Spring Cleansing "Roots" Soup

This nourishing soup boosts immunity and is also a wonderful spring tonic. Spring tonics help add vitamins and minerals to your diet and gently cleanse the lymphatic system. They can be taken for a week or so as you acclimate to the warmer weather and need a boost and cleanse from higher fat and starchy winter diets. This "root soup" is good for strengthening the lungs, purifying the blood and cleansing to the liver and gallbladder. It is also useful for treating colds, sinus infections, arthritis and gout.

Here's a quick lowdown on how these roots cleanse and tone the vital organ systems;

Dandelion root- Liver tonic. Promotes bile flow.

Burdock root-Cleanses the digestive system as well as the lymphatic system. It is immune boosting to boot!

Astragalus- Increases the production of white blood cells and strengthens the immune system. Is a great energy tonic.

Ginger- Ginger is a wonderful circulatory and digestive stimulant.

Garlic & Onions- Are good immune boosters.

You can find fresh burdock, dandelion, astragalus, sea veggies and the shitake mushrooms at your local co-op or health food store. Dried can be substituted for fresh but fresh is optimal. You can reconstitute dried roots by soaking them in water for a bit. Slice thinly.

1 ounce dried astragalus root
4 ounces fresh dandelion root
4 ounces fresh burdock root
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon dried kelp, dulse, or other sea vegetable
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
7 medium-size fresh shiitake mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, minced
herbs and seasonings to taste
1/2 cup miso paste

Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and reduce heat. Add astragalus, dandelion, burdock, ginger, and sea vegetable; cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. Strain, return broth to pot, and keep over medium heat. In a saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat; add onion and mushrooms, and saute until tender. Add garlic; saute for a few more minutes. Add entire mixture to broth. Turn off heat, and stir in miso paste. Season to taste.

This makes 3 qts of soup.


(This post was originally posted on April 4th, 2009. Reposting to kick off my spring tonic week!)

Self Care Sunday - April's Bliss Sugar Scrub Glow

This is a series devoted to easy to make body care recipes for self care! I hope you enjoy!

~April's Bliss Sugar Scrub Glow~

1 c. organic raw sugar
1 c. powdered organic rose petals
1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
2-4 tbsp. organic carrier oil (olive/almond/avocado/jojoba)

Combine all ingredients and mix well with a fork. Store in a glass jar with a lid and let sit overnight to let the vanilla infuse into the dried mixture..

When your ready to mix up an application in a separate dish, you can add  2-4 Tbsp. of oil to 1/2 cup of salt per application. (You can basically play with the consistency..) You want it to be thick enough to scoop up with your hand or a spoon.

To use; scoop or spoon some into the palm of your hand and rub generously over elbows, knees, arms, legs, feet & hands and rinse well. Your skin will be silky soft! If you want to make the scrub extra aromatic you could add a few drops of rose otto and/ chamomile essential oil  or infuse the carrier oil with a vanilla bean. Mmmmm!!!

Mine are adorned with some whole roses just for prettyness sake.. If you choose to do this, just scoop these out of your bath/shower so they don't clog up the drain!

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!

Un-monetizing

I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but I've decided to un-monetize this blog. It just feels weird to be sharing info. on herbs and then getting paid for clicks. In fact I feel more inspired to blog when there is no money involved. Not to mention the point of my blog is not to make money, but to share info and keep a scrapbook of my personal herbal adventures. It's as simple as that! So there you go, why I UN-monetize!

I reserve the right to share links to shops or folks I feel are reputable but I won't be hosting affiliate links and such.

Kitchen Apothecary!

I am busy stocking my herb supplies and rearranging my kitchen. I think I need to get some more shelving though. Currently I use an old jelly cupboard/pie safe but my baby is starting to show interest in getting into it! Not to mention it is beyond overflowing. Maybe I can put a lock on it somehow, but it seems like I need much more space.

My choices are to move all my herb stuff into the sewing/art room or redorganize the kitchen! So I am choosing the latter. But what a pain! I just got several cases of bottles too and I have no idea where to store them! I also need more gallon amber jars for storing herbs and making infused oils. (expensive!) I wish I had not gotten rid of all my medicine making stuff when I moved across country! Ackk.

I am off to search Pinterest for ideas!

2012 or Bust!

So it seems like 2011 was a bust for me as far as blogging and putting together my herbal life. With a new baby and moving I have just been out of sorts I guess you can say. I am always seemingly trying to catch up and Catching Up has been my theme this year! My new theme however for 2012 is Getting Stuff Done that I LOVE!!

Right now I am taking Demetria Clark's Master of Aromatherapy course. It is completely online and something I LOVE. The whole reason I was led to herbal healing was through aromatherapy, so it is a joy! I am learning about many oils I had no idea existed too! Which is exciting!! I am hoping to knock this course out within the next couple of months or so. Winter is a wonderful time to work on this in Vermont! I have so many new concoctions in my head! Plus a long list of reading material I want to complete as well.

So much to do, so little time!

On an unrelated note..I found my herbal thin mints picture pinned on Pinterest! Totally flattering and I am so glad someone is actually reading my lame ass blog out there! Sometimes I wonder if it is just robo bots on my page at times! But now I know I actually have real live readers! WOOHOO! Anyway, it was a really validating moment for me so THANK YOU to whomever repinned my photo! It totally made my day! :)



 

The Herbal Medicine Cupboard

It's heading into Fall here in Vermont! I thought I would start gathering recipes for medicinal herbal concoctions for the winter. I am busy gathering recipes, plants, jars and other needed supplies! I'm definitely going to have a medicine making day really soon at my house. (One of my favorite things to do and it's been quite awhile since I have been motivated enough to make everything for the winter season. This year I'm making that happen though!)

Here's a few of the things I am going to make;

Osha Pastilles

Elecampane, Ginger and Horehound Syrup's

Fire Cider & Immune Support Tincture

Longevity Electuary

Elderberry Elixir


What do you make to keep on hand during the cold/flu season?