herbal Archives - The Sparrow's Home

Tinctures: One of the Most Effective Ways to Take Herbal Medicine

January 29, 2018 by Susan 3 Comments

What are your thoughts on herbal teas?

I like them okay. And if I’m in just the right mood, they can be a soothing and wonderful way to reap the benefits of herbal remedies. More often than not, though, I am not in just the right mood. Or I simply don’t want to take the time to brew and sip a cup.

Enter tinctures.

Tinctures are so easy to make and take that I kind of take for granted that not everyone is familiar with them. Tincture is a weird sounding word, isn’t it? Usually, when I talk about them with people I simply call them ‘herbal medicine’.

This Tea is for Ladies: Raspberry Leaf & Peppermint Tea

May 22, 2017 by Susan 4 Comments

Spring means rain. For the past two hours I’ve been watching the sky darken, begin to rumble, and now it’s pouring outside my window. Heavy rain, and dark! Aside from the occasional lightening, that is.

Ladies, we all have stormy times too, don’t we? We may miss some of the signs of the clouds rolling in, but once the rain starts, there’s no denying it. Or am I the only one whose family gets a few days of thunder and lightening every so often? (I kid you not, as soon as I finished typing that, a HUGE crack of thunder pealed…spooky!)

I have written before about how much I love my raspberry leaf during my stormy times. Ever since I’ve started developing an interest in herbal remedies, my family has been my guinea pigs. Since everyone’s body is different, various remedies may be more or less effective. Some things that we’ve tried have not seemed to make a difference at all, some have been life changing.

Raspberry leaf has been life changing for me. Along with this Herbal Salve, it is the thing I share the most with folks.

Online Shop Grand Opening!!

April 3, 2017 by Susan 7 Comments

We’re Open!!

What are all the words for excited? Giddy. Thrilled. Jazzed. Beside myself. Yeah, all of those! The day has finally arrived to unveil what I’ve been working on for months. Special goodies just for you!

Welcome to The Sparrow’s Home Shop

(cue sound of cheering crowds)

The shop is populated by three categories: Digital Products, Handmade Products, and Recommended Resources. And while we’re starting small, we’ll be adding products along the way.

Click here to go to the shop now.

**Update** The shop closed for a variety of reasons. Largest of which is that I realized that sales is not my bag. If you want to talk tea or salve or homeschooling through high school…please drop me a note and I’d love to chat. (Chatting is most definitely my bag!)

Homemade Bath Salts Using Your Empty Essential Oil Bottles

February 8, 2017 by Susan 9 Comments

Homemade bath salts are a frugal way to pamper yourself. I have always enjoyed a hot, relaxing bath but didn’t realize how much until we moved into a house with the worst bathtub in existence. I took exactly one bath in it.

Then, about a year ago, we decided to tear out a creepy, never-once-used shower in our basement bathroom and put in (do you hear the angels singing?) a soaking tub.

I am a simple girl and don’t require a jetted spa tub or anything so fancy. Just give me a nice deep tub that I can ease down into and soak, maybe a few candles, and some sweet music to listen to and I’m all set.

Bubbles are always nice, but not necessary. The real therapy comes in the form of these easy to put together bath salts.

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Essential Oils for Respiratory Issues

February 1, 2017 by Susan 6 Comments

My eldest son had pnemonia 3 times before he turned 3, and as a teenager still has mild asthma. If you’ve had similar issues at your house, you know the hum of the nebulizer as well as we do. His asthma hasn’t acted up in years, but he still seems more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. Colds tend to settle in his chest.

When I was introduced to essential oils years ago, his breathing issues came to mind. Finding essential oils for respiratory issues was at the top of my list. Over the years, we’ve tried a variety of blends.

Homemade Soap: It’s Not as Hard as You Think

January 9, 2017 by Susan 26 Comments

Have you ever thought that it would be cool to make homemade soap, and then immediately wondered what kind of crazy person would actually do that? Well now you know! 🙂

Seriously, though…it’s not hard. Promise.

Here’s what makes soap-making scary, one word: lye.