HERBAL FORMULAS & RECIPES ECHINACEA TEAS Reminder: Always try new herbs in tiny amounts to see if they agree with you. I take only 1 teaspoon or so, in 1/2 cup of water, and wait a 1/2 hour, to test. Better to be SAFE than miserable. Even safe herbs can disagree with your particular system. This is especially true if you have plant allergies. Like any natural energy source, SOME HERBS CAN BE HIGHLY DANGEROUS...JUST LIKE OTHER MEDICINES. USE CAUTION. UPPER RESP-INFECTION TEA I always make a quart of this at a time, and sip it in very very small portions throughout the day...say a tablespoon every half hour...sort of like a slow drip. Normal usage is about 1/2 cup three times a day. Keep refrigerated or cool. Remains effective in refrigerator from 48 to 72 hours. My measurements would be considered highly conservative. They equal about 1 teaspoon of herbs per cup of tea beverage. Many herbalists would recommend doubling the herb amounts to the same amount of water. 1 tsp. dried chunks Echinacea root 1/2 teaspoon dried chunks Slippery Elm bark-soothes throat and digestive tract. 1/2 teaspoon dried chunks Wild Cherry bark-expectorant for coughs 1 teaspoon dried Thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon Dried Sage leaves 1/2 teaspoon dried Honeysuckle flowers pinch of Cayenne...to taste 4 cups of pure water, with enough extra to account for evaporation during preparation. 1. Place Echinacea, Slippery Elm and Wild Cherry in non-aluminum pot and cover with water. Bring to boil and lower to slow simmer, covered, for 10 to 20 minutes (the longer, the stronger). Strain herbs out. 2. Place the other herbs in a 1 quart container that has a cover, pour the simmered tea over them. Cover and steep for 10 to 20 minutes. 3. Strain and drink in above recommended doses. Adding cayenne helps clear mucus and empower the medicinal activity of the other herbs. Other additions might include cinnamon, fresh lemon, fresh ginger slice, honey. CANDIDIASIS-FIGHTING TEA 1/2 ounce dried Echinacea root 1/4 ounce dried Calendula petals 1/4 ounce dried Agrimony leaves 1 Pint of water, plus extra for evaporation. 1. In a non-aluminum sauce pan, place the Echinacea in the water, bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, and gently simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. 2. Place the Calendula and Agrimony in a teapot, and strain the Echinacea broth over it. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. 3. Strain the herbs out of the tea, and cover. Effective, refrigerated, for 48 hours. DOSAGE: Reminder: Always try new herbs in tiny amounts to see if they agree with you. I take only 1 teaspoon, in 1/2 cup of water, and wait a 1/2 hour, to test. Better to be SAFE than miserable. Even safe herbs can disagree with your particular system. This is especially true if you have plant allergies. Drink about 1/4 cup, 3 times a day, before meals. Add fresh lemon juice, spearmint, or peppermint, cinnamon, ginger. or cayenne, to enhance flavor if desired. Do not add sugar or honey. *This may also be applied topically, with a soft pad. TINCTURES An Herbal Tincture is a liquid solution that has drawn out and preserved much, if not all, of the medicinal ability of an herb. Information on Tinctures is available in a host of Herbal books. The "drawing" liquid, or "menstruum" is most often a high proof alcohol, such as a 80 proof vodka, although vinegar or glycerin are also effective, to a lesser extent. The following "Rule-of-Thumb" recipe, used by many herbalists, is the one I find easiest to follow... and very effective. There are recipes with more "scientific" and exacting measurements, if you are so inclined. Tinctures may be used internally and externally. If you want to avoid taking the alcoholic content, add the recommended dosage (usually between 5 and 40 drops) to boiled water or tea, and the alcohol will evaporate. BASIC FORMULA 4 ounces dried cut herbs (by weight) or 8 ounces fresh cut herbs (by weight) 1 pint (2 cups) 80 proof vodka 1. Macerate or bruise the herbs in a bowl or with mortar and pestle. 2. Place herbs in an immaculately clean or sterilized jar. 3. Add the vodka, making sure there is at least an inch or two of vodka above the level of herbs. If not, add enough vodka to accomplish that. 4. Gently turn jar upside down and back each day, for at least 2 weeks. I let mine steep for 4 weeks. 5. For me, the easiest way to strain the herbs out of the tincture is to tightly tie a double layer of clean cheesecloth around the top of the jar and allow the tincture to drain through into another immaculately clean container. Afterwards, remove cheesecloth, and squeeze vodka out of the remaining herbs. (The herbs that are left make excellent compost). 6. I remove some of the tincture to a dark dropper jar, and place the larger container, preferably of dark glass, covered, in a cool, dark place. Because of the anti-bacterial property of the alcohol, tinctures should be medicinally effective for 7 to 10 years! Dosages for children should be in the percentage ration of the child's weight to 150 pounds, as a general rule. In other words, if a child is 50 pounds, he should receive no more than 1/3 the adult dose. PLEASE USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN INTRODUCING NEW HERBS TO CHILDREN. CHECK RELIABLE GUIDE FOR HERBS CONSIDERED SAFE FOR CHILDREN. I use only 1 herb per tincture. However, it is all right to add several drops of different herbal tinctures to 1/2 cup of water when taking as medicine. I would suggest, however, that the total number of drops combined, stay within the maximum limit suggested. Remember...caution first. Pregnant women and people with chronic diseases must follow instructions of their professional health advisors.