Whether you are a first time or seasoned mom, it is difficult and exhausting to sit with a baby who has “colic”. Symptoms can be stomach spasms, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and pain. Causes can be an immature nervous system, allergies, poor/sluggish digestion, contaminated food, inflammation, tight muscles, and stagnation/energy blockage. Mom often just needs to buy some time for her little one’s system to mature, reset, and heal. Combined with infant massage techniques, this salve can help relieve symptoms. Mood and rest will improve for both mother and child so that bonding can occur.
Instructions: Fill a 16 ounce jar with equal amounts (about 3/4 cup each) of fresh basil, fennel tops, dill tops, lemon balm, spearmint and chamomile. Press down if your jar overfills. Then fill the jar with organic olive oil. Let sit and top off before sealing. Infuse for 2 weeks and then strain. Proceed to use in your favorite salve recipe.
Foeniculum is a member of the parsley/carrot family that is often found in colonies. It is important to identify this herb accurately, even if growing in an urban yard or garden. Warmer climates produce a perennial almost 5 feet tall. A carrot shaped root is below the ground. When very mature the stem can form a large white “bulb” (like celery) at its base. There are 2-5 hollow, pithy, finely grooved bright/jade green stalks with bluish stripes. Some plants appear to have a waxy/white “bloom”. The leaves grow from the center/basal (immature) or branch off upper stalks as wide alternate sheaths (mature) that wrap around the outside. Leaf shape is pinnate, very compound, and constructed of numerous threadlike filiform segments (like some ferns or asparagus). Compound umbels produce yellow flowers in late summer or early fall. When cut, torn, or rubbed the plant parts produce a strong licorice scent. Fennel seeds are light green (becoming a bit yellow as they dry/mature) oblong, dense and a good size.
Caution: Poison hemlock and fennel are easy to confuse. Hemlock will have purple blotches/spots on the stalks, leaves that lacy/broader/more triangular, white flowers, and an unpleasant scent. Poison hemlock and young dying fennel in the fall can be especially hard to tell apart. When in doubt crush plant material or seeds with the foot and smell without touching the plant.
Foeniculum is well know as a remedy for stomach and intestinal complaints. It has been used to treat abdominal cramps, bloating, indigestion, nausea, constipation, heartburn, bad breath, gas, and colic. It expels mucus, relaxes bronchi and clears congestion in the lungs. It relieves a horse throat, moves stagnation in the liver, and increases the flow of breast milk. This herb may help stabilize blood sugar levels, Chewing dried fennel seeds stimulates the digestive juices, helps digest fats, assists in the assimilation of food and treats bad breath. As an infusion it serves as a diuretic for kidney stones and gout. As a weak tea it can lower fever, reduce teething pain, and stop hiccups in children.
Parts Used: Leaves and seeds
Energetics: sweet, warm, moist
Element: fire
Spiritual and Emotional Uses: To move stagnant energy and bring sweetness and freshness back into life. To restore trust, security and purity to a relationship. To repel negative energies.
Contraindications: Avoid therapeutic doses in pregnancy. Excess consumption can stimulate the nervous system.
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 