NaturalMedications

You'll need pretty bottles; a funnel; corks; ribbon or raffia; paraffin (and crayons if you want to top it all off with colored wax seals).

1 or 2 cups almond, avocado, safflower or sunflower oil. An assortment of completely dried flowers and herbs. Essential oils (highly

concentrated aromatic plant extracts available at natural food stores.)

1. Thoroughly clean bottles using soap and hot water, then rinse completely, its important to remove all the water from these bottles.

(If you're short on time, pouring a small amount of alcohol [like vodka] into the bottles and swishing it around should displace and evaporate the final traces of any water; allow the bottles to completely dry before you fill them with oil)

2. Place some dried herbs and flowers into each bottle. You can use just one herb (like lavender) or combine several.

3. Using the funnel, carefully fill the bottle with oil, then add 4 or 5 drops of essential oil.

4. Carefully place the cork in the bottle, making sure it fits snugly (you can tap it in gently with a rubber mallet).

5. Melt paraffin or beeswax, add bits of a crayon for color, thin dip the top of the corked bottle into the melted wax several times to create a colorful seal.

6. Tie a ribbon or piece or raffia around the bottle.