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Herbal Treatment

Herbalism & Plant Medicine

From teas to tinctures, whether made from plants you've grown yourself, or from plant materials you've purchased, or even from plants you've found in the natural, unblemished wild ... the act of creating consumable products is very rewarding.

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These categories only just touch on the many ways in which herbs can be used in plant medicine applications. However, we like to start somewhere in sharing the joy of plants used for more than just seasoning the foods we eat. Feel free to try some of the recipes below.

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Tea -  a drink made by pouring hot water onto dried and cut leaves and sometimes flowers, especially the leaves of the tea plant. This category also includes decoctions and infusions.

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Extraction - a substance made by extracting a part of herbal raw material, usually by using a solvent such as water or alcohol.

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Infusion - process of steeping (soaking) plant material in a vegetable or carrier oil, honey or vinegars until the liquid absorbs the oils, flavors, color and vitamin/mineral aspects of that plant.

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Glycerite - a medicinal preparation made by mixing or dissolving a substance in glycerin.

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Tincture - concentrated liquid herbal extracts made from plants and used as herbal medicine. They are taken orally to relieve a wide range of health issues, or as in support of specific elements of your wellbeing. Tinctures are solutions that use alcohol and water as a solvent.

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Chamomile

1 T  fresh Thyme

1 T  fresh Peppermint

Fresh-squeezed Lemon juice

1 t  raw, local Honey

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  • Bring water to boil in saucepan.

  • Add sage leaves, remove saucepan from heat.

  • Cover and steep for 15 minutes.

  • Stir in remaining ingredients.

 

Enjoy a cup several times a day for relief.

Tea

Peppermint is uplifting and energizing and boasts properties to help with improving digestion, relieving migraine, freshening breath and more. It also works well as a decongestant. Thyme is a Mediterranean herb with antibacterial, anticancer, and antifungal properties. It may also help with acne, blood pressure, cough, immunity, disinfection and elevating mood. Lemons are high in vitamin C and the chemical compounds of lemons have been found to support heart health, weight control, kidney stones, anemia, cancer, and digestive health. Raw honey is a source of antioxidants and contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. The nutrients found in honey can help with wounds, digestion, weight control, sore throat and brain health.

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1 qt  Water

12  fresh Sage leaves

2 T  fresh Lemon juice

2 T  raw, local Honey

A  pinch of Cayenne pepper

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  • Bring water to boil in saucepan.

  • Add sage leaves, remove saucepan from heat.

  • Cover and steep for 15 minutes.

  • Stir in remaining ingredients.

 

Enjoy a cup several times a day for immuno-support at seasonal changes.

Herbal Tea

Sage, a culinary herb from the mint family, shares the family's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which may help support oral health, brain function, memory, blood sugar, cholesterol, healthy skin and wound healing. Cayenne pepper contains vitamins A and C. The capsaicin found in peppers helps protect your heart, aids in digestion, treats colds and helps reduce pain and inflammation. 

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1 t  dried Garlic (or 1 T fresh, pressed)

1 t  dried Ginger (or 1 T fresh, peeled and sliced)

1 t  dried Turmeric (or 1 T fresh, grated)

Fresh-squeezed Lemon juice

1 t  raw, local Honey

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  • Bring water to boil in saucepan.

  • Add sage leaves, remove saucepan from heat.

  • Cover and steep for 15 minutes.

  • Stir in remaining ingredients.

 

Enjoy a cup several times a day for relief.

Ginger, Lemon & Honey Tea

Ginger and turmeric decrease inflammation, relieve chronic pain, reduce nausea, and improve immune function. These herbs, as well as garlic, boost immunity and have been attributed with reducing blood pressure, fighting cancer, pre-diabetes and tuberculosis as well as to aid digestion, promote gut-health, and ease joint pain. This tea blend is also to fight seasonal cold and flu symptoms.

SPECIAL NOTES: You should never "cook" the honey when using it in teas as this will kill the healing enzymes and bacterium. This is why honey is always added before consumption.  Also, honey should never be given to infants under 1 year of age.

Chamomile

Honeys and vinegars are among the favorites for the infusion of herbs or spices. Some recipes even use wine for infusions — especially for marinades, glazes and dressings — to impart the added benefit of the herbs or spices selected. We love this one using honey, added to hibiscus tea for the calming, soothing benefits of lavender and chamomile. 

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1 c  dried Lavender

1 c  dried Chamomile

2 c  raw, local Honey

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  • Add hand-crushed/bruised herbs to pint jar.

  • Cover with honey, using the handle of a wooden spoon stab into the mixture to ensure all the air space is removed from the plant matter.

  • Seal jar tightly and place in a dark, cool place.

  • For the next 3 - 4 weeks, on a daily basis, turn jar to "stir."

  • Using cheesecloth, strain plant material from honey and place in a clean jar.

Honey Jars

SPECIAL NOTES:  The reason you should use local honey is to help with allergies. The bee pollen contains the allergens which may adversely affect you and in consuming them, you'll develop a resistance, effectively minimizing your reaction. Also, natural honey has no expiration date.

Chamomile

George Carlin was fond of saying "An idle mind is the devil's workshop. And the devil's name is Alzheimer's."

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Rosemary, "The Herb of Remembrance," yet another herb from the mint (Lamiaceae) family, is widely known to improve memory, focus and concentration. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is also used to relieve muscle pain, boost immunity, improve blood circulation, relieve indigestion and promote hair growth.

 

A tincture is a good way to increase your intake of it. We like the 1-2-3-4 Rule: 1 part dried herb to 2 parts alcohol for 3 to 4 weeks. (Glycerin or apple cider vinegar can be substituted for those who prefer to avoid alcohol.)

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1/2 c  dried Rosemary

1 c  90-proof Vodka (or Everclear)

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  • Add crushed rosemary to jar.

  • Cover with alcohol.

  • Shake every day for 3-4 weeks. Storing the mix in a cool, dark place between shakes.

  • Strain herb from alcohol and place in an amber bottle with eye dropper top.

 

Use a dropperful (25-30 drops) per 8 oz glass of water twice a day*.

Rosemary Sprig

* It is recommended by Mount Sinai of New York, people with high blood pressure, ulcers, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis should not take rosemary.

Tea Leaves

"The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are."

C.S. Lewis

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