I just stumbled upon this right now: Rodale Publishing and MotherNature.com have supplied more than 20 titles in their entirety online, including The Green Pharmacy I previously enthused about.

Definitely worth bookmarking here if you’re interested in herbal remedies (which should always be approached with some measure of caution as “natural” doesn’t always equal “safe,” especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, have allergies, or are on certain medications. Also, don’t be a nincompoop and know when you should seek professional medical advice).

These spiffy zero-waste herb kit cards by recycling artist Kluane are part gift card, part herb starter kit. Each card comes with a picture frame/card made from reclaimed cardboard, sugarcane and hemp. You also get a peat pellet/herb pot, organic seeds, an ID medallion with an imprint of your herb in clay, a post to hang your medallion on, planting instructions, and gourmet cooking tips. Available with basil, cat grass, catnip, coriander, dill, garlic chives, lemongrass, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme,. Made in Canada. (CDN$9.98, Lizemp.com/Kluane)

Beats Hallmark any day.

Kluane’s philosophy:

We must go back to nature to gain insight into its efficient use and reuse of materials which I have tried to incorporate into my life and work. Some of my fondest memories are from immersing myself in nature.

Photo by Robert Daly/Getty Images

Your July 4 mission: Have a foaming hot chocolate milk bath.

From Country Living:

The ingredients in our Foaming Hot Chocolate Milk Bath are packed with skin softeners like lactic acid, found in powdered milk. Soak in this rich milk bath to soothe and soften your skin. Heat 3 tablespoons of dry bath mix with 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan and bring to a boil. Add the hot mixture to bathwater while the tub is filling.

• 1 cup instant nonfat dry milk
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Make the milk bath: Combine all ingredients in a jar, cover and store. Keeps for up to 6 months.

Luxuriate in these eco-friendly bathtubs by Durat, made with 50 percent recycled plastic and completely recyclable. [Via Fabulously Green]

More natural skin-care recipes from the magazine here.

I started spazzing out like a Japanese schoolgirl let loose in a Sanrio store when I saw The Green Pharmacy on a high shelf at a second-hand bookstore. (Used = zero environmental footprint, baby!) The book had already wheedled its way into my good graces when I used Amazon’s Search Inside function to surreptitiously look up specific ailments and their corresponding herbal cures, and the author’s level tone and judiciously doled out advice had such a warm, grandfatherly nip I found reassuring.

Pharmacy suggests cayenne pepper as a possible way of alleviating migraines (p. 287-288), but it was Care2.com’s recipe for a detoxifying tea that made the spice really pop on my radar. I’ve been adding a few dashes of cayenne pepper to my twice-daily tincture of apple cider vinegar and water (occasionally I put a few drops of echinacea extract for an immune-system boost). I can’t vouch for the myriad health claims a good many sources have made—though cayenne and its phytochemical compound capsaicin can be found in prescription-strength pain medications such as Zostrix and Dolorac—but I’ve been feeling more energized, along with a general sense of increased wellbeing, even after the initial fiery flush has receded. The purported antioxidant and free-radical-fighting properties couldn’t hurt either.

Wheatgrass, which is also rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, is something I’m considering taking again, even though the taste makes me want to throw up a grassy knoll or two. My mother juices her own wheatgrass every morning, and although she turns 60 next year, she looks like a woman at least 10 to 15 years younger. Coinkydink?

Photo by Dennis Kitchen/Getty Images

Here are just some of the natural remedies we’ve tried that have been a resounding success so far.

1. Tea Tree Oil Mold Killer
The hub’s low snorts of derision about the efficacy of our homemade cleaning fluids quickly turned into shouts of glee when he used Care2.com’s recipe for tea tree oil mold remover to clean our bathroom ceiling. He said it was better than the bleach-based products we used in the past. “Plus, no cancer!” I hollered up the ladder at him. He still wore goggles, however, so the oil wouldn’t irritate his eyes, and a face mask we have lying around, because the smell can get quite overwhelming. (Oddly enough, I thought it smelled rather bleach-like.)

Caveat:
Essential oils can be potentially toxic to cats, so do keep Fluffums out of the area where you’re doing this. (For more information about cats and essential oils, I recommend reading The Lavender Cat.)

2. Dr. Chekhov’s Cold & Flu Tonic
The name was my sister’s silly idea. She was thrown on her back by a severe case of the sniffles, and complained bitterly about a sore throat. So, improvising from herbal wisdom, I told her to mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with about 8 oz. or more of water, plus 20 drops of echinacea extract—to be taken three times a day for a few days. It didn’t perk her up instantly, of course, but after some bed rest (this is very important), her sore throat vanished, and a couple of days later, she was practically bouncing off the walls. Apple cider vinegar kills bacteria and prevents the little buggers from sticking to the lining of your throat, while echinacea—which you may find in many “immune-boosting” health shakes—has antimicrobial properties and stimulates the immune system to battle infections.

You can make a warm version with a teaspoon of honey, as well, but be sure to rinse your mouth well after that because the combo of honey and vinegar can corrode your dental enamel. (We happened to have echinacea extract at home because I told the hub to try this formula when he had an onset of allergies in Florida last week, and so he bought some from a nearby health store. It wasn’t a cure-all for him, but he said he felt somewhat relieved of the symptoms after drinking this for a few days.)

Disclaimer:
Remember kids, Chekhov doesn’t have a real M.D., so this isn’t a substitute for non-quack medical advice, and you should always consult your doctor before trying home remedies if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on other medications. (Some people may be allergic to echinacea, as well, so do approach with caution if you’re hypersensitive.)

3. Baking Soda: Miracle Cleaner
If there’s one product that can put all chemical-cleaner manufacturers out of business, it’s baking soda. I use it for everything from unplugging drains (sprinkle a heapful of baking soda over the drain, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then pour hot water over it) to getting coffee and tea stains out from inside our ceramic mugs. I also like to shake some into the trash bin to absorb smells. And it works great on baked-on gunk on oven pans, and even, to my surprise, rust stains in our sink.

4. DIY Hair Conditioner
I also improvised this from different sources: 1 egg yolk (left over from your egg-white facial), 2 teaspoons of castor oil, and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. I found this actually worked a little too well, resulting in hair that was almost greasy, so the next time I do this, I’m going to reduce the amount of castor oil by 1 teaspoon. Still, if you have dry hair and are seeking one of those “deep-conditioning treatments,” this would do the trick. My hair became incredibly soft and shiny, and now I’m thinking of adding a few drops of lavender essential oil (and experimenting further) so this can replace my store-bought conditioner. Less haste but less waste.

Applications of apple cider vinegar also all but vanquished any dandruff I had. My scalp still tends to itch the next day, however, so I’m still looking for a solution to this problem.