5
Mar

Herbal Tea takes the world by storm

by Sandra Clair in Materia Medica

4 Comments Comments

Herbal Tea: one of the top 3 beverages consumed worldwide

Herbal Tea is worldwide one of the top 3 beverages consumed. This is both for supporting good health as well as for healthy hydration. The raise of herbal tea consumption over the past years, especially in women, is based on the desire to cut out caffeine in the quest of a healthier lifestyle. A recent article published in the Daily Mail highlights research that the consumption of black tea has fallen in the UK a third in five years with women aged 31-35 being the main contributors to this. Coffee consumption fell from 56 per cent to 52 per cent.

There is a remarkable increase in the consumption of healthier beverages like herbal tea spurred on by the interest of celebrities who are ‘on the search of good looks, pure skin and anti-ageing products.

An increasing number of women are turning to herbal drinks to help them cope with more stressful lifestyles which often entail having to balance careers, relationships and family life. It is well known that herbal tea containing camomile to have a calming effect, peppermint tea to aid digestion or Elderflower helping the immune system. Bill Gorman, executive director of the Tea Council, said: ‘It is true to say that herbal and fruit teas are the fastest-growing sector of the tea market at the moment.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-76450/Women-prefer-herbal-tea-cuppa.html#ixzz1EGYiIu6m

Indeed, the shift from black to the healthier herbal tea has seen sales of herbal tea raised in traditionally black tea drinking country UK by 60 per cent in a year. This shift in popularity can be attributed not only to the perennial personal detox with liver and kidney supporting herbal blends but also to a changing corporate attitude towards health in the workplace with corporate business  increasingly adding health teas as a third option to regular tea and coffee during their board meetings

Herbal tea overtakes Coca Cola consumption

Even China, the quintessential country of black and green tea consumption herbal tea has seen a spectacular rise in herbal tea consumption based on five main motivations:  “Family Health Care”, “Cultural Experience”, “Natural Health Preserving”, “Internal Heat Clearing” and “Fashion Chasing”. In the Lingnan Region for example in 2008, sales amount of herbal tea had reached 6 million ton, more than twice as the amount of consumption of Coca Cola in the same region. Herbal tea production in Guangdong province has keeping a yearly growth of 40%, the herbal tea sales amount is expected to reach 12 million ton in 2010, surpassing Coca Cola.

Not all herbal tea are created equal

Real herbal teas are made with organic loose herbs

The fact that big companies are now jumping onto the bandwagon of selling herbal tea is an indication of this growing trend toward satisfying a growing population wanting a healthy daily beverage option. However, not all herbal teas are created equal. Most mass produced herbal teas which are sold in tea bags contain aged and inferior herbal materials which are often sprayed with a flavour (e.g. pineapple, fruit or raspberry flavour) to make up for their poor quality. They are no more than a hot beverage to hydrate and lack the typical refreshing and vitalising flavour of real herbal teas.

For a herbal tea to truly having the health benefit that people are looking for they need to have 5 attributes:

1)      Only medicinal quality of herbs give health benefits – poor quality mass produced herbs will not  increase health

2)      They need to be certified organic which means that they are free of pesticides and herbicides which are known to be harmful to the body

3)     Real herbal tea is made with loose herbs  - powdered or finely cut herbs quickly lose their medicinal properties (e.g. essential oils) and flavour; furthermore conventional tea bags act as a filter and don’t let all of the medicinal properties of the herbs infuse into the water

4)      The recipe of tea remedies needs to be properly formulated so that it can tone specific body functions

5)      Take them regularly, best  1-3 cups a day. It is the small daily step of health care that creates good health now and in the future

In many countries of Europe, the US  and Asia herbal teas of medicinal quality are a key strategy used by the broad population to stay healthy or as a fist line of defence when discomfort strikes. They can be bought from pharmacies, health stores or reputable websites.

For your selection of health enhancing daily teas check out:

http://www.artemis.co.nz/

Posted in Materia Medica | 4 Comments »

10
Nov

Lady’s Mantle – a woman’s best friend – Part 2

by Sandra Clair in History, Lady's Mantle

36 Comments Comments

Harvesting Lady's Mantle - an effective herb for women's complaints, inceasing fertility and to support an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth

Traditionally, women were taught to take a course of Lady’s Mantle tea at the turn of every season to ‘tune’ the delicate reproductive system and safeguard a ‘woman’s happiness’. Based on its wide ranging toning actions Lady’s Mantle is an important ingredient in women’s health teas, in hormone balancing teas as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding teas. Thus we can say that Lady’s Mantle is a woman’s best friend. This benevolent plant will accompany her through all the physiological stages of her life and be of invaluable service in keeping her healthy and happy.

Lady’s Mantle is an important component in the ARTEMIS PMT Ease Tea (http://www.artemis.co.nz/products/16-PMT_Ease_Tea) to balance their hormones or to enhance their fertility and  in the Pregnancy Tea (http://www.artemis.co.nz/products/17-Pregnancy_Tea) for an uncomplicated pregnancy and swift birth.

Applications 500 years ago

The medical doctor Tabernaemontanus in the 16th century said that Lady’s Mantle has an ‘agreeable temperature’ which is neither too hot nor cold and has the astringent medicinal properties to ‘consolidate’ and ‘dry’ both internally and externally. He recommends Lady’s Mantle for the care of wounds from a variety of causes and for women’s complaints. Here an excerpt:

Wound care:

Tabernaemontanus describes Lady’s Mantle as an important herb for the cleansing and healing of topical and internal wounds (ulcers, festering wounds and shot wounds), to diffuse internal blood clots, for ulcers and inflammation in the mouth and throat, bruised or broken body parts and in cases of diarrhoea. The pulped leaves, he says, can be applied directly or via a linen cloth soaked in the juice of the leaves.

Women’s complaints:

Tabernaemontanus describes Lady’s Mantle for the “healing of undue discharge” (Fluor genitalis) to promote fertility (taken internally as a tea), in incontinence after birth and to recover from birth (bathing and as a tea). Concerned with female welfare after multiple births he recommends not only the drinking the tea but also bathing the “secret woman’s place” with the tea to make her “like a virgin again”. If her breasts are starting to sag he recommends topical applications of linen soaked in Lady’s Mantle tea so that they regain their firm texture. Hallelujah! But before our 21st century feminist sensibilities suspect him of being secretly more concerned with marital bliss than with women’s health, we may want to remember that women in those days tended to have a steady succession of pregnancies, putting significant strain on those “secret places” which could lead to medical problems such as the aforementioned incontinence. And without the holding capacity of a modern bra for those constant ‘feeding stations’, a woman would understandably have longed for ways to carry herself around more comfortably.

Active constituents

Modern research confirms that Lady’s Mantle contains active constituents that explain the old applications of this medicinal plant: tannins, bitters, lecithin, saponins, volatile oils and traces of salicylic acid and phytosterols. The plant has astringent, vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, styptic, blood cleansing, scar promoting and calming properties.

Modern clinical applications

Whilst Lady’s Mantle is still used today for wound healing, the main application in clinical practice is as a key uterine tonic for its cleansing, strengthening and restorative properties. It has a regulating and nourishing action on the whole female organism. It is used to prevent and treat women’s complaints such as reproductive infections and inflammation (Fluor genitalis of different aetiologies), to rebuild the protective vaginal flora after antibiotic treatment in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), to reduce heavy and painful periods (including those experienced by some women in the peri-menopausal phase), to regulate the cycle (often together with yarrow), to prime the endometrium for an easier conception, to strengthen the uterus for preventing miscarriages and most importantly to build uterine tone for a swift birth. This latter application is possibly what Lady’s Mantle is most known for today. It also helps with uterine involution after birth and supports the cleansing and healing of possible reproductive injuries as a consequence of birth. As a bonus, it promotes milk production in breastfeeding mothers and its calming effect makes for a good sleep.

Lady’s Mantle is truly a woman’s best friend!

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Posted in History, Lady's Mantle | 36 Comments »

31
Oct

Lady’s Mantel – a woman’s best friend – Part 1

by Sandra Clair in Gardening, Lady's Mantle, Materia Medica

49 Comments Comments

Lady's Mantel - a must in women's health teas to tone and vitalise her reproductive organs

One of the delights of spring is the appearing of the fresh green leaves of Lady’s Mantle. In the morning they have nestled in their folds droplets of water which glitter in the sun like daylight stars. I just love this sight. Lady’s Mantle has significant healing benefits, but let’s first meet this medicinal plant.

Here are the botanical coordinates:

Botanical Name: Alchemilla xanthochlora (formerly Alchemilla vulgaris)

Family: Rosaceae

Common Name: Lady’s Mantle

The meticulously folded leaves of Lady’s Mantle and their attributed magical ability to gather “heavenly water” overnight made this delightful Rosacea plant the darling of the old alchemists. They would gather the dew-like droplets in the early morning hours to use in their magical recipes for eternal youth and wisdom. These droplets are in fact not “heavenly water” but water that the plant absorbs from the earth and transpires purified via the tips of its leaves, offering it back to the sky. Lady’s Mantel became to be seen as a symbol for transformative magical powers and so the alchemist’s beloved Lady’s Mantle came to be known by the botanical family name Alchemilla. It surely has transformative powers in that it can turn around a women’s reproductive system to be healthy, strong and vital. It is an important herb in the Western Materia Medica, documented in both historical and modern scientific text books.

The species name xanthochlora refers to the Latin xantho = yellow and chlora greenish looking, describes the rather unassuming-looking but delightfully sweet tasting blossoms of the plant. Xanthochlora has replaced the earlier name vulgaris which referred to the fact that Lady’s Mantle has the uncanny ability to establish itself wherever it (and not the gardener!) sees fit. Lady’s Mantle is native to Europe and Asia and grows well in New Zealand.

Harvest

Lady’s Mantle is one of the most important women’s healing herbs and was gathered in earlier times during a descending moon (a harvesting exception!) to stop women’s blood loss (menorrhagia, polymenorrhoea, metorrhagia)and heal wounds. It is no surprise that the ancient herbalists assigned its protection to a female goddess. In pre Christian times it was Freja’s herb, the old German goddess of love and fertility. After the introduction of Christianity it was assigned to Mother Mary -the leaves were said to resemble the protecting cloak of the new patroness. Astrologically the healing herb was assigned to the planet Venus as documented by Culpepper in the 17th century.

Lady’s Mantle is best harvested in blossom from late spring to mid summer. The healthy green leaves and blossoms (best without the stems) are gathered and dried in a shady clean place with good air circulation. For the manufacture of a tincture the leaves are processed fresh.  It has a lovely sweet taste and can be taken on its own or in a herbal combination.

Check in for the next post to find out more about ancient and modern applications.

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Posted in Gardening, Lady's Mantle, Materia Medica | 49 Comments »

17
Oct

Back from Europe – Project is progressing!

by Sandra Clair in History, Materia Medica, Travels, Yarrow

8 Comments Comments

Passionflower: one of the 3,000 medicinal plants to be investigated in the Materia Medica.

Spring is a lovely sight to return home to after a few weeks in Europe where I spent time in university and monastic libraries researching the Renaissance Materia Medica written by Professor Tabernaemontanus. Unlocking this wealth of medicinal plant knowledge is both exciting and time consuming!

Two Swiss universities joining the research

Thus, I am very pleased to report that I have teamed up with 2 Swiss universities: the Medical History Department of the University of Berne & the Natural Medicine Department of the University of Zürich. The support, knowledge & expertise that these universities and the associated professors bring to the project is invaluable. Together we have been working like beavers over the past months (hence no time to update the blog!!!) to put a proposal together for the Swiss government.

We believe that this extraordinary medical book is of outstanding historical and pharmaceutical significance. Therefore we have applied for support and resources so that we can build a team of researchers to properly investigate the information. Fingers crossed our proposal will be accepted.

Yarrow – an extraordinary wound herb

Whilst in Europe I made some very interesting discoveries while translating  Yarrow.  Today it is known that Yarrow is predominantly used for women’s & digestive health. However, the name Achillea millefolium points to the Greek mythology of Achilleus who was mortally wounded in war but miraculously saved thanks to Yarrow. And indeed, Yarrow was heavily relied upon as a wound herb in earlier times. As Yarrow has exceptional antiseptic qualities it was used as a first aid remedy for internal and external wounds, even in the most severe battle wounds sustained from bayonets or swords. Clinical observations shared in the Materia Medica made me shiver when the stories delved into much depth of the severity of these battle wounds. I was amazed that with skilful application of plant medicine, these soldiers survived with what would even today be described as life threatening injuries!

I use Yarrow today in the ARTEMIS Pregnancy Tea to prevent haemorrhaging at birth

http://www.artemis.co.nz/products/17-Pregnancy_Tea

It is also in the PMT Ease Tea to regulate menstruation and in the Menopause Tea to deal with excess bleeding

http://www.artemis.co.nz/prodsub/7-womens_health

Yarrow, one of the oldest wound and women's medicine

So, in summary, the research project is progressing well! Watch out for further posts.

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Posted in History, Materia Medica, Travels, Yarrow | 8 Comments »

14
May

St. Mary’s Thistle – healer of the liver – Part 2

by Sandra Clair in History, Materia Medica, St. Mary's Thistle

4 Comments Comments

St. Mary's Thistle seeds have been used since antiquity to promote a healthy liver

St. Mary’s Thistle is one of the most important plants to preserve liver health and to promote daily detoxification from body wastes and environmental toxins.

Today’s uses:

Detoxification, reduce heavy metal burden, liver function insufficiency, liver damage, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis A B & C, fatty liver, gall stones, dyspepsia, nausea, flatulent colic, constipation, flatulence, abdominal bloating, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome X, haemochromatosis.

Traditional uses

The plant was well known by the antique and medieval physicians and the summary action could be described as nourishing “mother’s milk for the liver”.  The beneficial actions on the liver as described in antique and modern text books are abundant: St. Mary’s Thistle, and in particular its active constituents silymarin and silybin, exhibit unique hepatoprotective,  hepatic trophorestorative and antioxidant properties which are described as far back as Disocurides. These properties mean that this plant has the rare ability to mend damaged liver tissue as well as protect it from harmful toxins and poisons. This action is most remarkably demonstrated in accidental mushroom poisoning with Death Cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) where it has been administered successfully to save lives. Today, it is usually an intravenous infusion that is used for such life threatening situations, although there is anecdotal evidence that high doses of oral preparations have been life saving as well.

Its signature action of sharp pricks was interpreted by the old herbalists as being beneficial to treat the “inward pricking” as experience with the stitch and in liver disorders associated stabbing pains. Diosurides praised St. Mary’s Thistle choleretic properties and recommended the plant in gall bladder symptoms, to improve liver function and treat fat intolerance, nausea or chronic constipation. Whilst it is predominantly the seeds that are medicinally used today, Tabernaemontanus describes in 1588 a number of interesting root preparations: “The root boiled in water and drunk opens the constipated liver, propels the urine, gravel and stones [and the woman’s time], cleanses the kidneys and bladder. Hence it is good against water retention and jaundice.[1]” He further recommends soaking the astringent acting root in vinegar to be eaten with meals to mitigate diarrhoea and vomiting of blood. To stimulate lactation he recommends mothers eat the root together with fennel and long pepper mixed with food. To cleanse “all rubbish” from the body he recommends extracting the crushed seeds with a distillation made from the fresh young plant, a tincture preparation that he also prescribes to treat an inflamed liver, fever (especially in children), infections such as the plague and other “poisons in the body”. In the 18th century a St. Mary’s Thistle tincture was recommended for the fist time by the physician Rademacher to be used preventatively to protect the liver from potential harm.

Modern research

St. Mary’s Thistle is well researched[2] today and has been shown to protect against modern liver toxins such as carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine, ethanol and paracetamol. It is used to treat alcoholic liver damage, chemical food or drug intolerances and low grade toxic effects of drugs or environmental pollutants such as pesticides and herbicides. It is often prescribed (together with complementing herbs) for the treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis of autoimmune or viral origin. When silymarin (or the whole herb extract) is administered before and after surgery it helps to protect the liver from the toxic effects of general anesthesia which in turn helps to prevent or mitigate the nausea often experienced following surgery. I often prescribe St. Mary’s Thistle when patients are on a pharmaceutical drug regime as it protects the liver and supports its essential cleansing function without exhibiting herb-drug interactions.

Other studies have shown that silymarin protects against histologic changes in the livers of pregnant women and those taking oral contraceptives whilst also stopping associated nausea. This is very useful to know, especially with regards to the treatment of resistant nausea in pregnancy. The skin also benefits from a healthy liver in that it cleanses the body of potentially skin-irritating metabolic wastes and toxins. St. Mary’s Thistle contributes therefore to the restoration of skin health by restoring the body’s biochemical balance from the inside out. It has further shown good results in pruritis associated with intra-hepatic cholestatis of pregnancy and pruritis associated with medication, e.g. opiates.

St. Mary’s Thistle has shown promising anti-carcinogenic properties and should be considered as a preventative remedy where a case history indicates an increased risk of cancer, as well as for curative purposes. Traditionally St. Mary’s Thistle was also used as a treatment for loss of appetite, detoxification after snakebites and in cases of varicose veins because of its circulatory stimulant properties.

Daily use to stay well

In conclusion we can say that St. Mary’s Thistle is the plant of choice in a number of severe illnesses associated with the liver. However, because it is such a nourishing and safe plant to use long term I find it very useful as a daily health tonic in preventative health care as well. In the 21st century we are all exposed to a large number of environmental toxins like agrochemicals, industrial pollution, contaminated water, air pollution, building materials laced with paint solvents and formaldehyde, foods laced with additives, growth hormones, antibiotics and preservatives. Our livers are working much harder than in earlier centuries and even then our ancestors saw a need for regular detoxification! It is the daily small step of nurturing and cleansing that will support good health now and in the future. I drink a cup of ARTEMIS Liver Detox Tea containing St. Mary’s Thistle and complementing herbs every morning before breakfast as my daily inner hygiene ritual. This regime has paid off in fewer sick days (remember that the liver also filters viruses), higher energy levels and less grumpiness!

For more information check out www.artemis.co.nz

[1] Theodorus Jacobus Tabernaemontanus, New vollkommen Kräuter-Buch, 4. Ausgabe, Basel, 1664, 1078-1079.

[2] For a comprehensive summery of research data refer to “Mills S, Bone K: Principles and Practise of Phyotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine, Edinburgh, 2000, pp 553-561.

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Posted in History, Materia Medica, St. Mary's Thistle | 4 Comments »

30
Apr

St Mary’s Thistle – healer of the liver – Part 1

by Sandra Clair in Materia Medica

4 Comments Comments

St Mary's Thistle - unbeatable for detoxification

St. Mary’s Thistle is one of the corner stone plants of the Western Materia Medica . It is one of the most important medicinal herbs for general daily detoxification of environmental toxins as well as a treatment in more serious liver conditions. It has the unique ability to not only repair ill liver cells but also promote their healthy regrowth. Come on a journey and meet Her Majesty St. Mary’s Thistle.

What the name is telling us

Nomen est omen and any plant with a name that refers to a holy person, a saint or is inferred to be blessed or magical is bound to be a powerful plant. Legend has it that the milk-white veins on the leaves originated in the milk of the Virgin which once fell upon the Thistle, hence the English name ‘Our Lady’s Thistle’ or ‘St. Mary’s Thistle’. The holy mother is named as the patroness of the plant in other languages too: ‘Mariendistel’ in German, ‘Chardon Marie’ in French and ‘Cardo mariano’ in Italian. Variegated Thistle or Milk Thistle are its plain English names. The Latin name Silybum marianum comes from the Greek word silybon meaning tassel or tuft and marianum refering to St. Mary. An older name of this Asteraceae is Carduus marianus which sometimes can lead to a botanical confusion with other Carduus species.

Whilst the heads were formerly eaten like those of the Artichoke it is the seeds harvested in autumn that are medicinally most valuable. The plant is native to southern Europe, southern Russia and North Africa and may be found growing wild in warm and dry waste areas where other plants would struggle to grow. In New Zealand, St. Mary’s Thistle is unfortunately classified as a weed and is therefore not cultivated. As the world wide demand of this beneficial plant with detoxifying properties is high, shortages of supply, especially of the certified organic quality, can be experienced at times.

St. Mary’s Thistle in nature

The plant is impressive in every way. In my garden she displays an extraordinary manifestation, having flown in from heaven into a well composted area meant to be food for other herbs. St. Mary’s Thistle can grow in both in dry and wet soil as long as the plant receives a lot of light and warmth. However, it is in nutrient rich soils like my composted garden patch where she realises her full potential. Over 1.5 meters tall with large, deeply cut spine-edged shiny green leaves which can be up to 30-50cm long she a majestic sight indeed. When switching to ‘soft eyes’ one can imagine the pink-purple blossom – which appears in the second year if the flower stems are not cut back – like a regal crown and the artistically and symmetrically arranged spikes underneath like the collar of noble clothing as seen on old paintings. No, this is no ordinary thistle, if there is anything like that in the first place! This is a plant with a mission, tenacious in character, her presence unmistakable and her job is going to be thorough and far reaching.

When navigating carefully around the myriad of very sharp tiny spikes one can carefully touch her decorative leaves. They feel surprisingly comforting, cool and soft to touch. This is a nourishing plant and if she didn’t protect herself with her (admittedly rather nasty) spikes she would have been eradicated long ago by animals in search of nutrient rich foods. As the old herbalists saw it, this plant symbolises the essence of St. Mary’s Mothermilk: nourishing, restoring, protecting and unconditionally benign. Interestingly, the seeds contain fixed oil which can give liquid extracts a milky colour.  This plant is very safe too and long term studies failed to demonstrate any toxicity or teratogenic effects, meaning that it can be safely used on a daily bases, including by pregnant women [1].

In the next blog I explain the  medicinal properties of St. Mary’s Thistle and how you can make use of this valuable plant to stay youthful and healthy.

St. Mary's Thistle blossom - the seeds are the most potent part of the plant, which I use the ARTEMIS Liver Detox Tea

[1] Hahn G, Lehmann HD, Kurten M et al. Arzneimittel Forschung 1968; 18:698-704.

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Posted in Materia Medica | 4 Comments »

24
Apr

Healthy soil for healthy people

by Sandra Clair in Gardening, Nettle

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Stirring bio-dynamic fertiliser preparations for healthy soil and plants

We have been preparing our gardens for the winter time. On the weekend we were putting special preparation onto our herb areas to improve soil fertility. A healthy soil provides plants which are strong and full of healing properties.  And  plants grown in fertile soils are full of essential nutrients like minerals, vitamins and trace elements that increase people’s health.

For our garden we use a bio-dynamic system which is like organic agriculture but goes a step further in that we are using additionally to organic compost biodynamic (100% natural, non-chemical) fertiliser preparations which further support the soil and the crops. These preparations are natural sprays made with silica and manure, as well as compost preparations made from herbs such as Chamomile, Dandelion, Nettle and Yarrow, bringing abundant life to the soil and its microorganisms which support healthy plant growth.

The biodynamic method of agriculture was developed by the Austrian scientist and doctor of philosophy Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) and is thought to be based on ancient principles of agriculture. It is applied world-wide as a long-term sustainable method for both growing safe and healthy food and herbal medicine.

Healthy Nettle crop which is used freshly harvested for the 'ARTEMIS Itch Calm Cream' (extra strength) and the corresponding internally taken oral drops 'Itch Calm Tincture' to treat itchy skin conditions due to insect bites, grazes, eczema and dermatitis.

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17
Apr

Hawthorn Wine 2: Have you made yours?

by Sandra Clair in Hawthorn, Herb Wines, Materia Medica

1 Comment Comments

Filterning the berries: these Hawthron berries have released all their gooddness into the wine.

Have you made your Hawthorn Wine yet? Check out the previous post how to do it.  I am already making my second batch, but it is getting more difficult to harvest enough from the shrubs in my garden as the birds had a field day! Check out the photo on the left  how the berries look like when the are properly infused with the wine and ready to be filtered.

I have started drinking my daily glass of Hawthorn wine. Hawthorn is one of the most important heart remedies in the Western Materia Medica and used since antiquity. There are numerous scientific studies backing up its effectiveness. Hawthorn is used both in herbal medicine and conventional medicine to prop up the heart muscle in an aging heart (heart failure/cardiac insufficiency) or to increase  oxygen output and coronary blood flow in sporting, in angina pectoris, high blood pressure, arrhythmias and as a circulatory support in arteriosclerosis, Buergers’s disease, cold hands and feet and as a general antioxidant laden tonic.

If you are unable to make your own wine then you can drink your daily heart health tea with hawthorn in it as in my  Cardio Care Tea.

I look forward translating the Hawthorn chapter in Tabernaemontanus, but presently I am battling through 10 huge original pages of Chamomile which have yielded so far 64 translated German pages….

Hurry and gather your Hawthorn berries before the birds eat them all!

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Posted in Hawthorn, Herb Wines, Materia Medica | 1 Comment »

6
Apr

Hawthorn Wine 1: keep warm this winter!

by Sandra Clair in Handy Herbal Hints, Hawthorn, Herb Wines, Materia Medica

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Ripe Hawthorn berries ready to be harvested for making delicious hawthorn wine

Autumn is here and with it an abundance of wonderful fruits and herbs that will keep us well over winter time. I always love making Hawthorn wine at this time of the year. A small schnapps glass a day of this delicious remedy over the colder months is good for the circulation to keep warm hands and feet. It is also strengthening and invigorating the stressed heart and the ageing heart. The berries are full of antioxidants and therefore protect the body from degenerative damage.

The hawthorn wine is very easy to make. Buy some good but not expensive red wine, one that you like. Don’t go for the really cheap ones as you want to enjoy the wine. Add fresh hawthorn berries and add to wine. Make sure that they are covered with wine. They may float a bit first, so shake every day. When the berries turn white and float to the bottom of the glass the wine is ready.  Have fun!

Making Hawthorn wine - fill glass with berries (no leaves!)

Add wine of your liking, covering all the berries. When the turn white and sink to the bottom filter and enjoy!

Posted in Handy Herbal Hints, Hawthorn, Herb Wines, Materia Medica | Comments Off

28
Feb

Fantastic summer herb harvest

by Sandra Clair in Arnica, Materia Medica, St. John's Wort

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Arnica harvest Central Otago, January 2010

What a fantastic summer it has been so far! Harvesting Arnica in the pristine alpine environment of Central Otago, carefully collecting St. John’s Wort along meandering river sites and checking on the Hawthorn berries which will be ready soon for the autumn harvest are exhilarating activities for the consummated herbalist.

We had great fun processing the Arnica into fresh-plant tincture to be used in our extra potency ARTEMIS cream and tincture range. Likewise we produced fresh St. John’s Wort oil (ARTEMIS Nerve & Skin Rescue Oil) and collected flowerheads for tea. The dried herbs will go into our nerve nourishing tea blends – Stress Relief Tea and Rest & Relax Tea. It does not get fresher than getting this season’s herbs into the blends! Luckily we have a new mill which is able to mill the herbs without crushing them providing a perfect quality for loose herbal tea.

All the harvesting activities meant however, that I have not had much time behind a computer and hence the late update. It is my New Years resolution to keep you updated more frequently.

On the research side of things I have spent countless days and nights over the past few weeks reading and educating myself about the author of the rare Materia Medica by Tabernaemontanus, his life and the influences he was subjected to, e.g. the political and cultural landscape that shaped his life. Extremely interesting reading which will help me to understand the information in the Materia Medica. I am now in the process of putting together a research application for funding which would enable more people to work on the project. I am currently transcribing the 4th herb and there are a staggering 2996 herbs left!!!

St. John's Wort harvest - fresh from the field into a cup of health enhancing tea

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