"Peppermints" by LabyrinthX-2 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

This week, we will continue our exploration of tasty culinary herbs that bridge the herb/food gap with Peppermint.  The seasonal aisles are full of peppermint flavored candies, peppermint scented candles, and seasonal inspired peppermint tea blends.  Let’s get to know this tenacious plant a bit better including it’s history, medicinal uses, key components, growing habits, when to avoid it, and a few ways to incorporate it into our daily lives. 

Breathing in steam is a time tested remedy for clearing the skin and the respiratory tract. When we add herbs to the hot water, we can add even more powerful action to this treatment.

You want me to rub what on my face?  Tallow, yep tallow.

Beef fat rendered into tallow is fantastic for skin issues.  I’ve heard stories of it being the only thing to stop acne in its tracks.  I love it for the relief I get from my skin psoriasis and the dewy youth it returns to my face.  I’ve never had it irritate my skin or contribute to acne like coconut oil has, and it doesn’t trap in heat and redness like products with beeswax tend to.  It’s 100% natural, it’s easy to obtain once you look for it, and it honors the sacrifice of the animals we use for food, as we use more of the animal than we might otherwise.

Does it smell like beef fat?  Well yes, as that’s what it is, but once it is absorbed into your skin, the smell disappears.  Some people like to add essential oils to cover the smell, but I don’t find this necessary.  In fact, I prefer to infuse the oil with dried herbs – this decreases the environmental impact of overusing essential oils, decreases the likelihood that there will be an adverse skin reaction, and helps the medicine maker feel a stronger connection to the plants themselves.