Dandelion

Dandelions- Taraxacum officinale
"lions tooth"

 

This was one of my first plants that I foraged for.  It was raining and muddy and we gathered the dandelions and roots, brushed off the mud and took them home to make medicine.  It felt very empowering.  Each time I gather the roots of the dandelions, I reflect back on this first experience.  Dandelions are known as being a pesky weed.. most people are trying to get rid of them.. but they are nutritious, medicinal and free!  Spring is the time to gather your dandelions... you could gather them locally or you may find Dandelion leaves at your local farmers market or grocery store to make a dandelion salad.

 

Benefits of Dandelion leaves:
Powerful diuretic without leaching potassium from the body.  This is the best natural source of potassium.  High in CA, rich in iron, low calories, mild laxative, natural diuretic and aids liver and gallbladder.  A great food to add to your spring cleansing!

Benefits of Dandelion roots:
Great tonic for the liver.  (A tonic strengthens or enlivens an organ or the whole body)

Ways to add Dandelion Leaves into your life:

• combine dandelion greens with walnuts, apples and goat cheese and top with olive oil (5parts), apple cider vinegar (3parts), Dijon mustard (1part), honey, salt and pepper
• steam greens 5-10min and add salt and pepper, serve on toasted bread and top with an egg
• 

Dig up the roots!
 

Feeling adventurous... find your dandelions outside, dig around the plant and gently draw the roots out.. shake off the dirt and bring inside to rinse off.  (Best to dig roots between June and August)

Dandelion Tincture

• rinse the roots well
• cut off the leaves or you can keep them
• place them in a mason jar
• pour 100 proof over the top to cover
• place top on- shake
• leave on counter for 4-6 weeks
• decant and pour into a dark colored tincture bottle

Use: can be useful for acne and eczema, arthritis, changes in hormones, liver cleansing and more!
Dosage: 2-3 droppers 2-3x day

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Please consult your health care professional with any health-related concerns, and for diagnosis and treatment.



Calendula Tincture

.....

Calendula Tincture or Extract

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) or more commonly known as pot marigold is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant in the daisy family.  Medicinally, Calendula tincture used externally is known to aid in skin wounds and reduce inflammation.  Its many uses include healing: diaper rash, cuts or scrapes (hangnails as well), bee stings, wounds, sores and more.  It has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. 

Ingredients:

• Dried (1part dried Calendula to 5 parts alchol) or Fresh Calendula (4 handfuls)
• Vodka 50% or Grain alcohol

Directions:

1. place herbs in a 1-qt clean mason jar
2. pour alcohol over the herbs- making sure to cover the plant
3. cover mason jar with a paper towel and tie up with an elastic band
4. label and let sit in the sun 4-6 weeks- stirring the first few days
5. After 6 weeks- decant and store in a dark colored spray bottle
6. You can use "as is" or dilute 12 parts tincture to 10 parts witch hazel

Uses:
Spray and use externally on scrapes, cuts and wounds for quick healing.  Great for kids!

Elderberry Syurp

Elderberry Syrup



Elderberries are not only delicious, they help the body rid of mucous.  When we have too much mucous, it is usually a response to an infection and the edlerberries helps rid the body of the problematic organism.  This syrup may prevent or help you recover from the flu, cold, excessive mucous and sore throats.

Ingredients:

• 4oz dried elderberries (1/2c)
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 5 Cloves
• 1 tbs of fresh ginger
• 2c of water
• 1c local honey

Directions:

• place 1/2c of elderberries, cinnamon stick, 1tbs of ginger, 5 cloves and 2c of water in a pot
• bring to a boil and cover
• Simmer covered for 20min or until thickens
• add 1c of honey and cool
• place in a dark bottle, label and store in the fridge

To take:

• when sick take 1tbs an hour
• to prevent an illness take 1tbs a day

"Taken from Mountainroseherbs.com"

Thyme Salve

Salves are amazing for minor skin damage, burns, bruises, sprains, rashes and much more.  They are made with the plant, olive oil, beeswax and I usually use Lavender Essential Oil.  They are a topical application that you can take with you anywhere.  I choose to make thyme salve this month as it is great to apply to your chest when you are suffering from a cough.  A good alternative to vicks vapor rub and kids love it!

Thyme Salve Recipe
Ingredients (rough estimates)

• a handful of fresh thyme
• 1.5 cups Olive Oil (enough to cover thyme)
• 1/2 round of Beeswax- about 12onces melted
• 20 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

Thyme Oil-

• Cut fresh thyme
• place in small mason jar
• cover thyme with olive oil
• let sit 4-6 weeks covered with a paper towel and elastic
• stir with a wooden spoon the first few days and check periodically for mold
• after 6 weeks- strain the olive oil out and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the salve

Thyme Salve-

• use the thyme oil you made and place in double boiler with beeswax
• use 3oz of oil to 1oz of beeswax
• wait until beeswax has thoroughly melted into the oil, stirring with a chopstick or spoon
• to test salve consistency, drip a small amount of melted salve onto a saucer and place it in the freezer for 1 minute.  You may choose to experiement and change the oil-to-beeswax ratio if you prefer either a harder or softer salve
• poor mixture into a glass jar or several small tins
• add essential oils immediately 
• cover and let cool
• store salves tightly capped and away from heat and direct light

Thyme salve is for sale at the studio among other salves, tinctures and teas.

Ginger Tincture

If you could have an all natural quick fix for nausea, vomiting and stomach aches would you make it today?  Ginger tincture can be life saving and it so easy to make.  When you are tossing your cookies for hours or just ate something that did not settle well- Ginger is your answer!

What is a tincture?
"Tinctures are concentrated extracts of herbs made with a mixture of alcohol (sometimes water), which acts to extract the constituents of the plants and also as a perservative."  Anne McIntyre

Recipe for Ginger Tincture

• chop up ginger root (you can get this at most grocery stores)

place ginger in a small mason jar- 1part fresh root to 2 part liquid

fill the mason jar with vodka or brandy (make sure it covers the ginger) I prefer brandy for this  

     tincture.

LABEL THE JAR- you may forget what is in there:)

cover and let sit 4-6 weeks- shaking the jar once a day in the beginning

Strain the ginger root and store the infused vodka/brandy in a dark bottle

Seal, label and date the new bottle and store for up to 2years

This is your Ginger Tincture

How to take Ginger Tincture?
For nausea/stomach ache: take a dropperful (1tsp) in a little water and drink. Take more if needed
For vomiting/fainting: place the tincture directly on the tongue and wait

For children?
You can poor hot water over a tsp of the tincture, let it cool and add juice.

Also good for:
Nausea, sore throat, high cholesterol, cramping, arthritis pain and the common cold. Pregnant women and those with biliary disease are advised against using ginger tincture.

Top 5 foods to take when you feel you are getting sick

In the past I have misused antibiotics.  The result was problems with digestion, breakouts on my skin and an overall tiredness.  My journey to herbal medicine began because my doctors said I was fine, but I knew I did not feel well.  Two years later, I am healthier, happier and my digestion has improved.  So what do you do when you are sick? In the past, my first response was to call the doctor and get antibiotics.. knowing I had a sinus infection.  I now know there are alternate ways. 

The CDC states that antibiotics will not cure viral infections like:

•  The common cold
• Flu
• Most coughs and bronchitis
• Most sore throats (not strep)
• Most ear infections 
• Runny noses

Also, taking antibiotics for the viral infections will not:

• Cure the infections
• Keep others from getting the illness
• Help you feel better
• (http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/know-and-do.html)

Any cold is a viral infection and can take 7-14days to complete.  It can be exhausting and depressing.  Here are my top 5 foods/herbs to take when I feel a cold coming on.

1. Echinacea- "Echinacea has been found to contain substances that stimulate our immune system and help fight off infections".  Take echinacea tincture 2-3xday when you feel a cold coming on and up to 7-14days if you feel it is an infection.   
1. "People are more likely to experience allergic reactions to echinacea if they are allergic to related plants in the daisy family, which includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies. Also, people with asthma or atopy (a genetic tendency toward allergic reactions) may be more likely to have an allergic reaction when taking echinacea." http://nccam.nih.gov/health/echinacea/ataglance.htm
2. Ginger tea- it is a diaphorectic which means it promotes sweating.  Have a cup of tea, wrap yourself up and go to bed:)
3. Burdock Root- an alterative which restores the proper functioning of the body.  I add dried and cut burdock root to homemade chicken soup!
4. Raw Garlic- Anti-microbial.  When eaten raw it may be just as effective as anti-biotics!  Yes the breath is a little rough but hopefully your friends will understand. Cut up the garlic into little pieces, toast some bread and cover with olive oil and place the garlic on top.  Yum! 
5. Raw Honey-Anti-bacterial, Anti-viral and Anti-fungal.  Take a tablespoon a day for good health!