'Tis the season when a lot of people end up getting ill—often thanks to sick relatives who show up at family gatherings to cough on everyone. ;) A tincture made with bee balm (Monarda didyma and/or Monarda fistulosa) and old man's beard lichen (Usnea barbata) can work wonders for speeding up the healing process. Monarda contains the antimicrobial compounds thymol and carvacrol, and can be used treat or prevent infections — both internally and externally. Usnea is a fruticose lichen species that contains usnic and barbatic acid, which have been proven to inhibit bacterial, fungal, and viral growth, including candida, E-coli, and staph infections. If you make a tincture of equal parts of these herbs, you end up with a powerful infection-fighting medicine that's invaluable to keep in your home apothecary cabinet. To make a standard tincture, aim for: 1 ounce of herb to 5 ounces (liquid volume) of solvent if you're using dry herbs, and 1 ounce of herb to 2 ounces (liquid volume) of solvent if you're using fresh ones. The solvent (aka "menstruum") should be 40% alcohol content (80 proof) to extract the plant's healing properties and ensure that no bacteria or mildew can grow in there. Vodka is ideal for this, but I also use brandy. One can never have too much medicine available in case of emergencies. Our ancestors used plant medicines exclusively for thousands of years, and they're remarkably effective if used correctly. Be well!

SHAMAN (Label Artwork) 🔥SCENT🔥 Spicy blend of Clove, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Citrus Notes 💡INSPIRATION💡 Shaman draws from the ancient wisdom of Norse völvas and healers, those who harnessed the power of earth’s rarest herbs and spices to protect and empower. This blend of Clove, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Citrus evokes the rituals of seers who invoked the elements to shield their kin from misfortune. The dark, spicy aroma recalls a time when nature’s gifts were sacred, each scent carrying the essence of resilience, healing, and the strength of those who walked between worlds. Shaman is an homage to the herbal guardianship of old, a scent steeped in the potency and mystery of Norse lore. 🎨BEHIND THE SCENES🎨 ▪️One of the valhalla ladders used in this design is actually mine I got hanging next to my monitors in the studio. :) It consists of driftwood that floated along the shore during a storm while I was on mushrooms. 🍄 ▪️This is the third scent I had ever created for Valkyrie. It was heavily inspired by the iconic thieves blend oil that was rumored to be a concoction used back in the medieval ages to ward away the plague. ▪️The icon for shaman took me the longest to figure out what exactly I wanted to use. I finally settled on something resembling a potion but also bones and fire involved in its design. The Bindrune consists of four elder futhark runes: ᚨ (Ansuz): The divine communication rune, symbolizing the whispers from the gods and the shaman’s role as a conduit for their messages. ᛏ (Tiwaz): The rune of sacrifice, representing the trials and personal cost endured by the shaman to gain wisdom and power. ᚲ (Kaunaz): The flame of insight, representing the shaman's inner fire that burns with hidden knowledge and reveals truths from the unknown. ᛉ (Algiz) (inverted): A symbol of vulnerability and submission to chaotic forces, reflecting the shaman’s willingness to risk danger in pursuit of truth and connection with the divine. This bindrune captures the mystical power, sacrifice, and dark insight of a shaman diving into the unknown. Perfectly balanced between mystery and danger. www.valkyriebeardcare.com

#Grimfrost #Vikings #Herbs #Culture #Magic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhMHTZ2jfXM