Following a recent talk for a womens group, I was asked to share some of my recipes I'd use that evening so this is just a few quick simple ones for now.
During the winter our
hedgerows are bare and if you’ve not harvested during the year or are new to hedgerow
harvesting here are a few handy ingredient we all have in our kitchens and a
how to guide for getting the healing benefits from them.
Ginger
Ginger is grown as a root and is a flexible ingredient
that can be consumed in drinks (tea, beer, ale) or in cooking. It can
be used to make foods spicy and even as a food preservative. For over 2000
years, Chinese medicine has recommended the use of ginger to help cure and
prevent several health problems. It is known to promote energy circulation in
the body, boost our immune system and increase our body’s metabolic rate.
Foot
Detox pads.
1
Tbsp of Mustard powder (absorbing)
1
bulb of Garlic
I
large lump of Ginger.
2
wound dressing pads
Method
Bring 1 ½ cups water to boil..
Finely chop garlic and ginger and add to water,
stirring in mustard power too.
Bring to boil, simmer for 10 min,
Cool,
Spoon some of the mixture on to pads not to much that
will over spill out.
Place on soles of feet, put on an old sock.
Sleep soundly till morning then remove in the morning,
there maybe residue on the outside of pad from detoxing .
Chest, sinuses and
head will feel clearer and helps to fight colds and flues too.
Ginger syrup
Simply slice peeled fresh ginger and put into a jar of honey, take a
spoonful when required. Can remove ginger after over night, optional, depends
on how strong you want the ginger flavor to be.
Teas.
Herbal teas are simple and don’t have to cost anything, just collect you
ingredients in Winter , Ginger, Onion, Garlic, Cloves, etc place in a
cafeteria, pour boiling water over. Leave to stand for 5 min, pour and add
honey to taste. A simple as that in the winter,
Salt Joint rub
10 tblsp table salt
20 tblsp olive oil
5 drops marjoram oil (optional)
Blend together in a wide necked jar, place a towel under area your
rubbing to catch any salt fall off. Rub in to affected are, starting with 5
minuets then build up the length of time. It will feeling tingling and warm
when done,
The benefits of this are that the rubbing of the joint helps dispel the
build up of lactic acid that causes pain and bring in fresh blood supply that
helps heal the joint. Marjoram oil is optional; it can also be great pain
reliever.
Hot Joint oil.
2 tbsp Cayenne pepper
2 tbsp mustard powder
1 tbsp Ginger powder
2 tbsp black pepper.
1 pt of olive or sunflower oil
Combing all the ingredients in a bottle, shake well and store in a warm
place for 2 weeks. Gently shake it once each day. After 2 weeks , strain and
use as rub for circulation or joint pain.
Natural Antibiotic ( this comes with a heat warming)
700ml of Apple cider vinegar
¼ cup chopped garlic
¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup grated ginger
2 tblsp grated horseradish
2 tblsp Tumeric
1 hot chilli (the hottest you can handle)
Place all ingredients in to a jar, close, shake well. Store for 2 weeks, not in the fridge or near heat, store at room temp.
Caution Very strong! Very Hot!
Gargle and swallow 1 tbsp daily. Eat a slice of lemon after. You can build this up to a small glass daily.
. This remedy strengthens you immune system to fight of
Flu’s colds etc.
Onion
Our simple onion used daily in food is mighty strong in fighting
bacteria, so here are some quick simple uses.
1. We all know to slice an onion in half and put by the
bed at night for the snuffles and sinuses trouble. Don’t eat this afterwards, throw away used piece.
2.
Warm some milk, adding slice of onion and pinch of
black pepper, this is good for colds and aids digestion.
3. Onion Syrup. Slice onion and put 3 slices into a jar,
cover with organic honey. Leave overnight, Strain and store in the fridge. For
sore throats and coughs, take a spoonful when required.
Sea Weed baths
Sea Weed baths are divine for our bodies in winter, especially as we
have harsh drying winds and central heating and fires on. Many therapeutic
benefits are attributed to seaweed bathing. Scientific studies have confirmed
that seaweed bathing helps lower body stress and relieve skin conditions
(psoriasis, eczema, acne etc). It has also been shown to be beneficial in the
treatment of muscle aches and joint stiffness (rheumatism and arthritis), and
excellent for some circulatory problems. Seaweed treatments are associated with
body toning, slimming and the release of toxins. Indeed, the therapeutic merit
of seaweed can be aptly described as one of nature's timeless treasures,
fostering beauty, balance and vitality.
If you’re fortunate to live by the sea,
Take a bucket
on your next walk and collect some, esp. Bladderwrack. Wash it off outside when
you get home, to rid it of residue sand and other wild life attached to it.
I use either Lemon/ Orange/onion net bags and fill
with seaweed; I personally don’t like seaweed floating around in my bath.
Run a hot bath, drop your net bag of seaweed and leave
to soak for 5-10 min, you can remove it then if you wish and step in to bath or
leave it in for added benefits.
( essential oils optional but please be careful to mix well in the bath as can cause skin irritation)
Afterwards
your skin feels soft, silky smooth and deeply nourished and your mind and body
feel relaxed and rested. All ready for a
great nights sleep.
The wise woman's
knowledge of plants is
of a practical nature, based on skill, observation, and recipes that are passed
down from generation to generation. Once she was the family doctor, herbalist,
candle maker, chef, and seamstress all rolled into one. This herbal database of
natural remedies grew out of a personal quest for knowledge of traditional
herbal healing and alternative medicine. I hope you will find something here
that helps you also, whatever your interest in natural medicine may be.
Herbal
remedies Some common ailments respond very well to the treatment with
herbal remedies, but must not be seen as a
replacement to conventional medicine. Herewith some ailments, and the
corresponding herbal remedies that
may be helpful with the particular problem, but when in doubt, please consult
your medical practitioner immediately.
Walk in Peace and Humility
Jacqui Reed
Bogay,
Newtownc-ham, Co
Donegal
Blog; http://fragglebean.blogspot.ie
Tel; 00353 89 4094902
