FAQ

What is the difference between a decoction and an infusion?

A decoction is generally the process used for extracting the plant material from roots, nuts, bark, and non aromatic seeds. There are several ways to prepare a decoction. My favorite method is adding the roots, nuts, bark, and seeds after the water comes to a boil, simmering gently over low heat for about thirty minutes. Be certain to keep the lid on tight. You can lose important nutrients through lost steam.

An infusion is a much gentler process of extraction for the more fragile parts of the plant like the flowers, leaves, seeds, and roots with high volatile oils such as Valerian. There are also several ways to prepare an infusion. My favorite is placing my herbs in a pan and pouring the boiling water directly on the herbs. Covering the pan tightly and leaving it steep for about a half hour.

What is the difference between your hand-crafted bar soaps and the bar soaps found in retail stores?

Simply put, it is a matter of ingredients. Most bar soaps available in retail stores are made with tallow (rendered beef fat). If you read the list of ingredients, tallow is listed as a compound called sodium tallowate. Mass-produced bar soaps also contain a wide array of compounds , such as PEG-6 methyl ether, Sorbitol (an alcohol), Titanium dioxide, Pentasodium pentetate, tetrasodium etidronate and tetrasodium EDTA, (to protect scents, dyes, and to soften water). Another thing you may notice is the asterix (*). Many of the ingredients listed on store-bought soaps have this mark beside them, just to let you know that these ingredients may be in there, but then again, they may have used "one or more of the following".

Our hand-crafted bar soaps are made from 100% vegetable fats. Rest assured that none of our four legged friends were hurt in the process. In addition, our soaps are made from only the finest organic botanical ingredients. Our soaps may not have as long a shelf-life as the retail store brands, but we don't expect our products to sit around in a warehouse for years before they reach our customers. What's more, you will never see an asterix in our ingredients list. Since each batch is made by hand, we know exactly what we put in each bar, every time.

What would you use during pregnancy to help prevent stretch marks?

I can testify to this one. I have had two children naturally and have no stretch marks on my stomach and breasts. Of course, everyone's body is different and there are those people that are going to get stretch marks no matter what they do. But, there are some really good ways to prevent that from happening if possible and it was worth the effort to me. I am five feet tall and weighed 98 pounds when I got pregnant with Peyton. I gained 55 pounds before it was over and thought I would bust. Enough about me. VITAMIN E!!!! I did not know about mixing things back then and just used straight vitamin e out of the capsules. You can buy it in just liquid form now. I would take a safety pin and bust open the capsules and smear it all over my belly, breasts, and hips. You can use just vitamin e or you can get creative and melt a little organic cocoa butter, lanolin, and vitamin e in a pan and use a little beeswax to hold it together. Slather your body in it every night for your entire pregnancy.

Helpful Hints

Helpful Hint #1

If you get gum on furniture or carpet. It can be removed as well as possible by using an iron on LOW and brown paper bags (like lunch sacs), always keeping the bag between the iron and the fabric. Be careful not to touch the fabric with the iron, especially if the carpet or furniture is fussy, as it will scorch it. Go slow and keep using more bags. This trick works on candle wax on carpet and furniture; depending on the candle wax it may leave a grease stain. You will have to wait for the tip on grease stain removal for that. It took me a long time and several paper bags but it did work and I didn't burn the carpet. A friend of mine called me the other day stuttering about gum on his dad's mohair, fohair, I don't know hair couch. I gave him my iron advice and repeated; at least 20 times ... be careful! Don't touch the fabric I mean hair (gross) with the iron. Guess what? Yep, ten minutes later the phone rings again and it is him screaming "I am so dead, oh no I am so dead". He had burnt dad's burnt hair couch. All I could say was... I warned you. I hung up the phone laughing, hysterically.

Helpful Hint #2

Be careful using mint essential oils in baths. Too much can burn the skin and there's nothing you can do but wait for it too soak in. OUCH!

Helpful Hint #3

You can make your own bath infusions by adding your choice of herbs directly to the bath or tying them up in a handkerchief. I prefer muslin bags because; they are easier to hang on the faucet and contain all the herbs securely so, that there is no mess to clean up.