Herbal Liniment

I hurt myself a few days ago - running up and down a long flight of stairs... I'm currently walking like an 80 year old - ouch - it ALWAYS pays to stretch (yes John, I was listening). A good reminder I suppose. So on that topic another use for my herbs... liniments and another post from mountain rose herbs... (rub it on and relax with a cup of Yarrow tea - made from the dried white flowers on the top - a good natural pain killer).

Full Moon In Capricorn - Deal with it.

Today's full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse. Capricorn is a sign of practicality, achievement, responsibility and structure.

Solar eclipses, help us to uncover things that have been unclear to us, especially when it comes to emotions. If you've been having problems clearing away any old emotional junk now will be the time you find the energy to do it. Many will find they no longer have the patience to deal with situations that are at a dead end. This eclipse will effect anyone whose natal planets are in the early degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Capricorn, Cancer). Any emotions that come up now are most likely fears or anxiety over situations we have been avoiding dealing with. This is not a time to be afraid - things are pushing us to move forward whether we like it or not. If we take a good hard look and are honest with ourselves during this full moon we can discover what is real in our lives and what is illusion. This will probably cause a lot of people to feel uncomfortable and rushed. Expect some cranky folks out and about today or/and some emotional conversations or thoughts to be coming up. Try not to over react and keep in the moment for the next few days. Remember to stay true to yourself and to keep processing how certain situations are making you feel. It is time to get our heads out of the sand and to deal with it - whatever those emotions are that have been nagging at us it is time to take a closer look.

"We may find ourselves establishing or reevaluating our goals/aspirations and define what the necessary steps are toward achieving them, including what we must sacrifice or let go of."

For more check out

http://www.astrogrrl.com

Wild Harvesting - Herbal Oils

Another fun thing to do with herbs is to make herbal oils and salves. Easier than I thought it would be! Here is my stew of Dandelion and Wild Rose Petals in an almond oil base (soothing facial oil). - Bubbled in a double boiler then strained through cheese cloth.... How to make a salve by Mountain Rose Herbs (comfrey in their example) and guess what - you can eat the oils! How great is that. Some people choose to let their herbs steep in the oil for 45-60 days stirring daily and watching to make sure nothing is turning funky then strain. I enjoy the smell of the herbs simmering on my stove top. I plan to try making "raw" dandelion oil this weekend for salad dressings :) I'll post when it is done.

Wild Harvesting - Usnea

More of a medicine than a "food"... but I have a photo so up it goes :) Usnea is a lichen that grows on trees (this one on Pines). Lichens lack the water-repellent covering that plants rely on to help them conserve water, so a lichen can absorb water and the nutrients it contains directly through its surface rather than through a root system as plants do. Some lichens of the genus Usnea are able to keep growing even when broken off from the parent thallus and are just draped over a branch or wire. Usnea's particularly efficient ability to absorb minerals from the air has significant implications for people. ** someone just msged me that this photo might not be old man's beard - the herbalist we went on a walk with claims it is - I've just hunted around the net to find out more info... Several photos look like this - there is also a plant called Old Man's Beard... I'll keep hunting around and will post another photo if I find this isn't the right thing but so far looking like it is.

* Note: One of the best ways I know to positively ID the lichen (because there are look-alikes) is to gently pull a green thready bit apart until you can see the white inner core. If there’s no white inner core, it’s not Usnea.

Uses:

• usnea contains very strong antibacterial components that ware said to help prevent wounds from getting infected and, thereby, contributes to more rapid healing.
• In China, it is used to make decoctions in the treatment of bronchitis and is used as part of herbal cancer therapy, particularly for thyroid cancers.
• It contains Usnic Acid which is effective in treating uberculosis, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and pneumococcus
• Traditional Uses: cleanses lungs, resolves phlegm, controls bleeding, removes toxin
• The moistened herb also makes an excellent bandage to be used directly on the wound or affected area. (some may have a mild reaction to it on their skin if so - don't use it :) Usnea can be applied directly to an open wound in emergency situations, it will serve as an antimicrobial compress to stop bleeding and prevent infection.

Sources:
http://nature.ca/discover/treasures/plnts/tr3/usn_e.cfm
http://bearmedicineherbals.com/usnea-healing-from-the-forest.html

Making Tinctures

A great how to post :)

Wild Harvesting - Buying Vodka

(in this photo dandelion heads, horse ails and a few wild rose petals peeking out from under the horsetails)
This weekend I got busy in my kitchen with a few of the things I've been our harvesting for the past week. One of the first things I made was with horsetails I have a few jars of tincture steeping in my storage room - super easy and very satisfying. 50/50 chopped horsetails in vodka in a jar (one moon cycle before straining off the herbs:) and voila - tincture. I decided to buy a Canadian brand of Vodka and thought a huge glass bottle was probably the way to go because I have quite a few things I want to tincture. The sales person at the liquor store is married to a friend and made a comment about the amount of vodka I was buying so I felt I had to explain myself - ah the joys of living in a small town :) He may get some tincture in a month just so he knows I was serious and am not a vodka loving party animal...

Wild Harvesting - Spuce Tips

The little young tips on the ends of Spruce Trees a little lighter than the rest of the tree (new growth) used locally in Jellies, syrups and beers are a great source of vitamin c in the frontier days in North America they were used to prevent scurvy. They are also pretty tasty to nibble straight up :) on a hike if you like things that are a bit tart. Make sure you only take the soft new growth older bits that are hard will taste like turpentine! I've been blending a few into my smoothies in the morning and really enjoying them. Spruce tips can be gathered and used throughout the year, but they are best during the spring.

Spruce Tip Tea:

• Use 8-10 spruce tips
• 3 cloves
• 1drop of vanilla (or half a vanilla bean scraped)
• maple syrup to taste

in a medium tea pot cover with boiling water let stand for 8 minutes before serving. More recipes coming...

Sources:
http://homeschoolblogger.com/frontierfreedom/archives/782611
http://medcookingalaska.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-harvest-spruce-tips-with-recipes.html

Wild Harvesting - Yarrow

Here is a great one with a lot of mystical significance as well as being a medicinal herb. Yarrow leaves are fern like - the flowers ( I took this photo before) grow in several forked bunches with small, white heads - each tiny flower resembles a daisy. The most medicinally active part of the plant are the flowering tops. Gather stem, leaves and flower heads in bloom, dry for later herb use. The dry herb edible as a spice or flavoring, strong sage flavor.

Uses:

• Yarrow is commonly used as a tea or in a bath (flowers) to help raise your body temperature. The salicylic acid derivatives are a component of aspirin, which may account for its use in treating fevers and reducing pain. Yarrow tea is also said to be able to clear up a cold within 24 hours.
• It is believed that anti-allergenic compounds can be extracted from the flowers by steam distillation.
• The flowers are used to treat various allergic mucus problems, including hay fever.
• Flowers used in this way are harvested in summer or autumn, and an infusion drunk for upper respiratory phlegm
• The flowers can be used externally as a wash for eczema.
• Inhale a steam containing the flowers for hay fever and mild asthma.
• Soak a pad in an infusion or dilute tincture to soothe varicose veins.

Properties

Yarrow is a very valuable medicinal herb, with much scientific evidence of use in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, stimulant, and tonics, vasodilator and vulnerary.

Yarrow is used against colds, cramps, fevers, kidney disorders, toothaches, skin irritations, and hemorrhages, and to regulate menses, stimulate the flow of bile, and purify the blood. Medicinal tea is a good remedy for severe colds and flu, for stomach ulcers, amenorrhea, abdominal cramps, abscesses, trauma and bleeding, and to reduce inflammation.

The main constituents are volatile oils including linalool, camphor, sabinene, and chamazulene, sesquiterpene lctones, flavanoids, alkaloids including achilleine, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, salicylic acid, coumarins, and tannins which prove these uses in alternative medicine to be effective.

The herb contains sterols, which have actions similar to hormones and aids in controlling the menstrual cycle. That yarrow is an extremely beneficial remedy for women; it is established from the fact that the herb moderates serious bleeding during menstruation as well as heals uterus blockages. It also helps in providing relief during heavy periods. Yarrow’s versatility as a herbal medication is again proved when it is said to be useful as a stimulant or tonic for the nervous system.

Interesting Points

• Yarrow was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, it is also known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, is used for divination in spells.
• Yarrow oil has been traditionally used in hair shampoos.
• Some caution is advised , large or frequent doses taken over a long period may cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.
• Yarrows can be planted to combat soil erosion due to the plant's resistance to drought.
• The stalks of yarrow are dried and used as a randomising agent in I Ching divination.
• In the Middle Ages, yarrow was part of a herbal mixture known as gruit used in the flavouring of beer prior to the use of hops.
• Infusions of yarrow, taken either internally or externally, are said to speed recovery from severe bruising.
• A folk belief states that if you hang a bunch of dried yarrow or yarrow that had been used in wedding decorations over the bed, you can thus ensure a lasting love for at least seven years.
• Yarrow was one of the herbs put in Saxon amulets. These amulets were for protection from everything from blindness to barking dogs
• Chinese proverbs claim that yarrow brightens the eyes and promotes intelligence.

Recipe

An aromatic tea: To 1 tsp. dried herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep for 10 min. sweeten to taste. Take at bedtime.

Sources:

• http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_yarrow.htm
• http://www.altnature.com/gallery/yarrow.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefolium
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Koeh-149.jpg
  

Making Rose Water

Wild Harvesting - Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale)

Northern Bedstraw also commonly known as Clevers (it flowers eventually - little white flowers that grow in little forked clusters - if you search the net you can find lots of photos:)

Northern Bedstraw is related to coffee, the seeds can be dried, roasted and ground as a coffee substitute. The leaves and roots are often used to make tea. It is considered the fantastic lymphatic tonic, and is both alternative and diuretic. It has a long tradition of using in reducing tumors. A cautionary note continual use of this plant can irritate your mouth. It is suggested that people with poor circulation and diabetes avoid it!

Traditional Uses:

• Bladder Health Maintenance
• Bronchitis
• Cellular Regeneration
• Cleansing
• Detoxification
• Fever
• Immune System
• Infections
• Inflammation
• Respiratory Health Maintenance
• Skin Infections
• Swollen Glands
• Ulcers
• Urinary Tract Gravel
• Urinary Tract Infection
• Water Retention

More interesting Points:

• Bedstraw plants were used to make sweet-smelling hot compresses to stop bleeding and soothe sore muscles.
• Bedstraw tea has been used as a weight loss aid. It is said to speed up the metabolism of stored fat and to reduce weight in about 6 weeks.
• In the past decoctions of it were often used as a contraceptive.
• Diaphoretic and Diuretic
• A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant dries. Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
• The fresh juice of bedstraw has been used for treating scurvy.
• The herb tea was used internally and externally as a folk remedy against abnormal growths and the juice contains citric acid, which is reported to have activity against abnormal growths.

Dosage

• Juice: Blend the fresh herb in a food processor and strain. Drink half a glass a day.
• Infusion: Pour boiling water over 3-4g of cut Cleaver and allow to steep for 10 minutes before straining. Drink two to three cups per day. The cooled infusion can also be used as a wash or poultice for inflamed skin.
• Tincture: Take 20 to 30 drops in water, as required.

Sources:
http://montana.plant-life.org/species/galium_boreale.htm
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/Canada/HealthInformation/Encyclopedias/Bedstraw.htm
http://www.health24.com/natural/Herbs/17-666-676,33341.asp

Wild Harvesting - Fireweed

Fireweed leaves and roots are low in Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. They are also a good source of Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium and Manganese! Excellent for men to take for a healthy prostate gland. The flowers are nice in salads, jellies and vinegars.

Fireweed

• Anti-inflammatory, laxative, antispasmodic (whole plant) is usable
• Shoots and young stems are peeled and can be eaten raw or steamed as a substitute for asparagus.
• Young leaves are edible in salads or in soups or steeped for use as a tonic tea for upset stomach.
• The leaves should only be used when they are young, and with moderation. Infusions of leaves have been known to cause nausea.
• Contains agents that cause tissue to contract, and that soften and soothe the skin when applied locally.

Root and Flowers Tincture - for prostate gland
Before flowering turn leaves into tincture after flowering harvest roots also tincture combine root and flower tinctures before use.
to make a tincture.... (one part plant to one part good quality vodka keep in a jar with a plastic lid)
10 drops 3 times a day for men is very good (harvest and tincture separately then combine) - let your tinctures sit for one full cycle of the moon to be ready before using.

Sources:
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/3048/2
http://montana.plant-life.org/species/epilob_angus.htm

Wild Harvesting - Wormwood

'While Wormwood hath seed get a handful or twaine

To save against March, to make flea to refraine:

Where chamber is sweeped and Wormwood is strowne,

What saver is better (if physick be true)

For places infected than Wormwood and Rue?

It is a comfort for hart and the braine

And therefore to have it it is not in vaine.'

So it keeps away bugs :) But wormwood is also good for a number of other things...
With the exception of Rue, Wormwood is the bitterest herb known, but it is very wholesome and used to be in much request by brewers for use instead of hops. On our walk we were told that it is also great for digestion and that tea made it helps to dry out breast milk in women. Topically it has many antiseptic qualities and is also good for smoothing the skin. A good way to identify wormwood is to give it a sniff - it smells a lot like sage - in fact many people here refer to it as Wild Sage. When I'm done posting the next few things I'll start posting more recipes - along with photos...

In some religious practices such as Wicca, both Wormwood and Mugwort are believed to have multiple effects on the psychic abilities of the practitioner. Because of the power believed to be inherent in certain herbs of the genus Artemisia, many believers cultivate the plants in a "moon garden". The beliefs surrounding this genus are founded upon the strong association between the herbs of the genus Artemisia and the moon goddess Artemis, who is believed to hold these powers.

Uses and some interesting facts...

• Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic
  
• Mosquito repellent (decanted into water and sprayed onto the skin or used as a smudge or rub it directly on)
  
• Leaves in a tea kills pinworms
• Burn to clean the air in your home
• Good in skin tonics antiseptic qualities
• Some have allergies use carefully if ingesting!
• Good for digestion – a bitter
• Topically smoothes skin
• Good in a bath on the full moon mid winter for women
• Some have taken dried Wormwood, placed it inside a coffee filter to form a sort of "pod" and then placed them under furniture and such as a natural way of repelling fleas from their home.
• The aperitif vermouth (derived from the German word Wermut, "wormwood") is a wine flavored with aromatic herbs, but originally with wormwood.
  
• The highly potent spirit absinthe, also contains wormwood.
  
• Wormwood has been used medicinally as a tonic, stomachic, febrifuge and anthelmintic.
• A sachet made of wormwood leaves will keep moths at bay.
• Putting dried sprigs of wormwood in the garden along side carrots
  and onions will mask their scent, confusing insects in particular the
  carrot rust fly.
  
• The dried wormwood will not have the growth inhibiting
  effects of the fresh herb.

A Wormwood "Tea" to keep the bugs at bay!

• 8 ounces wormwood leaves
• 4 pints of water
• 1 teaspoon castile soap

Effective against: Aphids, caterpillars, flea beetles, mosquitos and moths.
1.Simmer wormwood leaves in the water for 30 minutes. Stir, strain, and leave to cool.
2.Add the castille soap to wormwood mixture and use to spray.

OR try this...

Insect repellent
Mix thoroughly crushed fresh wormwood leaves with apple cider vinegar one to one ratio.
This mixture is put into a small piece of gauze or cheesecloth. The ends are folded up and tied to make a little bag, and the bag is rubbed over the skin of humans or pets to repel mosquitoes, gnats, and horseflies.

Harvesting:
To harvest for future use in insect teas, dried arrangements or sachets
you will pick the upper portions of the stalks when they are in full flower and
there is no moisture on the plant. Generally flowering occurs after July. Be
sure to pick any damaged leaves off your stalks. Tie the stem ends together
in bundles. Hang them upside down in a shady spot. Let them air dry like
this for a few days. We then put them into glass containers with tightly screwed
down lids. Store in a dark place.

Sources:
http://www.ghorganics.com/Wormwood.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0007/ai_2603000742/pg_2/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormwood
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/wormwo37.html

Wild Harvesting - Horsetail

Horsetail (equisetum arvense, scouring rush, shavegrass)

Okay ignore the dandelions that are in the middle of the nice horsetail stand I found in this photo :) - you get the idea.... Most people use horsetail as a tea (how to at the end of this posting also a shampoo recipe...)

Horsetail contains high concentrations of silicic acid and other silicates. Horsetail also contains potassium, aluminum, and manganese, along with variety of flavonoids. These flavonoids, as well as other substances found in horsetail, are what appear to provide this herb with strong diuretic effects that promote the loss of water from the body. A few herbal specialists believe that the organic silicon concentrations found in horsetail may also promote bone and cartilage formation and are useful for treating brittle nails and related conditions.

Interesting point...
Because horsetail can absorb minerals better than most other plants, it is used by agronomists to check for mercury and other pollutants in the soil. One of the benefits of horsetail is its ability to detoxify heavy metals from the body. The minerals from horsetail act as a kind of chelator, passing the waste out through the kidneys. Horsetail can restore vitality to the kidneys by helping relieve these most precious organs of acid buildup.

Suggested Uses
Taken internally, horsetail is may be useful in connection with the following conditions and symptoms:

• Inflammation or mild infections of the genitourinary tract
• Kidney stones
• Urinary Tract Infection

Horsetail also can be applied externally to treat the following:

• Wounds (especially poorly healing ones)
• Burns
• Rheumatic conditions
• Fractures
• Sprains

Precautions:

• Horsetail remedies prepared from Equisetum arvense are generally considered safe. Another species of horsetail, however, called Equisetum palustre is poisonous to horses.
  
• Prolonged use of even the safe form of horsetail (E. arvense) is also not advised only take for two weeks at a time internally (can be hard on your kidneys).
  
• Taking horsetail by mouth may cause levels of vitamin B1 (thiamin) in the body to drop. If you take horsetail on a regular basis, you should also take a quality multivitamin or at least a B complex supplement daily.
• People with heart or kidney disorders, diabetes, or gout should not use horsetail.
• Do not drink alcohol regularly while taking horsetail, because horsetail may cause levels of thiamin to drop.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take horsetail.

• Nicotine patches or gum -- Horsetail contains some nicotine, and should not be used if you are also using nicotine replacement patches or chewing gum.
• Digoxin (Lanoxin) -- Horsetail may cause low levels of potassium (hypokalemia) in the body. People with heart arrhythmias and those taking digoxin should not use horsetail.
• Diuretics (water pills) -- Horsetail may have weak diuretic properties, meaning it helps rid the body of excess fluid. People who take diuretics should not take horsetail due to the risk of dehydration or low potassium (hypokalemia).

A few more points

• Horsetail has a variety of anti-fungal uses. As a garden spray, a small handful of dried herb simmered in a quart of water for 10 minutes will eliminate molds. Biodynamic farmers provide their animals with horsetail tea when they get hoof rot. They make it by the barrel and splay it on their fields with a whiskbroom.
• some people believe Brandy not Vodka works best to make a horsetail tonic with.
  
• Horsetail tincture is effective against sweaty feet. Just massage the clean feet with horsetail every night. It is also a good treatment for athlete's foot. Just boil the plant in water and when cold enough soak your feet for 20 minutes.
• Horsetail has not been commonly used in modern American mainstream herbal medicine for asthma. Tea and juice are used for asthma in German herbal medicine. The tea is used as a remedy for pediatric asthma in Japan.

To make tea:
Pour eight ounces of boiling water over 4 level tsp. of dried herb or fresh. Cover and steep for 3 minutes." A delicate person should drink no more than 1-1/2 cups a day, after meals, in divided doses. Sometimes a horsetail bath helps. For this, use 7 ounces of dried herbs or 6 quarts of fresh herb. Soak the horsetail overnight in enough cold water to cover the plants. In the morning, heat and strain off the liquid. Enjoy a 20-minute soak. "

Fresh Juice:
Difficult unless you have a good quality juicer or blend with a little water in a vitamix. Juicing horsetail shortens their life. . Preserve each four parts of horsetail juice with one part of 95% grain alcohol. Dose: 1-3 tablespoons, practically, take a large mouth full.

** Unlike the dry tea, the fresh juice of horsetail can break down riboflavin, and should not be used long term, or short term by pregnant or nursing women.

Horsetail Soapwort Shampoo:
7 T. snipped fresh horsetail stems * 7 T. grated dried soapwort root * 1 gallon water
Soak grated soapwort root in water overnight, then drain. Boil water, add the horsetails and grated soapwort root that sat in it overnight, and boil for 15 minutes. Take off of heat, and let sit for one hour. Strain, bottle and refrigerate. Use 1 cup of shampoo to wash hair.

Tincture

Creating a Tincture

Once harvested, the vegetative stalks of horsetail can be dried and used to make a tea, but it is preferable to make a tincture from the fresh herb as it loses much of its potency when dried. Within one to two hours of harvesting, chop the herb very fine and fill some bottles to the top. Then fill them up with a mixture of 30-40% alcohol with water. This will make approximately a 1:5 fresh horsetail tincture. The bottles should be stored in the dark and shaken once or twice per day for about a month. Then they can be left to sit for at least another two months. This three month period is the minimum amount of time to produce a good quality tincture. However, as long as the bottles are well sealed and stored in the dark they will keep almost indefinitely.

When you are ready to use it, shake the bottles a few times a day for a couple of days then press and filter their contents and you have a fresh horsetail tincture. Once the tincture is pressed it begins to degrade and should be used within six months to a year. You can extend the shelf life by storing it in several smaller bottles filled to the top and only using one bottle at a time until finished.

The dosage is three to five millilitres, three to four times per day for chronic conditions, six to eight times per day for acute conditions. Always take it on an empty stomach. The best time is 10-15 min. before meals and 30-60 min. before bed.

Sources:
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horsetail.html
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/horsetail-000257.htm
http://www.pshm.org/clinical_tidbits.shtml
http://www.mofga.org/Publications/MaineOrganicFarmerGardener/Summer2003/Horsetails/tabid/1483/Default.aspx
http://www.botanical-online.com/medicinalsequisetoangles.htm

Wild Harvesting - Dandelions

I went on a fantastic wild herb walk yesterday with a local Herbalist. I'm feeling so inspired! I've decided to dedicate my next few posts to a few wild edible/medicinal plants that can be found in the Canadian Boreal forest - The first one something that is common almost everywhere. Dandelions which according to the USDA rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value.

Nutrients: Dandelions are a great source of beta-carotene, and the third richest source of Vitamin A of all foods, after cod-liver oil and beef liver. They also are particularly rich in fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and are a good source of protein. Dandelion heads are also rich in micronutrients such as copper, cobalt, zinc, boron, and molybdenum, as well as Vitamin D. The sodium in dandelion roots is believed important in reducing inflammations of the liver.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) -
acts as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health also great for the liver and skin.

Flower Heads

• Very high in vitamin D when eaten (tea, tincture or pull apart and sprinkle over salads)
  
• Good dried in the winter months as a source of vitamin D (teas)
• Excellent for the skin in washes or skin creams - cleanses your skin and eliminate acne
• One of the only plants in the Boreal that carries vitamin D

Root

• A good liver cleanser
• Best gathered in late summer or in the fall.
  
• Wash well and chop do not peel! - most of the nutrients are in the outer layer
  
• Dry and store in jars for tea

To harvest the roots... Avoid breaking the roots, use a long trowel or a fork, lifting steadily and carefully. Shake off as much of the earth as possible and then cleanse the roots, the easiest way being to leave them in a basket in a running stream so that the water covers them, for about an hour, or shake them, bunched, in a tank of clean water. Cut off the crowns of leaves, but be careful in so doing not to leave any scales on the top. Do not cut or slice the roots or the valuable milky juice on which their medicinal value depends will be wasted by bleeding.

Leaves
Bitter - you can toss them into a salad or dry them and use in teas or to remove some of the bitterness soak the in water for an hour or two - also great steamed with other greens oil, garlic and salt. Best leaves are the young ones (less bitter)

• Good for digestion
• Excellent for gas
• improve your bowel function, works equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea
• lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half.

A few more points:

• Dandelions contain Inulin, which converts to fructose in the presence of cold or hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Fructose forms glycogen in the liver without requiring insulin, resulting in a slower blood sugar rise, which makes it good for diabetics and hypoglycemics.
• Taking Dandelions extract (tinctures) have been proven to doubling of bile output with leaf extracts, and a quadrupling of bile output with root extract.
  
• In studies from 1941 to 1952, the French scientist Henri Leclerc demonstrated the effectiveness of dandelion on chronic liver problems related to bile stones. He found that roots gathered in late summer to fall are most effective, when they are rich in bitter, white milky latex.
• Dandelion sap, also known as dandelion milk, is useful in treating skin diseases which are caused due to microbial and fungal infection, as this sap is highly alkaline and have germicidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties. Care should be taken while using this sap as to avoid its contact with eyes. This sap can be used on itches, ringworm, eczema etc. without risk.
• The fresh juice of Dandelion is applied externally to fight bacteria and help heal wounds. The plant has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphococcus aureus, pneumococci, meningococci, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, C. diphtheriae, proteus. The latex contained in the plant sap can be used to remove corns and warts.

As Food

• In Wales, they grate or chop up Dandelion roots, two years old, and mix them with the leaves in salad.
• The young leaves may also be boiled as a vegetable, spinach fashion, thoroughly drained, sprinkled with pepper and salt, moistened with soup or butter and served very hot. If considered a little too bitter, use half spinach, but the Dandelion must be partly cooked first in this case, as it takes longer than spinach. As a variation, some grated nutmeg or garlic, a teaspoonful of chopped onion or grated lemon peel can be added to the greens when they are cooked.
• Dandelion can be fermented and made into a nice stout beer or wine.
• The roasted roots can be used to make Dandelion Coffee, (clean well first!), dry, and slightly roast till they are the tint of coffee, then grind in a coffee mill.

Precautions: (information from the University of Maryland Medical Center)
www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.

Dandelion is generally considered safe. Some individuals, however, may develop an allergic reaction from touching dandelion, and others may develop mouth sores. If you have an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, daisies, or iodine, you should avoid dandelion. In some people, dandelion can cause increased stomach acid and heartburn. It may also irritate the skin if applied topically.

People with gallbladder problems and gallstones should consult a health care provider before eating dandelion.

Possible Interactions:

Dandelion leaf is a diuretic and may increase the excretion of drugs from the body. If you are taking prescription medications, ask your health care provider before taking dandelion leaf. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use dandelion preparations without first talking to your health care provider:

• Lithium -- Animal studies suggest that dandelion may worsen the side effects associated with lithium, a medication used to treat bipolar disorder.
• Antibiotics, quinolone -- One species of dandelion, Taraxacum mongolicum, also called Chinese dandelion, may decrease the absorption of quinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin) from the digestive tract. It is not known whether Taraxacum officinale, also known as common dandelion, would interact with these antibiotics in the same way. As a precaution, dandelion should not be taken at the same time as these antibiotics.
• Antacids -- Avoid antacids and other medicines that lower stomach acid, such as Pepcid, Taganet, Zantac, and others.

posting sources (besides our local herbalist :)

• http://www.leaflady.org/health_benefits_of_dandelions.htm
• http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/d/dandel08.html
• http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-dandelion.html
• http://vitaminlady.com/Articles/Dandelion.asp

Recipes to follow in a day or two!

Juice Cleanse Day 6

I wrote last week about how my allergies have come back this year after a wheat and dairy binge last month. There has also been a lot more pollen in the air this summer than usual so I'm sure that isn't helping either. This week I decided to go on a short juice fast to strengthen my immune system. After the first day I was feeling better - and each morning as I go along I'm feeling more and more like myself. I'm convinced all over again that for me juicing and a mainly raw - vegan diet is the way to go. It is hard to stick with at times but, it does seem to be the diet my body prefers.

Wishing Day - New Moon

Today - a bit about the new moon just for fun.

Did you know that many astrologers call new moons "wishing" days - and believe that if you direct your energies in the right way your wish has a greater chance of coming true.

Generally speaking, the moon represents the subconscious mind and reflects our needs, and the sun our conscious mind and our wants. Lots of times our needs and wants are in conflict and when this happens need almost always wins out over want. Ever heard someone say to you "you are sabotaging yourself"? - that is most likely your moon at work - some subconscious need that is getting in the way of your conscious want (ie wanting to lose weight but, subconsciously associating weight with feeling safe).

The magic of the new moon is that for one day each month the moon is more open to listening to the wants of the sun. So today think about taking 15 minutes to take stock of your desires - let your sun speak - tell yourself what you want - the moon is listening.

Confession...

For the past few months I've been eating more cooked food and for the past month some gluten and dairy - the consequences - my allergies (gone for over a year) are back and for the past 2 weeks with a vengance - yuck. What a great reminder - juicing and eating well makes me healthy - wheat/dairy make me sick. Time for a short juice fast - it will be interesting to see how quickly I can clean up my system and get rid of my allergies - again - sigh.

Yogi "Iced" Tea

A good friend showed me how to make this a few months ago - it has quickly become my favourite drink. Spicy, energizing and cleansing it is a great general tonic for your system. Traditionally you drink it hot with milk (50/50 nut/rice/soy or regular if you do cow - some believe the milk aids in digestion of the tea) - I like mine plain. We tried it cold a few weeks ago and found it was a really nice iced tea - I'm not sure if the health benefits are the same drinking it cold but, on a hot summer day it is a nice refreshing drink.

Yogi Iced Tea

• 1 largish knot of ginger cut into chunks
  
• 2 pieces of cinnamon bark
• 4 or 5 black pepper corns
  
• Seeds from 1/2 a green cardamom pod
  3 cloves

(all ingredients to taste - play with amounts)
Place all in a large pot of water and bring to a boil - simmer for about a 1/2 hr then refrigerate for iced tea. OR can be made like a sun tea - place all into a large jar and place in a sunny spot for a day or two.

A little about Yogi Tea & Cleansing... (taken from www.sahej.com)
"In the yoga tradition, Monday is a good day to increase the cleansing fluids in your body. Many people will use Monday as a liquid fast day. Then yogi tea or juices are used exclusively for a good systemic flush. People interested in a more powerful cleansing with the tonic use it periodically for a three day fast. Each day they will consume 8 to 24 cups. Because of its immediate energizing effect it is often used as a substitute to ease someone off of caffeine, coffee, cigarettes and even drug habits. It has tremendous effectiveness in warding off colds, lowering respiratory infections and fighting off the effects of flu."