Catherine Hunziker MacMann, herbalist and proprietor of Wishgarden Herbs in Boulder, Colo. came up with this harmonious blend. When infused, the combination of herbs, berries, and roots makes a wonderful tea that acts as a tonic to the whole system.

Nettles are high in iron and other minerals as well as vitamin C, which helps their absorption into your body. Alfalfa leaf, dubbed the father of all foods by the Arabs, is rich in protein. Red clover is a relaxant that has been used as an anticancer remedy since the 1930s. Hawthorn berries act as a tonic for the heart. Oatstraw is a restorative tonic and counteracts nervous and physical exhaustion while benefiting menopausal women with estrogen deficiencies. Dandelion root stimulates and cleanses the liver. Spearmint promotes good digestion and also has anti-inflammatory properties.

You’ll need:

2 tablespoons dried nettle leaves

2 tablespoons dried alfalfa leaves

2 tablespoons red clover blossoms

2 tablespoons hawthorn berries

2 tablespoons oatstraw

2 tablespoons dandelion root

2 tablespoons dried spearmint leaves

To make 1 cup:

Combine the herbs and mix well. Store in an airtight container until ready to use. To make the tea, bring 1 cup purified water to a boil and pour over herbal blend. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain and drink while hot. Drink 1 to 3 cups a day.

Note: reprinted with permission from my book, Wise Concoctions: Natural Elixirs and Tonics for Health and Energy.

Image: kanko*

The post Wise Concoction: Everybody's Healing and Nutritional Tea appeared first on EcoSalon.

One of the reasons juicing has become so popular is that it concentrates the vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables so that immediately after drinking them you often can experience a beneficial boost to your system. This particular combination provides magnesium, potassium, and calcium – all rich nutrients that nourish the body.

Chlorophyll, which is also plentiful in green leafy vegetables, has a rejuvenating effect. Nourishing to the intestines, it helps filter toxins from the liver. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which supports the immune system and promotes skin health. The apple adds a sweet taste and contains pectin, another cleansing and purifying agent. You will almost feel the renewed energy coursing through your body as you sip this "cocktail".

You will need:

– 3 to 4 organic kale leaves

– 2 tablespoons chopped fresh organic parsley

– 4 organic carrots, scrubbed but not peeled

– 1 organic apple, seeded but not peeled

To make:

Put the kale, parsley, carrots, and apple through a juicer. Stir well until the cocktail has a uniform consistency.

Note: reprinted with permission from Wise Concoctions: Natural Elixirs and Tonics for Health and Energy.
Image: Tim Gage

The post Ecosalon Recipes: Wise Concoction: Veggie Vitality Cocktail appeared first on EcoSalon.

Try these additions to the usual cup of warmed milk the next time you have trouble getting to sleep.

In Ayurvedic medicine, milk is considered a nourishing and building food, while its calcium and triptophan content calm and relax. Adding ginger or cinnamon followed by a teaspoon of honey counteracts the mucous that can form if one uses cow’s milk.

Besides its calming properties, this milk decoction strengthens the digestive system and is extremely nutritive. Lycii, a sweet-tasting Chinese herb available in most Chinatowns or by mail order, is a kidney and liver tonic, high in vitamins A and C, carotene, and linoleic acid. Dried red dates, another Chinese, herb, are sweet and warming; they soothe the emotions when you are irritable and help you to drift peacefully into sweet dreams.

You’ll need:

1 cup milk, soy milk, or rice milk (organic)

3 dried red dates, soaked in warm water to soften

4 lycii berries

1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger root or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Honey

To make:

Heat the milk. Remove seeds from the dates and grind the dates and the lycii with a mortar and pestle or in a blender or food processor. Combine this mixture with the ginger or cinnamon. Add the ground herbs to the heated milk and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Add honey to taste. Strain and sip slowly.

Note:

For the wide-awake-at-3-a.m. version of insomnia, you may not want to take the time to grind the herbs. I have found a simpler version of this elixir just as effective at those times. Simply simmer the whole herbs in milk for 10 minutes, strain, and stumble back to bed, cup in hand. (The herbs can be eaten; just be careful of the pits in the dates.)

Image: Ann Marie

Editor’s note: reprinted with permission from Wise Concoctions: Natural Elixirs and Tonics for Health and Energy.

The post Wise Concoction: Sweet Dreams Elixir appeared first on EcoSalon.

Wines, syrups, cordials, jams, and medicinal tisanes have been created from the flowers and berries of the elder plant. I remember being spared from an impending case of jet lag one summer after an all-night flight to London by the bracing effect of an iced elderflower lemonade.

This version is a perfect antidote to summer colds as the elderflowers encourage sweating and, in combination with yarrow and mint, help relieve upper respiratory congestion. The astringent action of the lemon helps tissues to contract so that mucous is released, which helps cleanse and purify the system. Lemons are also high in vitamin C. Honey, an antiseptic that deters germ growth, soothes and sweetens this elixir.

You’ll Need:

1 cup purified water

1 teaspoon dried elderflowers

1/2 teaspoon fresh or dried peppermint leaves

1/2 teaspoon yarrow leaves

Juice from 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 cup carbonated mineral water

Sprig of fresh mint

To Make:

Bring the water to a boil and pour over the herbs. Allow to steep for 5 minutes or longer. (For a hot drink, simply add the lemon and honey and eliminate the next step.)

To make the spritzer, add the lemon and honey, and allow the infusion to cool in the refrigerator. When ready to drink, add the carbonated water and stir. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Editor’s note: opt for local honey as it’s just the thing for combating irritation caused by the pollen in your area.

Image: elderflower by smoobs

The post Wise Concoction: Elderflower Spritzer for Allergy Season appeared first on EcoSalon.

The popularity of espresso drinks and the frustration of friends who can’t drink caffeinated beverages, but still yearn for the aroma and taste of freshly brewed coffee, led to the creation of Herbal Espresso.

This delicious healthful blend comes close to the taste of the real thing and delivers a powerful tonic effect at the same time.

Dandelion root has a reputation as a blood builder and liver strengthener, unlike coffee, which actually irritates the liver. The dark color and richness of chicory evoke the blended coffees of New Orleans. The tradition of adding chicory to coffee actually originated with the French, who believe this root counteracts the acidic quality of coffee. They also make chicory into a decoction on its own to neutralize stomach acidity. Ginseng, an overall tonic, acts as a natural stimulant for those who relish the energizing effect that coffee provides. Molasses contributes natural B vitamins and sweetness to replace refined sugar. Carob powder and cinnamon add aromatic flavorings.

You’ll need:

1-2 cups purified water

3-5 teaspoons Herbal Espresso Blend

1/2 teaspoon carob powder

1-2 teaspoons molasses, honey or pure maple syrup

Pinch of ground cinnamon

To make:

Bring the water to a boil. Place 3-4 teaspoons Herbal Espresso Blend in a drip coffee filter. Pour the boiling water through the mixture and allow to drip into a coffee cup. Add the cinnamon and carob powder for added flavor. If too strong add more hot water. Sweeten to taste with the molasses, honey, or maple syrup.

Herbal Espresso Blend:

To make the herb blend, roast chicory (1 cup dried root), dandelion (1/4 cup dried chopped root), barley (1/2 cup pearl), and ginseng (1/8 cup chopped root) in a 200 F oven for 2 hours. (Or roast in a large heavy skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.) Grind in a clean coffee grinder until very fine. Store in a glass container with a lid.

Note: Ginseng is not recommended for pregnant women or individuals with high blood pressure. It may also have estrogenic activity, which aggravates fibrocystic breast disease in women. If any of these conditions are present, simply eliminate the ginseng from this mixture.

Editor’s note: Reprinted with permission from the book Wise Concoctions.

Image: Striatic

The post Ecosalon Recipes: Wise Concoction: Herbal Espresso appeared first on EcoSalon.

This gel has become a staple in my refrigerator. It is a unique and simple way to enjoy the sustenance contained in seeds.

Seeds are nature’s most nutrient-rich food, the essence of all the bounty that we enjoy from the plant kingdom. Frequently discarded when we make juice or eat whole fruits or vegetables, seeds nourish and enrich.

A tablespoon of flax, sesame, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds can be added to salads, cooked cereals, blended drinks, salad dressings, soups, or cookies and desserts. Use the gel as a topping on cereal, yogurt, or pancakes, or spread on toast.

You’ll Need:

4 tablespoons toasted flax seeds, whole or ground

2 tablespoons chia or sesame seeds

2 tablespoons raisins or chopped dried figs

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon

1 cup black cherry or apple-berry juice

To make:

Place the seeds, fruit, and spice (if using) in a glass container with a lid. Pour in the juice and soak overnight in the refrigerator. The mixture will congeal, just like gelatin. It keeps refrigerated for one week, but you’ll find it won’t last that long.

Further reading:

Check out the many health benefits of seeds!

Note: reprinted from my book, Wise Concoctions.

Images (clockwise from top left): elpansa, Joyseph, grendelkhan

The post Wise Concoction: Seeds of Life Gel appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sea vegetables such as nori, dulse, kombu, and wakame not only taste and smell delicious, evoking flavors and scents of the ocean, but also provide a bounty of beneficial nutrients. Commonly used in sushi, salads, and broths, they prove to be rich in proteins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The Japanese, who have long been wise to their numerous advantages, frequently incorporate them into their diets. Sea vegetables can help strengthen our defenses against infections and environmental pollutants by bonding with them and moving them through the body until they are eliminated. This delicate broth, made with wakame, delivers ample protein as well as a good amount of iron, calcium, and sodium.

Ingredients (makes 4 cups):

– 4 green onions, chopped
– 1 carrot, chopped
– 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped
– 2 celery stalks, chopped
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 4 pieces wakame
– 6 cups purified water

To make:

Saute the onions, carrot, ginger, and celery in the oil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Rinse the wakame and cover with 2 cups of the water. Let stand for several minutes until it is just softened. (Don’t allow it to soak for too long or it will become too soft.) Discard the soaking water and cut the wakame into small pieces. Combine with the remaining 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Add the sauteed vegetables to the broth, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Drink while still warm or at room temperate.

Note: reprinted from Wise Concoctions with permission.

Image: Green Colander

The post Sea Veggie Purification Broth appeared first on EcoSalon.