The Forgotten Magic of Folk Remedies (And How They Still Work Today)
- Sweet Earth
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 29
From Mystery to Medicine: The Alchemy of Nature
Before the bottles and barcodes, before skincare came in jars with buzzwords—there was the Earth. And there were women who knew how to listen.
My first lessons in healing didn’t come from a textbook. They came from watching my grandmother steep herbs in hot water, stir honey into tea, and bless my bath with Epsom salts when I was feeling unwell.
These weren’t just routines. They were rituals. Rooted in intuition, in natural rhythm, in love.
Today, I carry that same knowing into every product I make at Sweet Earth. Because these old ways—these folk remedies—still work. They’re not outdated; they’re timeless. Let me show you why.
In a world of high-tech skincare and quick-fix prescriptions, it’s easy to forget that for centuries—long before shelves overflowed with products—people turned to the Earth for healing. These days, we might call it herbalism, or plant-based skincare, or holistic wellness. But at its heart, it’s always been the same: a relationship with the natural world that honours its quiet, eternal power.
Back then, healing was simple. It was slow—because nature takes her time. It was sacred—because they inner-stood that plants were living spirit. And now, in a world that’s often rushing and disconnected, it feels like something we’ve wandered away from… pulled by the progress of a man-made world. But I know she’s not lost. She’s still there. Just like a loving grandmother—waiting quietly for us to come home for supper.
Everything I make at Sweet Earth is a continuation of that remembering. I don’t follow trends or mass-produce skincare in a lab. I infuse herbs in olive oil on my stove. I pour every balm by hand. I walk barefoot through my garden, conversing in word and song with the plants I grow with love—and I source the rest from people who care as deeply as I do.
This isn’t just skincare. It’s the same natural wisdom I’ve used in my own home, now shared with you.
Salt: The Great Purifier
Long used to cleanse, protect, and balance both body and spirit, salt was the original detox. Ancient cultures bathed in it, soaked feet in it, and used it to absorb stagnant energy.
Today we know that salts like magnesium chloride and potassium-rich pink salt help relieve muscle tension, while Celtic salt supports detox pathways and provides essential minerals to your body’s cells. Sea rock salt can soothe skin conditions. But long before the studies, people trusted Earth salts to heal, to nourish, to return them to centre.
Modern remedy: I love to add a handful of mineral-rich salts to warm water—Epsom paired with Celtic sea salt, which brings an extra level of trace mineral goodness. For added benefit, choose blends infused with essential oils like lavender, rose, or frankincense.
Thank you to my trusted supplier, Australian Wholesale Oils (AWO), for consistently providing pure, high-quality botanicals that I use in so many Sweet Earth blends.
I’ve created a few signature bath soaks if you need a place to start: Pranic Cleanse, Ayurvedic, and Meditational. Each one is crafted with carefully selected therapeutic salts and botanicals to support your body and mind in their own unique way.
Reading recommendation for those who would like to take a deeper dive: Relation of the Mineral Salts of the Body to the Signs of the Zodiac – George W. Carey
Calendula: The Skin’s Old Friend
Calendula, often known as "marigold," is one of the oldest known remedies in natural skincare. Beloved for its golden petals and extraordinary healing properties, calendula was known in folk medicine as a "poor man’s saffron"—used in cooking, for dyeing fabric, and most importantly, for its powerful medicine.
It’s a cornerstone of traditional skin care—used for centuries in oils and poultices to soothe everything from cracked skin and nipples, to insect bites, ulcers, surgical wounds and bruises.
Calendula isn’t just beautiful. It’s rich in compounds that promote tissue regeneration, reduce inflammation, and help the skin rebuild from within. Gentle enough for newborns. Strong enough for hard-working hands.
Modern remedy: Calendula has stood the test of time, and we’re proud to continue its legacy in our All Round Salve. Reach for it when skin feels sore, dry, or reactive. For bites, burns, bruises—there’s no end to its usefulness. Our blend pairs calendula with calming chamomile, sacred dandelion, time-honoured sage, and protective tea tree for full-spectrum support.
Clay & Charcoal: The Drawers-Out
Throughout history, clay was used in ceremony and medicine alike—binding wounds, drawing out infection, and soothing irritated skin. Many First Nation tribes knew that when paired with charcoal or honey, clay became a powerful "drawing" remedy to ease bites, stings, splinters, or infections.
Today we understand that bentonite clay binds to impurities through ionic charge, and activated charcoal—with its immense surface area—traps toxins. Together, they support the body’s own healing without suppressing it.
Modern remedy: Use a drawing balm when something needs easing out—a sting, a stubborn spot, or something that just feels stuck under the skin. Our Sweet Earth Black Goo Drawing Balm is a simple blend of charcoal, clay, and Manuka honey that stays true to the old ways.
Wild Yam & Vitex: Honouring Hormonal Cycles
Wild yam’s roots stretch deep—not only into the soil but through the stories of fertility and femininity. Revered by the Aztec and Mayan peoples, wild yam was traditionally used for menstrual pain, labor support, and digestive issues. It contains diosgenin—a plant compound once used to synthesise hormones.
Vitex (chaste tree berry) has long been known to support the pituitary gland, helping to regulate hormonal balance. It’s been used for irregular menstruation, PMS, mild endometriosis, fertility and menopause support. Truly, one of the most important women’s herbs.
These plants don’t override or force the body. They support. They soften. They steady.
Modern remedy: A topical balm made with wild yam and chaste berries can be applied to the belly or thighs—especially during the second half of your cycle, or through peri/menopause. I’m honoured to continue this tradition with our Wild Yam Hormone Balancing Butter—crafted only from plants and oils, with no added hormones or synthetics.
Reclaiming the Ritual Between Body and Earth
Folk remedies remind us of something simple, but powerful: we’re not separate from the natural world. What heals the soil can also heal the skin—for we are made from the soil, and the stars.
What calms the nervous system, nourishes the body, soothes the skin… might be growing right outside your door. This isn’t about turning your house into an apothecary. It’s about how to re-member to care for yourself simply, slowly, attentively, and with knowing.
Start small. Add calendula to your windowsill garden. Celtic salt to your cooking. Infuse oils and honeys with garlic or herbs. Play barefoot in the yard with your children. Keep a balm nearby you reach for before the pharmacy shelf.
You don’t need a degree to use plants—just curiosity, care, and reverence. And maybe, just maybe, a willingness to re-member with you again and what you have always been …
A miracle in this U-N-I-Verse.
With love,
Hala x
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