Here you will find a range of do-it-yourself mineral and vitamin supplements, tonics, and teas that can be taken every day, as well as protection and nourishment for the skin, remedies for the mind and spirit, and more.
Flaxseed Rehydration Tea
Being fully hydrated can make an enormous difference to how well you feel, and remain. Tea from flaxseeds is perfect for rehydrating. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids from the seeds, the tea nourishes the cell membranes, and tones and protects the digestive tract from top to bottom. This recipe gives maximum rehydration.
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. flaxseeds
1 quart water
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 1 cup, enough for 3 days.
Keeps up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Put the seeds and water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let sit with the lid on for 12 hours or overnight. The next day, bring to a boil again and simmer for 1 hour.
Strain the tea, reserving the seeds. (These can be eaten, for example, added to oatmeal or to a cookie dough, with some golden raisins.)
Put 1/4 cup of the remaining liquid into a large (ideally 20-fl.-oz.) mug. Dilute the thick liquid with half boiling and half cold water. Drink 1 mug of the tea 3 times daily, half an hour before a meal.
— Tip —
IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH, YOU CAN MAKE FLAXSEED TEA THE QUICK WAY. THIS SIMPLE METHOD MAKES ENOUGH FOR ONE DAY’S TEA: BOIL 1 TBSP. OF FLAXSEEDS AND 1 CUP WATER IN A SAUCEPAN UNTIL THE WATER IS REDUCED BY HALF. DRINK ONCE OR TWICE DAILY TO SOOTHE IRRITATION. THE TEA KEEPS FOR UP TO 3 DAYS IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
Probiotic Lemonade
Courtesy of Lynn Rawlinson
This delicious, probiotic drink can help restore the good bacteria in our digestive tract, easing bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and trapped gas.
INGREDIENTS
1 (16-oz.) container probiotic plain organic yogurt (see here)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
31/2–4 quarts freshly filtered water, to top up as required
juice from 12 lemons
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes up to 4 quarts.
Keeps up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
METHOD
First make a whey: Put a thickish piece of cheesecloth over a bowl and attach it with a thick rubber band or string. Pour the yogurt into it and let sit for 1 hour.
Scoop the yogurt back into its container. In the bowl, you will have a clearish liquid—the whey containing the probiotics or helpful bacteria.
Place the sugar and honey into a large glass jar wth a lid. Add the whey and fill the jar halfway with fresh water. Add the lemon juice and top up again so that the jar is about three-quarters full. Tighten the lid. Mix the ingredients well by agitating the jar.
Keep at room temperature for 2 days; the probiotics in the whey will eat some of the sugar and multiply, leaving you with a probiotic lemonade ready to bottle.
— Tip —
THIS LEMONADE IS SHARP, SO YOU MAY LIKE TO SWEETEN IT WITH HONEY BEFORE DRINKING.
Soothing Sloe C Syrup
Courtesy of Rachel Corby
High in vitamin C, this syrup can help soothe bronchial conditions, colds, catarrh, and inflammation of the throat.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup fresh sloes (the fruit of blackthorn)
2 cups hot water
11/2 cups honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 3 cups.
Keeps up to 2 years in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Decoct the sloes in the water (see here) for 20 minutes. Do not boil. Strain and discard all the pits and plant matter.
Measure the remaining liquid. Either match what you have left with an equal volume of honey or discard any excess water so that only 11/2 cups remain, then add the honey. Gently heat the liquid until all the honey has dissolved, and bottle.
Take 2 tsp. 3 times a day directly from a spoon or dissolved in an herbal tea.
Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.
— Tip —
IF POSSIBLE, COLLECT THE SLOES AFTER A HARD FROST, BECAUSE THIS MAKES THEIR SKIN SOFTER AND MORE PERMEABLE. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE SYRUP BEFORE THE FIRST FROST, FREEZE THE SLOES BRIEFLY BEFORE USING.
Rose Hip C Syrup
In Britain during World War II, there was a shortage of fruit, so vitamin C deficiency became a concern. The Women’s Institute (WI) organized mass gatherings of rose hips and produced rose hip syrup on a large scale, made using a recipe provided by the Ministry of War. This recipe is based on that.
INGREDIENTS
4 cups fresh rose hips, finely chopped
31/2 cups boiling water
2 cups cold water
1 cup sugar
YOU WILL NEED
• DOUBLE THICKNESS CHEESECLOTH OR JELLY BAG
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 2 cups.
Keeps for 1 year until opened, then keep in the refrigerator and use within 1 month.
METHOD
Drop the freshly picked and finely chopped rose hips into the boiling water. Stir, remove from the heat, and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain by letting it drip through the double thickness cheesecloth or the jelly bag. Transfer the hips from the cheesecloth to a saucepan. Wash the cheesecloth or jelly bag immediately after—you’ll need it for the next stage of the recipe.
Add the strained juice and 2 cups of cold water to the pan. Bring to a boil. Stir, remove from heat, and let sit for 10 minutes. (Doing it twice ensures you get all the vitamin C.)
Strain again through the cheesecloth or jelly bag. Do not squeeze, but let it drip. This is to avoid tiny, irritating rose hip hairs getting into your preparation. As an extra precaution, pour back the first 1/2 cup of liquid that comes through, and make it drip through again.
Put the juice into a clean saucepan, bring to the boil, then boil with the lid off for 5 minutes. Add the sugar and boil briskly for another 5 minutes. Pour into small, sterilized jars.
Pour onto desserts and cereal, drink mixed with hot or cold water, or take 1–2 tsp. up to 3 times daily to protect against colds and flu.
— Tip —
TO FURTHER PRESERVE SYRUPS, STERILIZE THEM AFTER BOTTLING (SEE HERE).
Many Berry Syrup
Courtesy of Wizz Holland
This syrup is delicious with carbonated water or poured over ice cream or yogurt. It is rich in vitamin C, so you can also take it like a medicine, a spoonful as it is or diluted in hot water, to ward off or treat colds.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup fresh berries (a mix of hawthorn, rose hips, elderberries, blackberries, raspberries, or whatever you can find)
2 cups water
juice of 1–2 lemons
11/2 cups honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 3 cups.
If unopened, will keep 1 year in the refrigerator. Once opened, drink within a few weeks.
METHOD
Make in the same way as Soothing Sloe Syrup (see here), but add the lemon juice to each just over 3/4 cup of liquid before adding the honey. Keep the pulp to make Many Berry Fruit Leather (see here).
Elder, Rose Hip & Rowanberry Oxymel
This is a vitamin C-packed, immune-boosting honey and vinegar delight.
INGREDIENTS
2 handfuls of each of the following, removed from the stems:
elderberries
rose hips
rowanberries
1 quart Apple Cider Vinegar (see here)
about 21/4 cups honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 5 cups.
Keeps around 2 years.
METHOD
Make an infused vinegar with the berries (see here).
Measure the liquid and add an equal amount of honey. Gently heat to dissolve, then bottle.
Take 1–2 teaspoons 3–4 times daily to help fight viral infections.
Many Berry Fruit Leather
Courtesy of Wizz Holland
This recipe was inspired by the lush-smelling pulp leftovers from making Many Berry Syrup (see here).
INGREDIENTS
2–3 cups fruit pulp, leftovers from the Many Berry Syrup (see here), plus what you need of apples, blackberries, rose hips, etc. to make up the volume
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup honey
YOU WILL NEED
• FLAT BAKING SHEETS, LINED WITH WAX PAPER
• ADDITIONAL WAX PAPER, FOR ROLLING THE LEATHER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 20–30 strips.
Keeps 1–2 weeks, or up to 3 months if frozen.
METHOD
In a saucepan, gently cook the pulp with the added fruits until all are mushy. Push the pulp through a strainer to remove seeds, stems, and so on, then mix in the lemon juice and honey.
Spread the mixture out thinly and fairly evenly over the lined baking sheets. Let dry out in an oven set on the lowest temperature for 3–5 hours, or until it feels rubbery but set.
Slice into strips and make little rolls. Do this by rolling the strips together with a strip of wax paper or aluminum foil, to avoid the mixture sticking to itself. Store in a big jar, ideally glass so that you can enjoy looking at the colorful collection.
— Tip —
YOU CAN USE ANY FRUIT TO MAKE “LEATHER” IN A SIMILAR WAY. EXPERIMENT BY ADDING TASTY AND FRAGRANT FLOWERS, SUCH AS ROSE OR HONEYSUCKLE, OR SPICES.
Easy Iron Tonic
A very simple, easy-to-make iron and mineral tincture.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup unsulfured (brown) dried apricots (or hunza apricots, pitted), coarsely chopped
1 tbsp. molasses
1/2 oz. dried nettle tops (or 1 cup fresh), coarsely chopped
3 cups vodka
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 3 cups. Keeps at least 2 years.
METHOD
See here for full instructions on how to make tinctures.
Put all the ingredients into a jar, seal, and let sit to brew. After 4 weeks, strain the liquid through cheesecloth and bottle.
Take 2 tsp. daily in warm water or lightly carbonated water as an iron tonic. If you are anemic, support your liver by taking 1 tsp. 1–2 times daily of the tincture component of the Detox Complex (see here). Easy Iron Tonic is not suitable for children under 7.
Supergreen Juice
This juice is incredibly nutritious, packed with minerals, vitamins, and health-giving enzymes.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. fresh wheatgrass or oat grass
YOU WILL NEED
• A JUICER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/4 cup juice.
Drink immediately.
METHOD
Put the grass through a juicer and enjoy. If you don’t have a juicer, just add the grass to a smoothie.
Vinegar Calcium Tonic
Courtesy of Jeanne Rose
An edible tincture for healthy bones, full of calcium.
INGREDIENTS
3 handfuls of fresh dandelion roots and leaves (dig these up yourself or buy them at a farmers’ market), coarsely chopped
about 22/3 cups Apple Cider Vinegar (see here)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 2 cups.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Make an infused vinegar with the dandelion (see here), letting it infuse for 6 weeks. The roots will develop and exude a milky substance into the vinegar.
Strain and bottle.
Use in salad dressings and marinades or sprinkled over cooked greens. Each tbsp. contains more than 175mg calcium—one-sixth of the adult recommended daily allowance.
Detoxing Mineral Vinegar
Nettles are a panacea of the plant world, used for aching joints, skin allergies, or a general detoxing/cleansing. They are rich in minerals, vitamins, and protein (see here).
INGREDIENTS
3 handfuls of freshly picked nettle tops (or dried if you can’t get fresh)
2 cups Apple Cider Vinegar (see here)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 2 cups.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Make an infused vinegar with the nettles (see here).
Take 1–2 tbsp. daily, in water or with food.
Leafu Protein Supplement
Courtesy of Michael Cole
There is a way of making “leafu,” an edible curd, from grass and stinging nettles to access the valuable protein and amino acids they contain.
INGREDIENTS
2 lb. freshly picked nettle tops (mixed with any other edible greens, including grass, if desired)
YOU WILL NEED
• A BLENDER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 1 oz. leafu (enough for 2 meals).
Keeps up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Puree the nettles in a blender, adding a small amount of water, if necessary. Filter the juice through fine cloth.
Heat the filtered juice just up to boiling point, so that a green “froth” appears on the surface. Skim it off and put in a fine cloth (the holes need to be tiny to retain the “froth,” which contains the protein). This “froth” can be eaten freshly as it is or added to smoothies, soups, or stews.
Alternatively, make into a curd by pressing slowly but firmly to get all the fluid out (this may take several hours). The protein-rich curd can be cut up and added to food.
Multimineral Powder
Wild plants are often richer in minerals than cultivated ones. This wild herb powder can be sprinkled onto soups and stews or added to smoothies or juices for an instant health boost.
INGREDIENTS
Collect as many of the following wild herbs as you can:
burdock root
dandelion leaves and root
nettle leaves and root
plantain leaves
ground elder leaves
peppermint
red clover
thyme
sage
yellow dock root
Alternatively, buy a range of dried herbs.
KEEPS
1 year.
METHOD
Dry the plant material and grind to a powder in a coffee grinder. Mix thoroughly and store in an airtight container.
Take 2–3 tsp. daily as a food supplement. You can add to a green smoothie or infuse in vinegar to make a multimineral vinegar (see here).
Aloe Vera Nourish All
Aloe vera contains hundreds of health-giving nutrients. To get the full benefit from this amazing miracle plant, use the leaves fresh.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 aloe vera leaf, without the green skin
1/2 cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup apple juice, freshly juiced or bought
YOU WILL NEED
• A BLENDER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 2/3 cup.
Eat immediately.
METHOD
Cut the aloe vera leaf lengthwise and scrape out the gel inside. Add the gel to the other ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Drink once a week, taking a month off every 6 months. Do not take continuously without a break.
Do not use aloe vera internally during menstruation, if you are pregnant, or if you have liver or gallbladder problems or hemorrhoids.
Milk Vetch, Ginseng & Nettle Stress Support Tonic
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. dried milk vetch root, chopped
2 oz. dried ginseng root, chopped
2 oz. dried Siberian ginseng root, chopped
1 quart water
1 cup chopped fresh nettle tops (or 1 oz. dried)
2 tbsp. good-quality honey (preferably manuka)
2 cups pure vegetable glycerin
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 quart.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Decoct the roots, boiling in the water for 15 minutes in a large, covered saucepan (see here). Add the nettles and let cool.
Strain and, if necessary, boil further to reduce reduce it or add water to produce 2 cups of liquid. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
Add the honey and stir to dissolve. Add the glycerin and mix well, then bottle.
Take 1 tsp. 2–3 times daily to boost immunity and relieve stress.
Walnut Flower Remedy for Adapting to Change
Courtesy of Lucy Harmer
Flower remedies harness flowers’ energetic properties to help balance emotions. The most famous one is Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy. Following tradition, make flower remedies on a bright sunny day around 10 a.m.
INGREDIENTS
3–4 stems of walnut flowers/leaves, about 6 inch in length (gather mainly female flowers; see box).
2 cups water
about 1 cup brandy (more if required)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 2 cups.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Put the flowers and leaves into a saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 30 minutes without a lid, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add the lid. and let cool.
Strain into a glass bottle. Mix with an equal amount of brandy.
Keep in a dark place and fill a dropper bottle when you want to use.
Take 3–5 drops 3 times a day or when you are feeling stressed.
Female walnut flowers are small and green and have a figlike shape, while the male flowers are fat green catkins.
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Weight Loss Tea
These herbs can help to calm the appetite and speed metabolism without making you jumpy. Use alongside a healthy diet and also consider a detox program.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. green tea
1 oz. fennel seeds
1 oz. dried dandelion leaves
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 4 oz.
Keeps at least 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients together well. Make the tea using 1 tsp. per mug (see here).
Drink 2–4 mugs daily.
Weight Loss Spice
A spice mix of plants that help to burn fat.
INGREDIENTS
Dried herbs:
1 oz. ground ginger
1 oz. ground cardamom
1 oz. ground turmeric
5 tsp. cayenne pepper
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 3 oz.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the spices together well.
Drink as a tea, using 1 tsp. of spice per mug of boiling water (see here). Drink 2–3 times daily.
— Variation —
ALTERNATIVELY, MAKE A SOLID SPREAD. TO DO THIS, MELT A 12-OZ. JAR OF EXTRA-VIRGIN COCONUT OIL BY PLACING THE JAR INTO A BOWL OF HOT WATER. ONCE MELTED, MIX THE SPICES IN THOROUGHLY. LET SET. TAKE 1 TSP. 2–3 TIMES DAILY EITHER DIRECTLY OFF THE SPOON OR ADDED TO FOOD. (ALTHOUGH IT IS AN OIL, COCONUT OIL SPEEDS METABOLISM AND HELPS THE BODY TO BURN OFF FAT.)
Detox Complex
Courtesy of Louise Idoux
In this mixture, the herbs encourage the liver to clear toxins into the bile. The prune juice takes them out of the body through bowel movements.
INGREDIENTS
Tinctures (either bought or homemade, here) of the following:
2 tbsp./30ml milk thistle seeds
4 tsp./20ml dandelion root
5 tsp./25ml burdock root
5 tsp./25ml artichoke leaves
just under 1/2 cup prune juice
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just over 3/4 cup.
Keeps up to 2 years.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients together and bottle.
Take 2 tsp. in a little water 3 times daily.
Do not give detoxing medicines to children under 12.
Detox Tea
This makes a mixture of dried herbs from which to make a daily tea.
INGREDIENTS
Dried herbs:
1/2 oz. nettle tops
1/2 oz. dandelion leaves
1/2 oz. ginger root, coarsely ground
1/2 oz. dandelion root, coarsely ground
1/2 oz. burdock root, coarsely ground
2 cinnamon sticks, coarsely ground
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 31/2 oz.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients and store in a jar.
Make tea using 1 tsp. per mug of boiling water. Let infuse for 5–10 minutes (see here).
Drink 1–3 mugs daily, adding fresh lemon juice, and honey to taste.
Do not give detoxing medicines to children under 12. Detoxing of any kind is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you have any health problems, you should only undertake detoxing with the guidance of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Mineral-Rich Seaweed Bath
To nourish the skin, encourage detoxification, relieve muscle and joint stiffness, and help the circulation.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. dried kelp
1 oz. dried dulse
MAKES
Makes enough for 1 bath.
METHOD
It works best to put dried seaweed into a cheesecloth bag, otherwise it blocks your drain and is difficult to clean up. If you can gather fresh seaweed, put a couple of handfuls of each into your bathtub while running the water.
Soak in as hot a bath as is comfortable for around 30 minutes.
The Big Cleanser Smoothie
Courtesy of Neil McNulty
INGREDIENTS
1 apple
2 small bananas
2 handfuls of mixed fresh or frozen berries
juice of 1 lemon (no seeds)
10 fresh rosemary leaves (no stems)
Herbal tea: 1 small mug with peppermint (1 tsp. or 1 tea bag) and nettle (2 tsp. or 2 tea bags), infused for 5–10 minutes
YOU WILL NEED
• A BLENDER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1–2 servings.
Drink immediately.
METHOD
Blend all the ingredients together and drink immediately.
Warm the Bones Smoothie
Courtesy of Neil McNulty
Ideal for people who feel the cold, or for treating rheumatism.
INGREDIENTS
1-inch piece fresh ginger root
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground turmeric
3 tbsp. coconut milk (or probiotic plain organic yogurt)
2 large bananas
2 pears
Herbal tea: 1 small mug of chamomile tea (made from 1 tsp. dried chamomile or 1 tea bag infused for 5–10 minutes).
YOU WILL NEED
• A BLENDER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1–2 servings. Drink immediately.
METHOD
Blend all the ingredients together and drink right away.
Winter Warmer Tea
INGREDIENTS
3/4 oz. dried ginger root
2 cinnamon sticks
3/4 oz. dried licorice root
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 2-oz. herb mixture.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Loosely grind the ginger, cinnamon, and licorice in a coffee grinder—you don’t need a fine powder. Store in a jar.
Make tea using 1 tsp. per mug infused for 5–10 minutes (see here). Take 1–3 times daily to improve circulation.
Kidney-Strengthening Tea
A daily drink to support the kidneys.
INGREDIENTS
3/4 oz. dried corn silk
3/4 oz. dried nettle leaves
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 11/2-oz. herb mixture.
Keeps up to 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the herbs together. Make tea using 1 tbsp. to a teapot of boiling water.
Drink over the day.
Corn silk is the dried stamens seen on ears of corn—if you pick fresh or buy with the outer leaves still on, you see these long, thin pale yellow/green strands all around the cob. Remove them and lay to dry on a flat tray in a warm, dark place. When dry, they look like brown hair. Break them up and mix with the nettles.
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Chilblain Oil
Courtesy of Sue Wine
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp. vegetable oil (any, but almond and sesame work well)
Essential oils:
5 drops geranium
1 drop lavender
1 drop rosemary
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 tbsp. for 1 application.
Use immediately.
METHOD
Mix the oils together and rub into chilblains when they are sore.
Equinox Tea for the Changing Seasons
Courtesy of Christine Herren-Valette
This tea helps to prepare for the important transition from winter to spring, and summer to fall—key times when people fall ill, as the body tries to go through a powerful detoxification process.
INGREDIENTS
Dried herbs:
1/4 cup nettle tops
3 tbsp. downy birch leaves
2 tbsp. marigold flowers
1 tbsp. blackcurrant leaves
1 tbsp. meadowsweet flowers
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 oz. herb mixture.
Keeps up to 1 year.
METHOD
Mix the herbs together and make a tea using 1 tsp. per mug of boiling water (see here).
Take 2–3 times daily.
Honey, Lemon & Ginger for Colds
Courtesy of Sue Wine
INGREDIENTS
1-inch piece fresh ginger root
2 tsp. honey
juice of 1/2 lemon
MAKES & KEEPS
1 mug.
Drink immediately.
METHOD
Peel and slice the ginger thinly. Place in a mug of boiling water, then add the other ingredients. Let brew for 5–10 minutes, then drink (you can also eat the pieces of ginger). It will make you sweat and banish your head cold.
Hyssop Cough Syrup
Courtesy of Teri Evans
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp. honey
1/4 cup hot water
2 tbsp. dried hyssop, moistened with 1 tbsp. hot water
1 tsp. anise seeds, crushed
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 81/2 fl. oz.
Keeps up to 1 year in the refrigerator until opened.
METHOD
Heat the honey and water gently in a saucepan until syrupy. Then let simmer for 5 minutes, regularly skimming off any scum that forms.
Next, add the hyssop and anise seeds. Stir, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and let cool slightly before straining into a jar.
Adults: Take 1 tbsp. up to 6 times daily.
Children: Take 1 tbsp. up to 4 times daily.
Turmeric Honey Antibiotic
To help your body fight any infection
INGREDIENTS
1 jar of honey
1 jar the same size of ground turmeric
KEEPS
2 years.
METHOD
Empty both jars into a bowl and mix thoroughly. Return the mixture to the original jars. Handle turmeric carefully, because it can stain.
Adults: Take 1 tsp. 3–4 times daily.
Children: Take 1/2 tsp. 3 times daily.
Birch Aromatic Syrup for Coughs & Sore Throats
Courtesy of Johanna Herzog
INGREDIENTS
2 cups vodka
2 handfuls of fresh birch leaves or leaves and buds
2 cups sugar (white or brown)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 26 fl. oz.
Keeps indefinitely.
METHOD
Mix all the ingredients together in a saucepan and let them simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Strain and bottle while the syrup is still hot.
Adults: Take 1–2 tsp. every 4 hours.
Thyme & Licorice Cough Syrup
Courtesy of Joe Nasr
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. dried licorice root, chopped
6 cups hot water
3/4 oz. dried rubbed thyme leaf
white or brown sugar, variable amount
2 tbsp. + 1 tsp. pure vegetable glycerin
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 34 fl. oz.
Keeps at least 1 year.
METHOD
In a saucepan, soak the licorice root in the hot water for 1 hour. Cover with a lid, switch on the heat, and simmer for 25 minutes.
Turn off the heat. Mix in the thyme leaf and let cool.
Strain the liquid through cheesecloth and measure the liquid’s exact weight. Stir an equal amount of the sugar thoroughly into the liquid.
Heat the mixture gently to around body temperature—lukewarm—and stir at this heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then mix in the glycerin and remove from the heat. Pour into bottles and seal when cooled.
Adults: Take 1–3 tsp. 2–3 times daily after meals.
Children: Take 1/2–1 tsp. 2–3 times daily after meals.
Garlic & Echinacea Infection-Busting Tincture
Growing your own echinacea if you can is a good idea, because it is particularly effective as a fresh tincture but is expensive to buy.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. dried echinacea root, or 2/3 cup fresh roots and tops, chopped
2 heads garlic, peeled and crushed
2 cups vodka
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes almost 2 cups.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Put all the ingredients into a large, lidded jar. Make a tincture (See here).
Adults: Take 1 tsp. 3–5 times daily for acute infections.
Children (under 12): Take 10–20 drops in a little cooled boiled water.
Antiviral Elder
Courtesy of ChaNan Bonser
An alcohol-free tincture. Use to prevent any viral infection or to aid recovery.
INGREDIENTS
6–8 heads fresh elderflowers
2 cups pure vegetable glycerin
juice of 2 lemons
6–8 heads fresh elderberries
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 2 cups.
Keeps 1 year.
METHOD
Pick the elderflowers off the heads and put straight into a bowl. Cover the flowers with the glycerin, making sure they are completely covered. Add the lemon juice.
Put into a jar. Let sit for at least 1 month, shaking at least once a day, while you wait for the elderberries to ripen. When the elderberries are ripe, remove the berries from the stems and place the berries into a jar. Separately, strain the elderflower mixture through a strainer and pour the liquid over the elderberries, making sure they are all covered. Stir well and mash the mixture. Let sit for at least an additional 1 month, shaking every day.
After this time, strain the liquid again through cheesecloth, and rebottle.
Take 1 tsp. as required, either as it is or diluted in your favorite drink.
— Tip —
PICK YOUR ELDERFLOWERS ON A DRY DAY, IDEALLY AFTER ANY DEW HAS BEEN BURNED OFF.
Barrier Bar for Busy Hands
Courtesy of Annie Powell
Protects hardworking hands from dry skin.
INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup virgin olive oil
2/3 cup grated beeswax
25 drops lavender or chamomile essential oil (or a mix of the two)
YOU WILL NEED:
• SHALLOW MUFFIN PANS
• WAX PAPER AND BROWN PAPER
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 4–6 bars.
Keeps at least 1 year.
METHOD
In a double boiler or water bath, gently melt the olive oil and beeswax over low heat. Mix together thoroughly.
Remove from heat and add the essential oil(s). Pour into muffin pans and let cool. Turn out and wrap in wax paper, then brown paper.
Elderberry Oxymel
This remedy is an excellent vitamin C tonic and antiviral. Good for all ages, except for babies under one year of age because it contains honey, it can also help arthritis and rheumatic problems. It tastes wonderful with hot water and also makes a refreshing drink when made with sparkling water.
INGREDIENTS
7–8 heads fresh elderberries
3 cups Apple Cider Vinegar (see here)
21/2 cups unpasteurized honey
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 1 quart.
Keeps 1–2 years until opened, then keep in the refrigerator and use within 6 months.
METHOD
Gather the elderberries when they are ripe. Use to make an infused vinegar (see here).
Pour the liquid into a saucepan and heat gently. Add the honey and stir it until it dissolves, taking the pan off the heat after 2 minutes. Do not boil, because this would destroy some of the honey’s powerful properties. Pour into bottles.
Take 1 tsp. daily to prevent colds and flu. To treat them, take 1 tsp. 3–4 times daily.
Elders’ Sherry Tonic
This tonic is a tincture to help older bodies stay healthy and strong. There is a variation for women and men, using different types of ginseng.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. dried milk vetch root
3/4 oz. dried nettle tops
1 oz. dried ginkgo
1/2 cup unsulfured (brown) dried apricots, chopped
3 cups of your favorite sherry
for men: 1 oz. dried ginseng root or American ginseng
for women: 1 oz. dried Siberian ginseng root
6 tbsp. + 2 tsp./100ml hawthorn tincture (store-bought or Mother of the Heart Tincture, here)
3/4 cup + 5 tsp. elderberry syrup or Antiviral Elder (see here)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 1 quart.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Grind the roots to a coarse powder in a coffee grinder and place in a jar. Add the nettles, ginkgo, ginseng, and apricots, and cover with the sherry.
Let sit in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks, turning daily. Strain well and add the hawthorn tincture and elderberry syrup before bottling.
Take 1–2 tbsp. in a little water daily.
Elders’ Alcohol-Free Tonic
INGREDIENTS
1 quart water
1 oz. dried milk vetch root
3/4 oz. dried nettle leaf
1 oz. dried gingko
for men: 1 oz. dried ginseng root or American ginseng
for women: 1 oz. dried Siberian ginseng root
1/2 cup unsulfured (brown) dried apricots, chopped
1 (12-oz.) jar of honey
3/4 cup Hawthorn Flower Syrup (see here)
3/4 cup elderberry syrup (see here) or Antiviral Elder (see here)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 quart.
Keeps 1 year until opened, then in the refrigerator for 1 month.
METHOD
Decoct the herbs and apricots in the water, boiling for 10 minutes (see here). Let cool, strain, and press, then simmer the liquid for 10–15 minutes to reduce it to 21/2 cups. Add the honey and continue to gently heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring to dissolve the honey, then mix in the Hawthorn Flower Syrup and add the elderberry syrup or Antiviral Elder. Bottle into 5 or more small bottles.
Take 1–2 tbs daily in water.
Brain Booster
There is some evidence that these ingredients are beneficial to the brain and could help prevent dementia.
INGREDIENTS
1 (12-oz.) jar of extra virgin coconut oil
1 oz. dried ground rosemary
2 oz. dried ground gingko
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 15 oz.
Keeps up to 1 year.
METHOD
Stand the jar of coconut oil in a bowl of warm water to melt it.
Mix the rosemary and gingko together in a bowl, then pour the melted coconut oil over the mixture. Stir well and pour into jars.
Take 2–3 tsp. twice daily for maximum effect.
Coconut Inflammation Beater
Ginger and turmeric have been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, helping to prevent and cure many degenerative diseases. Coconut oil also has healing properties, reducing inflammation, improving metabolism, and nourishing the brain. It is a pleasant and easy way to take in the spices.
INGREDIENTS
1 (12-oz.) jar of extra virgin coconut oil
4 oz. ground turmeric
2 oz. ground ginger
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 18 oz.
Keeps up to 1 year.
METHOD
Melt the coconut oil in a double boiler or bain-marie. Mix the turmeric and ginger in well and pour into jars.
Take 2 tsp. twice daily.
Bedsore & Blister Preventive
Rub this rubbing alcohol tincture into the skin to toughen it and to help prevent bedsores and blisters.
INGREDIENTS
10–15 fresh marigold flowers
1 small bunch of fresh sage leaves
1 small bunch of fresh lavender, stripped from stems
1 small bunch of fresh thyme, stripped from stems
1 quart rubbing alcohol
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 quart.
Keeps indefinitely.
METHOD
Make a tincture from the herbs and rubbing alcohol (see here).
Rub into any areas of skin that need toughening, 2–3 times daily.
— Tip —
THE ACT OF GENTLY RUBBING THE SKIN IMPROVES CIRCULATION AND SO HELPS PREVENT BEDSORES. FOR DELICATE SKIN, APPLY A HEALING OINTMENT OR CREAM FREQUENTLY.
WELL-BEING TEAS
A great way of enhancing your well-being is to get into the habit of drinking herbal teas daily.
The following recipes are for dried herb mixtures that can be made into teas.
All dried herb mixtures should be stored in airtight jars away from the light—they’ll keep at their best for up to a year this way.
To make the tea, mix 1–2 tsp. of the dried herb mixture into a mug of boiling water and leave to infuse (see here). Once teas are made, they should be consumed immediately for best results.
Sleepy Tea
This tea will calm a wide-awake mind.
INGREDIENTS
3/4 oz. passionflower
2 oz. valerian
3/4 oz. lemon balm
1/2 oz. lavender
MAKES
Makes 4-oz. herb mixture.
METHOD
Drink a mug of sleepy tea half an hour before bed every night.
Antistress Tea
INGREDIENTS
3/4 oz. lemon balm
3/4 oz. wood betony
3/4 oz. oatstraw
3/4 oz. skullcap
3/4 oz. vervain
1/4 oz. lavender
MAKES
Makes 4-oz. herb mixture.
METHOD
Drink 1–3 mugs daily, with honey to sweeten, if required.
Cheering Tea
Courtesy of Dedj Leibbrandt
This colorful tea will bring a smile to your face.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 oz. lavender flowers
1/4 oz. cornflowers
1/4 oz. marigold petals
1/2 oz. lime flowers
1/2 oz. sage
2 tsp. dill seeds
1 tsp. poppy seeds
MAKES
Makes 21/4-oz. herb mixture.
METHOD
Drink 2–4 mugs daily.
Grief Tea
The cure for grief is to mourn—to let feelings surface, acknowledge them, let tears flow, and wash away the grief. This is a tea to help that process happen in a gentle way.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 oz. lemon balm
1/2 oz. rosebuds or petals
1/2 oz. heather flowering tops
MAKES
Makes 11/2-oz. herb mixture.
METHOD
Drink 3–5 mugs daily.
Pregnancy Tea
Take this tea during the last 3 months of pregnancy to strengthen and tone the womb, and your mind and heart, in preparation for birth.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. raspberry leaves
2 oz. rosebuds
MAKES
Makes 4-oz. herb mixture.
METHOD
Drink 1–2 mugs daily.
In the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, add 2 oz. lady’s mantle to the mix.
Continue to take the tea daily for at least 1 month after the baby is born to help the womb return to its normal size and recover its tone.
Quick Wake Up
Get going without caffeine!
INGREDIENTS
1 mug of rosemary tea (made by infusing 1 tsp. dried rosemary in 1 mug of boiling water for 10 minutes, then straining)
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
MAKES
Makes 1 mug. Drink immediately.
METHOD
Stir the cayenne pepper into the warm rosemary tea and drink. You’re off!
Oak Bud Remedy for Strength
If you have never tried “tree hugging,” start now. Lean right into the oak to connect with its deep strength and power of endurance, as you ask the tree to lend you its strength.
INGREDIENTS
about 100 oak buds
1 cup brandy
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1 cup. Keeps for 2 years.
METHOD
Make a tincture with the oak buds and brandy (see here).
Decant the strained tincture into a small dropper bottle and take 1 drop any time extra courage and strength is needed.
MASSAGE OILS
Massage is a particularly powerful tool for keeping well. “Rubbing” was considered a vital part of a physician’s work in Europe before the Dark Ages, when much useful medical knowledge was lost, and it is still integral to Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. The following recipes blend various oils for healing massage. They can be used as oils, or made into a soft balm with a little beeswax for a no-spill version.
Oils or balms should be stored in airtight containers away from the light, and will keep for up to a few months, depending on how long the base oil keeps (see infused oils).
To use, put a little of the oil or balm into your hands and massage into skin.
Stimulating Massage Oil
This is good for warming and stimulating muscles, joints, and skin.
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup almond oil infused with rosemary leaves, dried or fresh (see here)
2 tbsp. mustard seed oil
Essential oils:
5 drops rosemary
5 drops black pepper
5 drops cardamom
5 drops ginger
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/3 cup.
Keeps 1–2 months.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients in a bottle and gently shake.
Relaxing Massage Oil
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup Lavender-Infused Oil (see here)
Essential oils:
10 drops lavender
10 drops clary sage
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/2 cup.
Keeps 1–2 months.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients in a bottle and gently shake.
— Variation —
FOR A SENSUAL MASSAGE BALM, USE 1/2 CUP OF ROSE AND JASMINE INFUSED OIL (see here) AND 10 DROPS EACH OF JASMINE, SANDALWOOD, ROSE, AND YLANG YLANG ESSENTIAL OILS.
Stress-Busting Massage Balm
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup Lavender-Infused Oil (right)
11/2 tsp. grated beeswax
Essential oils:
10 drops lavender
10 drops sandalwood
10 drops cedarwood
10 drops bergamot
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/2 cup.
Keeps around 3 months.
METHOD
Melt the beeswax into the infused oil in a double boiler or water bath. Add the essential oils and pour into a container.
Lavender-Infused Oil
Lavender is a relaxing and soothing herb with anti-inflammatory properties.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. dried lavender flowers
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup grapeseed oil
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 11/2 cups.
Keeps around 6 months.
METHOD
Fill a jar with the best, most fragrant lavender flowers you can find. Cover with the olive and grapeseed oils. Let infuse for 3–4 weeks. Strain well and bottle.
Birch Massage Oil
Courtesy of Johanna Herzog
Soothing, for inflammed skin and cellulitis.
INGREDIENTS
3 cups oil or a mixture of oils of your choice (apricot kernel, macadamia, jojoba, pure almond oil, or coconut are some of my favorites)
2 handfuls of fresh birch leaves, chopped
3 tbsp. vodka
grated zest of 1 lemon
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 3 cups.
Keeps 6–12 months.
METHOD
Put the ingredients into a jar. Let sit in a warm place for 3 weeks, then strain through cheesecloth and bottle the liquid. Shake well before use.
Fiery Muscle Rub
A deep heat rub for aches and pains.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Fire Cider (see here)
1 cup Hot Oil (see here)
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 2 cups. Keeps at least 12 months.
METHOD
Mix the ingredients together in a bottle. Shake before each use.
Caution
Wash your hands well after applying the Fiery Muscle Rub, because getting it in your eyes or anywhere delicate would really sting.
Stretch Mark Prevention Oil for Pregnant Women
Massage this oil into the abdomen and breasts before bedtime every day from the start of the second trimester. For the third trimester, also apply it in the morning.
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. Heal-All Marigold Oil (see here)
2 tbsp. Comfrey Oil (see here)
5 tsp. rosehip oil
2 tsp. evening primrose oil
1 tsp. vitamin E oil (or another 1 tsp. evening primrose oil)
Essential oils:
10 drops mandarin
10 drops lavender
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes just under 1/2 cup.
Keeps 6 months.
METHOD
Blend the oils in a bottle and use as much as required, as instructed above.
Mother of the Heart Tincture
Hawthorn, known in herbal medicine as “the mother of the heart,” is used to support the heart and circulation for pretty much any condition. This is a simple tincture, with the added advantage of tasting good.
INGREDIENTS
2 large handfuls of fresh hawthorn berries (dried if you can’t find fresh)
3–4 cups vodka
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 3–33/4 cups.
Keeps at least 2 years.
METHOD
Make a tincture with the berries and vodka (see here).
Take 1 tsp. in water daily to help protect against heart disease.
Always consult a qualified health professional for advice if you have a heart condition.
Clear Vision Drops
Courtesy of Sensory Solutions
Although these drops can be used to treat and prevent eye problems, they also have an effect on the “energetic” vision—our ability to see solutions and directions in life.
INGREDIENTS
Tinctures (See here):
2 tbsp./30ml bilberry tincture
2 tbsp./30ml heather tincture
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes 1/4 cup.
Keeps 2 years.
METHOD
Mix the tinctures in a dropper bottle ready to take.
Take a few drops of the mixture 4 times daily. If you want, repeat an affirmation 3 times out loud as you do so. The affirmation should be related to what you want from the drops (for example, “I can see a clear path to the solution I seek”). It will thus connect you to their purpose every time you take them.
Agrimony Teachers’ Gargle
Perfect for easing and restoring overworked throats.
INGREDIENTS
1 quart boiling water
1 oz. dried agrimony
1/2 oz. dried sage, chopped
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 4 cups.
Keeps 4 days in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Pour boiling water on the herbs and let sit until cold. Strain and press through a cheesecloth-lined funnel. Store the liquid in a bottle.
To use, dilute 1/2 mug with a little hot water. Gargle 3 times daily.
Marshmallow Cough Syrup
Courtesy of Teri Evans
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp. chopped dried marshmallow root or leaves
just under 2 cups water
13/4 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup orange juice or juice of 1 lemon
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 17 fl. oz.
Keeps 1 year unopened; once opened, keeps 1–2 months in the refrigerator.
METHOD
Soak the marshmallow root or leaves in the water overnight. Strain in the morning, then simmer the liquid with the sugar for 5 minutes to make a thick syrup. Add the juice and bottle.
Take 1–2 tsp. as needed.
Quick Onion Cough Syrup
Courtesy of Lucy Wells
This syrup can help to soothe a cough and fight infection in the lungs.
INGREDIENTS
1–2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 onion
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes a small, variable amount—about 10 tsp. Use over 2–3 days.
METHOD
Put the sugar on a small plate or a saucer. Cut the onion and put onto the sugar, cut sides down.
Let sit for 24 hours. The sugar pulls out the onion’s juices and together they make the syrup in the saucer.
Take 1 tsp. every 1–2 hours until the cough is soothed.
— Tip —
ACCORDING TO ONION LORE, A CUT ONION IN A ROOM WILL REMOVE ANY UNWANTED INFECTION/IMPURITY FROM THE AIR (THOUGH IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN FOOD PREPARATIONS). PUTTING CUT ONION IN A SOCK AND HOLDING IT TO THE EAR CAN HELP GREATLY WITH EARACHE.
Ear Oil
Courtesy of Monika Ghent
Use this oil for earaches or to soften up ear wax so that it can be gently removed.
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp. coconut oil
2 tsp. jojoba oil
Infused oils (See here):
2 tsp. marigold
2 tsp. St. John’s wort
2 tsp. mullein flower
oil from 3 (400 IU) vitamin E oil capsules
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 1/4 cup.
Keeps 3–6 months.
METHOD
Gently melt the coconut oil, then mix with all the ingredients into a dropper bottle.
Shake the mixture well before using. Put 1–2 drops into each ear and close off the ear with a cotton ball. Keep in place overnight, removing the cotton ball the next morning.
Mullein Pile Ointment
An old effective gardener’s treatment for piles, or hemorrhoids, was bruising a fresh mullein leaf and putting it in your underwear. Mullein leaves are velvety soft, so it is probably nice; on the other hand, you may prefer this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
3/4 oz. dried mullein leaves, or several fresh leaves, shredded
2 cups olive oil
1/4 cup grated beeswax
MAKES & KEEPS
Makes about 2 cups.
Keeps up to 1 year.
METHOD
Make an infused oil by gently heating the mullein in the olive oil (see here).
Gently heat the beeswax and the infused oil together in a double boiler or water bath until the wax has melted, then pour into jars. Place the lids on loosely and tighten when the mixture has cooled.
To use, wash carefully after each bowel movement and apply ointment. Can be applied 3–4 times daily in addition.
— Tip —
ANY INFUSED OIL CAN BE MADE INTO AN OINTMENT USING THE METHOD ABOVE.