Ida's Soap Box

The versatility of vinegar has been known for thousands of years. The Babylonians were the first to flavor vinegar with herbs and spices and in 400 B.C. Hippocrates described its medicinal properties. From skin and hair care, to the kitchen and cleaning cupboard, vinegar is one of the most useful products to have in your home, especially with the addition of therapeutic and/or flavorful herbs.

Herbs are plants that contain a life force of their own. Slowly infusing herbs into oil transfers the healing properties, flavors and colors to the oil, and is one of the oldest forms of medicine-making. A simple infusion can transform an oil into a versatile ingredient to jazz up your cooking or create your own skin care products.

Many folks complain that herbal remedies do not work. Sadly, this is often due to poor quality herbs. Herbs lose their potency over time. Improper growing, handling or storage will result in poor quality herbs with little flavor and few beneficial properties. To make good quality herbal products you must start with the best quality herbs!

When using herbs for culinary or therapeutic use, one of the most common questions is . . . which is better, dried herbs or fresh herbs? When using herbs to make skin care products, I recommend that beginners use dried herbs for the best results and longest shelf life. The moisture content of fresh herbs may cause mold to form in infusions, especially oils.