Happy New Year my lovelies! I hope things are off to a good start for you. It’s been uncommonly cold here, but we are keeping warm indoors and venturing out only occasionally to tend to the birds and fish. However, we know in our souls that the days are getting longer again, and that is of some relief.

There was a request for the recipe which I presume to be in dosing of the herbs, etc. So here we go! Although I have also included a little wiki info to suffuse your knowledge. The more time you spend with the information, the more likely it will stick. At least that’s my belief. 🙂 You can cover the below ingredients with a 70 proof alcohol, or with apple cider vinegar. This will result in either a tincture or an oxymel respectively. Make sure you cover the herbs entirely with your extracting/infusing liquid and fill the jar to the shoulder. Put the lid on, shake once a day making sure all herbs are staying covered with liquid. Let it sit for 4-6 weeks and then strain off and bottle. It’s that simple. 🙂

Amounts for a 16 oz wide mouth jar, brief history of medicinal uses and compounds for each of the mentioned plants:

1/4 cup Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Dandelion has been recorded in ancient writings, and Arabian physicians used the plant in medicine in the tenth and eleventh centuries. For centuries, the Chinese and Indians have grown the dandelion to treat liver diseases and digestive problems. The dandelion arrived in the Americas at the time of the Mayflower.

1/4 cup Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary has been used medicinally dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans in 500 B.C. It was cultivated by the Spanish in the 13th century where it became a popular condiment for salted meats. Rosemary’s medicinal history spans centuries and was probably first used for respiratory issues. It was also used to treat the Plague, melancholy, gout, epilepsy, arthritis and many other ills.

1/2 cup Nettle (Urtica dioica): Nettle use has been recorded as far back as the Bronze Age (3000 BCE – 1200 BCE), and it is still used in herbalism today. The earliest evidence of nettle’s use for medicinal purposes exists in Stone Age paintings dating back to 8,000 years ago. Since then, scientists and nutritionists alike have recognized it as one of nature’s great wonders, as it is entirely natural and offers so many benefits for human health.

1/4 cup to 1/2 cup Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): Echinacea has been a staple in herbal medicine since ancient times. Ancient Egyptians used stinging nettle to treat arthritis and lower back pain, while Roman troops rubbed it on themselves to help stay warm. Today, Echinacea is believed to have active substances that can heighten immunity, relieve pain and inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant properties.

2-3 tbsps. Turkey Tail: (Trametes versicolor) Turkey tail mushroom has been used for hundreds of years to treat various health conditions. Long used in traditional Chinese medicine, turkey tail is packed with antioxidants and other health-boosting compounds.

As much as you want when the tincture has cured Honey: Honey has been used for thousands of years as a food ingredient and in pharmaceutical preparations against various ailments. Evidences of its consumption has been found dating back to Neolithic age. Various cultures including Vedic, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Mayans, Babylonians, and Chinese have been consuming honey and beeswax since ancient time.

1-2 tbsps. or a single stick in the jar Cinnamon: Cinnamon has a long history of use in traditional medicine in various parts of the world, including China, India, and Persia (Iran). Today, cinnamon is promoted as a dietary supplement for diabetes or for irritable bowel syndrome or other gastrointestinal problems, as well as other conditions.

I hope this information serves you well. There is so much to do and that you can do to help yourself and those around you. As with all things, use caution when applying any herbal remedy. There are always the first considerations of allergies and conflicts with other medications which might be onboard the human vessel. 🙂 Steady on!