden
For those who will be in South Central Ontario this weekend As promised, I will teach a distillation workshop this Saturday in the Apothecary’s Garden at the Teaching gardens in Churchill Park Hamilton. It will be part of the Hamilton Herbal Weekend. Short notice, but it will keep you limber. You will learn How to distill essential oils […]
Plant Magic, Mysticism and Medicine-the Viridis Genii Symposium 2016
Carefully veiled around us, is a world of ancestral knowledge and timeless wisdom. Within it we find ancient mysteries, lost sciences and arts, dormant magic and technology both forgotten and yet to be discovered. It is ours to draw from if we so choose.
How to prepare an antifungal nail Lacquer with Somali Myrrh
Source: How to prepare an antifungal nail Lacquer with Somali Myrrh With friends going through Chemotherapy , the topic of nail fungi has come up in my life more often this past year. Having a non-chemical treatment option for one of the common Chemo side effects is useful and seems timely. Posted on my alter blog […]
Putting the genie in the bottle-Exploring quality in artisan herbal products
Plant Medicine- Ancient and Modern As inherently creative beings, we aspire to meet or exceed ourselves in all we do. Part of our joy and satisfaction in any given creative field, is to push the boundaries and bring our work beyond where others have taken it. We are drawn to evolve and grow as individuals […]
How to build a kitchen still for essential oils and alcohol
How to make a pot still Likely the simplest and most versatile distillation apparatus that one can make at home, is a pot still. With a pot still one can Distill essential oils from aromatic herbs, flowers and seeds, oleo-resins like Frankincense, Myrrh, Pine and Spruce via hydro or steam distillation. Make grappa or moonshine from wine, mash or other […]
The Apothecary’s Apprentice- Hamilton Herbal Workshops
APOTHECARY’S APPRENTICE HAMILTON HERBAL WORKSHOPS Medieval Apothecary’s Garden- courtesy the Guttenberg Project. The Apothecary’s Apprentice is a hands-on “how-to” series of workshops in Hamilton that focuses on the practical and applied side of herbalism. In the style of old fashioned apprenticeships, participants are invited to work with the apothecary on each of the seasons herbal products as the year unfolds. The goal of […]
Culpeper”s Complete Herbal & English Physician
Nicholas Culpeper‘s books and “herbals” have been considered classic and well-respected references for hundreds of years now. Packed with recipes, plant profiles and lore, Culpeper sets out the proper way to identify plants, diagnose and treat patients based on astrological rulerships, “The doctrine of signatures” and Galen’s philosophy of humors. Not only do they give us […]
Wild Ginger Essential Oil-Distillations and Mistillations
Distilling Wild Ginger Essential Oil Distillations, mistillations and musings No matter how much experience and knowledge we have, how much care and control we exercise, we will still, on occasion, make critical mistakes. We are quick to record and share our successes, but usually, slow to share our failures. However, if we adhere to a […]
9 Tips- for making a Kick Ass Wildflower Wine
Now is the season, the possibilities of this years bounty are starting to bubble up in our minds. Wild wines, Jams, Jellies, confections and preserves, fritters and frittatas. Wild Mushrooms and May-apples. SPRING is here! Symbol of potential and new beginnings, new endeavors. so let’s get started. Experience has shown me a good recipe is […]
