Spring Tonic Roundup

Here are some of my favorite links regarding Spring Tonics! I will be adding and updating to this list as I go through my bookmarks!


Information
Spring Tonics
Spring Tonics: It's What You Get, It's How You Get It
Spring Tonics

History & Around the World
Chervil- The Spring Tonic Herb
Sassafras Tea: THE Spring Tonic
Time for a Spring Tonic

Medicinal Recipes
Cleavers Tincture
Ground Ivy Infusion

Food Recipes
Nettle Shitake Stir Fry
Pot Herb Pie--A Spring Tonic 
Omelet, Salsa, Salad and Greens Recipes
Strawberry Rhubarb Pound Cake
Rhubarb Citrus Soup
Nettle Soup 

Spring Tonic Syrup

Elderberry (Sambucus) is known as an immune boosting flu remedy but did you know it purifies the blood and circulatory system? Making it a a great (and tasty) spring tonic, but is often overlooked as one. This little berry can do wonders helping us transition from one season to the next.

Here's a syrup I just made the other day for my family to use as a spring tonic. You can put this on pancakes, ice cream or just take a couple of tsp everyday. My kids like to mix it in with their water to make tea in a roundabout way. Hey, whatever works, right?!

~Spring Tonic Syrup~

1c. dried elderberries 
1/2 c. dried rose hips
1/8 c. dried licorice
1/8 c. dried ginger
1 cinnamon stick

2 c. honey

4 cups water

Combine all ingredients in a soup pot. Bring to an almost a boil and reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes or so. Strain into a clean glass jar or bottle, using a mesh strainer. Add in honey and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Next time I make this I am going to play around with the recipe more and maybe add some dandelion, nettles and violets to this for the next batch.  (We'll have all three in abundance by the time we run out of our current supply!)

A Week of Spring Tonics

I'm definitely feeling like spring has sprung here in Southern Vermont! Despite the snow flurries and cold snap we are having right now we've been having an unusually warm spring and almost no snow this winter. It's been a weird year for sure!

I'd really love to take the coming week to look at different spring tonics. So every day this upcoming week (Mon-Friday) I'll be posting about different plants, foods, simples & herbal tonics that can be used in cleansing and nourishing yourself. I will be including lots of links and recipes as well as some historical folklore, so you won't want to miss it!

In the meantime check this video I found about ground ivy. I have a lot of this springing up & growing in my gardens and on the property we live on right now. I'm betting you too also have some growing nearby!