Herbal Syrups

Sore throat syrup

4 cups water

2 tablespoons osha root

1 tablespoon echinacea root

1 tablespoon fennel seed

1 tablespoon slippery elm bark

1 teaspoon ginger root

Cook this down to two cups as directed above and then add:

One half cup honey

One quarter cup brandy

One quarter cup black cherry fruit concentrate

This is a great syrup to soothe the throat. It works best if you take one

tablespoon every two hours at the first tickle of a sore throat

Herbal-C Syrup

6 cups water

3 tablespoons elderberries

2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds or cranberries

2 tablespoons rose hips

1 tablespoon pine or cedar tree needles

1 tablespoon lemongrass

Cook this down to three cups and add:

One half cup molasses

One half cup honey

One half cup fruit concentrate

This is wonderful tasting syrup to take as a tonic during cold and flu season.

Wet and Damp Cough Syrup

4 cups water

2 tablespoons elecampane root

1 tablespoon thyme

1 tablespoon horehound leaf

1 tablespoon yerba santa leaf

Cook this down to two cups and add:

One half cup honey

One half cup brandy

This syrup is for lingering wet coughs with lots of stuck phlegm and mucus.

Elderberry Syrup

3 cups water

4 tablespoons of fresh or dried elderberries

one half cup honey

one quarter cup brandy

Put the elderberries and the water into a stainless steel sauce pan. Bring to a boil and then let simmer on low heat for fifteen minutes. Turn off the heat and let the elderberries infuse for a couple of hours. Strain the elderberries out and put them in the compost pile. You now have a strong elderberry tea. Turn the stove on low and simmer the tea without a lid on the pot until the tea is down to one half of its original volume. In this case you are starting with three cups of tea and cooking it down to one and a half cups. This process is called decocting. Take the tea off of the stove and add the honey while the tea is still warm. Stir in the honey until it is dissolved. After the tea cools, add the brandy. Store this syrup in the refrigerator with a shelf life of about three to six months. Take a tablespoon every hour and a half at the first signs of a cold or flu.

Herbal Latte

1. First, start with a spicy & tasty root/bark decoction (something like this herbal chai).
Today my throat was feeling a bit dry and ticklish so I combined marshmallow root and flax seeds, both of which are excellent demulcents, with a few cinnamon sticks and dried orange. It made a soothing, delicious brew.

2. Next, in a small pan add about a cup of milk (I used raw cow's milk. Some kind of alt milk--almond, hemp, or coconut could also be used--it won't froth as well though).

3. Put on medium heat and wisk till bubbly and frothy.

4. Using a spoon to hold back the froth, pour the milk into your mug of about 1/2 cup of hot chai or other decoction of your choice.

5. Spoon froth on top.

Enjoy!

I was missing my days as a barista, I guess.

Fire Cider aka ACV Potion

from the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine



Fire Cider (also known as ACV Potion in my house)) is a popular kitchen remedy amongst many folk herbalists, especially in the Northern parts of North America. What is it? Its an herbal vinegar extraction that relies on a few main ingredients: Garlic, Ginger, Chili Peppers and Horseradish. YIKES! Garlic from Mrs M Grieve's A Modern Herbal says: “It formed the principal ingredient in the 'Four Thieves' Vinegar,' which was adapted so successfully at Marseilles for protection against the plague when it prevailed there in 1722. This originated, it is said, with four thieves who confessed, that whilst protected by the liberal use of aromatic vinegar during the plague, they plundered the dead bodies of its victims with complete security”



Fire Cider Remedies is a stimulant, purgative, antimicrobial, and more. It is sweet, sour, spicy and pungent. It tastes so good; many people keep it out and even add it to some of their food dishes. You can use it on cold mornings to wake up and get your circulation going. You can use it to help resolve colds and flus. Sometimes people add other herbs in the mix, sometimes not. It is a lovely addition to your herbal first aid cabinet.




The basic recipe:

Assemble Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Local Honey, Organic Garlic, Organic Ginger, Organic Horseradish, Organic Chili Peppers(or garden chili peppers), a knife, clippers, and quart sized mason jar

Chop up all ingredients and fill you a mason jar with equal parts peeled garlic, ginger, horseradish and chile peppers. If you are sensitive to chile peppers, you may want to add less. Fill the mason jar with Apple Cider Vinegar, covering the plant material. Screw the top on. The extraction process takes about a month, shake often.

After a month, strain out plant matter and add ½ cup of honey to the remaining liquid. Bottle and store. Dosage varies, from 1-2 tsp as needed. Some amendments include: burying it for a month(adding a little earth magic), adding beets, or nettles, chickweed, cleavers, or other nutritive weeds, adding maple syrup instead of honey....etc. Make up your own recipe!

Cold & Flu Preventative Tonic

Happy Autumn...my favorite time of the year!

Enjoy the cooler weather, the seasonal produce, warm nourishing meals, and lots of herbal tea!
And don't forget to take care of yourself too...

Our Favorite Cold & Flu Preventative Tonic

2 cloves of fresh chopped garlic
1/2 lemon cut into slices
1-2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger root
1/2 chopped white onion
1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
2-3 sticks of cinnamon

Directions
Add water to a large pot.
Add all ingredients to pot.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for at least an hour.
Add honey or maple syrup to taste & drink.
This is a strong brew and not pleasant to some--but trust me it works!

Harvest Moon Immune Building Chai

Harvest Moon Chai Recipe


Enjoy this chai tea before the cool weather sets in. Echinacea and Astragalus are both great herbs for building immunity and helping us stay strong during the upcoming cold & flu season.

Ingredients:

5 cups of water

2 tea bags or 2 Tablespoons of regular or decaf Black tea

2-3 Cinnamon sticks

1 Tablespoon fresh Ginger, grated

4-5 tongues of dried Astragulus root

1 Tablespoon dried Burdock root

2 Tablespoons dried Dandelion root

1 Tsp. ground Cardamom

1 Tsp. ground Nutmeg

1⁄2 tsp. whole Cloves

1/2 tsp. Echinacea Root

1⁄4 tsp. black Peppercorns


Directions:

1. Add water and spices to a large pot.
2. Let the water come to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

3. Strain out the herbs, add milk and honey to taste.

4. Enjoy this delicious Fall immune building tonic!