Plants remind us of the simple beauty that is all around us everyday as we bring them to our body, mind and soul.
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Oxymels are a delicious way to make herbs come alive as medicines.
By making Oxymels, you are carrying the lineage of herbalists as far back as Ancient Greek/ Roman era. Oxymelli is the word that Oxymel is derived from, literally meaning acid and honey.
METHOD:
Grab a clean jar and add quarter to half a jar of chopped herbs. Then fill your jar to half with quality organic apple cider vinegar and the other half with raw honey.
Place a piece of baking paper to protect the inside of the lid from the acid. Cap the jar tight. Shake the mix daily. Place it in a cool shelf for 1 week. It will ferment and bubble.
After 1 week, strain the herbs and refrigerate your blend. You may want to leave the herbs in a bit longer to create a more potent Oxymel (that is your choice)
DOSAGE:
Adults: Take 1-3 tablespoons in warm or cool water as your health elixir. Children: 1-3 teaspoons in water. (Children under age 1 are not advised to take honey, due to potential allergy reactions)
The sourness of the Apple Cider Vinegar is a great liver cleanser, mucous decongestant and antiseptic. The raw honey is antiseptic and soothing to the inner body linings.
Having a theme for the herbs you choose makes it target your health needs.
Our Winter Oxymel uses Fireside tea blend (Cinnamon, clove, Rosehip, Safflower and goji berries) with Rosemary, Lemon Myrtle and Elder berries for a great winter warming and cleansing immune pick up. Its so delicious!
Almost any herb tea, fruit peel, flower and spice can be used to make an oxymel so unleash your creativity. And don’t forget to use them as salad dressings, cocktail sour enhancers and cool summer mocktails.
Enjoy!
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We strongly encourage you to start your tea tasting experience with a very weak brew and then customize it to suit your individual taste and smell as well as and body response.
Take time to enjoy tea. It is a deeply personal ritual to connect your nervous system with nature. Share the enjoyment with others whenever you can to help people connect.
As a general rule one teaspoon is the average amount of tea per cup. You can use the tea over and over throughout the day if you don't over steep the plant each time, so follow the guides below to get the most out of your tea.
Generally, here is how you can make the teas:
• Herbal teas - 100 degrees for 2 minutes. You can reuse the same herbs for a few more cups that day. • Fruit teas - 70 degrees & Iced teas, steep overnight - 2-3 teaspoons per litre of water.
• Green tea - 80 degrees for 1-3 minutes
• White tea - 70 degrees for 5-10 minutes
• Oolong tea - 90 degrees for 1 minute. Reuse herbs and steep for 1 minute each time.
• Chai tea - 90 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Usually made in a pot. Add honey and milk to taste
• Black tea - 90 degrees for 3-5 minutes
• Pu-erh tea - 100 degrees for 5 minutes.
Enjoyment of tea is universal across many cultures and there are no firmly set rules on how you enjoy your tea. It is really your experience. There may be teas that do not agree with your body or teas that over time are too heating, too drying, too uplifting, to dreamy even. Your attention to your own body will determine this.
If you are taking medications, please check with your medical provider for potential interactions. Enjoy the tea adventures!
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Your herbal oil is artfully made as a concentrate using our special method with only natural ingredients. This method we teach in our workshops and it is a specialty of The Herb Emporium that we are happy to share far and wide.
Each oil is unique and amazing with so many uses and so versatile for health care. Ask us which oils are great for eczema, shingles, dry skin, cracking skin, dry lips, inflammations, acne etc.
Always use your oil diluted - 10% is enough in whatever base you choose.
Now that you have one of our oils here are 5 ways to get to know herbs as oils:
Add a 30ml - 60ml to bath water for a deep immersion. Smooth the oily bath water all over your skin and feel the plant effect through your sense of touch, smell and intuition.
Use the oil for product making - melt beeswax in a double boiler, then add 10% oil to the wax. Stir and add to a jar for skin healing use. You can melt coco butter or shea butter with the beeswax for extra soothing effects and to soften the balm.
Add 10% of the oil to your favorite natural skincare creams or oils to make it medicinal - any natural skincare base cream will do as this already has emulsifiers to help combine the oil.
Dilute 10% of our oil in 90% carrier oil such as coconut oil, rosehip oil, avocado oil. It makes a hydrating face serum when you use a few drops every day as your skin hydration base.
The same applies to massage oil bases. You can custom blend your clients massage oil base to suit their health needs by adding 10% of our oil to your base.
Find herbal recipes in books and add 10% to the oil component, such as bath bombs, lip balms, body butter, body oils. Oils will also mix with Aloe for soothing relief.
Some recommended oil recipe texts to get your inspired are:
Natural Homemade Skin Care - Militza Maury.
Natural Beauty Alchemy - Fifi M Maacaron.
And of course, our workshops are coming so keep in touch for updates!
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At The Herb Emporium, we honour the tradition of blending apple cider vinegar (ACV) and raw honey to craft our vibrant oxymels—sweet-and-sour tonics rooted in herbal medicine and time-tested wellness practices.
Origins & Traditional Use
Apple cider vinegar dates back to ancient Babylon and was widely revered by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who prescribed it for cleansing and healing. Fermented from apples, ACV undergoes a two-step process: first alcoholic fermentation into cider, then conversion into acetic acid by acetobacter bacteria. This “living vinegar,” especially in raw, unfiltered form, contains the “mother”—a colony of beneficial bacteria and enzymes.
Raw honey, on the other hand, has been used for over 8,000 years in folk medicine across Egyptian, Ayurvedic, and Traditional Chinese practices. Unheated and unfiltered, it retains pollen, enzymes, and natural antimicrobial compounds that are lost in commercial processing.
Together, these ingredients create a dynamic base for oxymels: a herbal delivery method that preserves and potentiates herbs, particularly aromatic and bitter ones.
Energetics & Synergy
Apple cider vinegar is cooling, drying, and moving. It stimulates digestion, disperses stagnation, and supports the liver and lymph.
Raw honey is warming, moistening, and tonifying. It soothes irritation, nourishes qi, and carries herbs deep into the tissues.
Combined, they balance each other’s extremes: vinegar’s sharpness with honey’s sweetness; vinegar’s dryness with honey’s moisture. This yin-yang harmony makes oxymels accessible to most constitutions.
Benefits of the Pair
Used regularly, ACV and raw honey offer a broad spectrum of health benefits:
Digestive Tonic: Stimulates bile flow, supports stomach acid production, and reduces bloating.
Blood Sugar Balance: ACV may help improve insulin sensitivity and lower post-meal blood glucose spikes.
Antimicrobial Support: Both have antibacterial and antifungal properties; raw honey is even used on wounds to prevent infection.
Immune Support: Raw honey soothes sore throats and ACV acts as a circulatory stimulant, especially when infused with immune herbs.
Energy & Vitality: This combination gently boosts metabolism and supports overall energy without overstimulating the nervous system.
Dosage & Daily Use
For daily wellness, stir 1–2 teaspoons of oxymel or a mixture of raw honey and ACV into warm water before meals. It may be taken once or twice daily as a tonic, or as needed during times of immune challenge.
Try it:
As a morning ritual
In salad dressings
In spritz drinks with sparkling mineral water.
Cautions & Considerations
Tooth Enamel: The acetic acid in vinegar can erode enamel. Always dilute, and rinse or drink with a straw.
Blood Sugar Sensitivity: Though it may stabilize blood sugar, raw honey is still high in natural sugars—dose mindfully, especially for those with diabetes.
Medication Interactions: ACV may interact with diuretics, insulin, or heart medications. Consult your practitioner if you're unsure.
Raw Honey Warning: Not suitable for children under 12 months due to botulism risk.
At The Herb Emporium, we infuse this powerful base with botanicals to create oxymels that are both delicious and deeply supportive. Rooted in nature, crafted with intention—these are remedies your body remembers.
Explore our handcrafted range at https://www.theherbemporium.com/shop/oxymels
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Create a Sacred Herbal Bath Ritual at Home
At The Herb Emporium, we honour bathing as medicine. Bring the power of plants to your tub and let your home spa become your sanctuary.
Our teas and infused oils aren’t just for sipping or skincare—they invite you to reconnect with nature’s wisdom through sensual, soul-soothing rituals.
A herbal bath is more than cleansing—it's a ceremony of return. Return to balance, to presence, to your body’s natural rhythm. Whether you seek calm, clarity, renewal, or grounding, we have an herbal blend to match your mood and intention.
Energetic Tips for Your Ritual:
For grounding and inner stillness: Add rose petals, mugwort, and chamomile oil to warm water. These earth-aligned herbs calm excess nervous energy and restore emotional balance.
For uplifting and joy: Try lemon myrtle, peppermint, and calendula oil. These vibrant botanicals energize dull moods and awaken the senses.
For heart-healing and self-love: Bathe in blue cornflower, rose petal tea, and St. Johns wort oil. These flowers soothe grief, open the heart, and elevate your spirit.
How to Create Your Ritual:
Brew a strong herbal tea infusion (3 tbsp of dried herbs per litre of water) and strain it into your bath.
Add 1–2 tablespoons of The Herb Emporium’s infused oils to nourish your skin.
Light a candle, play gentle music, and set an intention: healing, clarity, or simply rest.
Soak for 20–30 minutes, allowing the plants to work their magic on body, mind, and spirit.
End your bath with gratitude—sip a cup of the same herbal tea you bathed in to complete the ritual from outside in.
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Emotions are not just fleeting states of mind - they are powerful energies stored in specific organs of the body. According to the ancient system of TCM, each emotion has a natural rhythm and purpose, guiding us toward balance, growth, and healing—when we pause to listen.
Brandon Bays’ powerful work The Journey echoes this philosophy, inviting us to drop into the body and feel emotions fully as gateways to inner liberation. Emotions that are unexpressed or repressed can become stagnant energy, affecting physical health.
Emotional trauma is often at the heart of illness.
Emotions and Their Organ Homes in TCM
Liver – Anger, Frustration, Resentment
The liver is associated with the free flow of Qi (life force). When we suppress anger, energy stagnates, leading to tension, headaches, and menstrual issues.
Tip: Move your body—walk, dance, stretch. Let emotions breathe.
Herbs: Bupleurum gently moves liver Qi and is ideal for frustration and emotional constraint. Peony relaxes tension supports anxiety.Lungs – Grief and Sadness
The lungs help us process loss. Unreleased grief can lead to shallow breathing, skin issues, or lowered immunity.
Tip: Practice deep breathing and speak your sadness aloud in a safe space.
Herbs: Mullein or Elecampane to open the chest and ease emotional congestion.Heart – Joy and Overexcitement
The heart is the seat of the Shen (spirit) and is affected when joy is out of balance.
Tip: Meditate with one hand on your heart, inviting calm presence. A warm bath ritual is perfect to stop and connect.
Herb: Passionflower or Motherwort to anchor the heart and settle the spirit.Kidneys – Fear and Insecurity
Fear weakens the kidneys and drains our reserves. This can manifest as anxiety, fatigue, or lower back pain.
Tip: Ground yourself barefoot on the earth or take a warm salt bath.
Herbs: Ashwagandha nourishes kidney reserve energy and builds resilience. Rhodiola supports adrenal stress and brain clarity.Spleen – Worry and Overthinking
The spleen governs digestion of both food and body nourishment. Excessive worry leads to bloating, foggy thinking, and fatigue.
Tip: Sip warm herbal oxymels or teas and simplify your mental clutter.
Herb: Licorice or Cinnamon support the spleen and help calm a busy mind.
Listening to the Wisdom Within
Brandon Bays teaches that by fully feeling an emotion without judgment, we allow it to complete its cycle and release. TCM aligns with this wisdom, reminding us that the body remembers and the organs whisper when emotions go unheard. By turning inward, gently witnessing what's stored, and supporting the body with nature’s medicine, we reconnect to wholeness.
Herbal Ritual for Emotional Release:
By asking the simple question:
"What is my body asking me to feel right now?"
Let the herbs soften your edges and the emotion speak its truth.In this way, healing becomes a journey of remembrance—of returning to the body's deep wisdom, one emotion at a time.
Inspired by the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Brandon Bay’s book “The Journey”
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In this traditional classic immune recipe we are using the dried Elder berries.
The Berries are considered ‘sour’, meaning they contain fruit acids, vitamin c, flavonoids plus essential oils. They are cooling and drying to heat and mucous. They help the flow of blood, help fight infection at the early onset by soothing inflammation. It is also used for the small blood vessels to clear the eyes and ears. Like any recipe, you can add other herbs to it to make it more amazing, however the basic steps to make it are listed below. Remember that honey should not be given to children under age one. Adapt the recipe with sugar syrup to preserve.
RECIPE
You will need:
Saucepan, lid, dried elder berries, water, cinnamon, dried ginger root, large glass jar, funnel, straining cheesecloth, honey.
In a saucepan add,
2 cups of dried elder berries
4 cups of pure water
1 stick of cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons of dried ginger root.
Bring to the boil, turn down and simmer with the lid on for 30 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let it sit to steep for one hour.
Over a large glass jar, put a funnel. Place a doubled-up piece of cheesecloth or unbleached muslin cloth over the funnel. Slowly pour the cooled berry blend to strain.
Gather the edges of the cheesecloth and gently wring the berry blend of its juices.
Once strained fully, compost the wrung-out berries.
Measure how much berry liquid you have and add half the volume of raw, quality honey to the blend. For example, if you have 500ml berry juice remaining, add 250ml honey. The honey is soothing, antiseptic, and preserving for the elder berry syrup. Stir to combine.
Place in bottles, label, and date.
This syrup will last around 6-8 months with refrigeration.
Dose: Up to 1-2 teaspoons daily.
…oh yes, don’t forget to share your final results with us via email!!
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Herbal salt is a simple, delicious way to integrate the healing power of herbs into your everyday life. By combining mineral-rich sea salt with dried herbs, you create a potent, flavourful seasoning that nourishes body and soul. Find your dried herbs in our online store and request sample amounts to try you own blends.
Foundation Recipe: Herbal Salt Base
Ingredients:
1 cup good-quality sea salt (fine or coarse depending on use)
¼ to ½ cup dried herbs (single or combination), finely ground
Optional: 1 tsp lemon zest, pepper, garlic granules, or dried edible flowers
Method:
Grind herbs in a mortar and pestle or spice/coffee grinder until fine.
Mix with sea salt in a bowl.
Jar in a clean, airtight container. Label with ingredients and date.
Let sit for 1–2 days before use to deepen the infusion of flavours.
Shelf life: 6–12 months if stored in a dry, cool place.
Herbs to Use & Their Wellness Qualities
Choose based on your intention: culinary, tonic, digestive, calming, or immune supportive. Here are some favorites:
Culinary & Digestive
Rosemary – warming, improves circulation and focus
Thyme – antimicrobial, supports immunity and lungs
Sage – astringent, supports menopause and digestion
Oregano – antimicrobial, antioxidant
Basil – nervine, calms the mind
Bay leaf (crushed) – supports digestion, aromatic
Calming & Nervine
Lavender – soothing, balances mood
Lemon balm – antiviral, reduces anxiety
Chamomile – calming to digestion and nerves
Detoxifying & Immune
Nettle – rich in minerals, nourishing
Dandelion leaf – liver & kidney support, mildly bitter
Yarrow – immune tonic, circulatory support
Aromatic or Floral Touch
Calendula petals – lymphatic support, vibrant color
Rose petals – heart-opening, digestive
Lemon verbena – uplifting, supports gut and mood
How to Use Herbal Salt
Sprinkle over roasted vegetables, meats, or fish
Stir into soups, stews, or broths for added depth
Use on salads or avocado toast
Stir into butter or olive oil for a compound spread
Add to bath salts for a mineral-herbal soak (non-culinary blend)
Tips for Success
Always use fully dried herbs to avoid moisture in your salt.
For fresh herbs: dehydrate or oven-dry them before blending.
Make in small batches to retain flavor and potency.
Label with herb names, purpose, and date for intuitive use.
Custom Blends for Intention
Lung Support Salt: lemon thyme, sage, oregano, rosemary
Calming Salt: lavender, chamomile, lemon balm
Mineral Boost Salt: nettle, dandelion leaf, parsley
Heart Salt: rose, hawthorn leaf, lemon verbena
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If you are finding your tummy feeling sluggish or bloated and your tongue is heavily coated you may need to eventually rebalance your food choices, but in the meantime, try some of these time-honored tips for relief. Strengthen your digestion when you eat to get the gut juices flowing again.
• Activate your digestion with Lemon juice or Lime juice in warm water.
Put lemon / lime juice on chicken or fish or Balsamic vinegar on salads at the time of eating meat, fish, chicken and animal protein
• A glass of warm herbal tea with a meal heaps digestion
✓ Chai tea stimulates the gut when weather is cold
✓ Digestive teas - peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, green tea, hibiscus and Davidson plum.
• Warm liquid stocky soups e.g. Minestrone, miso paste, broth soups lighten the digestive load.
• Aromatic herbs at every main meal get the gut juices flowing by activating our sense of smell, which is linked to our taste receptors
✓ Basil, ginger, garlic, parsley, coriander, lemongrass, lemon, chilli, curry blends, mint, etc.
✓ Keep a small supply of fresh herbs in your garden, use often.
✓ Use spice pastes such as Thai, Moroccan, and Curry pastes.
• Bitter lettuces such as rocket, radicchio and gourmet salad mix help the gut juices flow.
• Alternate a glass of mineral water with a glass of alcohol if you choose to drink. This helps you stay hydrated and flush out the acidic alcohol.
• Herbal Oxymels are custom blended herbs added to a base of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey. The Herb Emporium has these in the online store and we custom blend to support your body - they are truly delicious. (see the recipe above).
We are always here to assist and guide you to find the right herbal remedy for your health.
Discover your Herb Passion
Embark on a journey of knowledge and inspiration. Unleash your potential and unlock the secrets of herbology. Whether you dream of starting a business, exploring new passions, or sharing your creative projects with the world, we're here to guide you every step of the way. Arrange a time with us at The Herb Emporium in person or via telehealth.
Don’t miss this workshop!
Let us take you on an energetic journey with herbs, just as traditional cultures learned about the power of plants as medicine. You will be amazed how your sensory experience with herbs as teas, tinctures, oils and baths can unlock knowledge on the power of herbs. it’s what you need to know to heal your body, mind and soul. This workshop is very popular, so register your interest as we launch the new dates soon.
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