Infusing Plantain - Natural Remedies

Infused oil made from the plantain plant is an all around great treatment for damaged skin from rashes, insect bites, dry skin patches, help to heal pulled muscles, or anytime you want to relieve pain and swelling of the skin.

What you will need: plantain leaves, knife, virgin olive oil (other oils can be used but olive oil has the longest shelf life), cutting board, glass jar, vitamin E if you want it, lid to seal jar, and something to wash the leaves in if you are wanting to wash them.

I have repeatedly been told by herbalist not to wash the leaves in order to keep all the oils from the plantain plant...but I do and I think you can see from this picture why I do so. I have no desire whatsoever, to have the dirt and other nasty gunk in my infused oil.

After washing the leaves, you can either give them a spin or two in a salad spinner, or do like I do and lay them out onto clean cloths and pat dry. I have heard that you should allow 24 hours of drying time before adding the leaves to the oil, but I don't and it always seems to work out okay for me.

 

Make a medium size stack of the leaves

Then roll the leaves

 

Then slice the rolled leaves into thin stripes. What we are looking for here is as much exposed surface area as possible so as much of the oil in the plantain leaves can be infused into the oil

Next, put the leaf stripes into the glass jar and cover them with the virgin olive oil. Make sure all of the leaf strips are submerged in the oil or you risk mold forming. If you wish, you can add vitamin E at this point. Then, poke around the jar with a knife to get rid of the air pockets.

Now, screw on the lid. Some people place cheese cloth over the top of the jar before screwing on the lid, but I never have done this. Label the jar and keep the infusing oil at room temperature and where oil will not ruin the surface that it is sitting on. Mix the contents daily. (I just shake the jar one or two times) After several days, it will start to smell like salami. This is very normal. Allow to sit for 4-6 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks or your oil may go rancid. Strain off the oil and discard the leaf strips. Keep the infused oil in a cool dry place in a dark bottle or jar.

Thanks for reading and visiting my blog. :-)

Fitness, Homesteading, and Confession time

A few months ago, one of the authors on a YouTube channel that I really enjoy watching, did a video about the need to get in shape. While I wasn't offended by what the author said, (for he only spoke the truth), some of the comments posted below the video were very hurtful and mean to those that are overweight. Honestly, I ended up in tears over some of the remarks and it did a real number on me because it hit so close “to home”..and those same comments had been directed towards me many a time in years gone by. Words have meaning and they hurt...sometimes a lot.

This is toughest thing that I ever had to admit to publicly, but since the truth is suppose to set one free...I have always had a struggle with weight. Four different times in my adult life I have dieted that resulted in major weight loss. By that, I mean weight loss of 100+ lbs. for each of those times. I know how to lose weight. I know all to well what is involved. Its tough and not just a matter of will power (or won't power). It's more than just getting up and exercising. In order for me to lose weight, I have to drop my daily calorie intake to between 400-600 calories a day. To maintain the weight that I want I can only eat 800-1200 calories a day. Anything more than that and I am packing on the pounds no matter how much exercise I do. Call me crazy, but sometimes I want to eat more than that...and then the weight comes back on. But, it is not as bad as what it sounds. I have learned how to fill up on salads (no dressings) and other low calorie food. And I do take a vitamin supplement to make sure that I am getting the nutrition that I need. Still, it is tough.

While I don't “run” (shoot, I don't even get runs in my nylons **lol**) I do walk about 9 miles a day. Plus I garden, do housework, and homestead. None of which are “lazy” things. However, I am still considered overweight and very much out of shape by a lot of people. It didn't help anything, that I was injured this past winter and had to stop exercising for several months...I could tell just how out of shape I had become this spring when I started gardening. Once I got down on the ground, I couldn't get back up...without some kind of help. I also didn't have the endurance to do the heavy work like I have in the past. I have found that a person needs a certain amount of fitness in order to do all the heaving lifting and strenuous work that is involved with homesteading. You don't have to be skinny, but you do need to be in shape in order to homestead.

So.....starting this morning, I will be getting my fitness on....AGAIN....The difference tho is that this time I will not only succeed at the weight loss, I will keep it off!!! I will be upping my workout program to include other forms of exercise and weight lifting. I promise that I won't give updates on my workouts, unless of course I happen to fall off the treadmill and smack my face on the exercise bike. Then I will share that with you so you can enjoy the laugh too. (lol)  Have an awesome day everyone. Thanks for reading and visiting my blog. :-)