Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Guest Post and Giveaway: Herbology 101 with author Hailey Edwards



Poultice


     While writing A Feast of Souls, I researched herb lore because the heroine, Mana, is a spirit walker. In the Araneae world, that makes her a spiritual leader for her clan, one who can walk in between worlds and aid in healing from the spiritual plane. Mana also studies herbology. During the course of the book, she mentions making a poultice to draw infection from a sword wound.
    
     A poultice, or cataplasm, is a soft mass (made from bread, meal, or clay and medicated with herbs) spread on fabric and heated before being applied to sores or cuts. They are used to draw out infection, treat boils and abscesses or to cure itchy rashes.

 
     Here are a few cool facts about poultices:
 
1.      Poultices can also be used to remove stains on porous materials, such as granite and marble countertops and floors.
             2.      Because they ease inflammation, poultices are commonly used on horses.
             3.      Applications for poultices are only limited by their ingredients.

     So my question is this—have you ever tried a home remedy or herbal cure? If so, did it work for you? Leave a comment to let me know and you’ll be entered to win your choice of title from my backlist in any digital format and an Araneae swag pack. Contest is open internationally.

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A Feast of Souls Excerpt

     Tonight we fought for our freedom. If we lost…I wanted to know this male’s kiss.

     Vaughn cleared his throat. “We could make up for lost time.”

     “You’d do that, for me?” My smile was impossible to stop. I should be afraid—of him, of this night, of the outcome of two bound prisoners against a score of Theridiidae. “How kind you are.”

     But I wasn’t afraid. Vaughn’s presence enveloped me, kept me safe against all odds. My skin tightened and my head ached as I was forced to consider perhaps it had never been him I feared, but his effect on me. Tradition demanded I save myself for my soul mate. My heart, well, it was less inclined to wait. With no visible aura and no possible future, I gave myself to this moment.

     Vaughn closed the distance between us. “This is not the first kiss you deserve.”

     “Who said this was my first?” I was a warm-blooded female and males had interested me.

     His brow furrowed. “You’re Salticidae.”

     “I am.” I wished my hands were free to shape his broad shoulders. “I’m also waiting.”

     “Then we’re even.” His head lowered. Our breaths mingled. “I’ve waited for this.”

     Surprise parted my lips, and he claimed my mouth with hunger that sank into my bones. One brush of his lips and I was lost. His tongue traced the entrance to my mouth, seeking permission I granted by inclining my head. Desire fogged my mind, the low rumble in the back of his throat making tension coil low in my stomach. Our bodies pressed so close, I realized how well we fit.

     The thrust and glide of Vaughn’s tongue mirrored the erotic turn of my thoughts. No. I could not indulge in this male when I had one of my own somewhere. When the gods brought my soul mate to me, I would not go to him sullied or disgraced for being so weak I gave away my virtue.

     Suddenly the bite of rope on my wrists was a welcome reminder of our circumstances. Over the pounding of my heart, I heard his raw breaths and saw wildness glint in his eyes. I withdrew.

     If our display hadn’t earned us the full attention of our guards, I might have considered a roll in the snow to cool the heat making it hard for me to breathe. Gods’ web he had my mind dazed.

 ****This post contains general information about medical conditions and treatments.
The information is not advice, and should not be treated as such. Click for complete disclaimer.****
 
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About the Author:
Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff’s department and her daughter is counting down the days until she’s old enough to audition for American Idol. Her doxie, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing in his recliner in her office.
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Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle’s screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.


4 comments:

Denise Z said...

I think the only home remedies I have used are perhaps, lemon and honey in tea or mint in tea for soothing a sore throat or stomach upset respectively. These did work and were soothing. I would love to find a poultice that I could make for rashes and skin irritations. I love reading a good story that I can tell has been researched well in areas such as this. Thank you for sharing with us today and I am looking forward to reading your work.
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

Linda said...

Love the excerpt, =) can´t wait to read this one.
I´ve tried a home remedy once (or twice), shredded greater plantain (groblad in swedish) over my eye when it blew up, it was so big and puffy that i couldn´t see through it, but with this on, and replaced two times, it healed *happy sigh* Don+t know how it can work, but it did.
Thanks for the giveway, Happy Release & Happy Holidays!
//Linda

Mary Preston said...

I have an aloe vera plant that I use for burns, cuts & scrapes etc. Very soothing.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Linda said...

I’m Asian & where I live herbal chinese medicine is quite the norm. I hv no idea what the english names for all the herbs are but yes I do take them regularly. There’s a concoction I’m taking at this moment (I fractured my wrist) that’s supposed to promote bone healing. It looks like tree bark shavings & tastes rather unpleasant!