My Reality

Today I'm making chaga, turmeric, ginger and black pepper honey!

For effectiveness turmeric needs black pepper for absorption/effectiveness. That ration is about 100:1 turmeric:black pepper. (reference here: https://lyfebotanicals.com/health/turmeric-black-pepper/) For whole herbs it's a bit different. The reco seems to be 1/4 tsp black pepper to 1/2 cup turmeric. https://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/blog/blog-posts/2019/6/using-black-pepper-to-enhance-the-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-turmeric/


What we ended up doing: about
1.5 c of turmeric
3 TBlspoons black pepper
3/4c chaga
2/3rd c ginger

All of these herbs were dried and powered. All but the ginger came from Mountain Rose Herbs. The Ginger was McCormicks that I happened to have on hand. (I also have fresh ginger and turmeric but that was too much to deal with today.

That went into about 10 lbs of honey (about 1 gallon).

You can use it in tea or just eat it. It's a powerful immune support, anti viral, anti inflammatory , anti nausea, etc.

To make:
Warm the honey in a crockpot on low. Do not boil. Just get it warm enough to ladle into jars.
Mix your dry herbs in a bowl and spoon into jars or into the honey if you'rae making just one concoction. I have only done jars and then putting the warm honey on top.

With a stick or knife stir each jar a bit until the honey is mixed and then cap the jars. Let them sit for 3-4 weeks before using. With powdered herb you can use quite quickly. The longer this sits, the more potent it gets.
<3,

Today I'm making chaga, turmeric, ginger and black pepper honey!

For effectiveness turmeric needs black pepper for absorption/effectiveness. That ration is about 100:1 turmeric:black pepper. (reference here: https://lyfebotanicals.com/health/turmeric-black-pepper/) For whole herbs it's a bit different. The reco seems to be 1/4 tsp black pepper to 1/2 cup turmeric. https://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/blog/blog-posts/2019/6/using-black-pepper-to-enhance-the-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-turmeric/


What we ended up doing: about
1.5 c of turmeric
3 TBlspoons black pepper
3/4c chaga
2/3rd c ginger

All of these herbs were dried and powered. All but the ginger came from Mountain Rose Herbs. The Ginger was McCormicks that I happened to have on hand. (I also have fresh ginger and turmeric but that was too much to deal with today.

That went into about 10 lbs of honey (about 1 gallon).

You can use it in tea or just eat it. It's a powerful immune support, anti viral, anti inflammatory , anti nausea, etc.

To make:
Warm the honey in a crockpot on low. Do not boil. Just get it warm enuogh to laddle into jars.
Mix your dry herbs in a bowl and spoon into jars or into the honey if you're making just one concoction. I have only done jars and then putting the warm honey on top.

With a stick or knofe stir each jar a bit until the honey is mixed and then cap the jars. Let them sit for 3-4 weeks before using. With powdered herb you can use quite quickly. The longer this sits, the more potent it gets.
<3,

From Riyana

First the thing that used to be called fire cider

honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic.
Tastes nasty but works amazing - 2 dropper fills every 4 hours.

Chaga chai latte (this is New Moon Brand) and it's delicous
chaga
reishi
ashwaganda
roasted chicory and dandelion
milky oat
orange
ginger
cardamom
cinmon
self heal
honey

The third one is harder to read:

black cohosh
lemon balm
usnea
ginger
and 2 others
(maybe self heal and mica?)

More when I know

Made a tea for moderating hormones and in general increase stamina and an immune tonic

Schisandra berries
powdered vanilla beans
angelica root
nettle leaf

It's about equal schisandra and nettle by weight with 1/4 angelica and 1/8 vanilla bean.

This time I tried making a tea that was good for you and yummy.

It has a bit of a sweet taste and I really like it. It might be good to put more schisandra in it.

I just started a detox protocol given to me by Joan (my healer).

The symptoms are that I've been having gastro distress in my upper belly with bloating, no intestinal involvement and some indication of mild systemic infection (which often happens when digestive stuff is involved because anything that involved metabolism effects the whole system).

She did some AK and figured out what I was reacting to and found that this would help. She used the word biofilms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofilm). What she seems to mean is a bunch of stuff that is all stuck together. So likely I'm in need of major detox. Not surprising given all the recent stress with deaths and the summer travel and change in adventures and so on.  I've been considering doing a fall cleanse of some sort. Apparently I waited too long.

She's never given me anything like this and in the past has recommended that I (and others) stay away from essential oils.

I don't - I use them regularly to treat all manner of stuff. Especially skin and gastrointestinal stuff. All my salves and lip balms have essential oils in them and they are the most effective stuff I found to treat cuts, bruises, sun burns, and so on. And things like fennel are so good an belly stuff it's a shame to not use them. So it's interesting to she her coming around.

She said: In addition to getting back on my regular nightly activated charcoal in water last thing before bed, she's added BFB-1 ...http://www.supremenutritionproducts.com/BFB/index.html

topical use only
it includes: piper nigum (black pepper)
rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)
syzygium aromaticum l. (clove)
origanum compactum benth. (oregano oil)

The upside of having played with essential oils for years is that I knew the first two right off and smelled the oregano and I knew I could look this stuff up.  So I did and found the common names listed above. In fact I think I have all of them except rosemary in my current stash.

I don't know the amounts of each, but it's interesting to know that they are saying don't take this internally (all are edible, though I'd take the last two in a capsule). I wonder why.

The dosage info:
"Adults: First 3 days, 1 drop into the sole of each foot or bottom of big tow twice daily (either one drop of BFB1 into the foot and one of BFB2 into the other if both are indicated or one drop of the particular indicated product into both feet twice daily). After 3 days if there is good tolerance (no rash or major die off) add one drop to the print side of the thumb and one to the back of the earlobe each time a drop is placed on the foot.

"Children under 12: 1 drop on to the sole of the foot, one daily for the first 3 days and if tolerated increase to one drop on the bottom of both feet twice daily.
Do not use during pregnancy."

I'd also hesitate to use it on small children or toddlers (and never on babies). Oregano and clove especially can be really intense and you don't want to hurt anyone.

Note on healing
What I'm finding is that we are so trained to be dependent on professional healers that there seems to be a distinct lack of self trust - and I see it reflected in myself. I have done tons of research and know quite a lot these days about natural healing methods, essential oils, herbs, tinctures, plants, food, supplements and their correspondences for use in bodies. But still I sometimes don't trust myself even when I'm not in trauma.

In trauma, it's critical to see a healer - you'll need help healing. It's the nature of trauma and shock. MDs are great for broken bones and stuff especially.

But when my belly is upset for a few days I worry I don't know enough.

I wonder what kinds of of things could be done to support people in having more of an education about even simple things they could be doing to be more healthy or to come back into alignment especially that don't involve taking allopathic medicines. But to know the difference - what are pain kills good for? What can be solved just with rest and tea? What can you solve at home without intervention?

As I've been having my own adventures I'm more and more clear about what I can solve on my own and what I can't. But there's a lot of work to be done. I think what's happening is that more and more I'm realizing that I can rely on my self of myself and my healing knowledge and my sense of what methods to see out when I can't accomplish stuff.

Anyway, I want more people to have access to health more frequently and more confidence in their own health choices.  Posting here about what I do is part of how I'm contributing to that. (Not that this gets much exposure, it's been so many things to me mover time.) But health and healing are a huge piece of that.

So there.

I'm creating an entry that willbe updated (maybe a lot) about the individual herbs I'm working with. I'm guessing I'll also have them by herb for things that are important. But I find myself mentioning this or that herb so I might as well have them all together.


Astralagus - great herb- take for long term immune system support. Mild, lovely. Can put the root in stews, take the shredded or powdered herb in tea or medicinal honeys.

Black pepper -may increase the gut motility as well as the digestion power by increasing gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions. It has also been found that piperine can increase absorption of selenium, B-complex vitamins, beta-carotene, as well as other nutrients from food. Antiseptic for tooth decay and gum swelling.

Calendula for skin stuff it's brilliantly calming. If taken as a tea with chamomile it's very powerfully for relaxation, but don't taken combined for more than a week.
Chamomile supports rest and clarity and relaxation, good for upset tummies. Gentle
Cinnamon is great for digestion, to move energy and to release heat in the body.
Clove potent, can burn your skin, numb your mouth, used internally can increase hydrochloric acid in the stomach, very warming.

Echinacea Stimulates the immune system. Short term only! It will stimulate immune system if there is something to stimulate, but can over tax weak immune systems. Over used.
Eleuthero (siberian ginseng) adaptogen - using for help with thyroid stuff. Evens out hormones and can help raise or lower levels depending on what's needed. Tinctures are fine, but they contain alcohol which can change the hormone levels as well. So caution there. But in pills, teas and capsules you get rid of that.

Elderberries are great for head colds. The perfect cure, if you will. Taken in tea or syrup.
Elderflowers are cooling which is great for the flu, it brings the heat down and for immune support

Ginger Anti-nasueau, flatulence, and helps with poor digestion. Immune system tonic. Warming.

Kava creates vivid dreams, first night/time of taking it (as a tincture) is very relaxing. Taking repeatedly seems to be too much for me and produces weird symptoms. Use sparingly.

Oatstraw nutrative nervine, helps to restore nerves (for anxiety) and a very weak sleep aid. Also good for depression.
Oregano - anti microbal, anti bacterial, parasiticide, very very strong as an essential oil can burn off skin tags, effective internally an externally but be careful, it can burn you. strong  disinfectant, stimulate the immune system, some places say it is good topically as an insecticide against mosquitos. (http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82444:origanum-compactum&catid=829:o)

Lemon balm -
Marshmellow Demulscent (good for making things wet), good for tummy cramps, acid reflux

Mint (of all kinds)Digestive aid, both hot and cooling
Nettles has trace minerals and other minerals, helps with iron uptake, allergies, reproductive health tonic, immune system support. Riyana recommends taking this every day.


Red raspberry leaf Great for when hormones get out of balance - PMS, menopause, etc. Helps tone and strengthen uterus. Pick the leaves in early spring for best potency.
Rose hips are great for vitamin C. The vitamin C is very available for absorption in the body
Rosemary - astringent

Skull cap restful, it's like putting a hat on my head, it keeps my thoughts from swirling around in the universe; I think it helps me relax.
St. John's Wort Elevates mood. Contra-indicated with anti-depressants.

Yarrow flowerGreat for cold and flu, remove heat without heating up first, support women's reproductive health

I did a quick look up today for something for cough because I do rarely get them.

Thyme apparently.

So I made a quick tea from things i have on my shelves:
thyme,
sage,
horehound,
slippery elm and
lavender.

My cough went away instantly. I know that sounds a little weird, even to me. But the thyme really cleared something out.

So i made up a bigger batch of these herbs to take with me off into the world. I'm finding the magnetic herb containers that I got from Ikea (that were like $2 a piece) are really great at holding a couple of day's worth of tea herbs.

Hopefully this will help me kick this cough to the curb.

I started a dandelion root tinture yesterday. It's similar to this recipe for dandelion tincture. Except of course it was dried dandelion root.

So in 6-12 weeks I'll have dandelion tincture which is about helping with liver detox.

In general syrups are about making medicine sweeter and more condensed for one of a few reasons: 1. you can take it more easily
2. so that you can take less of it
3. So that you can store it and take it with water later.

In general boil the herbs or fruit etc for about 20-30 minutes.
Strain.
Add sweetner.

Anything you can make tea out of can be made into a syrup from herbs to fruit and vegetables. Just make sure it's edible

They need to sit for: none, ready immediately
Lasts: about a month.

Honey does not go bad, but herbs can and adding water to herbs is what can introduce the place to culture bacteria or mold. So if it smells ok and looks ok, it's probably ok.

The repro health/iron batch that I just made is the third. I made enough so that I cna take some every day either by dropperfull if I'm on the go, but mostly so that I can use it as a tea some times during the day as an iron supplement.

The general idea is to take a tea and boil it until it's half of what the original water then take that and add about 1/2 again as much honey while it's warm so that you have a syrup. The more honey/sweetner you add, the thicker it will be. The general rule is to just taste it to see if it works for you. And remember you can always add more, but you can't add less.

We made several thins in Potions class today. I'm going to list them in separate posts so that I can find them again.

The one I found that I loved the most was a women's reproductive health tonic syrup. Recipe first, explanation after.

Red rasperry leaf
Nettle Leaf
Oatstraw
Lemon balm
Rose petals
Yellow dock

Totalling just about 3/4ounce by weight. Which means it's about 1.5 cups. All but the yellow dock came in a women's nourishing tea. I added yellow dock to help with anemia

in Molasses (or honey, maple syrup, agave, etc, but for anemia, molasses is the obvious choice).

Make a strong tea (in other words boil the ingredients in about 1.5 quarts of water until it's about 3 cups of liquid)

Strain and press the herbs and let drip until you've gotten as much liquid as you're willing to work out.

In class we added honey that was already warmed and viscous, but I'm adding molasses out of a jar, so I didn't heat it.

Add about 1/2 as much molasses as liquid. Sweeten to taste. I am adding a bit of honey for the anti microbal and antiviral properties (and to help it keep longer)


Why make a syrup?
Well in this case, I can make a big batch that's reduced, but ready so that I can drink it whenever I want - hot or cold, just add water or put in a tincture bottle with a dropper and carry with me. It keeps for at least a month, but probably more.

This one is high in iron and I'm going to treat my anemia with it because it's less than a quarter of the cost of what I've been using and should be just as effective because I like the taste so I'll take it more often..