Unlock the Power of DIY Home Remedies

With how crazy living life is today (noisy cities, super long work days, and weekends spent trying to reconnect with what makes us happy), a lot of us are looking for ways to go back to the basics. We want calm, we want health, and we want to feel more connected to the earth around us. 

The good news is that you can have it all with some easy and affordable life tweaks — starting with learning about these powerful home remedies for body and earth you might not know about. 

The Ultimate Homemade Moisturizer

Forget store-bought creams filled with chemicals. You just need tree resins, coconut oil, and tallow to make a super powerful, natural moisturizer that’ll quench even the driest of skins. Resins, like pine, spruce, copal, myrrh, and frankincense have been used for centuries for their healing properties. When blended with tallow? You get an all-natural solution for dry or irritated skin. It’s super easy to make, too!

Ingredients:

1. ½ cup of rendered tallow (beef or lamb fat)
2. ½ cup of coconut oil or MCT oil
3. 1 tablespoon of tree resin (pine, spruce, or fir)
4. Double boiler or heat-safe glass jar and saucepan

How To:

1. Add oil and tallow to a double boiler and let them melt. 
2. If your resin is solid, break it into small pieces and place in the melted oil.
3. Whip with a mixer or by hand until fully combined.
4. Let the cream cool completely, then pour into your storage container. Store at room temperature!

Magnesium Bicarbonate Supplement

Magnesium is an essential mineral, but did you know many people lack it in their diets? With just a few ingredients, you can make your own magnesium bicarbonate supplement using a SodaStream. By combining magnesium hydroxide with carbonated water, you can make a highly bioavailable form of magnesium that’s effective and affordable. You’ll improve your energy levels, support muscle function, and basically promote overall wellness.

Ingredients:

1. 1 L of carbonated water (use a SodaStream or buy pre-carbonated water)
2. ⅛-1 tsp of 99.9% USP grade magnesium hydroxide powder

Instructions:

1. Take your SodaStream and carbonate 1 L of cold water following the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Add ⅛-1 tsp of magnesium hydroxide powder to the carbonated water.
3. Seal the bottle tightly and shake it for a few seconds. The water will turn cloudy as the magnesium hydroxide reacts with the carbonated water.
4. Let the solution sit for 15-20 minutes until it clears.
5. After 1 hr mix again and place in the fridge. 
6. Let it sit overnight and it’ll be ready in the morning!
7. Take 1/4 to 1/2 cup daily and adjust according to your needs.

Borax: The Multi-Purpose Miracle

Borax is a versatile mineral that should have a place in both your home and garden. As a washing detergent, it’s a powerful cleaner that’s free from harsh chemicals. 

In the garden, borax can be used to enhance plant health by giving essential micronutrients, and it’s also a great way to deal with ant hills. Borax is a true multi-purpose miracle that every home should have.

Ingredients:

1. Borax powder
2. Water (for cleaning solution)
3. Spray bottle (optional)

For Laundry Detergent:

Add 1/2 cup of borax per load of laundry directly to the washing machine drum before adding clothes. It enhances the cleaning power of your detergent and helps soften water.

For Garden Use:

• Ant Hill Treatment: Sprinkle around the ant hills in your garden. Be careful not to over apply — too much can harm plants.
• Plant Health: Dissolve 1 tbs of in 1 gallon of water then spray on roots of plants with yellowing leaves or poor growth (signs of boron deficiency). Use sparingly.

Fertilizer from Kitchen Scraps

That food waste you tend to throw away in the garbage? It’s nature’s gold. Especially those egg shells from your morning omelet of lunch scramble. You can actually use them to create a calcium-rich liquid fertilizer that’s particularly beneficial for plants that need it, like tomatoes and peppers.

Calcium plays a crucial role in plant development, aiding in cell wall structure, nutrient uptake, and root growth. So a little boost can help prevent problems like blossom end rot in tomatoes.

Ingredients:

1. Eggshells
2. White vinegar (5% acetic acid)
3. A glass jar or plastic container with a lid
4. A strainer or cheesecloth
5. Water

How To:

1. Clean the shells thoroughly to get rid of dirt by scrubbing and rinsing.
2. Once dry, crush them into small pieces or powder to increase the surface area, making the vinegar more effective. We like using a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin.
3. Fill your container with white vinegar, making sure there's enough to completely submerge the shells.
4. Add the crushed shells into the vinegar. Bubbling is a good sign! It means the chemical reaction between the acetic acid in the vinegar and the calcium carbonate in the shells is happening. Seal the container to keep it from evaporating and to contain the vinegar smell.
5. Let the mixture sit for at least a couple of weeks, letting the shells fully dissolve and release calcium into the vinegar.
6. Use a strainer or cheesecloth to filter out any undissolved shell pieces, leaving you with a clear liquid.
7. You’ll end up with a quite acidic solution, so we recommend diluting it with water (a 1:1 ratio) before you use it. You can adjust as needed for your specific plant requirements.
8. Transfer the diluted fertilizer to a spray bottle or watering can, applying it to the soil around your plants. Avoid direct leaf application to prevent damage.

Pro Tip:
Keep any leftover fertilizer in a cool, dark place, clearly labeled for future use.

Electroculture Basalt Antennas

Electroculture is an ancient technique that uses the natural energy of the earth to supercharge plant growth. When you make antennas using basalt rock and cement, you can increase the paramagnetic properties of your soil, helping it support healthier plants. 

Materials:

1. Basalt rocks (or basalt dust)
2. Cement
3. Water
4. Mold or form to shape the antenna

How To:

1. Set up a mold or form in the shape you want your antenna to be in (cylinders work best).
2. In a large container, mix cement with basalt dust or small basalt rocks. The ratio can vary, but a 1:1 mix is a good starting point.
3. Slowly add water to the mix until it reaches a thick, workable consistency.
4. Pour the mixture into your mold and tap it gently to remove any air bubbles.
5. Let the mixture cure for several days, until it’s completely hardened.
6. Put the cured basalt antenna vertically in your garden soil, ideally near plants that need a boost. Or, add to the bottom of your containers or tree plantings below the root zone.

Lunar Cycle Tinctures

For a long time, humans have looked at the moon as a key part of growth and healing cycles. You can tap into this energy by making tinctures using herbs from your garden and the full moon lunar cycle. 

These tinctures are not only powerful but also deeply connected to the natural rhythms of the earth, making them a special addition to your home remedy toolkit.

Ingredients:

1. Fresh herbs (like chamomile, peppermint, or lavender)
2. High-proof alcohol like vodka or brandy (190 proof is ideal but nothing lower than 80)
3. A glass jar with a lid

How To:

1. Harvest fresh herbs from your garden on the day or night of the full moon. Previously dried herbs will also work!
2. Fill a clean glass jar halfway with the fresh herbs.
3. Pour high-proof alcohol over the herbs until the jar is full. Make sure all the herbs are covered.
4. Seal the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place for at least 4-6 weeks. Shake the jar gently every few days.
5. After the tincture has steeped, strain out the herbs using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Bottle the liquid in dark glass bottles and label it with the date and contents.
6. Take your tincture as needed, usually in small doses of 1-2 droppers full, depending on the herb and purpose.

Pro Tip:
Dilute the tincture with honey and tea from the same herbs to make a dual extract that tastes to your liking.

Bringing It All Together

These easy remedies and techniques offer a powerful way to take control of your health and the health of your garden. Whether you’re looking to create natural skincare products, improve your diet, or boost your garden’s productivity, these methods are accessible and effective. Best of all, they’re rooted in traditional knowledge and sustainable practices, helping you to live in harmony with nature.