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Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot
[Tussilago farfara]
One of the first flowers we see in the springtime here in Southeastern, New Brunswick. What's amazing about coltsfoot is we see its flowers before the leaves -- how unusual!
Coltsfoot is a flowering herb with demulcent and expectorating properties, traditionally utilized for certain respiratory conditions.
*Caution: This plant contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). Internal use should be PA-free or very low dose/short-term.
Rose
Rose
[Rosa spp.]
~Rose is paradoxical~
Gentle like a petal, tough like a thorn...
think heart opening with protective healthy boundaries.
Rose opens the heart, while offering support both physically and emotionally.
Rose is a nervous system tonic with cooling and astringent properties.
Turkey tail
Turkey tail
[Trametes versicolor]
A polypore mushroom high in polysaccharide content with immune-modulating properties. Turkey tail is a prebiotic, which offers support for a healthy gut microbiome.
Fire Cider
Fire Cider
A traditional folk recipe made by steeping fresh or dried culinary and anti-viral herbs in apple cider vinegar for 2 weeks, then strained and refrigerated.
Take a spoonful on the daily or add to dressings, fizzy water, etc. I like to sometimes sweeten this with raw honey (1/4 ratio of honey to vinegar) to make, what we call in the herb world, an 'oxymel' (adding honey + vinegar).
Fire cider makes for a warming, circulating immune tonic (especially nice in the cold season).
Common herbs used in fire cider are horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion, cayenne peppers, rosemary, thyme, lemon peel, orange peel, turmeric, etc.
Herbal steam inhalations
Herbal steam inhalations
A traditional home remedy using steam to deliver medicinal plants directly to the respiratory system.
How To: Boil approx 6 cups of water. In a large bowl, add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh or dried herbs (I like to also add 2-3 drops essential oils), pour boiled water over herbs/oil. Sitting and leaning over the bowl, drape a large towel over your head and the bowl to trap the rising steam. Breath in deeply through the nose and mouth, keeping eyes closed ensuring your face is a safe distance away from the hot steam.
Common herbs used in steam inhalations: thyme, rosemary, fir, pine, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and more.
Hawthorn berry ketchup
Hawthorn berry ketchup
Ingredients:
500 g hawthorn berries
300 ml apple cider vinegar
300 ml water
170 g granulated white or light brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Optional: 1 garlic clove, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, or a pinch of chili powder
Instructions:
Combine berries, water, and vinegar to a large pot and simmer for approx 30-40 minutes until the berries are soft (the skins start to split).
Strain and mash through a fine mesh sieve or use a food mill to remove the seeds and stalks, keeping the pulp and the liquid.
Return the pulp and liquid to the pot, add the sugar, salt, pepper, and optional spices.
Simmer for approx 5-10 minutes, stirring until the desired consistency is reached. If it's too thick, add more water. If too thin, simmer longer.
While hot, bottle in sterilized jars.
Use immediately or wait a few weeks before opening to improve flavour.
Unopened: Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
Opened: store in the fridge and use within a month.
Tip: Freezing the berries first can make them more sweet and easier to process.
White pine needle tea
White pine needle tea
White pine needle tea is nutritious, particularly in vitamins A & C (healthy for our mucous membranes -- our first line of defense!)
Identifying White pine correctly is crucial. You do not want to get this confused with a similar-looking tree. Check a local field guide, double/triple check it, and/or ask a foraging expert.
White Pine ID: White pine has branches that are long and sweeping, its needles are soft and grow between 3-5 inches long, they have a greenish-bluish hue, and they grow in clusters of 5 (perhaps the most important trait). A good mnemonic for this part of the ID is there are five letters in the word "white" just as there are five needles in a needle cluster of White pine.
White Pine Needle Tea Recipe: With correct ID, forage from a clean environment. Wash the needles thoroughly in cold water. Boil two cups of water, let cool a bit (still hot but not boiling), pour this hot water over a couple of tablespoons of chopped White pine needles, steep for 10-20 minutes. Strain & enjoy. I like to add honey and a squeeze of lemon. A simple tea, made from a tree.
Internal Remedies
Internal Remedies
Below are examples of internal herbal remedies
Infusions - gentle water extractions made by steeping delicate plant parts in hot (or cold) water
Decoctions - strong water extractions prepared by bringing to a boil then simmering tougher plant parts in hot water
Vinegars - herbs infused in apple cider vinegar to extract minerals and other constituents
Oxymels - traditional blend of herbal-infused vinegar mixed with honey (from Greek "oxys" for acid + "meli" for honey)
Syrups - herbal decoctions or infusions sweetened with honey
Infused Honeys - fresh or dried herbs gently steeped in raw honey, then strained
Electuaries - finely powdered herbs mixed into honey to form a paste
Pastilles - thick, semi-solid electuaries shaped into small pills, lozenges or balls
Powders - dried herbs finely ground into a uniform powder
Capsules - powdered herbs or extracts filled into gelatin or veggie capsules
Glycerites - certain herbs extracted in vegetable glycerin
Elixirs - sweet herbal preparations typically combining alcohol, glycerin, and honey
Tinctures - concentrated herbal extracts made by infusing in alcohol, highly bioavailable and good for precise dosing
Suppositories - solid butter or oil-based herbal-infused preparations inserted rectally
Pessaries - solid gelatin or oil-based herbal-infused preparations inserted vaginally
External Remedies
External Remedies
Below are examples of external herbal remedies
Creams - preparations combining herbal-infused oils with water-based liquids and an emulsifier
Balms - semi-solid, oil-based mixtures of herbal-infused oils thickened with a moderate amount of beeswax or other wax
Salves - semi-solid oil-based mixtures of herbal-infused oils thickened with beeswax or other wax
Infused Oils - carrier oils gently steeped with fresh or dried herbs
Liniments - liquid herbal-infused preparations typically steeped in alcohol, sometimes vinegar, a soap base, and/or with oil
Compresses - soft cloths soaked in a strong herbal infusion, decoction or diluted tincture and applied directly to skin
Poultices - herbs crushed or powdered, mixed with a tiny amount of water or tea to form a paste, applied directly to the skin
Bath Teas/Soaks - strong herbal infusion that is added to bath water, or a basin to soak in e.g. foot or sitz bath
Steam Inhalations - herbal infusion with aromatic/medicinal herbs, putting your face over the steam with a tented towel
Mouthwashes - herbal preparations usually with water or diluted extracts, used as a mouth rinse or gargle
Eye Drops - very diluted herbal infusions filtered meticulously and used as a gentle eye wash or drops
Ear Drops - herbal-infused oils warmed slightly and dropped into the ear canal
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