Christmas Survival Tummy Tonic

Settles the stomach after overindulging in rich foods, making it as much of a festive essential as sprouts and brandy butter

MAKES: 415g
KEEPS: 1 year
INGREDIENTS
Dried ground herbs: 
15g angelica root
15g chamomile
15g liquorice
15g marsh mallow root
15g artichoke roots or milk thistle seeds
340g jar of runny honey

1 Mix the ground herbs thoroughly with the honey to make a paste or thick syrup.
2 Take 1–2 tsp in a glass or cup of hot water, 1–3 times daily for as long as needed.

Found in The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press)

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Make: Luxurious Body Butter

Make your own aromatic, cooling skin smoother

MAKES: 250ml
KEEPS: 6 months
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp cocoa butter
4 tbsp shea butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
4 tbsp evening primrose oil
10 drops jasmine
10 drops sandalwood
5 drops rose

1. Gently heat the cocoa and shea butters with the coconut oil in a bain-marie until they have melted.

2. Remove from the heat and cool until hand-hot. Add all the oils and whisk well.

3. Put the bowl in the fridge, removing every 30 minutes or so to whisk.

4. When nearly set, whisk well and pour into jars.

5. Replace in the fridge until set.

Found in The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press). 

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Homemade rose face cream

When the roses are in bloom all things floral become a little addictive. Make like a kid and stir up a summer potion for your dressing table 

MAKES: 175ml
KEEPS: 6–12 months

INGREDIENTS
100g coconut oil
25ml avocado oil
1 tbsp honey
5 tsps rosewater
10–15 drops rose (or rose geranium) essential oil

METHOD
1 Melt the coconut and avocado oils and honey in a bain-marie. Warm the rosewater in a separate bowl in the bain-marie.
2 Remove from heat, and whisk the oil and honey mixture, adding a drop of rosewater.
3 Keep whisking and adding rosewater until you’ve used all of it, then whisk until it starts to solidify. Add the essential oils and whisk until well blended.
4 Keep in a sterilised jar.

Courtesy of Lynn Rawlinson. Found in The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press). 

Turn to page 123 of June's The Simple Things for more Miscellany wisdom. 

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The Domestic Alchemist: Homemade Hayfever Mead

Clear the sinuses with this natural hayfever repellent

MAKES 575ml
KEEPS more than a year 

INGREDIENTS
1 handful of elderflowers
1 handful of thyme, leaves and flowers
1 handful of eyebright, leaves and flowers
1 handful of plantain leaves
1 handful of chamomile flowers
1 handful of nettle tops
600ml mead

METHOD
1 Gather the herbs, if using fresh.
2 Remove from stems, then cut up or shred.
3 Mix the herbs together and make a tincture using the mead.
4 If already suffering from hayfever, take 1–2 tsp three times daily. To prevent onset, try 1⁄2-1 tsp. Children can take 10–20 drops three times daily.

Adapted from The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press)

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From the April issue

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How to make herbs last

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Natural recipe: Mint chocolate face pack

This deeply cleansing face mask is a chocolate lover’s dream. It smells divine, too – almost good enough to eat...

MAKES: almost 250ml

KEEPS: up to six months in a jar 

INGREDIENTS:
11⁄2 tbsp raw cocoa powder
1 tbsp white kaolin powder
10g dried peppermint leaves
40–60ml coconut oil

METHOD
1 Mix the dry ingredients together. 
2 Gradually add the oil until you have a thick paste.
3 Apply to cleansed skin and then leave on for 15–20 mins.
4 Wash off well and moisturise.

Found in The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press). Recipe courtesy of Teri Evans.

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From the March issue

Miscellany posts

Natural remedies

Plenty more delicious recipes in the March issue of The Simple Things, out now - buy, download or subscribe