Without any alcohol

1 cup water

2 tablespoons angelica seeds

      Dash of peppermint oil or lemon verbena

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Stir in the angelica seeds and peppermint oil or lemon verbena. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. Strain off and discard the solids.

2. Store the liquid in a clean, covered container in the refrigerator and use everyday.

Spicy, Minty Mouthwash

My favourite mouth wash

1 cup water

1teaspoon whole cloves

1teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 teaspoons parsley

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cloves, cinnamon, peppermint extract, and parsley. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. Strain off and discard the solids.
   

2. Store the liquid in a clean, covered container in the refrigerator and use everyday as a gargle and mouthwash

Bacteria-Fighting Citrus Mouthwash

Rinse or gargle, but don’t swallow the liquid.

¾ cup vodka

30drops lemon essential oil

25 drops bergamot essential oil

1 ¼ cups distilled water.

1.  Place the vodka and the lemon and bergamot essential oils in a sterilized 500-ml glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Shake the mixture vigorously to combine.

2. Add the distilled water and shake until well blended. Leave in the refrigerator for 1 week to mature, shaking from time to time.

3. To use, shake the bottle and mix 1 part of the mixture with 3 parts lukewarm distilled water in a small drinking glass. Rinse, but do not swallow the mouthwash.

Toothpaste

½ cup baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

3 teaspoons glycerine

10 or more wintergreen flavouring

Warm water

1. In a small bowl, mix the baking soda and salt. Add the glycerine and flavouring. Add warm water a drop at a time, until the texture and consistency seem right. Spoon the mixture into a clean squeeze bottle or any convenient, clean container with a tight lid.

2. You may have to adjust the amount of glycerine to arrive at a consistency that suits you. This toothpaste will keep indefinitely in a covered container.

Honey Lip Balm

6 tablespoons beeswax, grated or shaved

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

30 ml honey

½ capsule vitamin E, 400IU

1. On the top of a double boiler, melt the beeswax and oil together. Do not boil. Once the beeswax and oil are blended, stir in the honey. Then pierce the vitamin E capsule with a needle, squeeze out half the contents, and stir in. Pour the resulting mixture into clean containers with tops.
2. Let the lip balm sit at room temperature for 48 hours until it arrives at the proper consistency for spreading. You can carry a small container of lip balm around with you during the day, but you may find it keeps better in the refrigerator overnight.

Cocoa Lip Balm

6 tablespoons beeswax, grated or shaved

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

½  teaspoon cocoa powder

½ capsule vitamin E, 400IU

1. On the top of a double boiler, melt the beeswax and oil together. Do not boil. Once the beeswax and oil are blended, stir in the cocoa powder. Then pierce the vitamin E capsule with a needle, squeeze out half the contents, and stir in. Pour the resulting mixture into clean containers with tops.
2. Let the lip balm sit at room temperature for 48 hours until it arrives at the proper consistency for spreading. You can carry a small container of lip balm around with you during the day, but you may find it keeps better in the refrigerator overnight.