healing – Melusina The Green Witch

Lavender, Sweet Orange and Rose Petal Hand Scrub

My hands have been super dry recently, with peeling skin, rough knuckles and have been pretty irritated and sore. I’ve tried loads of hand creams and moisturisers, but nothing has really helped. So, I decided to make something that would help!

I started with a sweet almond oil base (around 200ml), as this type of almond oil is excellent for moisturising and caring for your skin. It is deeply moisturising, whilst being gentle on sensitive skin, and also has regenerative properties. Chinese cultures have been using almond oil as a natural medicine to treat dry skin and scarring since ancient times.

I then added about 50ml of Vitamin E oil, which is found in many commercial moisturisers and can be used to prevent or treat dry, flaking skin. Some research even suggests that vitamin E may promote wound healing. It is also thought that Vitamin E may also alleviate the dryness, itching and flaking associated with eczema, or atopic dermatitis. It also acts as a preservative for the whole mixture, giving it a shelf life of 2-3 months.

I then added about 20 drops of lavender essential oil. Lavender is probably the most popular essential oil when it comes to healing skin conditions, burns and cuts. With its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial and detoxifying benefits, lavender essential oil can help reduce redness, soothe and calm the skin and rapidly heal minor cuts and scrapes, as well as any rashes. It also smells amazing!

I also added about 10 drops of sweet orange essential oil. This fragrant oil can enhance the skin cell rejuvenation, enabling the skin to lock in moisture more effectively. It can also fight off free radicals, to prevent premature skin aging, and promotes cell growth and collagen synthesis.

I then added red rose petals, for two reasons. The first reason is that the natural oils found in roses help to retain the skins moisture, resulting in smooth and soft feeling skin. The sugars in rose petals are also especially beneficial those with sensitive skin, like me. They are additionally a rich source of vitamin C. Secondly, the rose petals can provide a gentle exfoliating action.

Finally, I added coarse pink Himalayan salt for more of an exfoliant action and mixed, until the mixture had the consistency of damp sand, not too loose and oily, but not too dry.

To use, I took a small scoop of the mixture (about the size of a large marble) and just worked it all over my hands and through my fingers, as if I was thoroughly washing them with soap. I did this for a few minutes and rinsed off with tepid water (not too hot as you want to retain some oil to soak into your skin). I patted dry and immediately locked the moisture and goodness in with a collagen rich hand cream.

My hands are healing up so well and are really soft now!

Sea Buckthorn Infusion

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant found throughout Europe and Asia and displays as a spiny, thicket-forming shrub, often found in sand dunes along the coast of England. It is most obvious in autumn, when it is full of bright orange berries.

Sea buckthorn berries are a source of omega-7 fatty acids and an array of vitamins, including beta-carotene, vitamin C and E. Omega-7 helps body cells retain moisture in the mucous membranes. They are also a great support to the immune system and overall wellbeing.

They can also be dried very well to store for future use (I use them dried).

Here’s how to make a sea buckthorn infusion using these steps:

1. Boil 950ml water. It should be very hot, not just warm.
2. Take 12 heaped table spoons of buckthorn berries.
3. Cover with top and leave to brew for 20 minutes.
4. When time is up, add 3-6 table spoons of honey. The quantity of honey you’ll need depends on how sweet the honey is. You may want to put try 3 tbps first, see if the taste is to your liking and, if it’s not sweet enough, add more honey.
5. Strain and enjoy.

Sources
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-765/sea-buckthorn
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/trees-and-shrubs/sea-buckthorn

Antioxidant Tea

I am suffering with a nasty chest infection, my second in 12 months, and I’m feeling really ill with it. I’ve been to the doctors and have been prescribed antibiotics, steroids and an inhaler, but I want to boost my immune system as much as I can at home too.

Therefore I’ve developed this tea today and am brewing up a large batch (enough for about 4 cups worth) to last me throughout the rest of the day and evening.

**Disclaimer: Any medicinal benefits given here are a product of my own research and as such should not be taken over the advice of trained medical professionals. If you are ill, please go and see a doctor. Always make sure that anything you consume is 100% safe. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or midwife before consuming something you haven’t tried before.**

INGREDIENTS

Fresh peppermint (a few sprigs roughly chopped) – The antioxidants found in mint can fight inflammation in your body and also include compounds, such as terpinene, quercetin, and tocopherols, which have immune-boosting and neuroprotective (the ability for a therapy to prevent neuronal cell death by intervening in and inhibiting the pathogenetic cascade that results in cell dysfunction and eventual death) effects.

Dried elderberries (heaped tablespoon) – The berries (and flowers) of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could also help tame inflammation, lessen stress and help protect your heart, too. Some experts also recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Dried goji berries (heaped tablespoon) – These cheerful red berries contain a number of healthy antioxidants which are known for their immune-boosting qualities and their ability to fight harmful free radicals and inflammation. They also contain large amounts of vitamins A and C, similar to other berries.

Dried echinacea (tablespoon) – Studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation and have antiviral and antioxidant effects.

Dried nettle (tablespoon) – The nettle plant contains several immune-boosting compounds, including flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamins A and C. These antioxidants help protect immune cells against damage that can weaken immune function. Research also shows nettle extract strengthens the immune response, encouraging immune cell activity.

Dried rosehips (about 15 halved) – Due to its high levels of antioxidants, rosehip tea may also help to boost your immune system. Please be careful with the seeds, they’re hard as diamonds!!

Cinnamon bark (a couple of pieces broken up) – Studies show that this spice and its antioxidants have potent anti-inflammatory properties and helps your body fight infections and repair tissue damage.

Sliced whole tangerine – The Vitamin C found in tangerines (and other citrus fruits) is a powerful antioxidant. Additionally, tangerines provide potassium and B complex vitamins, namely B1, B6, and B9, or thiamine, pyridoxine, and folate, respectively.

METHOD

Put all the ingredients into a pan, cover with about 5 cups of boiling water and gently simmer for ten minutes. Strain through a sieve and/or a clean towel/muslin and decant to a cup. Sweeten to taste with honey, brown sugar, agave syrup or your sweetener of choice. Drink and enjoy.

Sources
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mint-benefits#:~:text=Its%20antioxidants%20have%20been%20shown,9%20%2C%2010%20%2C%2011%20).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/neuroprotection#:~:text=Neuroprotection%20is%20defined%20as%20the,cell%20dysfunction%20and%20eventual%20death.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322693#:~:text=Goji%20berries%20contain%20healthy%20antioxidants,berries%2C%20including%20blueberries%20and%20raspberries.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/elderberry-health-benefits#:~:text=The%20berries%20and%20flowers%20of,ease%20cold%20and%20flu%20symptoms.
https://www.thehealthy.com/home-remedies/nettle-tea-benefits/#:~:text=The%20nettle%20plant%20contains%20several,response%2C%20encouraging%20immune%20cell%20activity
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/echinacea#:~:text=Several%20laboratory%20and%20animal%20studies,%2C%20antiviral%2C%20and%20antioxidant%20effects.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rose-hips#:~:text=Due%20to%20its%20high%20levels,disease%20and%20type%202%20diabetes.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tangerine-benefits#1.-Packed-with-nutrients
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4

Gorgeous Gorse

Gorse bushes, or Furze, are often seen around Ostara and is another of Mother Nature’s bright and beautiful announcements that Spring is here.

It is a perennial evergreen shrub belonging to the pea family, which forms multi-branched, stunted shrubs, usually no taller than six feet high, but it is still considered to be a tree.

The flowers are deep yellow in colour and have a beautifully aromatic coconut scent and, although the main flowering period is from March to August, flowers can be found on the furze throughout the year.

It’s wickedly sharp thorns and its dense habit make it an excellent hedging plant, which can also be used as a barrier to protect young tree seedlings in coppices from grazing.

Due to it’s thorny nature, it is often viewed as having protective powers. In Wales, gorse bushes are even said to guard against Witches and can protect the home against The Fae, who cannot pass through the hedge.

The bark and flowers of the gorse can be used to produce a yellow dye. In Ireland, the flowers were also used to flavour and add colour to whiskey and they’ve been known to be used to make beer in Denmark. The flowers can also be used to make wine and tea.

Medicinal properties

There was a Bach Flower Remedy (Edward Bach was an English homeopath in the 1930s) called “Greenman Essence of Gorse”, which was said to help to ease frustration, restlessness and anxiety, and also helped to promote emotional security and feelings of joy.

Gorse flowers are high in proteins and can be eaten raw in salads or made into tea, cordial or syrup. They can also add extra flavour and colour to beer, wine or spirits and even ice cream!

The buds can also be pickled in vinegar and eaten like capers.

**CAUTION: Do not ingest to excess, as the plant contains slightly toxic alkaloids, which can have a cumulative impact.**

There are surprisingly few medicinal uses for gorse, although its flowers have historically been used in the treatment of jaundice, scarlet fever, diarrhoea and kidney stones.

Magickal properties

Gorse is known as the ‘herb of love’ and is associated with love, romance and weddings. It is also known to protect against evil, negativity and dark magick.

It can help to restore faith, hope and optimism and enable you to gather your strength. It also attracts gold, so it is very useful in money, wealth and abundance spells.

Gorse Spell

Carve the word “Gorse” into a gold or yellow candle, then face east and light the candle. Then meditate on the light, whilst asking for for protection, money, love or whatever it has to offer that you desire.

Energising and Thyroid Support Pulse-Point Oil

A few weeks ago I was feeling really exhausted, unable to concentrate properly and just felt really off. There were a mixture of things causing this, such as being really busy at work and an extra long mercury in retrograde, but mostly it was due to one of my health conditions, which I knew required my medication to be increased.

I have something Hashimotos Disease, which causes an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). This disease tricks my body into thinking that my thyroid gland is a foreign body and is therefore producing antibodies to slowly destroy it. Your thyroid’s function is to basically control everything in your body, from your heart rate and metabolism, to temperature regulation and stimulating digestion, so you can understand that if that is out of whack, everything goes potty!

I did seek proper medical advice from my General Practitioner and Endocrinologist though, including a full panel of blood’s to check all of my hormone levels. However, due to the current pandemic, and the understandable knock-on effects it’s having on our National Health Service, I couldn’t get a blood test done until a few days ago and I’m still waiting for the results.

Therefore, I thought if there was anything I can do to help myself in the meantime, with natural remedies and a bit of kitchen and green witchcraft, then I would try it!

I’ve did some research on Healthline.com, mindbodygreen.com and mycrystalaura.com.au for information on essential oils, herbs and crystals that can help to energise and uplift me, whilst also supporting my thyroid health.

I decided that making a pulse point roll-on oil, with essential oils and crystals would be the best thing to create, to help boost my mood, enhance my mental clarity and improve my focus, whilst also supporting my thyroid.

Here’s a list of the ingredients I used, along with their properties, health benefits and magickal correspondences.

‼‼REMINDER: Make sure you only use a maximum of two drops of essential oil per 5ml of carrier oil. Also, always check the safety information for allergy advice and any contraindications with prescribed or over the counter medication you may be taking. Many essential oils are also not safe to use when you’re pregnant or breast feeding. It is also highly advisable to do patch test first too!‼‼

• 8ml Coconut Oil (carrier) – As all essential oils are dangerous when used on the skin neat or undiluted, so you MUST use a carrier oil to dilute them, so they can safely be used.

• 1ml Vitamin E Oil – Vitamin E is used as a stabilising agent, which means the pulse point roll-on oil will have a longer shelf life (around 4-6 months).

• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Lemongrass Essential Oil – Lemongrass Oil helps to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. It is also good for purification, protection, health and cleansing. With regards to cleansing, it has a dual quality of being able to assist you with clearing obstacles standing in your way and is also known for ‘Road Opening’ (something that open paths and roads in magick, so that what you want can be achieved). It is also known to help with changing bad luck to good luck, especially for those who have been affected by negative energies. It can also help to detox your thyroid while maintaining it’s natural lymphatic function.

• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Essential Oil – Peppermint Oil can be used to encourage better mental and physical health. It can also be used for increasing your energy and concentration, bring mental clarity and assists with regeneration and vibrancy. Peppermint oil is known to aid digestion and, if your metabolism is sluggish from an underactive thyroid, you can use it to stimulate your metabolism.

• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Eucalyptus Essential Oil – Eucalyptus Oil can be used to bring fresh energy to a situation, reduce worries and relieve mental exhaustion. It is also great for improving concentration, balancing and grounding you and for purification.

• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Frankincense Essential Oil – Frankincense oil is packed with anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting and pain-relieving properties. It is also beneficial in improving skin disorders, which are caused by thyroid imbalances. This essential oil also protects the thyroid gland, by destroying free radicals in the body. Additionally, it also promotes good cellular health.

• Aquamarine crystal chip – This crystal works as an effective regulator and balancer for the thyroid.

• Citrine crystal chip – This crystal is excellent for energising and recharging, in addition to balancing the thyroid and fortifying the nerves.

• Lapis Lazuli crystal chip – This crystal harmonises the thyroid and has been popular with healers for centuries. It also overcomes depression and helps to alleviate insomnia.

I placed the crystals into the blue glass roller-ball bottle first, reminding myself of each of their properties. I then added the coconut carrier oil and the Vitamin E stabilising oil. Lastly, I put one drop of each of the essential oils, again reminding myself of each ones properties and purpose as I added them. I lastly put in the roller-ball and popped on the lid and gave it a good shake to mix everything up, whilst imbuing it with my intention for it to help energise me and help to support my thyroid gland.

Sleep and De-Stressing Bath Salts

One of my favourite bath salt blends to make is this one, for helping to relax, unwind, de-stress and sleep. I always have some made up on hand at all times, stored in a recycled gherkin jar (washed out, obviously!), so it’s there ready if I need to use it. I also try and make it well enough in advance to give the ingredients time to meld together and infuse.

These sleepy salts really help me to relax and unwind and, combined with some sleepy tea that I make (Sleepy Tea Recipe), along with playing rainstorm or crashing wave sounds through Alexa in our bedroom, or guided meditation through my headphones, I am guaranteed a full nights sleep.

Here’s the ingredients I used:

• Himalayan pink salt for cleansing, centering and grounding;

• Dried jasmine flowers for their sedative effects and use for reducing anxiety and depression;

• 6-8 drops of ylang ylang essential oil to boost my mood, alleviate anxiety and reduce depression;

• 6-8 drops of rose essential oil for also relieving anxiety and stress; and

• 6-8 drops of patchouli essential oil to relieve depression, provide feelings of relaxation and helping to ease stress or anxiety.

I first put the salt into the jar. I then added each essential oils, 2-3 drops at a time, putting the lid on and shaking to mix well in between each addition. Each time I shook it I thought of my intention for this to help me destress, not be as anxious and to try and relax more, whilst soaking in a bath containing a handful.

The last thing I added was the dried jasmine and gave it a final shake.

It smells divine and the other thing about it that soothes me, is that it smells of my mum’s favourite perfume. I lost my mum very suddenly and quite traumatically in 2016. It took me a long time to get over that. This smell reminds me of her, and how wonderful and loving she was, and makes me feel connected to her. The label at the bottom of the jar has her initials as I’ve dedicated this blend to her.

Fenster Elestial Quartz

I bought a Fenster Elestial Quartz a few weeks ago. It’s just SO BEAUTIFUL and I wanted to share it with you all. It will be so useful in my continuing journey in both Witchcraft and Reiki.

Fenster Elestial Quartz is a variety of clear quartz, silicon dioxide and a type of clear elestial quartz, and is also known as Window Quartz. It is characterised by its ‘skeletal’ appearance with inner ‘windows’ that are present inside the main crystal body and is often double terminated (a point at each end), such as this one is.

It is known as a high vibration healing stone for all the chakras/energy centres, by bringing a flow of divine energy through them.

Psychologically, it’s a stone of change and transformation, dissolves confusion and fear and brings about soul healing. They also help us let go of old emotions, those that no longer serve us. It additionally assists with removing compulsions and obsessions of all kinds and helps break codependency behaviour.

They are also very beneficial for transmitting healing light and for doing high vibration work, such as crystal healing/reiki.

The internal windows in these stones open into another world and stimulate clairvoyance and inner sight.