Ignite Your Creativity With Herbs

Herbs are delectable little plants that we ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over when watching cooking shows. They bring so much flavour to any dish! Outside of the kitchen, however, they can ignite a creativity that you didn’t even know you had inside of you! Here are three awesome ways to use your fresh herbs outside of the kitchen!

Say Goodbye to Mosquitoes!

That time of year is right around the corner! You can already hear the buzzing in your ear and your skin is already itchy. Don’t let those pesky mosquitoes ruin your backyard barbeque this year. Instead, try making a mosquito repellent herb garden. All you need is a planter, some soil, and of course the perfect combination of herbs! Lemon balm, lavender, and catnip are awesome mosquito repelling herbs (plus the neighbourhood cats will love you!). Peppermint is also a great way to repel mosquitoes but it is an invasive herb so try leaving it in its own pot so the roots don’t spread. Now you are definitely ready to say goodbye to mosquitoes and hello to late summer nights on the deck!

A Relaxing Soak in the Tub

After a long and very hot summer day, the best way to cool down is by taking a long relaxing bath! I know what you’re thinking, ‘a bath??!! In this weather? Too hot!’. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Just add some ground peppermint leaves to your bath, it has wonderful cooling properties. Plus, if you’re feeling stressed out, throw in some lavender! Almost guaranteed to make you wind down and cool off after a long day! Muddle your herbs (mortar and pestle) or grind them up in a food processor and mix them with epsom salts. Lay this mixture on a sheet pan overnight to infuse and then simply package in an airtight glass jar. Now you’re all set to have a cool and relaxing soak. Just add ¼ cup of the mixture to your bath, swirl it around, and let go!

Herbal Tea for your Hair

Now that we have finally made it out of the cold winter weather, your hair has probably suffered as much as you have! Have no fear, the magic of herbs is here! Start by boiling 2 cups of water and add about 4-5 tablespoons of dried herbs. Herbs can help to calm inflammation and soothe the scalp as well as stimulate circulation and moisturize hair. We recommend lavender, peppermint, and chamomile for their soothing effects and if you want to get fancy, throw in some rose petals. Steep this mixture for 30 minutes to an hour and then strain the liquid. Once it has cooled, pour the mixture over your scalp and hair. You can either rinse with cold water or let the tea sit in your hair for extra moisture. You’re ready to take on the summer with soft, manageable hair.