During my recent stay at an Airbnb, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful houseplants that adorned the space. It wasn't until later that I realized these plants were actually fake, but that didn't diminish their impact on my mood. Despite being artificial, these plants still managed to evoke feelings of happiness and joy every time I looked at them.

In recent years, fake plants have become an increasingly popular choice for home and office décor. While some may view them as a less-than-ideal substitute for real plants, there are actually many positive effects that fake plants can have on the brain.

First and foremost, the presence of plants – even fake ones – can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Studies have shown that simply looking at plants can have a calming effect on the mind, and can even lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety levels. This is why many hospitals and other healthcare facilities have begun incorporating greenery into their interiors.

First I want to say this…..Tinctures are surprisingly easy to make! All you need is:

• Herb or Herbs of choice

• Mason jar

• Soaking agent: Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerin or Vinegar (Glycerin is my goto since it’s more user-friendly for children and has a sweeter taste making it more desirable for all, but alcohol has a benefit of making the tincture last forever.)

• Masking tape for labeling

• Cheesecloth used for straining

• Doppler for application use

Tinctures are a key component of traditional herbal medicine. I decided to make my own tincture when I realized the tincture I bought had all natural ingredients in it. I thought, Hey! I can make this! I wanted to save money, and tap into my inner herbalist. Using plants for medicine is something our ancestors did for healing. Tinctures usually take longer to make, anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to fully saturate the liquid with the plant medicine. The wait period is the most challenging part of the process because the longer you allow the plants to soak, the more benefits can be yielded from the plant. Increased potency is best when making your own healing medicine.