Herbal Household Remedies

cucumber, elderberries, fennel seed and barley

• A slice of cucumber over each eye soothes tired, inflamed eyes. If you suffer from bloodshot eyes, eye itching and eye inflammation because of hay fever and similar allergies, mash cucumber and apply the poultice, in a cheesecloth, on the eyelids for half an hour.
• A tea from elderberries makes a soothing eye lotion for sore eyes. Just cook the berries lightly.
• To get rid of eye strain and irritation of the eyes, cook some barley in plenty of water, then strain. Then bring 1 pint of barley water to a boil and add 1.5 tsp fennel seed. Let simmer for 5 minutes, then steep for exactly 20 minutes.

Fennel seed

Tea from fennel seed and barley will not only stimulate appetite, but also milk flow in nursing mothers.
Cook some barley in plenty of water, strain. Bring 1 pint of barley water to a boil, add 1.5 tsp fennel seed. Let simmer for 5 minutes, the steep for exactly 20 minutes.
A cup taken by nursing mothers will stimulate milk flow, half a cup before meals stimulates appetite.