Instructions for herbal soaks
Soak the herbs for a half hour in about 6 cups of water then bring to a boil. Turn down heat to a low boil for 30-40 minutes. The longer you boil it the stronger it will be! Add to the water of a foot soak and soak for a 20-30 minutes.
You could also immerse an affected painful area- like arthritic fingers- in the unwatered down liquid and soak for 20-30 minutes. You can dilute it with more water for a large soak- such as a foot bath.
Or if it is a difficult area to submerge (say with knee pain) soak a piece of flannel or a towel in liquid, wring it out and place on the area as a compress. Change the compress as it cools. Use twice a day (or more). Liquid can be reused for up to 7 days if you add a cup of alcohol like vodka, just save the liquid in the pot and reheat to desired temperature.
For external use only! Do not use over cuts, rashes or injuries that are still red and hot.
3 Fragrant Herbs directions
(you would have gotten it at the Meet the Collective or Love Your Local events in November and has a blue or blue green sticker)
Hou Xiang- Patchouli, Bai Zhi- Angelica dahurica, Xin Yi- Magnolia flower
• To clear the mind and senses or to clear the nose and phlegm boil 2-3 cups of water in sauce pan turn off heat and add soak bag. Inhale the steam with a towel over your head, Keep face at a comfortable distance from the steam to avoid burns. This is steeping the herbs. They can be boiled and reboiled for up to 10 minutes to use for steaming. Use again and again as long as they are still fragrant and you bring them to boiling daily.
• Apply to the face for an anti-inflammatory wash
Strong
Warming Pain Relieving Soak
(you would have gotten this one at the Love Your Local event and has a red or red-orange sticker)
• Gan Jiang- dried ginger
• Tou Gu Cao- speranskia
• Cao Wu- aconite
• Jing Jie- schizonepetae
• Ai Ye- mugwort
Pain Relieving Foot Soak
A mild multi-use soak
(you would have gotten this one from networking meetings in the fall)
• Mandarin orange
• Clove
• Hai Tong Pi- Erythrinae
• Yan Hu Suo- Corydalis
• Wild ginger
