Category Archives: Herbs

Share Everything!

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Remember the poem by Robert Fulghum, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten?” It was a list of lessons that everyone should have learned in kindergarten and first on the list was ~ Share Everything! Another biggie is “don’t take things that aren’t yours.” And of course, we can’t forget, “say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.”

This poem has always resonated with me, as I really like to share. Whether it’s an herbal remedy I have that will ease your discomfort or the French fries on your plate, it really doesn’t matter ~ I enjoy sharing.  I’ve always felt more comfortable sharing than keeping things and thoughts to myself; it’s just the way I’m wired. Lucky for me, there are others that roam the earth that feel the same way. I think that is why it felt so effortless to ease myself from exploring the natural world on my own to become a welcomed member of the herbalist community over the years. I cannot even tell you the moment it happened it was so natural. I found my tribe. I like to think we use the plants as our mentors who set an excellent example for us. The plants openly offer us all the information and support we need to survive, heal and thrive in this world if we just observe, pay attention and share.

When I first heard Susun Weed use the phrase, “Herbalism is the people’s medicine,” it floored me. It was perfect. Herbalism is accessible to everyone! Anyone anywhere can use it. They simply need to learn by experimenting, watching, reading and exploring ~ all the information is out there. And for the most part, the herbal community is awesome at sharing. It is common for herbalists to share their remedies, recipes and experiences. Some recipes have names and each individual puts their own spin on it, like pot roast or bouillabaisse. Herbalist share and sometimes adapt their own recipes. We all learn from each other. Nevertheless, as with any community, there are individuals that don’t play well with others and want to take the game ball home with them in the middle of the game.

Currently, there is one company that obviously never learned the virtues of sharing in kindergarten and are trying to take the game ball (which never belonged to them) home with them. Shire City Herbals (SCH) decided to trademark a name, Fire Cider for a recipe that was not theirs but was created by beloved herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, who has been sharing it since the 1970s. Not only did they trademark the common term Fire Cider but have actually issued Cease & Desist letters to small herbal businesses, and have forced several of them to stop using the name Fire Cider even though they have been selling it for years before SCH was even a business. The herbal community has banded together to fight this wrongful trademark and as a result SCH is suing the three community herbalist organizing Free Fire Cider for $100,000, which is a tremendous amount of money for them. Then I think SCH bit off a little more than they could chew because when Temple Turmeric, a large beverage manufacturer and distributor, decided to call their new beverage Fire Cider, SCH sued them for trademark infringement.  As a result, Temple Turmeric’s experienced legal team decided to join Free Fire Cider in the trademark battle! This is obviously a short synopsis of the ongoing saga of Fire Cider, for a more in depth history; please head to FreeFireCider.com to hear Rosemary Gladstar’s balanced account of the Fire Cider story. I am confident that SCH will lose their undeserved trademark in the end. But will they remember to say they are sorry to all the herbalists that they have hurt through this process? I hope so.

So what is Fire Cider? Well, it’s a hot and spicy tonic that helps boost the immune system, stimulate digestion, and warms you on cold winter days. Like most folk recipes, it changes with the availability of ingredients and at the maker’s whims. Nevertheless, it is basically apple cider vinegar infused with powerful immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, decongestant, and spicy circulatory movers, along with potent antioxidants and warming spices to support digestion. It is an ideal winter tonic to help prevent cold and flu symptoms and can shorten the duration if you do get a bug.

Fire Cider is very versatile; many people take 1-2 tablespoons daily throughout the cold weather months as a preventative measure, or every three to four hours if symptoms arise. It’s great to use as salad dressing or add to a smoothie or stir-fry and other dishes, options are limited by one’s imaginations and palate.

I decided to make my own Fire Cider this winter and poured over numerous recipes. I love how it came out; unfortunately, it is so yummy I’m not sure there is enough to last the winter.making Fire Cider

Fire Cider

I put each ingredient into a food processor to shred them first before measuring

  • 1 cup packed peeled organic ginger root
  • 1 cup packed peeled organic horseradish root
  • 1 cup packed peeled organic turmeric
  • 1 cup packed organic onion with its juice
  • 7 organic cloves = ½ cup
  • 3 chopped organic jalapeno peppers
  • 2 organic lemons (peels and all)

Pour over top

  • organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar

Add after 4-8 weeks and it has been filtered

  • ½ cup raw honey (to taste)

Filled a clean jar with all the solid ingredients and then cover with organic apple cider vinegar. It is a good idea to weigh down ingredients with a cheesecloth bag full of marbles or something similar. Do not use a metal lid with any vinegar. It will corrode the metal. Use a plastic lid or cork. If you need to use a metal lid, line it with plastic wrap or wax paper before screwing it on.

Store for at least 4-8 weeks, shaking it daily. Filter through a cheesecloth lined stainless steel strainer. Save the marc for making chutney or adding to dishes.

Gently warm honey so it will mix easily with Fire Cider, add to taste. You want a hot, spicy and sweet tonic. Make sure not to heat honey over 120° F, as it will kill the wonderful enzymes and bacteria that are so rich in healing properties.

Fire Cider will keep for several months unrefrigerated if stored in a cool pantry.  But it’s better to store in the refrigerator.

Fire Cider

Make your own Fire Cider and remember to share it.

Enjoy and share!

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nourishing the body

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Like most people, I’d rather be healthy than sick. I try my best to nourish my body so it is strong and can fight invading germs and viruses. I am particularly vigilant during the fall and winter months, as we travel quite a bit and I want to enjoy my time away as well as not expose others to unwelcomed germs.

During the holidays it is so easy to be caught up in all the excitement, and so we tend to run our systems down. We might indulge in more alcohol and/or sweets, get less sleep, and life can be very demanding and stressful. We tend to spend more time indoors and less time breathing fresh air. This is the perfect recipe for opportunist germs to overwhelm our immune system.

Sure, we can all refrain from the “bad things” and make sure we get a good night sleep, eat well….but hey – it’s the holidays! So if you do not have the best self-control, what can you do to nourish your body so it can fight off all those cold and flu viruses floating around at parties, the airports and malls?

  •  The major champion for our family is Elderberry syrup. We start taking it around late September, early October. In the fall, after a summer of outdoor fun, Mathew spends a lot of time indoors with his classmates and their germs. So, we take Elderberry syrup daily until around late March. It strengthens and nourishes the immune system so it can fight off cold and flu viruses as well as lessen symptoms and duration of the illness.
  •  When we prepare meals, they are packed with Garlic. It makes foods tastes great but it is also awesome at boosting the immune system, it is antibacterial, antimicrobial, a cardio-tonic, and anticancer. When cooking with Garlic always remember to let it sit for 10 minutes after it has been chopped/minced/crushed to allow for the chemical reaction that creates allicin, which is the chemical behind all of garlic’s health-promoting benefits. Here’s what happens: a sulfur-based compound called alliin and an enzyme called alliinase are separated in the garlic’s cell structure when it is whole. Cutting garlic ruptures the cells and releases these elements, allowing them to come in contact and they form the magical new compound called allicin. If you don’t wait, you don’t get the healing properties. Be patient.
  • When we make soup or stew, we add strips of Astragalous Root, a great herb for boosting your immune system, and helps fight off any cold and flu viruses. It is not meant to be eaten, just for releasing its medicinal qualities, so remove before serving. You can find it at a Chinese herbal shop (they look like tongue depressors). I like making big batches of soup packed with tons of vegetables and healing herbs. They are yummy, easy (you just throw everything in one pot), nourishing and lasts for a couple meals – if you are lucky. Who has time to cook every night?
  • I add Ashwagandha Honey to my coffee, oatmeal and love peanut butter honey sandwiches or simply on toast.   Ashwagandha is a wonderful energy builder, it increases the body’s ability to adapt to and resist stress, along with dealing with tension and anxiety. It helps increase memory, facilitates learning, promotes general well being and enhances stamina. It is also a great herb, which helps the body recover after chemotherapy and radiation treatment. It is no doubt the perfect herb to help your body get through the holiday season.

I find it very important to be proactive. If you feel like something might be brewing, do something immediately. Sure, it would be great to get some rest or hike in the fresh air, but you are very busy and even though you should pause, you can’t – so make sure you nourish your system.

  • Instead of taking Elderberry syrup once a day, take it 3 times.
  • If you have a tickle in your throat– suck on Elderberry Zinc lozenges, the combination tends to thwart a cold virus from taking hold (don’t over do it because too much zinc will give you a metallic taste, which doesn’t go well with wine).
  • Flush your nasal passages with a neti pot – get the gunk out.
  • Eat spicy foods so you sweat and your nose runs – get the gunk out!
  • Drink some tea – most people do not have an apothecary of herbs to choose from, so Traditional Medicinals has a great tea line packed with organic healing herbs. When making tea, steep longer than the box says – at least an hour or so. This will help release the medicinal qualities of the herbs. If you are on the run, make a quart mason jar of tea before you leave the house and sip it all day.
  • Ginger root is great to add to tea. It’s makes everything taste yummy as well as alleviates nausea, it’s also antibacterial, antiviral, a circulatory stimulate, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-clotting, it helps to dispel gas and prevent bloating, anti-arthritic, analgesic, and promotes sweating. Plus, ginger really helps with coughs. It is an expectorant as well, and helps thin mucous so you can move it up and out. Since it is antibacterial and antiviral it helps with respiratory infections.

Okay, hopefully I have armed you with some easy items that can keep you and your family strong throughout the holidays and winter months. Now, go out and enjoy yourself!

What do you do to keep healthy throughout the winter? Please share and I will continue to share.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.