Ginger Lovers Unite!: Medicinal and Culinary Uses of Ginger Root

Though ginger (Zingiber officinale) grows in tropical regions, its fresh root is available far and wide, year round, and can easily be made into a wide variety of warming home remedies that are perfect for chilly Northern winters.  Ginger root lends its spicy, lemony taste to soups, stir-fries, applesauce, and baked goods.  Medicinally, it relieves nausea and motion sickness, and encourages good digestion by relaxing the digestive tract, promoting gastric secretions, and dispelling gas.  Ginger increases circulation, supports the respiratory system, breaks up mucus, and stimulates perspiration, making it a great cold and flu remedy.  It also possesses antibacterial and antiviral properties.  The root moves pelvic congestion and relieves menstrual cramps, used both internally and externally.  Note: Care should be taken during pregnancy not to take too much ginger, check with your midwife or doctor.  Due to its warming nature, ginger may irritate certain hot conditions such as ulcers, or just be too dang hot for those with hot, fiery constitutions.

The recipes below focus on fresh ginger root, but feel free to experiment with dry ginger.  In general, and with ginger in particular, when following recipes, less dry herb is required than fresh herb since its moisture has been removed, making its flavors and properties more concentrated.  Energetically, dried ginger root is hot and dry, whereas fresh ginger root is warming and juicy.  Crystallized ginger root is also widely 

available and can be added to a first aid kit and carried on trips.  There are a few recipes included below, but don’t feel limited to these!  Add fresh, dried, and/or crystallized ginger the next time you make scones, chicken, coffee, cookies, anything!  

Ginger is one of the few non-local plants that I use in my herbal remedies.  I use it in Elderberry Ginger Elixir for immune health, Tigress Balm warming muscle rub, Chocolate Spice Elixir* warming aphrodisiac, and Crampease Blend to ease menstrual cramps.  I was really excited to learn last year of a source for locally-grown ginger - Old Friends Farm in Amherst, Massachusetts.  You can find Old Friends Farm's ginger at Plainfield Co-op in Plainfield, Vermont.  Also, if you're lucky enough to find yourself at one of the many farmers markets in Central Maine that Snakeroot Organic Farm of Pittsfield, Maine vends at, you can buy some fresh ginger directly from the farmers! 

Luckily I got my hands on some roots during this autumn's harvest season and I've started making medicine from the young, fresh, and vital roots from these local farms - see photo below of the the freshly grated root.  For those of you in Vermont that would like to get locally-grown ginger, you can contact Sabrina at sabrina@lanzersfruitfarm.com

Warming Ginger Brew
To make your own warming winter ginger brew, grate a 1 to 2 inch piece fresh ginger root into a medium sized pot of water.  Some prefer to peel the root, but if you’re using organic ginger this is not necessary.  Cover the pot and simmer for 10-20 minutes.  If you are unable to simmer your tea, you can simply grate, chop, or thinly slice the root, pour hot water over it, cover, and let it steep for a few minutes.  Strain out the plant bits if you wish, and viola!  Your ginger brew is complete and can be used in various ways: 

Beverage Tea:  To warm up after a day out in the cold, drink your ginger brew on its own or with milk (cow, goat, rice, coconut, etc.) and maple syrup, honey, or another sweetener.  You can also add a cinnamon stick, black peppercorns, cardamom pods, and a clove to simmer along with the ginger on the (wood)stove.

Cold and Flu Tea:  For an excellent cold and flu remedy, turn your ginger brew into Hot Ginger Lemonade.  Add the juice of one lemon or lime, a couple spoonfuls of honey, and a pinch of cayenne powder to a quart of ginger tea.  This hot drink is warming, contains vitamin C, and soothes a sore throat.  

In the Bath:  Your ginger brew can be used as a foot bath, or added to bath water, for its warming and circulation-increasing properties.  This is a good treatment when you’re feeling under the weather, and foot baths especially help draw your energy down, helping to relieve headaches and promote rest and sleep.   (You can try other herbs as well, such as Lavender and Roses.)

Warming Compress:  Ginger compresses are muscle-soothing, cramp-easing, inflammation-reducing, and promote warmth and movement in congested areas.  To soothe and warm your lower back/kidneys, abdomen/pelvic area, lungs, wrists, or other areas, soak a washcloth or other clean cloth into the hot ginger brew.  Once cool enough to handle, but still quite hot, apply the cloth.  Before it cools down, submerge the cloth back into the hot tea and then reapply, or cover the cloth with a hot water bottle to keep it warm.  Rest like this for 15-30 minutes.  Be sure to bundle up and keep warm afterwards!  Another, dryer compress method is to pour a small amount of water into ginger powder until it is a thick paste.  Open a 3" gauze bandage so that you have a wide band of gauze.  Apply the paste to the gauze, and then place the gauze on the affected area, with the paste side facing out.  You can cover with a layer of plastic, such as a grocery bag, and then apply a hot water bottle.

Ginger-Infused Honey  
To make a quick and delicious remedy to relieve congestion, boost your immune system, and soothe a sore throat, simply grate fresh ginger root into honey, preferably raw, local honey.  The moisture from the juicy root will thin the honey out a bit, creating a syrup consistency.  You can take this infused honey by the spoonful or stir it into warm water to make an instant ginger tea.  Use this up within a few days and keep it refrigerated.

Ginger Aphrodisiac Recipes
The candlelit photo to the right is of some of the ingredients from my Chocolate Spice Elixir.*  For aphrodisiac-y ginger recipes, such as Chocolate Ginger Truffles, please see my Valentine's Aphrodisiac Recipes and Chocolate Explosion! posts.


Ginger Salve 
Ginger’s warming, stimulating, and relaxing properties make a great decongesting and muscle-soothing salve.  To make your own non-petroleum based alternative to Tiger Balm, first warm 1 cup of sesame and/or olive oil together in a double boiler over low heat.  Grate a small handful of fresh ginger into the oil and keep on low heat for at least an hour, letting the ginger’s properties infuse into the oil.  Strain out the ginger and return the oil to the double boiler.  If you have fresh ginger tincture (alcohol extract), add a few dropperfuls at this time, and warm the oil on low heat until all the water/alcohol drops have evaporated.  Add 4 tablespoons of grated or chopped beeswax, and let the wax slowly melt as you stir the oil.  Dip a spoon into the mixture and blow on it until it’s solid.  If the salve is too hard, add more oil.  If it’s too soft, add more beeswax.  Once you have the consistency you’re seeking, remove from heat and pour your salve into dry, clean containers right away.  If you wish, add a few drops of essential oils and give your salve a stir, so that the oils all blend together.  Some essential oils you can add include: Ginger, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Thyme, and Lavender.  To make a potent balm, you can add 15-20 drops per ounce - just keep in mind that essential oils are very concentrated, so use less if your skin tends to be sensitive.    Place the lids on the salves jars right away to maintain its medicinal properties, and then let them cool.  Salve-making can be messy, so leave yourself some time for clean up.  Also, be sure to have plenty of extra jars because somehow more salve always appears.  Most salves keep for about a year, and keep best if kept in a cool, dark place, rather than letting them melt and remelt in a hot car, for example.    

For more detailed information about making infused oils and salves, please see previous post: (Im)migration and Lip Balms for Social Justice?!

Ginger Salts and Scrub: 
Ginger Salts:  To make your own ginger bath salts, simply grate a handful of fresh ginger into a cup of sea salt.  Let your salts infuse for at least a few days.  You can sift the ginger out if you don’t want ginger bits in your bath, or if you don’t mind, you can just leave them.  You can make ginger bath salts with dried ginger, using 2 tablespoons of powder per cup of sea salt.  You can also try a combination of both fresh and dried ginger.  Remember that ginger is strong, and begin with just a couple tablespoons per bath and work your way up if you’d like.

Ginger Scrub:  To make a warming body scrub, simply add oil to your bath salts.  Some prefer to add just enough oil to moisten the salts, while others completely cover the salts with oil.  You can use olive, sesame, grapeseed, coconut, or apricot kernel oil.  One of my favorite scrubs is Cardamom Ginger Warming Sugar Scrub with Sesame oil, which I make with fair trade brown sugar and use in the winter to exfoliate the skin, promote circulation, and warm the body.  You can see the recipe here.


Immune-Supporting Paste
Immune Soup:  Using miso paste and herbs, you can create a soup base that can be stored in the fridge long term.  This is especially nice when you aren’t feeling well and you don’t have an abundance of energy to put into cooking.

½ cup Miso
2 tblsp fresh Ginger, grated or finely chopped
3 cloves Garlic, crushed and finely chopped 
1 tblsp fresh Turmeric root, grated or chopped finely, or 1 tsp Turmeric powder
pinch of Cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients together.  To make a soup, just put a spoonful of the paste into a bowl or mug, cover with hot water, and stir.  Remember not to boil your miso, or its good living organisms will be killed.  You can add sliced scallions to the broth.  
  
For a heartier immune-supporting soup by sautéing and simmering onions, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, burdock root, carrots, dark leafy greens, etc. in water or broth.

Immune Spread:  To make a spread for crackers and bread, add ½ cup tahini (sesame paste) and/or ½ cup honey to the miso herb paste.

Fire Cider  
Fire Cider is a spicy concoction that boosts the immune system and relieves sinus congestion.  You can take a daily shot of fire cider to keep you well through the winter months, or take as needed.  You can also use your fire cider topically, as a liniment to rub into sore muscles and aching joints or as a compress, soaking a clean cloth in fire cider to place on a congested chest.  

¼ -½  cup Horseradish root, grated               
1 head of Garlic, chopped                                      
1 Onion, chopped                                                          
¼ - ½ cup of Ginger, grated                           
1 tsp Cayenne pepper                          
1 quart organic Apple Cider Vinegar                     


Place herbs in a quart jar and cover with apple cider vinegar.  Cover tightly with a non-metal lid (or put a piece of plastic or waxed paper between the jar and metal lid).  Infuse for a month, shaking daily.  After a month, strain and rebottle into a clean glass jar with a plastic lid.  You can add honey to taste, if you wish.  You can also eat the spicy strained herbs!

Pickled Ginger
2 large Ginger roots
1 cup Rice Vinegar
5 to 7 tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt

Wash the ginger root and peel or rub off the skin.  Slice the ginger thinly and salt them.  Leave salted ginger slices in a bowl for one hour.  Dry the ginger slices with paper towels and put them in a sterilized container/jar.  Mix rice vinegar and sugar in a pan and bring to a boil.  Pour the hot mixture of vinegar and sugar on the ginger.  Cool, then cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator.  In a week, the ginger changes its color to light pink.  The pickled ginger lasts about a month in the fridge.  Pickled ginger is served with sushi. Try to eat pieces of pickled ginger between different kinds of sushi.  It helps to clean your mouth and enhance the flavors.  This info is taken from this recipe, and this one too. 

Coconut-Ginger Spiced Carrot Soup
5 medium Carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
1 Leek, chopped (dark green parts removed)
1 medium Potato, diced
3 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1 ½ inches Ginger root, finely minced (about 2 tbsp)
1 can Coconut Milk (for a dairy version, substitute half and half or whipping cream)
4 cups Stock or Water
1/2 cup dry White Wine (optional)
2 tbsp. Vegetable oil
1 tsp. sweet Paprika
1 tsp. Turmeric
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Heat vegetable oil in a medium-sized pot.  Add onions, sauté about 2 minutes.  Add leeks and garlic; sauté in pot for about 4-5 minutes until softened, but not browned.   Add carrots; stir vegetable mixture until carrots begin to caramelize a bit, about 6 more minutes (watch to prevent over-cooking).  Add potato, ginger, stock, and coconut milk (note- if using dairy cream, wait until soup is fully cooked, then add cream and heat to serving temperature); allow mixture to come to a boil for about 5 minutes; reduce heat and add spices (turmeric, paprika, salt, pepper).  Cover and simmer on low until potatoes are tender, about 20-25 minutes.  Puree soup in batches in the blender, or use a hand-held blending appliance to obtain a smooth, velvety textured soup.  Garnish soup with roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds).  Recipe from here.

Hooray for Ginger in all its Glory!

    

For more ginger-y recipes, please see the following Dandelioness Herbals blog posts:

Elderberry (and other) Syrup Recipes
Chocolate Explosion!
Valentine's Aphrodisiac Recipes
Winter Immune Health: Tonic Not Toxic
Ideas and Remedies for When You're Home Sick...


*Chocolate Spice Elixir is no longer available on the Dandelioness Herbals online Etsy shop, but can be purchased at markets, through Paypal, or by contacting dandelion778 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Photos:  Whole Ginger Plant;  Ginger flower;  Fresh Ginger roots and stems grown in Hardwick, Vermont;  Making tea with Ginger stems;  Fresh-grated local Ginger root for medicine-making;  Making Chocolate Spice Elixir warming aphrodisiac with fresh Ginger root, Cinnamon, Cocoa, and other warming and nourishing ingredients; Fresh local Ginger roots and stems.  

Dandelioness Herbals has an Etsy Shop!

I'm pleased to announce that Dandelioness Herbals now has an Etsy Shop, where you can purchase hand-made herbal remedies online. While I love sharing my herbal products that are made mostly from local, hand-harvested medicinal plants with other people within my bioregion, I also love creating care packages for those who live faraway. And in these times when the US Postal Service is under fire, I love support postal workers! Each Etsy posting can have up to 5 photos and provides a lot of space for me to write descriptions about individual plants, their medicinal properties, and the process of making the remedy. I've also been collaborating with other local herbalists to create gift baskets, such as the Valentine Gift Basket and the Be Well Basket for Immune Health.

BIO:

My herbal concoctions are all handmade in small batches, using primarily local and abundant plants grown and harvested by hand from my garden, the fields and woodlands of land in VT (U.S.), or at my family's farm in Central Maine. Most ingredients are local, organic, fair-trade, made by worker's collectives, or otherwise from the most ethical source I can find.

I am passionate about health justice and my ever-evolving product list, which changes from season to season, reflects my vision for accessible and empowering health care. Throughout the process of growing medicinal plants, harvesting herbs, washing roots, choosing ingredients, making remedies, and the bottling and labeling of my tinctures, elixirs, syrups, salves, flower essences, lip balms, and other herbal products, I reflect upon, learn about, and give thanks to those who've come before, those that are here now, and those that are to come that are a part of the ever-changing movements towards liberation. My hope is that my creations are a part of creating/supporting a culture of self-care and collective-care based on mutual care, collaboration, appreciation for our bodies, and taking the time to rejuvenate ourselves and each other. Whether we're organizing for migrant justice and universal health care, raising children, menstruating, taking exams and writing papers, and/or giving care to elders, may we find ways in our personal lives and within movements for social justice and the other circles/worlds that we move between to help nourish and sustain ourselves and each other so that we can be in it for the long haul!

Here's some of what you'll find on the DandelionessHerbals etsy site:

(fyi - Sometimes it can be tricky to find what you're seeking on etsy - you can find DandelionessHerbals etsy shop through this link, or by searching danalwoodruff under 'people' or DandelionessHerbals under 'shop' (both have no spaces between the letters!)

The Be Well Basket for Immune Health, a collaboration between Samhain Herbs,

Mountain Cultures, Dandelioness Herbals, and Kaleid Botanicals, with Elderberry Syrup, Fire Cider, Speak Truth! Throat Spray, and Medicinal Soup Satchel, all resting in a bed of pine curls in a one-of-a-kind, reusable basket made out of old record covers! Hooray for community health!

The Self Care Kit: for emotional first aid was created with the intention of
preventing burn-out and helping to promote a culture of self-care and collective-
care. It contains: *Heart Elixir: to open, heal, and protect the heart 
(please see Heart Elixir blog post)*Tulsi Elixir *Yarrow Flower Essence 
for clear and strong boundaries and *Rose Relaxation Bath Fizzies

(Substitutions are definitely allowed to create your own personalized Self-Care Kit).

Speak Truth! Throat Spray is made with gratitude in honor of whistle blowers and truth tellers, past, present, and future! This remedy was formulated during the people's uprising in Egypt, using Egyptian Licorice root and a blend of herbs from my garden - hand-harvested VT Sage leaf, VT Oregano leaf, VT Thyme leaft and flower, and VT Hyssop leaf and flower, infused together in Brandy, and then blended with a Licorice root syrup made with local VT Honey. For more info see: SPEAK TRUTH Throat Spray: antiviral, antibacterial, and soothing and Americans Who Tell the Truth, a collection of portraits and quotes by Robert Shetterly.

Chocolate Spice Elixir is a warming aphrodisiac to stir you up. Made with a

combination of herbs and spices that have traditionally been used as aphrodisiacs

and to promote circulation, infused in brandy and blended with a homemade chocolate

syrup made with fair trade ingredients.

Mugwort Elixir: to invoke vivid dreams and a connection with the moon.

Choose Your Own Herbal Adventure! Three 2oz Tinctures/Elixirs of your Choice

(also available in Three 1oz Tinctures/Elixirs of your Choice)

Valentine - or Anytime - Gift Basket contains hand-milled Olive oil soap and handmade Rose-scented Cone Incense from the Gardens of Seven Gables and your choice of Chocolate Spice Elixir or Heart Elixir from Dandelioness Herbals.

Thanks so much for the support!

Winter Immune Health: Tonic Not Toxic

In recent years there have been more and more fear-based reports, advertisements, and products pushing US Americans into anti-bacterializing our lives with sprays, wipes, and gels. This war-like mentality of needing to build our defenses and kill all invaders (bacteria) in order to protect ourselves not only shows a very limited view of the function of our immune systems, it actually harms our health. Using toxic products to “clean” our homes and bodies and attacking common infections with a barrage of antibiotics depletes our bodies in the long term. Our immune system is not meant to be a fortress around our bodies. Yes, its function is to protect our bodies, but it is also a means for us to interact with the world around us.

Taking tonic herbs and foods daily helps to maintain our health, and having remedies that help activate our immune systems during times of stress and depletion is far more effective than constantly exposing ourselves to toxic “cleaners” and “sanitizers.” Herbalism and other healing modalities that are much older and more holistic primarily focus not on killing pathogens, but on strengthening our bodies’ natural defenses through foods, herbs, and lifestyle. When we are overtired, stressed, and eating junk food, we are more susceptible to whatever virus is going around; whereas, if we were well rested and taking care of our bodies, being exposed to this same virus may have no affect on us at all. I do not mean to imply an individualist and ableist idea that if we get sick or if we’re not born healthy that it’s our own fault. Rather, I believe it’s empowering to remember that self-care and collective-care (getting enough rest, plenty of water, nourishing foods, movement, and other aspects of creating a culture that encourages this kind of care) is much more effective than trying to hose down our life with toxic chemicals in order to kill bacteria in our environment. We have evolved with bacteria and need them for good health, and fortunately mainstream US culture has shifted in the last few years to recognize/remember that probiotics and cultured foods (sauerkraut, kim chi, kombucha, injera, miso, yogurt, etc. – see Sandor Ellix Katz's books on fermentation) are tried and true ways to support the good bacteria in our bodies.

Practices to Help Stay (or Get) Healthy:

Drink plenty of liquids! Fluids not only give our bodies necessary hydration, they make it more difficult for bacteria and viruses to cling to our mucous membranes (i.e., nose, throat) and cause trouble. So drink plenty of water and tea to prevent getting sick and to heal quicker once you already are sick. Soda, coffee, and other such drinks don’t count as nourishing, immune-supporting fluids (sorry!).

Get rest! Winter is the time for hibernation, to store energy that will fuel that sprouting green spring energy and feisty summer energy. If we rush and take on too much during the resting time of the year, we deplete our bodies. When a full 8-hour night sleep isn’t possible and you need to cram, remember to eat, breathe, and get as much rest as you can. However, try to remember once deadlines are met to take the time to both rest and sleep.  I know, not always do-able, especially for caregivers.  But important to integrate into our lives if and when possible.

Stay warm! Hats, warm socks, mittens, and scarves help us maintain our body’s heat in the colder months. You can also wear a scarf or tube-top around your waist to keep your kidneys warm, a practice that is common in Japan, where the cloth is called a haramaki. In many different traditions wind is an external influence that can enter your body and bring with it sickness, particularly at the nape of your neck and your kidneys (lower back), and especially if you have recently taken a hot bath or received a massage, which opens your body up. If you’re feeling chilled, you can also take a hot bath, foot bath, or wrap around you or lay upon a hot water bottle or microwave-heated rice pack.

Steam! Steams cleanse, hydrate, and improve circulation, while also warming and moistening dry air passages and clearing congestion when we’re not feeling well. In a large glass or metal bowl, pour a kettleful of boiling water over a handful of dried herbs, two handfuls of fresh herbs, or drop 1-3 drops of essential oils into the water. Drape a towel over your head to create a tent over the bowl of steaming herb water, breathe, and relax. Steam for approximately 10-15 minutes. If you get too hot, emerge from the tent to cool down, and then go back in. Aromatic herbs such as Peppermint and Thyme help clear congestion. You can create a mini-steam with a serving bowl or a mug of tea.

Move your body! Unlike our cardiovascular system, our lymph system doesn’t have a heart-muscle to pump and create circulation in our bodies. It’s up to us to get our lymph systems moving, which we can do through movement that we enjoy – walking, dancing, etc. Lack of movement in our lymph systems causes stagnation and can make it difficult to clear infections from our bodies. When we’re feeling under the weather and don’t have the energy to exercise, we can practice self-massage, receive massage from someone else, and/or take lymph-moving herbs such as Calendula, Cleavers, Red Clover, and Spilanthes.

Limit/Avoid Sugar and Dairy! Sugar depresses the immune system and makes you more vulnerable to getting sick. Sweet things like refined sugar, maple syrup, and honey are very concentrated and are a special treat. It's a good practice to limit your intake of refined sugar especially, and during times of stress or when sick, avoid it all together if you can. Honey is nourishing and soothes the mucus membranes and can be added to teas, both when healthy and under the weather. Dairy products create more mucus. Some say this is not true, but it is true for many people, so see how your body reacts to dairy. If you feel more phlegmy after having dairy, you may want to avoid it.

Herbs for Immune Health

Astragalus in flower, Dried Astragalus root, and ripe Elderberries

The herbs below can all be grown in the bioregion of the Northeast US. There are different types of immune herbs – immune tonics to help build immune strength and promote healthy immune response, and immune stimulants to help activate the immune system once you are sick or starting to come down with something. There are also immunomodulating herbs, which can both quiet an overactive immune system (lots of environmental/food allergies) or to build up a depleted one (after a long illness). This is a quick list for your reference. Please keep in mind that each herb has its own traditional use and energetic (i.e. warming/cooling), so research ones that you’re interested in to learn more!

Astragalus - Astragalus membranaceus tonic/immunomodulating - The root is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the prepared root looks like a tongue depressor. It is an immune tonic, meaning that you can use it often and over long periods of time to build strength and maintain health. You can take it to prevent getting sick or during recovery from an illness. I have heard that you don’t want to take it while you’re sick because it can potentially make you worse, but there are immune stimulants we can use at this time. To prepare Astragalus tea, like most other roots: simmer, covered for 10—20 minutes in water. If I have time, I like to soak the root in water for a few hours or overnight before and/or after simmering it. You can simmer the root in immune-nourishing bone broths, chicken soup, and other soups; just remember to remove it before serving, or just let people know there are lil pieces of woody herbs in their soup! Astragalus powder can also be used to make Adaptogen Herb Balls - see recipe below.

Medicinal Mushrooms – such as Reishi and Chaga mushrooms tonic/ immunomodulating – Medicinal mushrooms help support the immune system and liver, and Reishi in particular has an affinity with the lungs. Please seek out an experienced mushroomer to learn more about and correctly identify particular mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms can be taken as soups or decoctions (ideally simmered for many hours), syrups, and tinctures. A simple and alcohol-free way to take medicinal mushrooms daily is to pour the decoction in ice cube trays, freeze, and melt one daily and drink as tea or add to your food. 

Elderberry – Sambucus nigra tonic/stimulant - Black elderberries have a long history of use for colds, flu, upper respiratory infections, and is also a preventative. They are anti-viral and can be taken as syrup, jam, juice, or tea (not to be eaten fresh, so blanch or cook them). Elder is also a very magical plant - it protects the other plants in the garden and is said to be home of the faeries. Be sure not to use red elderberries – as this is a different and toxic plant! In Northern New England the black elder’s flowers bloom in June and the berries ripen in late August/early September. (The red elderberries ripen in June, so this is a way to tell the difference between the red and black elderberry bushes.) The flowers also have traditionally been used for colds and flus, and drying up mucus. If you'd like to make your own Elderberry syrup, please see my Elderberry (and Other) Syrup Recipes post.

Echinacea – Echinacea purperea stimulant/lymphatic - the roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds are all medicinal, though the third year roots are most commonly used. Echinacea is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and stimulates your immune system. This plant is not meant to be taken as immune support over long periods of time. It’s recommended to take this herb when others around you are sick, you feel yourself beginning to come down with something, or you are already sick. To make an Echinacea tea of the roots, follow above instructions for making Astragalus root tea. To make a tea with the other parts of the plant, add them when you remove the Echinacea roots from heat and let them sit and steep for 10 minutes or longer. For a tea with just the leaves, flowers, and/or seeds, pour boiling hot water over them and let them steep 10+ minutes before straining. In general when you are sick, you take smaller and more frequent doses than with tonic herbs.

Spilanthes – Spilanthes acmella stimulant/lymphatic – The leaves and gum-drop looking blossoms of this plant can be taken as a tincture or a tea, and is also used in mouthwashes and toothpowders. This is a fun plant to grow and you can make medicine from it in its first year (rather than three years, like with the fellow immune-stimulating Echinacea [root]). It’s nicknamed ‘the toothache plant’ because it numbs and relieves pain in the mouth, giving a tingly post-Novocain feeling. It is also numbing and pain-relieving in the throat, so you can use it to ease a sore throat as well. Please let others know about the tingling sensation before sharing Spilanthes – it can sometimes feel like your throat is closing up. Some people are sensitive to Echinacea and Spilanthes can be a great alternative.

Thyme , Sage, and other Culinary Herbs - Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, and others – Culinary herbs have been used for many generations around the world to help maintain health, both in our foods and as teas or other remedies. Thyme and Sage, like other culinary herbs, relieve congestion, help break up mucus in the lungs, and can be added to soups and taken as a tea or a steam. Thyme is specific for supporting respiratory health and makes a powerful respiratory steam. Sage is soothing to a sore throat as a tea or you can put the dried herb into honey and take it by the spoonful.  And Rosemary, and Mint, and Basil, and on and on...

There are also versatile plants that you may not think of primarily as immune-supporting herbs, but may be a great match for what ails you. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabsupports the adrenals, soothes mucus membranes, and is calming and anti-viral. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalisleaf and flower is also anti-viral, calming to the nerves and digestion, and is said to gladden the heart. Tulsi (aka Holy Basil/Sacred Basil - Ocimum sanctum) leaf and flower is an adaptogen (helps your body adapt to stress) and has a particular affinity with the lungs, as well as the heart.

Also, please see my Ideas and Remedies for When You’re Home Sick… for more herbal info and suggestions for when you're feeling under the weather.

Echinacea in bloom, Lemon Balm before flowering, and Spilanthes leaf and bud

Recipes for Immune Health

Immune Soup and Spread
Using Miso paste and herbs, you can create a soup base that can be stored in the fridge long term. This is especially nice when you aren’t feeling well and you don’t have tons of energy to put into cooking.

½ cup Miso
1 tblsp fresh Ginger, grated or chopped   
   finely
3 cloves fresh Garlic, crushed and chopped
1 tblsp fresh Turmeric, grated or chopped 
   finely (optional)
pinch of Cayenne

Crush the garlic and leave it to sit for a few 
minutes before chopping, in order to make the most of its medicine, as this releases its allicin. Mix together the other ingredients. To make a simple soup, just put a spoonful of the paste into a bowl, cover with hot water, and stir. (Remember that the good living organisms in miso will be killed if you boil them.) If you want, you can add sliced scallions to the soup. You can also add the paste to a soup of sautéed and simmered onions, garlic, mushrooms, greens, chicken soup, bone broth, etc.

To make a spread for crackers and bread, you can just add Tahini (sesame paste) and/or local Honey to the miso herb paste.  The photo to the left on the bottom is of immune paste with Tahini.

Hot Ginger Lemonade
1-2 inch piece of fresh Ginger root, grated
1 quart of water
Juice of 1 Lemon, freshly squeezed
Honey to taste
Pinch of Cayenne powder

Grate fresh Ginger root and steep in hot water for 10-20 minutes. Strain and add freshly squeezed Lemon juice, Honey, and a pinch of Cayenne. This concoction is warming (Ginger & Cayenne), contains vitamin C (fresh Lemon juice), and is soothing to a sore throat (Honey & Ginger). The Ginger root can be used more than once, and depending on where you live you may be able to find it locally-grown, even in colder climates.  ie Snakeroot Farm in Central Maine, Friends and Neighbors Farm in Marshfield, VT, and Massachusetts-grown Old Friends Farm Ginger root can be found at various farmers markets/Coops.

Adaptogen Herb Balls
Adaptogens are herbs that help our bodies adapt to stress. Coffee and other stimulants that give us rushes of “fake” energy trick us into thinking we have energy while it depletes our energy reserves over time. But these herbs are nourishing.

2 cups of Tahini (sesame paste)
1 cup of local Honey
½ tblsp Cardamom and Nutmeg each
½ cup Sunflower seeds
½ cup Sesame seeds
¾ cup dried Coconut flakes (optional)
1 tblsp Spirulina (fresh water blue-green algae, with tons of protein & B vitamins)
Powdered tonic herbs such as:
Astragalus root, Ashwaghanda root, Hawthorn berries, Licorice root (start with a few tablespoons of one or many herbs, experiment with the taste)
Extra sesame seeds, coconut flakes, and/or cocoa/carob powder

Mix the Tahini and Honey together so that they are smooth. Stir in the herb powders, and then the nuts. If needed, add more herbs, or Coconut flakes, until you can form balls that hold their shape. Roll into balls, and coat with Sesame seeds and Coconut flakes if you like. These will keep for many weeks stored in the fridge. Feel free to experiment with other nuts, dried fruit, and to adjust the amounts.

Demons Begone! Fire Cider
Fire Cider is a spicy concoction that boosts the immune system and relieves sinus congestion. You can take a daily shot of fire cider to keep you well through the winter months, or take as needed when you're feeling under the weather. Fire cider can also be used topically as a liniment by rubbing it into sore muscles and aching joints or as a compress by soaking a clean cloth in the fire cider (either room temperature or warmed) and then placing onto a congested chest.  For the record: I haven't used Fire Cider topically before, I've just heard of it being used and like knowing multiple uses for the same herb/remedy

¼ -½ cup Horseradish root, grated
1 head of Garlic, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
¼ - ½ cup of Ginger, grated
1 tsp Cayenne pepper
1 quart organic Apple Cider Vinegar, preferably local and raw

Place herbs in a quart jar and cover with apple cider vinegar. Cover tightly with a non-metal lid (or put a piece of plastic or waxed paper between the jar and metal lid) as vinegar makes metal rust. Infuse for a month, shaking daily or at least often. After a month, strain and rebottle into a glass jar with a plastic lid. You can add honey to taste, if you wish. You can also eat the spicy strained herbs!

Note:  There is an active boycott of Shire City Herbals, as they have trademarked this traditional remedy and are suing fellow herbalists.  You can take action by spreading the word in your community/ies, contacting your local health food store to encourage them to support small local businesses that offer Fire Cider (instead of Shire City Herbals who is sending those small business cease and desist letters), and signing the petition.  You can learn more about the situation and find recipes and more on the Free Fire Cider website and the Tradition Not Trademark  Facebook page.


Medicinal Mushroom Extract
To create an extract that combines both tinctured and decocted (simmered tea) mushroom, divide your mushroom into two halves. Set aside half - if it’s fresh, allow it to dry whole or sliced. Chop the other half (fresh or dried) and weigh it. Make a tincture using approximately a 1:5 ratio - 1 part weight of mushroom to 5 parts volume of menstrum (liquid that you’re using to extract the mushroom), i.e. 2 ounces of dried mushrooms to 10 ounces of menstrum. Cover the chopped mushroom with a menstrum made of: 70% alcohol, 20% vegetable glycerin, and 10% water. (Glycerin is added to help the blend emulsify – otherwise it supposedly gets goopy.) Let the tincture infuse for a month, and then strain. Measure and put aside the liquid. Put the mushroom that you just strained and the dried mushroom you saved earlier together in a pot. Cover the mushrooms with twice the amount of water as tincture, and simmer for one hour to two days. The longer you simmer the mushroom, the more medicinal properties that are drawn out. When you are finished with the decocting, strain out the mushroom and measure the liquid. Return the liquid back to the pot and let it continue to simmer until it is reduced to the same amount as the tincture. Once this is achieved, remove the pot from heat and allow the liquid to cool. Once the liquid is at room temperature, combine with the tincture, using a whisk to blend the mixture together.

Some medicine-makers, after dividing the mushrooms in two, compost the mushrooms used to make the tincture, and then decoct only the other half that they’d put aside earlier. Others don’t divide the mushroom at all, and both tincture and decoct the same mushroom. When I’ve made mushroom extracts in the past, I try to add at least some untinctured mushroom to the decoction. Once after I completed an extract, I felt like the mushroom still contained a lot of medicine, so I added fresh water to the tinctured and decocted mushroom and continued the decoction process. I let it simmer a long while and then let it cool. I poured the liquid into ice cube trays and once frozen, I stored them in freezer bags that I labeled well. This way, I had a deep immune tonic that was ready to use whenever I needed it, to thaw as a tea or soup. You can also add other immune-enhancing medicines like Astragalus and Garlic to your decoctions, or freeze soup/bone-broths that contain medicinal mushrooms and herbs.

Rosemary, Thyme, and Sage, Reishi mushroom, Tulsi/Holy Basil/Sacred Basil

Please feel free to post additional recipes and ideas in the comment space below. If you don't have these remedies in your home apothecary and you'd like to support the community herbalism/organizing work that I do by placing an order, please see my online shop: Dandelioness Herbals Etsy Shop. Thanks so much!

Additional blog posts:
*Elderberry (and other) Syrup Recipe(s)
*(Im)migration and Lip Balms for Social Justice?

*Ideas and Remedies for When You're Home Sick...
*Ginger Lovers Unite!: Medicinal and Culinary Uses of Ginger

The Dandelions Are Here!!

The Dandelions Are Here!! I am completely biased: I LOVE DANDELIONS! Perhaps your idea of a gorgeous yard involves a lawn as green and weedless as Astroturf, and you are among the masses that spend much time and energy pesticiding, mowing, and pulling out dandelions. We’d do much better to appreciate the dandelions and harvest them for food and medicine rather than poisoning our home-spaces and then spending money on supplements and pharmaceuticals that contain some of the same medicinal qualities that dandelion itself provides! Yup, it’s true! All parts of dandelion are medicinal and they’re completely free – a perfect example of medicine for the people! To me, dandelions embody Persistence, Resilience, Abundance, and Radiance. I love that it grows nearly everywhere – both an urban and rural plant ally.

I have a special place in my heart for dandelion and its far-reaching seeds. In my correspondence with U.S. Political Prisoners (please see Writing to (Political) Prisoners and resources listed under U.S. Political Prisoner Resources) I often draw dandelions in their various stages – green buds about to burst open, blossoms at their height of radiance, and a seedhead sending forth its seed in the wind. I love that no matter how much barbed wire and concrete walls they build up to separate us, confine life, and stamp out signs of hope, still the dandelions find their way in! On my first visit to a particular prison the guards were acting immature and unprofessional and the one escorting me to the visiting area was particularly dodgy. As I entered the area where I’d soon finally see my friend after filling out forms, locking up my belongings, going through the metal detector, and getting stamped, in a crack between the brick wall and cement-covered ground an enormous dandelion plant with about 20 blossoms was thriving! I’d never before seen so many blossoms on one plant and the sight brought me away from my anger at the conditions of the place to total joy at this embodiment of exuberant resistance, and made me more present for a better visit.

Here is information and recipes from “The Dandelions Are Coming!”, a workshop that I taught a couple years ago. Please let me know if you have more info and recipes to share! Don’t hate those weeds, eat those weeds! Make medicine and share knowledge! Hooray for the underdog!

Botanical name: Taraxacum officinale
AKA: Diente de Leon, Caisearbhán, Piss-in-bed/Pissenlit, Tell-time, Clockflower
Plant family: Asteraceae/Sunflower, along with Chamomile and Daisies
Soil uses: Dandelion helps loosen up compacted soil
Best time to harvest: early spring greens and roots, autumn roots, and blossoms anytime they’re out

Identification: The toothed leaves grow in a rosette, then send forth a hollow stalk upon which a golden blossom forms, 1”-2’ across. The root is brown on its exterior, and white on the inside. The root, leaves, and stems all bleed a milky juice when cut.

The WHOLE Plant is Medicinal!
Flower~ has pain-relieving properties, great as an infused massage oil for releasing tension held in the muscles. Can also be taken as food, wine, and mead.
Stem~ contains latex-y sap that, when applied daily for many weeks, is said to get rid of warts 
Leaf~ is rich in Vitamins C and B and minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron. The early spring greens have traditionally been eaten to cleanse the body of the heavy foods of winter and prepare for the warmer months. It is a urinary tonic, relieving water retention without depleting the body of potassium, as pharmaceutical diuretics do. Can be eaten fresh or cooked, taken as a tea or tincture.
Root~ has long been used in liver disease, jaundice, hepatitis, gall-bladder infections, and to dissolve gallstones. It can ease PMS, headaches, skin problems, and other ailments that indicate a sluggish liver. Mildly laxative. Increases insulin secretion, which can help with diabetes and hypoglycemia. It supports those who are in recovery from drug or alcohol-dependence, eating disorders, or long-term use of antibiotics. Can be added to soups and stir-fries. Both the leaf and root are bitter, and this taste activates the digestive system.
Seeds~ The seeds are said to be messengers, “if you whisper the words of love to your favourite person and blow the seeds gently towards him(/her), the seeds would carry the words to your beloved.” The Complete Floral Healer by Anne McIntyre
Energetics~ Dandelion helps to “relieve emotional stagnation and enhances expression of repressed emotions such as anger, resentment and grief.” ~The Complete Floral Healer
Flower essence: “Dandelion suits people who have a tendency to cram far too much into their lives. They are so full of enthusiasm for life that they take on too much and become compulsive ‘doers’. They overplan and overstructure their lives in an effort to fit in everything they want to do, and leave little room for relaxation or reflection, until the point is reached where they no longer know how to be quiet or relaxed. They leave little space in their lives for spiritual or emotional expression, and as they push themselves beyond the body’s natural capacity, they no longer listen to the needs of their bodies. Such harsh physical demands and unexpressed inner life creates great tension, especially in the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Dandelion helps to release this tension, allowing the body to relax and emotions to be release and expressed. It can be added to massage oils and used in bodywork. It enables you to listen more closely to emotional messages and bodily needs, and shifts the emphasis from being a human ‘doing’ to a human ‘being’. Energy, activity and enthusiasm become balanced with a sense of inner ease.” ~The Complete Floral Healer
Sound familiar to anyone else? Aye!

Dandelion concoctions - clockwise from middle: Dandelion Green Vinegar, Dandelion Flower tincture, Dandelion Flower essence, image by Larken Bunce, my Dandelioness Herbals business card, Tigress Balm with Dandelion Flower-infused oil, Radherb patch and wilting blossom, Dandelion Blossom Elixir, and Dandelion Root tincture. (Most of these are on my Dandelioness Herbals Etsy shop.)

Dandelions that I'd dug up from my garden to eat the
leaves and roots went to bloom before I ate them!

Dandelion Blossom Elixir
To preserve the fresh sunnyness of the blossoms all year round.

1½ cups Blossoms (only the yellows)
1 cup Honey
12 oz. Brandy

Twist off all the green bits of the blossoms, leaving only the yellow. Place the unwashed blossoms in a glass quart jar. Cover blossoms with honey and stir. Cover the blossoms with the brandy, being sure to leave at least 1” space from the top of the jar for shake-ability. Shake and let infuse in the sunshine for a day or two. Then move to a spot out of direct sunlight and shake daily if possible. After one month, strain out and compost the blossoms, and then bottle and label your elixir! As the honey and brandy are natural preservatives, your elixir will last years.

Dandelion Blossom Massage Oil
Infusing fresh dandelion blossoms into oil makes a lovely oil for self-massage.  And remember breast/chest massage and self-exams are for all of us – not only cisgender (non-transgender) women!  We can all benefit from this practice, whether we want to promote circulation and lymph movement, release held emotions, connect with and better know our own bodies, and/or to be aware of any changes that may occur so that we can get them checked out by a healthcare provider.  You can purchase a special balm for these self-massages such as Love It Up! Breast & Chest Massage Balm or make your own.

Dandelion Blossom Oil can be used for general all-over massage, as well, to relieve tension. (This is why I include it in my Tigress Balm warming muscle rub.) Infusing this oil is tricky, since the blossoms are so very juicy and not particularly anti-bacterial like other herbs, such as Calendula and St. Johnswort, which helps to prevent mold. If you’d like to wilt your flowers to release some of its moisture, lay out your blossoms in a basket or on a piece of paper bag paper in a well-ventilated space for a few hours or overnight.

Place your freshly harvested blossoms into a clean, dry glass jar, filling it halfway or two-thirds full. Cover the blossoms with Olive oil (or another oil such as Almond or Sesame) filling almost to the top, stirring with a chopstick to release air bubbles as you go. Pour the blossoms and oils in a double boiler. Slowly warm the herbs on very low heat for at least 30-60 minutes. Make sure that the oil is not too hot - you don’t want to cook the flowers in the oil, just warm them. The longer you’re able to warm the oil at a low temperature, the stronger medicine your oil will be. Pour your blossoms and oil back into the glass jar and leave to infuse out in the sunshine or a sunny window, leaving the lid off if possible, to let any moisture out. Usually oils are left to infuse for a full lunar cycle, but dandelion blossoms are apt to mold. You can strain your oil after its day in the sun, or if you’re up for the challenge, you can try the full month and keep a vigilant eye out for mold, removing any if it appears, and wiping out any moisture from the sides of the jar with a towel or napkin. Whenever you are ready to strain your oil, pour it through a mesh strainer or cloth into a dry bottle and label. Store out of the sun and use within a year.  Some folks add a few drops of Vitamin E or essential oils such as Lavender or Rosemary to help preserve this oil.  Just remember that the skin on our breast/chest area can be sensitive so add just a few drops.

Another way to make Dandelion Blossom oil with fresh blossoms is to pour the oil over the blossoms and add a bit of grain alcohol to prevent bacterial growth. I usually add just a teaspoon of organic grain alcohol per quart of oil.  It's still a good idea to keep an eye out and remove any moisture or mold from the oil.

 

Fresh Dandelion leaf, flower, buds, and stem.

Chopping it up to marinade in apple cider vinegar.

Marinated Dandelion Greens
This recipe requires no cooking, making it a great way to get your greens during the busy spring and summer months.

1 bunch Dandelion Greens, chopped
Olive Oil
Honest-To-Goodness Apple Cider Vinegar (or other local a.c.v.)
1 clove Garlic, crushed and chopped (optional)

Clean your Dandelion greens thoroughly and chop. Place greens in a bowl, drizzle on the olive oil and apple cider vinegar, and stir. If you need an immune boost or vampire protection, crush a clove of garlic, letting it oxidize for a couple minutes (to get its full medicinal benefits ), finely chop, and stir in with the greens. Cover your bowl and leave it to marinate for a few hours or overnight. And there you go, your greens are ready! If you don’t eat them all right away, store them in the fridge.   (You can buy Honest to Goodness Apple Cider Vinegar in Central Vermont Coops, or buy it in bulk directly from them.  Call: 802-685-3061 )

Dandelion Leaf Infused Vinegar
Vinegar itself is an old folk remedy. Dr. Jarvis, who practiced medicine in Barre, VT starting in 1909, recorded Vermont remedies in his book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, singing praises for its many uses. Vinegar is a digestive tonic and is high in minerals. Recent studies show that it’s beneficial for diabetes and treating jellyfish stings! Adding tonic herbs such as dandelion leaf adds even more medicinal properties, and gives you a nutrient-rich base for salad dressings and sauces.

Fill a glass jar halfway with fresh, clean chopped dandelion leaves, and then fill the jar with vinegar. Cover with a glass or plastic lid, or a cork, as metal will rust. You can also put a layer of plastic wrap or waxed paper between a metal lid and jar, but I've still had metal lids rust through the layer. Let the herb vinegar infuse for an entire moon cycle, shaking daily if possible. Strain out and eat or compost the herb, and pour the infused vinegar into a sterilized glass bottle with a glass or plastic lid. Store in a cool, dark area such as a cupboard. Folks have varying opinions about how long herbal vinegars keep. Some say 6 months, most say years.

Fresh Dandelion Root

Roasted Dandelion Root Brew
I’m not going to risk upsetting coffee-drinkers or dandelion itself by calling this drink a coffee substitute, but if you are seeking a bitter brew without the jitters or adrenal depletion, you may want to check this out.  Dig dandelion roots in autumn.  Cut off the leaves, eating if they still look vital, composting them if not.  Wash the roots and slice them into small pieces.  When they are dry, roast them in an oven at a very low heat.  Check them often and remove when they seem well-roasted.  Grind them and either brew them in a percolator or simmer the roots alone or with other herbs and spices.  You can add milk (cow/ rice/ coconut), sweetener (maple syrup/honey), and a pinch of cinnamon after you simmer the brew.

Some herbalists make and sell instant beverages that contain contain Dandelion root and can be stirred right into hot water, no simmering necessary.  Even though it's delicious, I stopped buying Dandy Blend, as there are much more local companies (I'm talking Poland where DB is made, not Ohio where the company is based) to get it from, that don't support hateful, anti-immigrant politics.  Let's support business that support justice!

Dandelion Blossom Fritters made by folk herbalist and 

food educator Sandra Lory of Mandala Botanicals

Dandelion Blossom Fritters
If you need something a bit heartier to go along with your Dandelion Blossom Elixir, Roasted Dandelion Root Brew, and Marinated Dandelion Greens with Dandelion Leaf Infused Vinegar, try this recipe. If you’re more into deep-fat frying, you can also dip fresh blossoms in a tempura batter and fry them up! 

1 cup Flour (millet, buckwheat, wheat, etc)
1 cup Water
1 Egg
2 tbsp. Olive oil
1 cup whole Dandelion flowers
Pinch of salt 
Optional ingredients: Chives, Dandelion greens, Stinging Nettles (the young leaves finely chopped), Mushrooms, etc.  

Beat the egg, add water and oil. Stir the liquid into flour, and then add in the flowers. Warm coconut oil or another oil in a pan and cook like mini pancakes. Serve them warm with jam, syrup, butter, sweet and sour sauce, herb-infused vinegar, the juice left in your pickle/fermentation jars, spicy salsas, chutneys, etc.  Serves 2 generously.



Dandelion Root Stir-fry
Harvest the whole plant, digging around it with a shovel or spade and lifting it out of the ground. Cut off the greens and steam, marinate, or add them to soup. Clean the roots, cut into slices, and add to a stir-fry the way you would carrot or burdock root.

Dandelion Mead
A recipe morphed together from an old-time mead (honey wine) recipe and some internet suggestions.

Pour boiling water to 1 gallon over:
(meaning you should have 1 gallon total between both the water and the ingredients listed below)

2 quarts Dandelion blossoms, with greens attached (the green part of blossom, not the leaves)

2 sliced organic Lemons

2 sliced organic Oranges

1 lb organic Raisins minus one handful (reserved to add when cool)

When cool:
add 1 quart local Honey (about 3 lbs)

1 1/4 tsp Baking Yeast

the reserved handful of Raisins

Cover and let ferment in a place with consistent temperature, stirring daily. Bottle after 15 days. (Check out bottling instructions if you're not familiar with this process, or better yet, have an experienced friend help you with this til you're comfortable doing it on your own.) Let ferment at least 6 months.

Notes:  A wine yeast specifically made for mead-making may create a better-tasting mead.  This recipe makes do with baking yeast, which is usually much easier to find.

In lieu of this recipe, it has been suggested: After 10-15 days you should siphon the mead into a new vessel that has an air lock and leave it for 3-6 months and then bottle it. This will insure that all of the yeast has fallen out making a clear beverage and fermentation is absolutely complete.

Dandelions in the field to the stone tower, 
Kinvara, Co. Galway, Ireland

Dandelion remedies available on Dandelioness Herbals' online Etsy shop.

Dandelion References:  ●The Roots of Healing: A Woman’s Book of Herbs (or A Woman's Book: The Healing Power of Natural Remedies) by Deb Soule ●The Complete Floral Healer (or Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body & Soul Through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, & Flower Essences) by Anne McIntyre ●Herbal Remedies from the Wild by Corinne Martin