For centuries, various cultures have relied upon plants with healing properties to treat the body. Dating as far back as 3,000 BC, herbal remedies have been used to relieve a variety of ailments ranging from minor stress to more serious aches and pains.  In fact, the Koronczay family founders of the Certified Organic Farm often used herbal remedies, like comfrey cream, to heal and treat family members when injury or illness struck.

Here is a closer look at the healing properties of the plants and medicinal herbs grown on the Eminence Certified Organic Farm. As with any natural remedy, we recommend discussing with your physician first to ensure there are no adverse reactions with any existing condition you may have or medication you may take.

Naturally Cure Headaches

One of the most famous Hungarian herbal remedies for both pain and skin care is Queen of Hungary’s Water (or Hungary Water). It’s known for being the world’s first distillable perfume and combines herbs (including rosemary, lemon and mint), essential oils (usually lavender) and cider vinegar.  

Hungary Water is renowned for its ability to relieve headaches, indigestion, soothe dry skin and gently tone pores. This is largely thanks to the rosemary being one of Hungary Water’s most vital ingredients. In aromatherapy, rosemary, in particular, is used to treat muscle pain and improve circulation when applied to the skin.

If you have the herbs growing in your garden, Hungary Water is both simple and cost-effective to make – just be sure to use organic ingredients where possible.

Calm Inflammation With Comfrey

Comfrey is known as one of the herbal remedies that assist in the healing of minor wounds and inflammation. Due to its natural concentration of allantoin, a substance that promotes healthy cell turnover, comfrey has historically been used as a topical treatment for burns, bruises and even bone fractures.

In ancient times, Greeks and Romans would boil comfrey leaves and pound them into a paste to apply as a cast for broken bones. More recently, herbalists have used comfrey poultices to soothe rashes, burns and bruises. Dr Tasneem Bhatia, an integrative health expert and founder of Centrespring MD, says she uses herbal remedies in her personal care and medical practice, and she recommends comfrey as a wonderful “anti-inflammatory.” 

As a teenager, Eminence Certified Organic Farm founder Attila Koronczay strained his wrist during kayaking practice, and his mother massaged a homemade comfrey cream onto his wrist to treat his injury. To make a comfrey ointment at home, you can do so with four simple ingredients.

DIY Comfrey Ointment

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried organic comfrey leaves
• Organic extra virgin olive oil (enough to cover leaves, plus one inch)
• ¼ cup beeswax pastilles
• Mason jar or metal tin to hold the finished product

Steps

• First, you need to make a herbal infusion of the comfrey in your olive oil. If you’re not sure how, you can find out here.
• Once you’ve made your herb-infused oil, place your jar of it in a small saucepan that has some water in it.
• Add your beeswax pastilles to the oil. Turn the heat on and allow the beeswax pastilles to melt into the oil, while gently stirring.
• Remove the jar and set aside if you’re using the jar you made the mixture in, or pour the melted mixture into containers while it’s still warm.
• Allow the mixture to cool and then it is ready for use. Label the container, cover it tightly with a lid and keep in a dark, cool place.

Adapted from: The Rustic Elk

At the Eminence Certified Organic Farm, we value natural remedies and comfrey’s ability to restore the skin’s moisture barrier and calm inflammation. This precious herb can be found in many Eminence Organic Skin Care products, including the award-winning Herbal Eye Make-up Remover.

Enhancing Low Appetite with Cinnamon

Aside from being a highly delicious spice, cinnamon has been used for thousands of years for its natural medicinal properties. It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and high in antioxidants, which help strengthen the body’s immune system. 

In fact, when Eminence Organics Farm Founder Boldijarre Koronczay was undergoing treatment for leukemia as a small child, his mother turned to an old family secret to stimulate his appetite. She boiled one-inch pieces of rhubarb stalk in spring water with cinnamon and cloves. Once cooled, she would stir in a bit of honey. A few bites of rhubarb would do the trick, and Boldijarre was able to eat an entire serving of healthy food. 

Cinnamon and cloves are also the secret ingredients in our Cinnamon Kiss Lip Plumper, which naturally promotes the look of visibly fuller lips with a healthy, luminous shine.

Combat The Common Cold With Echinacea

Echinacea is another one of the plants with healing properties grown on the Eminence Certified Organic Farm. Renowned for its antiviral and immune-enhancing properties, echinacea has long been considered one of the best natural remedies for the common cold. Even more impressive is the herb’s natural ability to prevent cases of the cold and flu from worsening into even more serious illnesses.

While primarily used to alleviate cold and flu symptoms, echinacea can also be used to eliminate infections on the skin. Applied topically, echinacea is known as a natural remedy for a variety of skin conditions, including acne, eczema and psoriasis. With its ability to defend the skin against abuse of the elements, this immune-boosting herb is a key ingredient in Eminence Organics Echinacea Recovery Cream.

Acne, Problem Skin and More

We grow St. John’s Wort on the Eminence Certified Organic Farm for its many powerful skin benefits. Its high concentration of antioxidants boosts the skin’s natural processes, accelerating cellular regeneration for a healthy glow. And as a natural anti-inflammatory, it calms and soothes the appearance of acne and problem skin.  St. John’s Wort also plays a large role in regulating hormones, which may be the underlying cause of acne in the first place. Aside from breakouts, Dr Bhatia maintains that St. John’s Wort can also help mild depression with its mood-boosting abilities.

Relieve Aches & Pains With Peppermint

Peppermint has long been celebrated for more than its invigorating scent. Traditionally, this versatile herb has been used as a natural remedy for a number of health issues ranging from indigestion and headaches to fever and whooping cough. Used externally, peppermint is an effective pain-reliever. Frequently called a “refrigerant,” peppermint’s cooling properties enable it to provide an intensely cold sensation that melts muscle stiffness and eases associated pain. Internally, “peppermint tea can calm the digestive system while peppermint oil can help with migraines or headaches,” states Dr. Bhatia. We especially love peppermint tea when battling a common cold. It helps to calm sore throats and sinuses while serving as a natural decongestant.

When it comes to skin care, we turn to peppermint for its ability to purify the skin. Eminence Organics Vanilla Mint Hand Cream employs this natural ingredient to refresh and revive the skin’s appearance.

Are natural remedies part of your health care regimen? We’d love to hear how you use herbal remedies and plants with healing properties to improve your health. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or share with us on social media.