Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label Yarrow Tincture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yarrow Tincture. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Yarrow ~ Tea

 Back in the June fo 2024, I waited patiently for my yarrow to spring forth flowers, so I could brew up a tincture. 

In the end, I ended up putting both catnip and yarrow in one tincture, for a experimental mix for bug repellant spray (for us).


I strained it and used it to make the every changing recipe that Mountain rose herbs keeps changing (on their website).

You can read about the bug/mosquito repellant here on my blog.  Original post is here, but their link no longer works.

(dried yarrow on a screen)



We have added powdered yarrow to our "medicine chest" of remedies.   We learn something new every year.  

We have already used macerated yarrow for a bleeding cut, and it is said to be great for wound healing.  If you haven't read up on yarrow, you really need to.  According to Learning  Herbs,  yarrow is also great for treating a fever.  In the past, we have grown and dried feverfew, but we now dry yarrow. 

Yarrow salve?  I may be making some if we get enough yarrow before fall ends.   I have also seen videos where a person simply removed yarrow leaves and rolled them up in his hands, and rubbed them all over his skin as a natural mosquito repellant.  I have not tried that, because I feel you get more from your plant making the tincture for your bug spray. 



Here is a video from Learning Herbs to give you more information.


I'm just now learning about yarrow tea and syrup.

Note:  I have mine growing in pots, as it spreads very easily, but we also have it growing wild near one of the pots (cut the flowers to prevent spreading).  Be sure to know what yarrow is, as other plants can look like it.

Speaking of teas, we found a new evening tea that we love!  It's by Bigelow teas - Sweet Dreams (Non-gmo).  It contains chamomile, hibiscus, peppermint leaves, rose blossoms, spearmint leaves, "spice" have no idea what this means, and orange blossoms.

It tastes better than the Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night Organic tea, and the Bigelow tea is much less expensive.

However, like everything right now, the price is higher now.  I plan to grow my own chamomile next year, and hopefully figure out a mixture to make a homemade evening tea.  The flavors are very nice together.  We do not like the taste of valerian nor a few other "sleepy time" teas.  

It's a gorgeous 54°F fall feeling morning today here, and it won't last.  I posted about how there always seems to be a "cool" few days in August, and we are now getting them.  The weather won't last however.  We heat back up to the 90's this weekend.

Friday, May 31, 2024

Catnip Tincture ~ Yarrow Tincture ~ Homemade Bug Repellent

 You may get a laugh out of this discovery, but it's a reminder to get your recipes out before you do early prep work.  I started a catnip infused oil earlier in May, thinking it was what I needed for my homemade bug spray.  It was not.  

I then thought I used catnip oil for homemade tick repellent, and that was not it either.

Having said that, I started a catnip tincture.  Good grief.  I started making the bug spray way back around 2015.   It works to repel bug bites, but if it's very hot out, you do need to re-apply it during your time outdoors.





(photos from September of 2015, when I first made the bug repellent spray)

The link for the online recipe no longer works, but the original recipe was from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They have changed the recipe and the title over three times since then.  It was first called Bug-Away Spray, then a Skeeter spray, and again changed after that.  

I went searching for the link to share, but in the process, learned something new.


Did you know that yarrow can be used for a bug repellent?  I did not know this.  I read comments on another recipe regarding homemade bug spray, and one person said she has been making a strong tea to keep the bugs away.  I love that it uses a lot less ingredients.


I have yarrow growing in two pots, and it grows wild here too.  You can research this in your own herbal books or online (Learning Herbs has instructions).


My entire process of mistaking the need for catnip oil, for bug spray, taught me a new recipe (and with less ingredients).

I now have a catnip tincture, and a yarrow tincture being made.  I can add the catnip to the yarrow spray, and utilize it, so I am making both.


Treating Mosquito Bites

Having made my mistake, which taught me something new, I can now share what I use for treating mosquito bites - chickweed salve.  So far, it's the best thing for, not only healing the bite, but removes the itch.

I have yet to make my own chickweed salve, as I have some that I purchased (made local by Amish).  I do plan to make it, but not until I run out of my current supply.  

I put some in a smaller container for traveling and camping.

Catnip Tincture ~ Yarrow Tincture ~ Homemade Bug Repellent © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart