Make Medicine While The Sun Shines
I often times hear my mother's phrase, that undoubtedly came from her father, "Make Hay While The Sun Shines" when I'm busy out in the garden or around the farm. Summertime is busy - family and friends to visit, music events, swimming, camping, parties, canning... and before you know it, summer is almost through and there are still 20 things on my list I want to do.
On my morning walk today, I remembered that I hadn't made my annual echinacea tincture so when I returned home, I set out to clip some leaves and flowers. Then it occurred to me, why not make a winter combo tincture? There are so many great flowers and plants with medicinal properties growing right now so I grabbed a bowl and scissors and set out. And what a pleasure to spend the morning sniffing berries and herbs and setting healthful intentions into my jar o'winter's helpers. Thank you Mother Nature for your bounty.
So I mixed up echinacea, elderberries, thyme, oregano, feverfew, chamomile, sage and calendula, stuffed them in a jar and covered them in alcohol. They will sit in the dark in my pantry for a few months and then when the Fall and Winter yucks start making the rounds, we'll be ready, thanks to "making hay while the sun still shines.
And if you're curious about what this concoction is suppose to do, here are the known medicinal properties of the contents:
Echinacea: Immune system booster - antibiotic/anti-fungal properties
Elderberry: Elderberries are high in vitamins A and C, full of antioxidants., contain more iron and phosphorus than any other berry and they are used to help with flu symptoms
Thyme: anti fungal/bacterial; good for congestion
Oregano: well, it does everything. Kills infections of all kinds. More powerful than antibiotics
Feverfew: eases nausea and headaches
Chamomile: relaxation, aides in sleep and pain
Sage: helps with inflammation, soar throats, cough
Calendula: anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-tumor. Works to reduce fever
On my morning walk today, I remembered that I hadn't made my annual echinacea tincture so when I returned home, I set out to clip some leaves and flowers. Then it occurred to me, why not make a winter combo tincture? There are so many great flowers and plants with medicinal properties growing right now so I grabbed a bowl and scissors and set out. And what a pleasure to spend the morning sniffing berries and herbs and setting healthful intentions into my jar o'winter's helpers. Thank you Mother Nature for your bounty.
So I mixed up echinacea, elderberries, thyme, oregano, feverfew, chamomile, sage and calendula, stuffed them in a jar and covered them in alcohol. They will sit in the dark in my pantry for a few months and then when the Fall and Winter yucks start making the rounds, we'll be ready, thanks to "making hay while the sun still shines.
And if you're curious about what this concoction is suppose to do, here are the known medicinal properties of the contents:
Echinacea: Immune system booster - antibiotic/anti-fungal properties
Elderberry: Elderberries are high in vitamins A and C, full of antioxidants., contain more iron and phosphorus than any other berry and they are used to help with flu symptoms
Thyme: anti fungal/bacterial; good for congestion
Oregano: well, it does everything. Kills infections of all kinds. More powerful than antibiotics
Feverfew: eases nausea and headaches
Chamomile: relaxation, aides in sleep and pain
Sage: helps with inflammation, soar throats, cough
Calendula: anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-tumor. Works to reduce fever
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