Arnica Oil & Spray
Arnica cordifolia is a beautiful yellow flower that grows in our local mountains above 7,000 feet. The plants heart-shaped leaves signify its medicinal value and use. It is most commonly known as an orthopedic medicine but it also works on the heart, relieving tension and anxiety. Arnica is a powerful pain-relieving medicine used to reduce inflammation and swelling, heal bruising, treat insect bites, and relieve arthritis pain. Most arnica products commonly seen in stores are homeopathic or diluted in mass production. The arnica oil we make is of the utmost quality and concentration. When you use our arnica products the soothing effect is felt immediately; our customers report that it has healed chronic pain and long-lasting injuries. As with all of our products, we harvest not only ethically, but with love and great respect for mother earth's medicine.
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2020 Harvest - 2021 Product:
Our Arnica Oil is mixed with a touch of local lavender essential oil grown and made by Lamborn Mountain Farmstead. Carol's lavender essential oil is a local as it gets. This particular lavender, Lavendula augustifolia Maillette, is highly medicinal - calms the emotions and is anti-inflammatory. Our Arnica Spray is infused with Eric Bresselsmith's (House of Aromatics) white fir essential oil. Arnica Cordifolia grows underneath these majestical fir trees along with the pines and sometimes aspens. This white fir essential oil is energetically synchronistic with our arnica oil. |
*Our Arnica oil stays medicinal and shelf stable for about 6 years*
Osha Root Tincture
Osha root, ligusticum porteri, also known as bear medicine, grows in mountains above 9,000 feet. The root is sacred to the Native Americans who used it for ceremonial purposes and to treat many health ailments. The bears dig it up and consume the root after hibernation to stimulate digestion and for energy. Native runners chew on the root to open up the lungs and increase stamina. The plant leaves can be mistaken for poisonous hemlock, but the osha root has a very distinct "spicy celery" smell and is identified by this smell and its brown, hairy roots. Osha is an amazing antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial herb as well as a digestive stimulant. Osha helps break up phlegm in the lungs and relieves bronchial inflammation. As an effective cold and flu remedy, it is best taken when the first symptoms are noticed: Three droppers full, three times a day. We love this tincture in tea. Just heat up some hot water and put a dropper full in the tea. It will turn the tea milky which is normal and evaporate some of the alcohol. As with all of our products, we harvest not only ethically, but with love and great respect for mother earth's medicine.
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2020 Harvest - 2021 Product:
This batch will be made with Jack Rabbit Hill Farms peach and and pear spirits. Jack Rabbit Hill grows local biodynamic fruit to make all their spirits. They graciously sell us their tail, high proof distilled alcohol for our tinctures. We take whatever flavor they have extra at the time. For this batch we are using Countryside Bee Farm honey, local bee keepers that make an unbelievably superior honey. We also juice our osha at the end of the extraction process, which ensures that we get the the most medicine that the osha has to offer. Our 2021 batch is less sweet than our older batches. |
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*Our Osha tincture stays medicinal and shelf stable for about 8 years*
Tincture Dosage:
Standard dosing for most tinctures is "20-60 drops, 3 times a day." There are about 15-20 drops in a full dropperful. So let's break it down. For acute conditions like a cold or a flu, it is recommended that you take more: 30-60 drops, which would be 2-4 droppersful, 3-4 times a day. This is a big range because of varying constitutions and weights. The goal with tinctures is to find the minimum effective dosage which usually takes some experimentation. If your constitution tends to respond fast to medication (fast metabolism), then trend toward the lower side. If you are slower to respond to medications (struggle with stagnation), then trend towards the higher side. If you weigh under 150 pounds, you might want to take less, but if you weigh over 150 pounds, you might find you need to take a higher dosage for the tincture to be effective. Also, with acute conditions, you are aiming to take the tincture for a shorter period of time (until the condition resolves).
Now onto chronic conditions. Osha tincture, in particular, targets the lungs and respiratory system, making it a great herb to help treat long-term respiratory infections, chronic coughs, and poor circulation. With any tincture used to help treat chronic conditions, the dose will be lower: 20-30 drops, which would be 1-2 droppersful, 1-2 times a day. Again, consider your constitution and weight. Don't be afraid to do some experimenting. The more you can feel into how the tincture affects your own body, the more accurate you can make your dosage. It is much better to understand and feel what the medicine is doing for you, than the simply read instructions on a bottle; especially since tinctures count on so many of those other factors that we talked about. For chronic conditions, you are aiming to take the tincture for a longer period of time. One more factor to keep in mind with all tinctures is how strong the extraction ratio is (menstruum ratio). This is the weight of the herb (marc) versus the volume of the liquid (menstruum). Our osha tincture is a 1 (fresh osha root):2 (gluten-free spirits) extraction ratio. That means it is strong! Therefore, you shouldn't tend on the higher side of dosage, that is unless you are heavy and have a stagnated constitution or feel that your body responds well to the higher dosage.
Now, let's talk about kids. Their dosage is different because they are tiny! There are two formulas you can use to calculate this. I always use Clark's formula because I feel it is the most accurate. Divide the child's weight (in pounds) by 150, then give the child that fraction of the adult dose as the appropriate child dose. For example, a 50 pound child: 50/150 = 1/3, so you would give that 50 pound child 1/3 of the adult dose. So for an acute condition: 45 drops or about 3 droppersful) = 15 drops or about 1 dropperful. Keep the frequency the same for the child's dose. So in this case you would give a 50 pound child who has an acute cold: 1 dropperful, 3 times a day, roughly. And the best way to give an alcohol tincture to a child is to boil water and add the tincture to it. This will help evaporate about 15% of the alcohol. Next, mix it with more water or juice to dilute it. Since our osha in extracted in 85-95% alcohol, it is strong! So, be liberal when diluting our osha tincture for children, plus it will make it taste better for them anyway:)
And I am legally bound to remind you: I am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. What you read here does not constitute medical advice. I'm merely sharing what I have learned over the years and it is your responsibility to do your own due diligence, including consulting a healthcare professional you trust.
These sites are great to check out for a more in depth analysis of dosing tinctures:
Dosing Guide -tonicherbshop.com/guide-to-dosing/
Child dosing guide: https://nourishingjoy.com/how-to-know-if-youre-dosing-your-child-correctly-with-herbal-tinctures/
Now onto chronic conditions. Osha tincture, in particular, targets the lungs and respiratory system, making it a great herb to help treat long-term respiratory infections, chronic coughs, and poor circulation. With any tincture used to help treat chronic conditions, the dose will be lower: 20-30 drops, which would be 1-2 droppersful, 1-2 times a day. Again, consider your constitution and weight. Don't be afraid to do some experimenting. The more you can feel into how the tincture affects your own body, the more accurate you can make your dosage. It is much better to understand and feel what the medicine is doing for you, than the simply read instructions on a bottle; especially since tinctures count on so many of those other factors that we talked about. For chronic conditions, you are aiming to take the tincture for a longer period of time. One more factor to keep in mind with all tinctures is how strong the extraction ratio is (menstruum ratio). This is the weight of the herb (marc) versus the volume of the liquid (menstruum). Our osha tincture is a 1 (fresh osha root):2 (gluten-free spirits) extraction ratio. That means it is strong! Therefore, you shouldn't tend on the higher side of dosage, that is unless you are heavy and have a stagnated constitution or feel that your body responds well to the higher dosage.
Now, let's talk about kids. Their dosage is different because they are tiny! There are two formulas you can use to calculate this. I always use Clark's formula because I feel it is the most accurate. Divide the child's weight (in pounds) by 150, then give the child that fraction of the adult dose as the appropriate child dose. For example, a 50 pound child: 50/150 = 1/3, so you would give that 50 pound child 1/3 of the adult dose. So for an acute condition: 45 drops or about 3 droppersful) = 15 drops or about 1 dropperful. Keep the frequency the same for the child's dose. So in this case you would give a 50 pound child who has an acute cold: 1 dropperful, 3 times a day, roughly. And the best way to give an alcohol tincture to a child is to boil water and add the tincture to it. This will help evaporate about 15% of the alcohol. Next, mix it with more water or juice to dilute it. Since our osha in extracted in 85-95% alcohol, it is strong! So, be liberal when diluting our osha tincture for children, plus it will make it taste better for them anyway:)
And I am legally bound to remind you: I am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. What you read here does not constitute medical advice. I'm merely sharing what I have learned over the years and it is your responsibility to do your own due diligence, including consulting a healthcare professional you trust.
These sites are great to check out for a more in depth analysis of dosing tinctures:
Dosing Guide -tonicherbshop.com/guide-to-dosing/
Child dosing guide: https://nourishingjoy.com/how-to-know-if-youre-dosing-your-child-correctly-with-herbal-tinctures/
Calendula - Yarrow Salve
For topical use calendula contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties via flavonoids that can help heal minor cuts, scrapes, bruises, and insect bites. Calendula also heals wounds by increasing blood flow and oxygen to wounds and infections to help the body heal faster and grow new tissue. This increased flood flow along with the antioxidants can also help reduce wrinkles, scars, and old age spots. Calendula is antimicrobial and antiviral. Topically this can help wounds heal, if made into a tea this can help fight candida symptoms and even antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
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2020 Harvest - 2021 Product:
66% calendula and 33% yarrow oil. We grow calendula erfurter, an especially medicinal calendula variety, high in resin. We collect and grow the yarrow. The anti-oxidant and cytoprotective properties of yarrow leaves and flowers promote wound healing and the silica in yarrow helps in repairing damaged tissue. We also include fresh horsetail leaves which are inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial to help heal rashes, burns and wounds. |
*Our Calendula - yarrow salve stays medicinal and shelf stable for about 2 years*
Any statement made herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, seek the advice of a health care professional before using these products. Keep out of reach of children.
*If you are interested in bulk or wholesale call us at 970.361.4496 or email elkmountainfarmacy@gmail.com for our prices and packages.
Third Party Inspiration
Stephany - This is where I started, basic terminology
List of books worth starting upon for herbal learning
A really important first book is Michael Moore's: Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West
A GODESS OF OUR TIME - KIVA ROSE
Medicine Women Gather - A site of sharing and community for herbs
Herbal Academy - Best site to figure out tincture ratios, very instructive
Natalie Vickery - A special herbalist and all around badass woman
Legalities of herbal medicine
Mountain Rose Herbs - Site I found to best for making balms and salves
Troubleshooting balms and salves - I found this to be the most common problem and the solution
List of books worth starting upon for herbal learning
A really important first book is Michael Moore's: Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West
A GODESS OF OUR TIME - KIVA ROSE
Medicine Women Gather - A site of sharing and community for herbs
Herbal Academy - Best site to figure out tincture ratios, very instructive
Natalie Vickery - A special herbalist and all around badass woman
Legalities of herbal medicine
Mountain Rose Herbs - Site I found to best for making balms and salves
Troubleshooting balms and salves - I found this to be the most common problem and the solution