"We didn't set out to change the world, but we're OK with it!"
Our senses are overwhelmed these days with aromas. From strong
perfumes to flowers blooming in the landscape, we are surrounded
with wonderful scents that do some not-so-wonderful things to our
delicate bodies. The full impact of our scented environment is just
beginning to be researched, but there are those of us who already
have a big clue about some of the effects.
Sick Kids
Allergies are at an all-time high, partly due to public awareness. When I was a
child in the 60's, my mother took my brother and me to the doctor repeatedly
for the same old "cold" symptoms. We literally were sick for half the year!
Sometimes, it would progress into pneumonia, or if we were lucky, just a
respiratory infection.
A frequent bout with Strep throat was my signature illness. At fourteen, I was
given the double "blessing" of being afflicted with severe eczema on the palms of
both my hands! Imagine at that impressionable and awkward age what it was
like to have the cutest guy in school as your lab partner in Chemistry,
allthewhile terrified that he would see the palms of your hands cracked and
bleeding, curled up into protective clenches. Not too pretty.
My brother, on the other hand, suffered with "chronic green-nose". Every
frequent sneeze produced a streaming discharge along with a classroom full of
kids scrambling for cover first, then re-emerging to cruelly remind my brother
just how "nasty" he was. He was literally ostracized by his classmates from
first grade on, and never recovered from it emotionally. He dropped out of
school in 8th grade.
Fast Forward
I grew up, married and had my own little brood of allergy/eczema sufferers.
My son went on a first grade field trip to the Nature Museum with his class one
day, and the teacher brought him back to me with red eyes and his face so
swollen that his eyeballs actually looked flat! He was wheezing and pale. It
didn't take a rocket scientist to see he was in trouble. After getting him
immediate treatment and a subsequent visit to the allergist which revealed
allergies to over 40 grasses, trees, and weeds, I realized that my son's very life
depended upon my decisions regarding his treatment and exposure. Any idea as
to the impact that realization had on my maternal instincts? You're looking at it.
When allergy information became readily available on the Internet, I spent
hundreds of hours reading and doing my own research, determined to put
something together to help my children. And the results have been a healthier,
happier lifestyle for my children, and amazingly myself as well! You will find
some wonderful links to allergy, eczema, and other related information on our
Links page. Check them out. I hope you will find them informative.
Voilà!
Through my own research and quality-strict experimentations with many
natural herbs, old remedies, and preparation methods, I relieved my own eczema
by discovering a combination of infused oils and essential oils combined with
beeswax that makes up my ex:m:Ahhh Calendula Balm. By searching for a
high-quality source for the ingredients, I then ran across bases that provide the
foundations for my unscented products. This combination of removing powerful
allergen-producing scents from my children's daily lives and applying a soothing
balm to the eczema has enriched the quality of our lives as a family, and I want
to share that with you.
And the rest is history . . .
Hubby was kind enough to convert my Potting Shed to a little laboratory
(hence, called The Potting Shed Apothecary). For over 7 years now, I have
produced by hand my family's soaps, lotions, shampoos, facial cleansers, and
"safe" colognes and deodorants along with an all-purpose healing and soothing
Calendula Balm. They've used the Calendula Balm for everything: chapstick,
sores, eczema, dry skin, rough elbows, and they've even used it on the dog's dry
cracked paws, all with success. It may not cure everything, and it is not
recommended to replace any medical advice or treatment you currently seek or
are undergoing, but it sure is impressive in it's results.
I no longer need the heavy steroidal ointments the doctor prescribed that can
build up in your liver and cause problems. I keep my eczema under control with
ex:m:Ahhh Calendula Balm and unscented body products. My family,
coworkers and friends have had excellent results using it for dry skin and
chapped lips. Guys who work outdoors will really be impressed with the
protective and healing qualities as well as the light and very natural herbal scent.
My husband is a contractor, and he adores the balm's great protection qualities
for his weather-exposed skin.
I'm sure you will find The Potting Shed Apothecary a unique and affordable
shop to provide your family with good health and good scents! Please email me
with any needs or questions you have, as well as product suggestions. I will
happily answer them all!
Creating our Balm
The original recipe for an
herbal healing balm is so old,
nobody knows how old it
really is. Our formula is
prepared exactly the way a
100 year old recipe for salve is
written: slowly, carefully, and
with healing in mind.
We firmly believe the attitude
with which an authentic
apothecary formula is
prepared affects it's ultimate
healing properties. (Yeah.
We're weird like that). So
before we begin each small
batch, we clear our heads of all
negativity, focus only on the
task at hand and how it will
serve to heal and enrich the
lives of those who use it, and
envision it's soothing effects
as it is applied. When we
wake up from that nap, we get
to work actually making the
balm.
OK, now things really get
weird. We get this big
stainless steel expensive pot
and put our oils (grape seed
and olive) into it. Then, we
stuff it full of Calendula
flowers and lemon grass, both
renown in the herbal world for
their abilities to repair and
soothe skin related problems.
For added fun, we come home
from our regular jobs every
single day for the next few
weeks, and heat the
concoction to a certain
temperature to extract all the
good healing qualities from the
natural plant materials (called
infusing).
This infusion is then
combined with the perfect
blend of essential oils (pure
concentrated oils of an
extremely high quality) of Tea
Tree, Lavender, and
Cedarwood, along with a little
Ginger oil and Eucalyptus.
Beeswax and Vitamin E are
added and there you have it:
Mother Nature in a tin!
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medical diagnosis/treatment for all skin conditions prior to using any of our products. Use precaution upon first use of any product to avoid a reaction. All products are intended for external
use only. Read ingredient labels for any known allergens. If in doubt about the quality of any of our products for whatever reason, do not use them and please contact us using the Contact
Us link. Due to the natural state of our products using no preservatives, they are intended to be used regularly and not sit for any long period of time. Discard any product not used within
90 days, or at your discretion. Eczema, psoriasis and allergies are serious medical conditions requiring professional supervision. Our products are only intended for their stated use. We
retain all rights to our products, website, logos, images, and name. Please respect this.
