Cancer has hit my home. I'll share some research I've been doing and the anti-inflammatory diet I created for my husband. What foods am I using, including some medicinal mushrooms, herbs, and recipes I use?
⚖️ Disclaimer: The information presented in this show is for informational, reference, and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for a diagnosis and/or treatment. All health-related questions should be directed to your healthcare provider.
🛒 🛍 Companies / Products / Books I personally use and recommend: (Affiliates)
~ ~ ~ ~ Books Mentioned During the Show – the recipes in these books I've made for my husband during and after his cancer treatment. I like many of the recipes and recommend these books. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Foods to Fight Cancerood: What to eat to reduce your risk. by Richard Beliveau Ph.D. and Dr. Denis Gingras https://amzn.to/3AApJ9y
The Living Kitchen: Nourishing Whole-Food Recipes For Cancer Treatment and Recovery https://amzn.to/3cCsaAy
Cooking Through Cancer: Treatment to Recovery by Lisa A. Price, ND and Susan Gins, MA, MS, CN https://amzn.to/3B1rjmj
The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for flavor Cancer Treatment and Recovery https://amzn.to/3Tt618l
Show's Sponsor
👩🌾🛁 Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused, naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and as basic and pure as nature. Each bar contains fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful! https://www.farmtobath.com/
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more success and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers. There are suggestions for themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden,” or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season. You'll be amazed at how much you learn by journaling about your garden!https://amzn.to/3QgEwMz
Social Media
Follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried these podcasts' recipe(s).
After she was born, we discovered she was allergic to commercial soap and cleaning products, and so my journey in making my products began.
My journey into making my skincare products wasn't something I had planned. It was a necessity. Shortly after my daughter was born, we learned she suffered a stroke while I was carrying her. And no one knew it! After she was born, we discovered she was allergic to commercial soap and cleaning products, and so my journey in making my products began.
Now, 25 years later, I've turned my passion into a business called Farm to Bath. I've created a free Skincare Checklist using the products in the video. Click on the link below to download.
May is Women's Health Month, and I'm sharing 5 herbs every woman should know about for better health, especially during their moon cycles. As women, we experience a wide range of hormonal fluctuations sometimes we can manage them without any additional support. But other times it can be debilitating. I'm sharing some things I've learned along my journey I wished I knew years ago when I first started my period.
It doesn't matter where you are in your stage of womanhood; there are some excellent herbs that can support you. Whether it's a young pre-teen feeling and seeing the changes to her body to a woman going through menopause. I share 5 herbs that can support women through their cycles no matter what stage she is at.
Today, Theresa and I are talking about how to create an herbal routine for good health. I’ll have some questions you can ask yourself to help you drill down what methods and types of herbs for your lifestyle.
Some of the topics we cover are herbs in general, how to use herbs in general, herbs for wellness, herbs for good health, how to use herbs, and herbal facts. We also get into some of the herbal remedies and how beginners can get into herbalism by asking simple questions about their lifestyle.
Can you grow your own herbs or is it better to purchase them for your herbal medicine cabinet? We discuss simple ways to turn plants into plant medicine by using teas, infusions, capsules. Herbalism is a lifestyle and we offer suggestions on how you can make your own herbal remedies.
📰 Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about herbs, promotions, and news we have to share.
👩🏼👩🦳 Join us every Sunday at 10 AM EDT for Herb Talk Live! On Youtube, Facebook, and Clubhouse with my Co-host Theresa Valendzas, she is a health coach, author, and owner of Altraform. Please check her out and subscribe and like her social media as well. You can find her at https://www.altraform.pro/
⚖️ Disclaimer: The information presented in this show is for informational, reference, and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for a diagnosis and/or treatment. All health-related questions should be directed to your healthcare provider.
👩🌾🛁 Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Social Media
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
google images creative commons – we need clean air
Today's show is about herbs for healthier lungs. If you live in an area that has poor air quality then you'll want to listen and find out how to protect your lungs.
Google Images, creative common – Hartford, CT – worst air quality in the northeastGoogle Images, creative commons – the US isn't the only country with poor air quality. It's a global problem!Google Images, creative commons – Smoke from wildfires out west are causing serious health issues.
Relief On Bad Air Quality Days
Use a good air purifier for the home that uses a type of filter called HEPA (high-efficiency particle air). These filters trap harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, smoke, and other pollutants floating in the air.
2. Decrease Inflammation – many people that suffer from chronic lung issues may have food allergies or food sensitivities and may not be unaware. The two most common at the top of the list are gluten/wheat and dairy.
Eliminate these foods as much as possible and eat a whole food-rich diet. As we say, eat the rainbow of vegetables, dark leafy greens, berries, wild foods, herbs, spices.
3. Vitamin D decreases inflammation and improves the immune system. Ask your doctor to do a blood test to measure how much Vitamin D is in your body. Women tend to get deficient as we age.
4. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil also decrease inflammation and helps the body repair itself.
5. Medicinal Mushrooms – Reishi, cordyceps, and Chaga have properties that help rebuild and repair damaged lung tissue.
According to Maria Noel Groves, author of Body Into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care (2016, pg. 133).
“All of our medicinal mushrooms have immune-supportive benefits, but reishi and cordyceps strengthen respiratory function and structure. When used regularly, they make you less susceptible to repeat infections like bronchitis and pneumonia, boost oxygen utilization, decrease fatigue, improve red blood cells, and modulate the immune response.
Chaga also seems to aid respiratory health. Some relief may be noted within a few days, but the effects build over a few weeks or months. They are generally safe to take.”
Aromatic Herbs help fight infection and have some antimicrobial effects, enhancing the body's immune response. Aromatics also open the lungs, relieve spasms.
Aromatic herbs are best taken as a warm tea, tincture, food (soup), or infused in honey (for example, fermented garlic and honey) or steam inhalation.
Herbs perfect as a tea or fermented in honey (garlic)
Thyme (steam inhalation)
Pine needles (tea/steam inhalation)
Balsam needles (tea/steam inhalation)
Oregano (tea / steam inhalation / food)
Bee balm (tea)
Hyssop (tea)
Raw garlic – (fermented in honey (for six weeks)/food)
Neti Pot – Irrigating your nasal using a neti pot for sinus relief is recommended.
Understand the difference between an herb that is an Expectorant and a Demulcent. Because depending on your symptoms, you may not need an expectorant but a demulcent or a combination of both.
What specific herbs are best for lung and respiratory support?
Peppermint: Herbs high in aromatic essential oils can help decrease inflammation and open bronchial, which increased lung capacity. Peppermint can also reduce muscle pain and spasms and aids in digestion. Note: if you suffer from reflux or GERD, do not drink peppermint in high doses.
Chamomile: This is an herb that is perfect for children who have sensitivity to smoke from brush fires. It can be made strong, and it also a calming herb. If steeped for a long time, there is a slightly bitter taste perfect for better digestion.
Chamomile tea can be used as an eyewash for raw irritates eyes. Make a cup of tea and allow it to cool. Take the teabag out of your cup and gently place it over your eyes and squeeze a small amount of tea out.
Turmeric is known to be an antioxidant and has compounds that reduce inflammation. This herb can be taken as a tea, tincture, or in dried form and high doses. Turmeric is also known to reduce heart disease and increase brain function.
Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) herbalists use licorice root because of their demulcent properties.
It protects the mucous membranes from excessive particle pollution. Small amounts of licorice root should be added to tea recipes and should be drunk for no more than 10 – 14 days is recommended.
Note: This herb can increase blood pressure, low potassium levels, weakness, paralysis, irregular heart rhythms, and heart attack. People who eat a lot of salt or have heart disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure are more sensitive to licorice. They can have these problems after eating smaller amounts of licorice.
Marshmallow Root is another wonderful demulcent. It helps to protect those with sensitive mucous membranes. Its also cooling and soothes the entire system, specifically constipation associated with stress.
Lavender is an herb that helps reduce anxiety and stress. Lavender tea should be made strong; the aroma will help relax and aid in breathing capacity.
Echinacea is known for stimulating the immune system, which also reduces inflammation in the body by decreasing the chances of getting sick while under stress. It can be taken as tea, tincture, or capsules.
Reishi Mushroom – this herb is a Super Hero Herb! It's one of the most studied herbs around. It has a long list of healing properties to list here. For our purposes, it boosts the immune system and aids in lung conditions, including asthma and bronchitis. It is an adaptogenic herb and helps reduce the heightened stress response in the body.
Reishi can also be taken long-term in either tincture or capsule form.
Mullein is another herbalist's go-to for lung issues. Mullen is best known for being uses as a lung tonic for either a wet or dry cough. It can be taken as tea, tincture, or capsules.
Lobelia is a bronchial dilator and antispasmodic, which helps with bronchitis, pneumonia, or a general cough. Lobelia can become toxic in the body and cause serious side effects. This herb should not be taken in large doses or for long periods of time. This herb should be taken in small doses in tincture form or tea.
Tulsi or Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum spp.) Another favorite of mine. Holy Basil is an adaptogen that helps reduce the feeling of overwhelm and general stress. This herb can be taken daily as a tea or capsule.
Ashwagandha is another herb I take daily to help with the feeling of overwhelming. This herb is an adaptogen. It comes in a powder and can be sprinkled in drinks such as coffee, milk (e.g., Golden Milk). This herb can also be taken in tincture form or capsules.
Garlic herbal actions are antimicrobial, diaphoretic, hypocholesterolemic, cholagogue, hypotensive, antispasmodic.
If used daily, garlic helps to support the body in various ways that no other herb can match. It has been effective in antimicrobial, acting on bacteria, viruses, and parasites of the alimentary tract. The volatile oils are excreted via the lungs, making garlic helpful in controlling a respiratory infection, such as chronic bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, recurrent colds, and influenza. (Hoffmann 2003)
Garlic can be used as preventive medicine against most infectious conditions, digestive and respiratory systems. In the digestive tract, garlic is thought to support natural bacterial flora development while killing pathogenic organisms. (Hoffmann 2003)
Garlic also has a wide range of effects on cardiovascular health. It can reduce serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels while raising levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). It can act as an effective inhibitor of platelet-activating factor (PAF). (Hoffmann 2003)
I ferment a half jar of finely chopped garlic in local honey for six weeks. If I feel a little stuffy or have a raw sore throat, I'll take a tablespoon of fermented garlic and honey 3 x day or until the symptoms go away.
Raw Honey has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, and research has shown it has many health benefits and medicinal uses. In some hospitals, they use honey to treat burns and wounds.
For sore throats and stuffy noses, honey in a cup of hot water with lemon and ginger can go a long way in relieving those symptoms. Many herbalists (me including) reach for our jar of fermented garlic and honey on the first hint of a sore throat; however, don't give children under one because honey can carry botulism.
Corn Silk (Zea mays) stamen has been used for many centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Native American Medicine.
Corn silk is taken for depression, inflammation of the prostate, inflammation of the unitary system, kidney stones, congestive heart failure, diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, high cholesterol, jaundice, liver health, obesity, to name a few conditions.
Most herbalists add corn silk to their cold and flu remedies for calming inflammation and fatigue when sick. Corn silk can be taken as a tea, capsules, and tincture.
Plantain (Plantago spp.) seed husk is known as an unwanted weed in manicured lawns in my area; plantain has several health benefits such as reducing inflammation and blocks microbial growth in wounds and the body. Many herbalists add plantain to their teas as a supporting herb to their herbal remedies. We can use plantain as a tea, capsule, or tincture.
Irish Moss / Sea Moss (Chondrus crispus) This herb has been around for centuries and is known in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Caribbean Islands such as Jamaica. The algae has been used in skincare products to making paper, curing leather, and cheese.
However, herbalists also use sea moss in their apothecaries for centuries to heal burns, boost the immune system and probiotics, to name a few benefits.
According to WebMD, researchers have been doing studies on whether sea moss can slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's Disease in order adults with some promising results. Other studies have suggested that sea moss can boost the immune system and protect the body from contracting salmonella.
For our purposes for treating the lungs and respiratory system, I would consider this herb a supporting herb in any remedy. It's important to note that a little goes a long way. Sea moss can be taken in capsules, or taking the dried moss rehydrating it in water, and either making it into a gel or in whole to a smoothie, soup, or stew. A small amount can go a long way.
Mallow is a demulcent, and its secondary action is an expectorant which makes it the perfect primary herb in any herbal remedy. Its primary use is for irritated throat, dry cough, and bronchitis. We can use this herb as a green in cooking, tea, tincture.
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Living and Lovin Herbs Website: https://livingandlovinherbs.com/ Instagram: @livingandlovinherbspodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingandlovinherbspodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour Twitter: @Livingandlovin6 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuHD-5N2tPYDbWwI4wzIJA Thompson Street Farm LLC: https://thompsonstreetfarm.com/ Brenda J. Sullivan Books: https://brendajsullivanbooks.com/
Today I’m interviewing Vera Duhart – she talks about her family’s Gullah Ancestry and the traditional African American herbalism called Hoodoo.
Vera's Family is from the Sea Islands, USA – Picture Google Images Creative Commons Wikipedia
This interview is really a conversation between two friends and you’re listening in. It's another great interview and I learned so much. I was asked a question, what is herbalism? The listener knew about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but didn't know much more than that.
I explained herbalism is a general term and can be a part of folk, traditional and ancestral medicine using plant and naturally grown ingredients such as roots, bark, mushrooms, leaves, flowers, etc., for general health or treating illness. It's also been referred to as folk medicine, a system of knowledge, beliefs, and religious practices related to a particular culture or group.
Think of herbalism as a general term similar to the word medicine. We know there are specialties—orthopedics, neurology, GI, gynecology, etc.
Herbalism is similar – there is Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM – originating in, yes, China. There is Ayurveda which originated in India. There is Native American etc.
Some traditions, such as western herbalism, are now a blend of many ancient traditions here in the United States. Native American, Shaker, Appalachia, with some old-world European influences.
Because of the intense European colonization, the indigenous people and their tradition(s) either have become extinct or what's left wasn't well documented, and researchers have spent decades filling in the gaps for the rituals and recipes.
When slaves were brought to the US their beliefs and healing practices came with them. there were no doctors on the islands and the slaves had to heal themselves. This is how Hoodoo Medicine became part of the Gullah culture. Picture Google Images Creative Commons Wikipedia
Hoodoo Herbalism is one of those traditions that is slowly being lost. Thankfully there are some researchers who have done some research on Hoodoo and other slave medicine traditions.
Vera enlightens us on her Mother's traditions – she also blows my mind with an old recipe that has an ingredient that one would assume was for the spiritual part the healing ritual – but instead actually has healing properties.
Book by Faith Mitchell – picture by Brenda J. Sullivan
Bottle Tree – Its thought it originated in the Congo. Slaves created bottle trees – mostly using blue bottles to trap the spirits inside the bottle at night. When the sun came up the spirits couldn't find their way out and would be burned by the sun. Picture Google Images Creative Commons
Vera shares her memory of her Mother and Grandmother adding spider webs to a cold and flu drink to help reduce a fever. Picture Canva
Have you ever heard of using cobwebs in your herbal preparation? Well, as you hear neither did I. According to Vera, this was a common ingredient in her Mother and Grandmother's herbal tool kit.
Wanting to learn more, I did some research on this unusual ingredient. I first asked my fellow herbal colleagues at the Herbal Academy. This is an international group, and there are thousands of us attending classes. Using cobwebs for stomach wounds but using it for fevers, the answer was no.
Then I received a message from a woman on the other side of the world who gave me a link to a website mentioning a document from a doctor in 1860. This led me to the original publication called the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science. A European doctor, by the name of Robert Jackson, wrote about his research on reducing fevers in British Soldiers in the West Indies. One of his experiments was using cobwebs for the purpose to reduce fevers.
Section N – Cob-Web of A Sketch of The History And Cure of Febrile Diseases citing Dr. Jacksons research using cob-webs to reduce fevers.
On page 259 section N Cob-webs in the section, Dr. Jackson writes that he met the late Dr. Gillespie of Edinburgh who mentioned the use of cobwebs for treating fevers in 1801 with some success. So he decided to do some research to prove Dr. Gillespie's claims.
During this time period, the British were at their height of the slave trade, and The West Indies, especially Barbados had the largest slave harbor in the islands. One can assume, these doctors learned about the benefits of using cobwebs to reduce fevers from the indigenous people on the islands.
Historically we know it was a common practice for researchers to claim credit for other people's work/ideas especially if they are people of color. This appears to be no different.
Life Histories of Edisto Island, South Carolina: Interviews from the files of Federal Writers' Project 1936 to 1940 by Chalmers S. Murray and Margaret Wilkinson – https://amzn.to/3swq07Q
Working The Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African-American Healing by Michele E. Lee – https://amzn.to/3sy1SSb
Cleansing Rites of Curanderismo: Limpias Espirituales of Ancient Mesoamerican Shamans by Erika Buenaflor, MA.,JD https://amzn.to/2Oa23Eh
Healing with Herbs and Rituals A Mexican Tradition by Eliseo “Cheo” Torres https://amzn.to/3q2ongD
Show Sponsor
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
https://www.farmtobath.com/
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Today's show is all about Lavender; this is a plant I know reasonably well because we grow a lot of it, and I wanted to share with you just how incredible this plant is.
I'll share its history, the difference among the species, growing tips if you're interested in growing a plant or two.
Its exceptional medicinal properties and at the end of this posting, I'll give you some simple recipes to get you started.
Lavender is one of the most versatile plants I’ve ever come across. How many plants do you know of that can do all this?
Culinary – cooking, baking to beverages
Crafting
Medicinal and aromatherapy properties
Bath and Body products
Pet care products
Landscaping because its drought tolerant
Pest control – Which originally how lavender got so popular.
Lavender was used in a variety of ways during the Middle Ages – picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)
In the Middle Ages, lavender was used for its insecticidal properties. They would scatter it on the flowers of castles and sickrooms as a disinfectant and deodorize.
In China, it was used as a cure-all using a medicinal oil called “White Flower Oil.”
In wartime, lavender was used as an ingredient in smelling salts and disinfect wounds.
Lavender has a wide range of medicinal uses – Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)
Other Historical Uses Include
It was thought to have aphrodisiac properties and surprise! It's still on the aphrodisiac list today! It's true. I've heard several women whisper how they feel after using my lavender products. ❤️ 🌹
It was used to embalm corpses
Cure animals of lice
Tamed Lyons and tigers
Repelled mosquitoes (and it still does!)
An ingredient for snuff
Flavoring for vinegars, jellies and salads
Medicinally, lavender was used to treat headaches, hysteria, nervous palpations, hoarseness, palsy, toothaches, sore joints, apoplexy, colic, coughs, and rumbling digestive systems.
Lavender Monograph – Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)
Member Of The Mint Family
Lavender is a member of the Mint Family or – Labiatae – a family of flowering plants that are frequently aromatic. The word lavender comes from the Latin verb, lavare, which means “to wash” or “to bathe.”
Large commercial lavender operations are native to the mountainous regions of countries bordering the western half of the Mediterranean region and Europe. But, good news for us, lavender is now grown in all parts of the world.
There are approximately 45 species of lavender with hundreds of various genotypes or what I call cultivators, which now makes it possible to grow this beautiful plant in just about every climate. For simplicity, I'm only going to mention four of the most popular varieties.
Which Lavender I Right For You?
Which Lavender is right for you? That depends on the climate you live in and the soil. Also, depending on where you live in the world, the lavender descriptions change.
So I don’t confuse you, I’m using US descriptions for lavender – if you live across the pond from us here in the US or Australia, you’re lavenders descriptions will differ slightly – know, we’re all talking about the same plants.
So, what’s the difference between English, French, and Spanish lavender?
English Lavender Lavendula Angustifolia Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)
English Lavender
English (or Lavendula Angustifolia) is the most widely cultivated of the lavenders. Its also called “true lavender”. It has many cultivators that have various colors – white, pink, to dark purples and blues.
This variety can be started from seed, while for others, it's better to use cuttings and root them as starter plants.
English Lavender can be grown in colder climates and containers.
English – lavenders are mostly grown for their medicinal and culinary properties.
French Lavender L. Dentata Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)
French Lavender
French Lavender or L. Dentata is also known as “toothed lavender.” It's not as hardy as English – Lavender Angustifolia – it cant tolerate colder climates, unlike other lavender varieties. French does well up to zone 8.
French Lavender has the same flower structure as the English, but it has a longer stems. English tends to be smaller compact plants, and the French can grow 3 feet wide and tall.
The French lavender has the most extended blooming times than the other lavenders and is primarily grown in Spain and warmer regions of the world.
For scent – French – L. Dentata varieties don't compare to the English – Lavender Angustifolia species if you want to grow lavender for the scent stick with the English types.
Spanish Lavender L. Stoechas Picture Google Images (Click Here to view picture)
Spanish Lavender
The next lavender species is Spanish Lavender or L. Stoechas. Things get confusing, depending on where you live. Stoechas is a French Lavender and referred to as such in some parts of the world. But here in the US, we call it Spanish Lavender. Depending on where you live, this lavender may be referred to as L. Stoechas or French Lavender.
Spanish lavender flowers are a little different looking than the English and French. It has lance-shaped leaves at the top of the bud. Think of it as having little bunny ears. They come in different colors, and some have beautiful dark purple flowers that are stunning in one's garden.
Their scent is not as strong as the Lavender Angustifolia or English lavenders. These lavenders are cultivated for their beautiful flowers.
Spanish lavenders grow well in acid soils in hot, dry climates, for example, the Mediterranean. Here in the Northeast, we consider Spanish lavenders as annuals, unlike English and some French cousins, which are grown as perennials.
If you live in the United States Southwest, Spanish Lavender may be the perfect lavender for you.
Lavandin – Grosso variety Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Lavandin
The fouth lavender species I'll discuss is a hybrid, lavandin. Also known as Lavendula. x-intermedia . This plant is a cross between Lavender Angustifolia (an English Lavender) and lavender Latifolia (a Portuguese Lavender). These plants generally have a longer stem and bloom later than the Angustifolia's or English lavenders.
It's important to note that Lavendula. x-intermedia are sterile plants. Meaning they don't produce seeds for reproduction. So if you want to grow lavender from seed, English, French, and Spanish (with a few exceptions of other species not discussed today) are your only options.
To reproduce Lavendins Lavendula. x-intermedia, they must be propagated. Meaning, growers take small cuttings from a mother plant and root them in some growing medium.
Note on starting plants from seed: Be aware there is a low germination rate for starting English and French lavenders from seed. I recommend you buy starter plants and propagate cuttings.
Hundreds Of Cultivators
There are hundreds of different cultivators in this group that are popular in commercial nursery production. Lavendula. x-intermedia varieties are a favorite commercial plant for essential oil production.
I mostly grow English and Lavendula. x. intermedia because they do well in my area. I have some plants that are over 20 years old. But they are woody and miss shaped from years of heavy snowpacks.
Shopping For Lavender
If you're shopping for lavender plants, it's essential to know the type of plants your local nursery sells.
I’ve found some plant sellers are not as informed with lavender as they should be. Last year a customer came to me at the farmers market with a lovely lavender plant in hand. The vendor told her the plant was an annual, which surprised me. It didn’t look like a French or Spanish Lavender. A quick search of the name of the cultivator on my smartphone told me it was English. It was a Lavender Angustifolia and indeed would do very well in our area.
So when shopping for lavenders, if the plant doesn’t give the Latin species name, google the cultivator’s name on the plant identification tag. You should be able to find out what species a cultivator comes from pretty quickly.
Examples On How To Identify Lavender
When shopping look at the plant tag. If the tag says Lavender ….
Lavender – Grosso – its a Hybrid, Lavandula. x-intermedia. It does well in diverse climates, including colder and wetter zones.
Lavender – Munstead is a Lavandula angustifolia (or English LavenderLavender). It should do well in colder and wetter climates.
Lavender – Madrid Blue is Lavandula Stoechas (or Spanish Lavender). It only does well in hot, dry climates. If you live in a colder wetter climate, stick it in a pot and grow it annually.
Lavender – Linda Ligon is a Lavendula dentate (or French Lavender). It does well in hot, dry climates but can tolerate up to zone 8.
Just remember – there are other lavender species out there. I’m only mentioning the four most common plants in this podcast. See the resource list below for recommended books on Lavender.
Lavender Plugs – First season. Paul in the pouring rain making sure the plugs are doing ok. picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Growing Lavender
For this section, I’m talking mostly of Lavender Angustifolia (English lavender) and Lavendula. x-intermedia’s (lavandin hybrids.) These lavenders are the most commonly sold and grown commercially globally, with some exceptions, of course. The Spanish Lavender or Stoechas I would plant and care the same way as the English or hybrid plants.
Preparing the ground – Lavender loves dry sandy soil – Picture by Paul F. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
First year lavender plugs. It's the cheapest way to get lavender plants. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Planting culinary lavender – Provence. We mulch around our plants. It helps with the ph. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)Lavender plug just planted. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here t0 view picture)
Tip 1: Lavender must have full sun – that’s ten or more hours of daylight.
Tip 2: Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant and can thrive in areas where other plants cant. It prefers dry sandy, well-drained soil.
It cannot survive in moist, rich organic soil.
The ground needs to be well aerated.
It does not like to have “wet feet” and are lavenders are susceptible to root rot and other fungal diseases.
Some growers prefer to grow in rocky soil.
Tip 3: It prefers a ph of 6.5 – 7. If your ph is low, add dolomite lime and a little organic compost to level Ithe ph out.
Tip 4: Spacing – How close together should you plant your lavender. If you’re using it as a garden accent, determine which lavender species you are growing. Lavender Angustafolia’s (i.e., English) need about 30 inches of room. These plants tend to be low growing but spread wide.
Lavandins or Lavendula. x-intermedia (the hybrids) grow high and wide. Give them 36 inches between each plant.
Tip 5: To mulch or not to mulch – that is the question? Lavender does not like to be crowded by weeds, or in hotter drier climates watering a will be needed. It will be a personal decision and dependent on your environment and how much upkeep you want to do.
Fresh cut Hidcote Lavender – Thompson Street Farm, South Glastonbury CT. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
We grow some munstead (an English variety) in landscape rock, and they do well—the rest of the munstead's and grosso's we mulched. We have very dry sandy, rocky soil to begin with, so the mulching helps with keeping moisture around the plant when we go weeks without rain.
Lavenders are drought-resistant plants, so we're lucky it rains enough in the northeast; we don't have to worry about irrigation during the year's driest parts.
If you live in a hotter drier climate, putting in irrigation and mulching would probably be a good idea. But for those mid to northern states, where everything is flowering and green, I wouldn't put in irrigation but mulch instead in sandy, rocky soil. The other benefit of mulch is that it helps keep the ph down.
There are other ways to maintain your lavender to keep them high and dry other than mulching.
Raised mounds – and plant on top of the mound. It is done in wetter climates.
Row Plastic – Put down row plastic, then poke a hole in the plastic and plant your lavender. Then grow grass in between the rows and mow when it gets high.
Plant in landscape rock Weed barrier over dirt, then mulch or use landscape rock
Tip 6: Lavenders can be tight woody shrubs and need to be pruned to keep their shape and encourage growth.
Year 1 of planting: remove new flowers and give your plant a good haircut, using good pruning shears. I use a small handheld battery-powered sheers. A link to Amazon will be below in the resource section.
Cutting promotes growth and helps keep the plant the shape you want or need. By year two, your lavender will have doubled in size.
Tip 7: Year 3 and beyond, your lavender will continue to add new growth after pruning – but prune wisely!
Pruning too severely will kill your plant. Never prune old wood unless its dead
Don't prune in cold temperatures – wait until ground temps are above 50 degrees.
Tip 8: Understand the type of lavender you are growing and its size and uses.
English lavenders are smaller growing and from small mounds. They are perfect for edging along walkways.
Tall-growing lavenders such as Lavindins make excellent hedges, and when their flowers reach their tallest, they sway in the wind, similar to tall grasses.
Congratulations! It's your 2nd year, and your lavenders haven't died! Its time to harvest your stems, and you ask yourself NOW WHAT?
Well, that depends on the type of lavender you planted. Hopefully, you did your homework, and you know the kind of plants you have, and it will be easy. Here is a list of lavenders that are perfect for what use.
English Lavenders or Lavendula Augustifolia are generally preferred for culinary purposes because these varieties have a sweeter taste and little camphor flavor. Some lavenders are lighter and sweeter than others, so experiment and grow various them versus just 1 type.
Our large copper still. Today were making hydrosol for Farm to Bath Face Mist. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)Grosso Lavender Hydrosol and Essential Oil floating on top after the first distillation. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Medicinal Lavender
French Lavenders or Lavendula dentate – are best for making bath and body products, hydrosols, essential oils, sachets, and floral arrangements. These lavenders have high camphor content and are better for their medicinal properties, such as aromatherapy.
Spanish Lavenders or Stoechas – are best for landscaping. They are too bitter for culinary uses and don’t have a strong enough scent for medicinal or for crafts. However, they make any garden or landscape stunning!
And finally…
Lavendula x-intermedia – Grosso. Fresh cut ready to be hung to dry. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
Lavendula x-intermedia – the hybrid. Not recommended for culinary uses as it has the highest camphor content of all the lavenders. It is too bitter to use.
However, it’s perfect for cosmetics, perfumes, hydrosols, essential oils, and some floral arrangements. I grow this variety for its high essential oil content and ease of drying and de-budding for my bath and body products.
Recap
– We know lavender has been around for hundreds of years.
– We have an idea of where and what types of plants to grow.
– We have an idea of what to do with your lavender after you harvest it.
But the big question that I get the most of why does it make me feel so calm?
I’m glad you asked! Lavender has excellent medicinal properties. So before I get into this information, I need to be clear –
I am not a doctor, The information I’m presenting here is for, and educational purposes only, and in no way am I diagnosing and or treating anything. If you have questions about your health, please see a licensed medical professional in your area.
Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (Click Here to view picture)
For those who want to do a deep dive on herbs, the reference manual I’m using is David Hoffmann’s book, Medicinal Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine.
Lavender’s herbal actions are carminative, antispasmodic, relaxing nervine, antidepressant, rubefacient, emmenagogue, and hypotensive. And, if you don’t know what I mean by “herbal actions” download the document above.
Lavender has been known to relieve headaches related to stress. It may also be useful in clearing depression if used in conjunction with other remedies and promote natural sleep.
Its properties are also known as a gentle nervous system tonic, which may treat states of nervous weakness and exhaustion.
Safety issues: No side effects or drug interactions have been reported when used correctly. But – remember, overuse of anything can have a negative side effect.
For example, water has no side effects, but if you overdrink more than what your body can handle, it will have dire consequences. It’s the same with anything – too much of a good thing can have adverse effects.
In the herbal preparations section, Hoffman states that drinking lavender tea three times a day is beneficial.
However, he discourages anyone from taking lavender essential oil internally. So only use fresh or dried culinary lavender to make your tea. Don’t add any essential oils.
Lavender essential oil should never be ingested or directly used on the skin. It can be added to baths or added to a carrier oil and then rubbed on the skin, but ingested or directly snorted in the nose.
Now that we understand the different ways you can use lavender –
5 drips of lemon essential oil or 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice.
1. Mix the white vinegar and the borax together in a 16 oz bottle.
Fill the bottle three quarters full of hot distilled water.
Shake well until borax is dissolved.
2. Add the liquid castile soap and the essential oils to the solution and shake well. Use as you would any other all-purpose cleaner.
Reference and Books Section
Please note that many of these links are affiliate links and we earn a small commission if these links are used. There is no extra cost to you. The money earned will help support the administrative and web hosting fees charged to keep this podcast on the internet. We thank you for any support you can offer.
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links:
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
…”so why would someone accuse someone else of that? You’re in league with the devil… they really did believe the devil was among them. They, were in this vast wilderness…”
A Historical Novel Picture used with permission – link to book in the reference section.
Today's Show
Today I'm talking to Beth Caruso Author of the historical novel One of Windsor – The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging.
It's a tragic story of a young woman who comes over from England as an indentured servant and settles in the religiously strict Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635.
She adapts to the new world, is an active participant in her community, and then is hung after being accused of practicing witchcraft by her friends and neighbors.
Her name is Alice Young, and she is victim number one in the colonies. Unfortunately, she wasn't the last. The witch trials continued for another 30 years here in Connecticut and another 50 in the greater Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Alice's story is relevant today – most of the debated issues in her time are still being discussed today, some 373 years later.
Issues like pandemics, falsely imprisoning people, the inhumane treatment of minorities. Bullying, character assassination, and acts of genocide. It appears history has taught us little!
And Yes, we talk about herbs, medicine of the day, healers, doctors, and the definition of a witch in the 1600s, among other topics. Its a great interview!
Beth M. Caruso
Beth M. Caruso, Author, Picture used with permission – Click here to view picture
Author Beth M. Caruso grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and spent her childhood writing puppet shows and witches’ cookbooks. She studied French Literature and Hispanic Studies, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati. She later obtained Masters degrees in Nursing and Public Health and served diverse communities.
Aside from writing, Beth’s interests include travel, and gardening. Her latest passion is to discover and convey important stories of women in history. One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America’s First Witch Hanging was her debut novel in 2015. She released her second novel, The Salty Rose: Alchemists, Witches & A Tapper In New Amsterdam, in September of 2019. It takes place in colonial New York and New England. Beth is a Connecticut resident.
Personal Update
Me after running sprints for 3.69 miles cold turkey! I don't recommend this… Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – click here to view picturePaul hanging the last of the lavender to dry. Our garage smells AMAZING!!! Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view pictureDried lavender bundles – $7.50 each USA sales only… Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view picture Free ebook coming out soon….- Click here to view picture
Interview
Puritans – 1600's – a strict religious group from England seeking freedom to worship their religion picture Wikipedia public domain – Click here to view pictureTown Map of Windsor 1600s – Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view pictureMajor John Mason – is responsible for the genocide of hundreds of Pequot Indians (including women and children) called the Mystic Massacre 1636 – 1638. He is also was involved in accusing innocent people of witchcraft and in particular, is responsible for the hanging of Alice Young. Beth Caruso giving her guided tour through the historic district of the Town of Windsor about Alice Young and the CT Witch Trials Fall 2019. Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view pictures
Gravesite of Katherine Gibbs who was a neighbor and witness to Alice's accusation. As Beth stated in her talk, too bad we can't speak to her and ask her what happened. Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view pictures
Places in Windsor where Alice would have walked during her lifetime. The Connecticut River is just beyond the cornfield. Alice was taken by boat down to Hartford to stand trial for witchcraft. Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view pictures
A private home from Alice's time period – This is Return Strong's home 1699 – his wife Sarah gravesite – she died at the age of 37 – 1678. Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view picturesWindsor Historical Society. Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view pictureBeth Caruso and Brenda Sullivan after Beth's Witch Walk in the historic district of Windsor CT. Picture by Paul F. Sullivan – Click here to view picturesNew-Englands Rarities Discovered by John Josselyn. One of Beth's research books about herbs, medicine, and how Native Americans lived during Alice's time period – Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view picture. Free Public Domain copy available in the reference section.
Green Pharmacy: The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine by Barbara Griggs. Another recommended research book about herbal medicine. Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view picture. Link to book in the reference section.
Mugwort growing in Brenda's garden. References comments made during the show about herbal bloopers in the series Outlander TV series . And NO – mugwort or mullen is not natural contraceptives! Picture by Brenda J. Sullivan – Click here to view picture.
Beth and Brenda on the patio before the interview discussing our love of history and research. Picture by Paul F. Sullivan – Click here to view picture
Alice's Medicinal Garden
If you're curious about what a garden looked like in the 1600s, Beth sent me a list of plants grown in Alice's time. Using historical records, I put together a historically accurate garden plan that might have been something Alice and her family built.
It's simple because that's how the Puritans lived. Having fancy flower beds or garden ornaments like many have today was frowned upon and could be considered blasphemy and punishable by the church.
Many of the colonists were not gardeners or farmers – so a lot of the gardening was trial and error – or in their case, God's blessing or devils curse depending on how successful their garden was that year.
Those who dared to make friends with the First People of America did so at considerable personal risk. It was illegal to even speak to the Native Americans.
However, those who did, learned many useful skills, such as native medicinal plants, how to grow certain crops in the New England rocky soil, or modify their gardening techniques, so the plants survived.
The garden plan is free to download, just click on the link below. It includes the house and garden and a list of plants – some are perfect for small spaces or pots on a patio.
Although I don't recommend growing skunk cabbage in your garden. If not processed properly it can cause nausea and vomiting. It's best to leave them in the bogs for the critters.
Alice had two types of herbs – European and Native plants.
Note: Some of these plants can be toxic and could cause serious illness if not processed properly. If you are interested in growing a medicinal garden, please contact me for assistance or ask someone in your local area who is a plant expert such as an herbalist.
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Today I’m talking about a vinegar tonic that boosts the immune system.
It has roots in a centuries-old recipe and was updated and modernized in the 20th Century and given a new name.
Since then, it's been adapted many times and is now a staple recipe in any budding herbalists recipe book. Its called, Fire Cider
By the end of this show, you’ll learn about the history of how infused vinegars got started and why they are so popular today. I’ll even share my own recipe so you can make a batch for yourself and family.
My disclaimer so we are clear…
I’m not a doctor, and if you have questions about your health, please consult a licensed medical professional. The information discussed in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only.
Victims from the Black Plague 1665 England – CC Google Images (click here to view picture)Victims from the Black Plague 1665 England CC Google Images (click here to view picture)Fleas on rats were the carriers of the Black Plague. Fleas would infest homes and bit humans spreading the plague. CC Google Images (click here to view picture)Rosemary Gladstar's latest book – (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanBase ingredients for fire cider – (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanUsing fresh ingredients – this is horseradish pulled from our garden. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanI don't peel vegetables – I just do a rough chop to fit in the jar. Make sure you use organic apple cider vinegar! (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanTurkey Tail Mushrooms harvested from our woods. They are great for boosting your immune system. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanEchinacea Roots and Flowers, plus dried Rosemary from our greenhouse. All help to boost the immune system. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanFill gallon jar with organic apple cider vinegar and slide a knife down edges to get the bubbles out. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanLable jar with start and end date. The first week check the jar and shake for any bubbles. Add more vinegar if vegetables have absorbed the vinegar. Then check and shake every week for 6 weeks. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanIn 6 weeks strain the contents of the jar. Throw away the contents. (click here to view photo) photo by Brenda J. SullivanAdd raw honey before jarring or add later. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Several sprigs of fresh organic rosemary or 2 tbsp of dried
rosemary leaves
1 tbsp organic turmeric powder or 2 fresh roots chopped
1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder
1 – 3 – 32 oz bottles
of organic apple cider vinegar – the amount needed will depend on the volume of
material stacked in jar. (Re Brand: I
use “Braggs” but there are other unfiltered organic apple cider brands out
there.)
¼ cup Raw local honey to taste (add after the 6 weeks of
fermenting is done)
* See list of herbal
variations that I’ve added to my recipe. These are not necessary, but the *
indicates the ingredients that I’ve used in the past.
Directions
Chop and slice all of your roots, fruits, and herbs and
place them in a large jar. (I use a gallon jar with a lid – bought on Amazon.) Fill jar with the apple cider vinegar until
everything is covered. You may have
squish material down to cover with vinegar.
Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep
the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid will work. Shake well.
Store in a dark, cool place for 6 weeks and remember to shake daily.
After 6 weeks, use cheesecloth to strain out the raw
fermented ingredients. Discard the vegetables and pour the fermented vinegar
into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquidly goodness as you
can from the vegetables while straining.
Next…comes the honey. Add 1/4 cup of honey (or more if still
too strong) and stir until incorporated.
Store at room temperature in dark cupboard or refrigerator.
Herbal Ingredient
Variations
These organic herbs and spices would make a wonderful
addition to your Fire Cider creations. You can find them all and more in our
shop!
Thyme
Horseradish Root Powder
Rose Hips*
Star Anise
Schisandra Berries
Astragalus
Parsley
Burdock root*
Oregano, Peppercorns*
Beet Root Powder
Habanero Powder
Echinacea root (fresh or dried) *
Echinacea flowers (can use contents of 3 tea
bags) *
1 – 3 shot glasses per day when you feel cold or flu
symptoms coming on. Repeat until symptoms go away.
Please remember, I am not a doctor, if you continue to feel bad or get worse – go see a licensed medical professional. This recipe is for educational purposes only and not meant to treat or diagnose anyone.
