Last night I had a speaking engagement with the ladies at the local Lioness Club, they were kind enough to invite me to their meeting to speak about my business and products. They are a truly generous group of women who were kind in their praise and support of my fledgling local business. And they served cake. :)

I talked a lot about herbs and traditional remedies last night. These things used to be common knowledge passed down from mother to daughter, used in the home, things grown and gathered, made with love and wisdom. So much has been lost over the past few generations. There I was, speaking to a group of women. My elders. Teaching them things their grandmothers would have known.

So I think I'll post about one of the herbs I use the most.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Used in teas, potpourri, skin skin care products. I use it in my soap and the Mom's Salve. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relieving) properties. (this is why I use it in the salve - and why it's great for dry, chapped, irritated skin) Soaps and lotions containing chamomile are often recommended by pediatricians for children with eczema. If you aren't a soap maker or aren't keen on trying to make your own salve, you can always make a compress with chamomile to bring down inflammation in irritated skin. Chamomile tea is nice to combat anxiety, safe for children, and tasty too!
Hilltop Soaps Chamomile Soap
and the Mom's Salve (availabe in 3 sizes)

~jill