Replies

[This is a must know link, you will be surprised at what the different drugs will do, when mixed with other drugs and simple foods....granny]

Don’t miss out on our NaturalNews DrugWatch database: It reveals the side effects and herbal interactions of more than 540 popular brand name drugs. Click the photo below to visit it right now, or click:

http://www.naturalnews.com/DrugWatch_Home.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/DrugWatch_Acetaminophen.html

Acetaminophen
side effects, nutrient depletions, herbal interactions and health notes:
Data provided by Applied Health

• N-acetyl cysteine has been shown to improve liver damage caused by acetaminophen overdose.1

• Use of over three grams of vitamin C has been associated with decreased acetaminophen clearance time.2

• Foods high in carbohydrates, pectin and vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc. can interfere with acetaminophen absorption.3

• Acetaminophen consumption is especially risky for individuals who regularly consume excess amounts of alcohol as they can develop liver toxicity at lower levels of acetaminophen intake.4

• Individuals taking acetaminophen should refrain from fasting, Being in a fasting state greatly increases the chance of liver damage5

• In a study involving five healthy adult volunteers Houston and Levy found that oral administration of 3 g of ascorbic acid 1.5 hours after an oral dose of 1 g of acetaminophen caused a rapid and pronounced decrease in the excretion rate of acetaminophen sulfate. Later research by Mitra et al using rodents supported the conclusion that ascorbyl stearate provided protection against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by reducing the reactive intermediate back to the parent compound. They also note that the combination enhanced therapeutic efficacy against fever.These initial studies indicate that individuals with conditions commonly treated by acetaminophen might be able to use lower doses of the drug, achieve equal or superior clinical results, and reduce side effects from the drug by combining it with some form of vitamin C. In fact, a survey of current clinical reality might reveal that such a combination is often the unsupervised practice of many patients. Nevertheless, individuals taking acetaminophen should consult with their physician and/or pharmacist before reducing doses of the drug based on simultaneous use of vitamin C.6

• Many studies have looked into the efficacy and appropriateness of using NAC to treat patients suffering from acute toxic effects of acetaminophen. Such treatment of acetaminophen intoxication with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), both oral and intravenous, is standard hospital protocol in many countries. NAC is generally considered safe with relatively few side effects. However, individuals suffering from acetaminophen intoxication require emergency care and use of NAC in this capacity is only appropriate in such a setting7

• Acetaminophen is generally well tolerated with few short-term side effects. However, the drug is inherently toxic to the liver, and to some degree the kidneys also, and an overdose of acetaminophen can result in liver toxicity, liver failure, and even death. The signs and symptoms of liver toxicity may not become apparent for 2-3 days after a toxic overdose. Patients with liver and kidney disease should exercise special caution in taking acetaminophen to avoid toxicity.8

• Overdosage of acetaminophen causes fatal hepatic failure and acute renal failure.9

Continues and gives info that you never guessed......

http://recipes.kaboose.com/tourtiere.html

Tourtiere

by Cindy Caldwell

Add a bit of Quebec to your Christmas meal this winter. A meat lover’s delight, this savory pork pie is sure to stave off the heartiest of appetites.
Ingredients

Pastry:

* 2 cups (500 ml) all-purpose flour
* 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
* 1/2 tsp (2 ml) baking soda
* pinch of turmeric
* 1/4 tsp (1 ml) savory
* 1/2 cup (125 ml) pure lard
* 1/3 (80 ml) ice water
* 1/3 (80 ml) butter

Filling:

* 1 lb ground pork
* 2 medium potatoes, peeled and grated
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 tsp. (5 ml) salt
* 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) savory
* 1/4 (1 ml) ground cloves
* 1/2 cup (125 ml) water

Cooking Instructions

Pastry:

1. Stir the flour, salt, baking soda, turmeric and savory together in a bowl.
2. Cut in the lard until pieces are the size of peas.
3. Add ice water by the tablespoon, stirring with a fork or finger tips until just enough water has been added that you can pat the dough lightly into a ball. (Since flour varies, you may not need all the water).
4. Roll out dough and pat with butter, and roll up towards you like a jelly-roll.
5. Refrigerate for a couple of hours before using.

Filling:

1. Place all the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to break meat into small pieces. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and cool.
3. Roll out chilled dough, and cut two pieces for one 8-inch pie or 8 individual pie plates.
4. Line pie plate with one of pieces of pastry.
5. Fill generously with meat mixture.
6. Top with the other pastry and pinch edges together.
7. Brush top with an egg beaten with 2 tbsp. (30 ml) of water.
8. Bake at 400 degrees F until golden brown, serve hot.

[Good]

http://recipes.kaboose.com/holiday-appetillas.html

Holiday Appetillas

Sharon Mehl

Dressed to impress with festive red and green vegetables, these Christmas appetizers are so easy to make, kids can help assemble them for your winter guests.
Ingredients

* 1 pk flour tortillas, fat free
* 16 oz cream cheese; softened
* 1/4 c green olives; chopped
* 1/2 c green onion; chopped
* 1/2 c red pepper; chopped
* 1/2 c green pepper; chopped
* 1/4 c mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip)
* 1/2 ts garlic salt
* 1/2 ts red pepper flakes, crushed

Cooking Instructions

1. Let tortillas stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Mix together all ingredients, except for the tortillas. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over all the tortillas.
3. Tightly roll up flour tortillas.
4. Wrap individually in plastic wrap.
5. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
6. Cut in 3/4” diagonal slices.
7. Serve with salsa.

Yield: 10 Tortillas

Find time to dig into this site, it will give you more ideas, or lead to more research....LOL....I like the Forest Garden series, but his money and energy has several interesting ideas.

This is his links page, for more digging:

http://croixian.googlepages.com/linksforsustainablefutureblog

http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/12/index-to-forest-gardening-series.html

http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-modern-victory-movement.html

I found the group last night on the internet and it looked interesting:[granny]

Top 10 Posts for
2008 http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/12/top-10-posts-for-2008.html
It
is that time of year, when top 10 lists of all sorts start popping up
everywhere. I thought I would jump in with my own top ten list - the top ten
Sustainable Future blog posts for 2008. I’ve picked these posts based on a
number of factors. Some are posts I feel were especially informative or
useful. Some I feel were particularly well-done. Some are especially
interesting. Some represent the core of my sustainability philosophy.

Here is the list, counting down from #10 to #1, and the particular reason I
choose each one:

#10) Space Solar
Energy http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/space-solar-energy.html
A very short post (two paragraphs plus a few links), but one
describing
what may well be the best alternative energy source available to us. Space
solar energy doesn’t require waiting around for any new technological
breakthroughs. It is ready to go now and could be up and running within
three years if we got serious about it.

#9) The Forest Gardening
Series
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/12/index-to-forest-gardening-series.html
Okay, I cheated a little by naming an entire series of posts to the
number
nine slot. But the fact is I enjoy learning and writing about forest
gardening, and this series is becoming something of a signature series for
me. Besides, forest gardening is a type of permaculture that holds great
promise to solve all sorts of sustainability issues, from feeding our
families & communities, to scrubbing the air, to providing habitat for all
sorts of wildlife.

#8) Three Changes to Save Big On
Gas
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/07/three-changes-to-save-big-on-gas.html
Actually, it is more like 28 suggestions grouped into three main
headings.
Still, it is a great resource for those wanting to know how to save gasoline
(and money).

#7) Native Bee and Insect
Conservation
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/mvm-019-insects-part-four.html
The fourth in a four-part look at insects, this post gives lots of
great
information on promoting native bees, butterflies and other useful insects
in our yards and gardens.

#6) The End of The World -
NOT!
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/08/end-of-world-not.html
Written especially for those people worried by the extreme predictions
of
some doom-and-gloomers, this post takes a more reasoned look at peak oil and
our environmental problems. Difficult times are ahead, but it is not a Mad
Max future or a “great die-off”.

#5) Modern Victory
Movement
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-modern-victory-movement.html
-
Self-reliance and making sound choices as individuals is one of the core
pieces of my idea of a sustainable future.

#4) The Resource
Miser
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/11/resource-miser.html
Another of my core ideas for sustainability is what Amory
Lovin of The Rocky Mountain Institute calls “radical resource efficiency.”
So much of our energy and resources are simply wasted through inefficiency
(up to 90% in some cases) that increased efficiency can make a huge
difference in our search for sustainability.

#3) What To Do Now
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-to-do-now.html
This is the post that I am probably the most proud of this year. I
wrote
it as the financial crisis was coming to a boil. In it I offer calm, sound
advice to help people know what to do now in the face of serious economic
problems. This is also the post that I received by far the most positive
feedback about.

#2) Forests
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/mvm-20.html Sustainable
Forestry
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/10/sustainable-forestry.html
and Greening the
Deserts
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/10/greening-deserts-to-save-civilization.html
Trees are the foundation of my sustainability message. These three
posts,
along with my Forest Gardening series (#9 above) represent my core message
regarding trees - the more, the better!

#1) Ways To Get Ready For The
Future
http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/09/ways-to-get-ready-for-future.html
This list of fifteen ways to get ready for the future is by far the
most
read of all my posts this year. Even though it was first posted back in
September, it is still my most read post on a weekly basis (as well as most
read of all time). Frankly, it is the list that everyone concerned about
building a sustainable future should read first. Start implementing the
items on this list, then move on from there.

Messages in this topic (1)

Please check out the Sustainable Future blog at http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/

Yahoo! Groups Links

To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ModernVictoryMovement/

http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/12/index-to-forest-gardening-series.html

[live links at site]

Friday, December 5, 2008
Index to the Forest Gardening Series
Here is an index to the Forest Gardening series. It will be updated on a regular basis.

Forest Gardening #001 - How to start a forest garden; Canopy layer; Plant & tree databases

Forest Gardening #002 - The Understory; The Shrub Layer; Organizations

Forest Gardening #003 - The Herbaceous layer; Traditional garden veggies

Forest Gardening #004 - Underground layer; Vertical layer; Ground cover; Fungi

Forest Gardening #005 - Patterns & density; Plant diversity; Social structure; Soil structure

Forest Gardening #006 - Size doesn’t matter (growing very small forest gardens)

Forest Gardening #007 - How to design a forest garden; How to install a forest garden

Forest Gardening #008 - Planting a forest garden; Witch Hazel Tree

Forest Gardening #009 - Visualizing how a forest garden works (links to videos)

Forest Gardening #010 - The Pawpaw Tree; Online resources

Forest Gardening #011 - The Monkey-puzzle Tree

Forest Gardening #012 - Conversting an existing orchard

Forest Gardening #013 - Hedgerows and urban forest gardening

Forest Gardening #014 - Building hedgerows

Forest Gardening #015 - Maintaining a forest garden

Forest Gardening #016 - The Need for Good Information; Lists of online and print resources

Forest Gardening #017 - More On-Line Resources; Gift Ideas for Forest Gardeners

Forest Gardening #018 - What Makes a Forest Garden; Plants for the Soil

Forest Gardening SE-01 - Using grow bags; Comments from Frank Bowman

Forest Gardening SE-02 - Introduction for complete beginners

Forest Gardening SE-03 - Index to the Forest Gardening series

Lasagna Gardening - A great supplement to a forest garden.

Trees for a Future - Great essay on the importance of trees in creating a sustainable future.

Sustainable Forestry - Explanation of the concept of sustainable forestry.

Greening the Deserts - My idea of greening the deserts to save civilization.

Posted by Tim Gamble at 6:14 PM
Labels: Forest Gardening, Trees

[a snippet of the page, live url’s at link]

http://tim-gamble.blogspot.com/2008/12/need-for-good-information.html

Plants and Trees

There are a number of excellent resources online and in print for plants and trees that would make good forest garden species. Here is a partial listing:

Arbor Day Foundation - In the USA, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Wizard is a very useful database of trees, including fruit and nut trees. You can look up trees by zip code, hardiness zones, types, height, spread, soil type, sun exposure and growth rate.

Plants for a Future UK Database - Plants for a Future is a fantastic resource for forest gardening, and has separate and extensive databases of plants for both the USA and UK.

Plants for a Future USA Database - Plants for a Future is a fantastic resource for forest gardening, and has separate and extensive databases of plants for both the USA and UK.

Hedging Plant Index - Part of the UK website of Ashridge Trees, so the information is particularly useful for those living in the UK.

Hedging Plants - Part of the UK website of Buckingham Nurseries, so the information is particularly useful for those living in the UK.

Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set) - This two volume set is the best and most detailed explanation of forest gardening that I know of. Includes an extensive matrix of edible and useful plants with lots of detailed information. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Forest Gardening: Cultivating an Edible Landscape - A classic by the Father of Modern Forest Gardening, Robert Hart. A detailed explanation of the forest garden model, including lists of recommended plants broken down by climate type. It does get a bit philosophical at times, but is useful for both the beginner and the expert.

Field guides are also great sources of information on the trees and plants you may consider for your forest garden. Here is a partial listing:

Peterson Field Guide to Western Trees
Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Trees
Peterson Field Guide to Mushrooms of North America
Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants of Eastern & Central N.A.
Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants of Western N.A.
Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern N.A.

http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/1881-Top-1-Uses-For-Used-Coffee-Grounds

Top 10 Uses For Used Coffee Grounds
By DIY Maven

10. Deodorizer. Dry them out on a cookie sheet and then put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer, or rub them on your hands to get rid of food prep smells.
Continue reading

9. Plant food. Plants such as rosebushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreen and camellias that prefer acidic soils will appreciate the leftovers from your morning cup. Also, grounds can add nutrients to your compost bin.

8. Insect repellant. Sprinkle old grounds around places you don’t want ants, or on the ant piles themselves. The little buggers will move on or stay away. Used grounds are also said to repel snails and slugs.

7. Dye. By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make brown dye for fabric, paper and even Easter eggs.

6. Furniture scratch cover-up. Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a Q-tip.

5. Cleaning product. As they’re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects.

4. Kitty repellent. To keep kitty from using the garden as her personal powder room, sprinkle grounds mixed with orange peels around your plants.

3. Flea dip. Follow up Fido’s shampoo with a coffee ground rub down, working them down to his skin. Not only are the fleas suppose to vamoose, but puppy’s hair will feel soft too.

2. Dust inhibitor. Before you clean out the fireplace, toss wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep the ash dust under control.

And, finally, the #1 use for used coffee grounds....drum roll here....

Cellulite reducer. Mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. While standing over an old towel or newspaper, apply the mixture to your “problem areas”. Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds off your skin and then shower with warm water. For best results, it is recommended to repeat this procedure twice a week. A little weird to be sure, but as high priced cellulite creams have coffee in them, it just might work.

For even more uses of spent coffee grounds, visit cocoajava.com, essortment.com, rd.com and finally, mrsomalleys.com, who, if #1 works, should not have one jot of cellulite on her thighs. And if you have any secret uses for your used grounds, please share!

Has several interesting comments on page.

http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/1799-25-Alternative-Uses-for-Olive-Oil-

25 Alternative Uses for Olive Oil.
By Chrisjob

Nutritionists will continue to tout olive oil for its high content of healthful, monounsaturated fats, like oleic acid, and polyphenols. The fruit oil practically propelled the entire Western world in antiquity, and is mentioned in nearly every sacred text this side of the Tigris and Euphrates. As a cooking fat, it’s high up on the heart-smart list…which works out, ‘cause it tastes darn good.
(As tip, Consumer Reports has rated Goya brand extra virgin olive oil [from Spain] as the best general purpose olive oil, and as their best buy. I whole-healthy-heartedly concur.)

Olive oil also has plenty of uses around your home, outside of the sauté pan. There’s no need to waste your expensive Greek or Spanish Extra Virgin for these tasks, just grab a bottle of inexpensive, domestic olive oil for around-the-house use. You can cut down on excess oil by investing in a refillable spray can, such as the Misto.

1. Shave. Olive oil can provide a safe and natural lubricant for a close shave. Rub in an extra teaspoon after washing your body or face once finished.
2. Wood Furniture Polish. Wipe with a teaspoon of olive oil and a soft rag. Add a bit of vinegar of citrus juice to bulk up the cleaning power, and add a fresh scent.
3. Fingernails. Use a bit of olive oil to moisturize cuticles, or mix oil and water and soak your hands before a manicure.
4. Lubricate Measuring Cups and Spoons. Rub or spray olive oil on your measuring tools for easy clean-up of sticky substances like honey, grain mustards, and sugar syrups,
5. Control hair frizz. Comb a bit of olive oil through dry hair to tame the frizz and flyaways on humid days or in the winter.
6. Free a stuck zipper. Use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the teeth of a zipper, then gently ease the tab down.
7. Care for your kitty. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food to help prevent hairballs, and provide a shiny coat.
8. DIY Lip balm. Mix olive oil and melted beeswax in a 1:1 ratio, with an essential oil for fragrance, and say goodbye to dry and chapped lips.
9. Stop Snoring. Take a sip of olive oil before heading to bed. It might lubricate your throat muscles, and stop yourself, or your partner, from snoring.
10. Shine stainless steel and brass. Rub a bit of olive oil on a clean rag to prevent streaks, corrosion, and tarnish.

11. Exfoliate your face and hands. Rub your skin with olive oil, then scrub with sugar or coarse salt, and rinse.
12. As you bathe. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to your running bath water. You’ll be amazed when you towel off.
13. Remove makeup. Dab a bit under your eyes, on your cheeks and forehead, then wipe with a damp cloth.
14. Cure an earache. Very carefully, use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the outside ear cavity to help with earaches and excess wax.
15. Remove paint from your skin. Rub on olive oil onto messy hand and arms (or faces) and allow the oil to soak into the skin for five minutes, then rinse with soap and water.
16. Treat lice. Apply olive oil to your youngster’s hair, and leave on for at least 40 minutes. Shampoo twice, then apply a preventative.
17. Stop a throat tickle. Take a sip of olive oil to stop the itchy flicker that is making you cough.
18. Fix a squeaky door. Use a rag or cotton swab to apply olive oil to the top of a problematic hinge in your home or automobile.
19. Shoe polish. Rub down your shoes with just a spray of olive oil to maintain their shine.
20. Personal Lubricant. It works…
21. Soften your skin. Rub olive oil daily on notoriously dry areas, such as your feet or elbows, especially after a shower, shaving, or waxing.
22. Easy clean up of garden tools. Spritz some olive oil on your tools to cut down on dirt buildup. Read more here!
23. Condition leather. Rub olive oil into worn leather, such as a baseball glove, and let set for 30 minutes, then wipe away any excess.
24. As a hair tonic. Comb some olive oil through your hair for the vintage look of pomade without the build-up, or add a bit to wet hair for grungy, but clean, look.
25. Cure diaper rash. Gently wipe on olive oil to your baby’s bottom to help with the irritation of diaper rash.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hillbillyherbalism/messages/353

Autumn Clean Indoor Air To-Do List

It’s that time again–windows close with a thump, the furnace clicks
on, and next thing you know, you’re living in a hotbed of pollution
that could rival the smog in L.A.

Here are 10 easy, simple things you can do to keep the air quality
pure and safe in your house this autumn.

1. Empty your refrigerator tray. It can start looking pretty swampy
in there, and the `fridge fan blows that moldy yucky air right into
your home.

2. Dust your heaters. When the heat comes on, it isn’t good to smell
fried dust.

3. Check for foreign objects in your heating elements. Anyone with
small children knows that plastic objects can find their way into
the heating units and next thing you know, everyone is sniffing and
wondering, “Why does it smell like burning plastic in here?” Toxic!

4. Clean your oil burner. A dirty furnace doesn’t function as well
and can emit more harmful carbon monoxide and other undesirable
compounds.

5. Clean chimneys. Prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide buildup
in your home.

6. Devise a compost system. When the windows stay closed, molds in
the air from fermenting compost can become a problem. Be sure to
empty your kitchen compost every day.

7. Be alert to outgassing. New products and activities like painting
will have more of an effect on your indoor air quality now that the
windows are closed. You may want to air new carpets or upholstered
furniture before putting them in your house. If you’re painting, be
sure to provide plenty of ventilation, and choose non-toxic paints.

8. Steam-clean your carpets. Get rid of dust, dust-mites and other
noxious things so you won’t be inhaling them with every step you
take.

9. Choose your candles wisely. Petroleum-based and lead-wick candles
contribute significantly to dangerous levels of indoor air
pollution. Buy (or make) candles made from beeswax, soy, or
vegetable oils, lead-free wicks, and pure essential-oil fragrances.

10. NO kerosene space heaters, ever! They are lethal. If you need
extra heat in a room, consider one of the free-standing electric
heaters filled with oil that radiate clean heat.

[Always check with your Medical adviser/doctor before using any herbal treatment...granny]

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=414

For a Midsummer’s Day: Peach Leaf Tea

Published by Kiva Rose at 6:18 pm under Medicine Woman Materia Medica

Cold Peach leaf tea is where it’s at folks, and it may be the best SW summer beverage I’ve met! It’s yummy and mild, great with honey, calming and moistening. Even most little kids really like the taste, and it’s easy to jazz it up with some Wild Rose petals or River Mint (M. arvensis) or some Wild Chamomile. It’s really truly a great base for many tea blends and SO easy to gather and dry. And on chilly mountain mornings, it makes an elegant pair with fresh Ginger for a more warming treat.

Infusion-wise, I prefer a cold preparation. But for a beverage tea, I just put a large pinch of crushed dried Peach leaves into a mug, cover with hot water and let steep for a few minutes. It’s a sweet, aromatic flavor with the barest hint of astringency. Adding a spoonful of Wild Rose honey is just divine.

Peach has become more and more of an important ally for me over the past year, and it’s one of those herbs I carry around with me all the time, both a tincture bottle and a little packet of dried leaves. I’ve used it on bug bites, in mild to moderate allergic reactions, nausea, morning sickness (and hyperemesis), heartburn, insomnia, anxiety/hysteria, headaches, heart palpitations from anxiety, wounds and gosh, so much more. It’ll usually be most effective in people with red tongues or red-tipped (and often totally uncoated) tongues, with symptoms of overheatedness, irritation and obsessiveness. I use it for my own fits of moody, overwhelming PMS with quite good results, combined with Cherry if I’m having anxiety attacks along with the PMS.

And really, I love how the whole Rose family works together (you wouldn’t necessarily expect it from such a fiercely individualistic bunch) and I often use Wild Rose and Peach together as a pair. Some herbalists may feel this lacks specificity, but I am of the opinion that certain herbs really partner well with each other and increase the power of both. I always get to know the plants one at a time, but sometimes a combo just can’t be beat. People are like this too, sometimes better understood as individuals but more effective as a unit.

For some people, Peach will instigate a ~very~ calming effect, sometimes verging on sleepy. It does seem to greatly depend on the person and what they need. For myself, I sometimes get incredibly sleepy, and sometimes not at all. Go figure. I reckon the plants are often far wiser than I though, so I generally try to comply with whatever they’re telling me.

I can’t recommend Peach leaf spit poultice highly enough for various red burning/itching bug bites. Quick-acting and remarkably effective in most cases, it’s an all around great treatment and can be combined with Plantain for even broader application. I’ve now wandered a bit from Peach tea, but this is truly a multi-purpose plant that deserves more attention in the bioregions where it flourishes.

Previous posts on Peach include:

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=308

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=247

Resources:
The Earthwise Herbal vol 1 by Matthew Wood
Lectures by Phyllis Light
Mountain Medicine by Darryl Patton
Physiomedical Dispensatory by William Cook

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?cat=7

Rose Vinegar: My Favorite Sunburn Soother

Published by Kiva Rose under From the Hearth, Therapeutics and Nutrition

Rose vinegar is supremely easy to make and has about a million uses. Here’s how you make it: get yourself a jar, fill it about halfway with dried Rose petal or leaves, or all the way up with fresh petals and/or leaves. Fill to top with a high quality apple cider vinegar. Let infuse for at least two weeks, and preferably six weeks. A plastic lid will prevent the Rose vinegar from eating through the normal metal canning lids (turns your vinegar black too, very unpleasant). Your vinegar will turn a lovely shade of reddish pink to brilliant ruby if you use colorful petals (dunno how yellow comes out it, I’ve never used them).

A cloth can be soaked in this lovely preparation (dilute to 1 part vinegar to about 7-10 parts water) can be used placed on the forehead for headaches (especially heat caused headaches), wrapped around a sprained ankle or used to wash itchy bug bites and heat rashes. It excels at pulling heat from an inflamed area in a very short time. It is especially powerful at rapidly quenching the redness and pain from a sunburn in to time flat. In fact a medium sunburn, if caught within the first 24 hours, can be nearly erased in three or four applications of vinegar over a period of six hours or so. Even where there is threatening sun poisoning and blistering skin, it can greatly ease the pain and lessen the general trauma to the body. While not a replacement for emergency care in severe burns, it is nearly always incredibly helpful.

~~~~

Sunburn Treatment

* First, do yourself a favor and don’t smother your sunburn in salve or oil. It just holds the heat in and worsens it, no matter how healing the herbs contained therein may be.
* Depending on the size of the burn, pour about 1/3 a cup of Rose Vinegar into a bowl, then add several cups of water and mix thoroughly.
* Get a soft, absorbent cloth and dip into the liquid. Gently wring it out, being sure the cloth is still quite wet. You may want to use very large cloths/towels if the area burned is very large.
* Place the cloths over the affected areas, it will very cold at first but the cloth will rapidly become hot. Keep re-dipping and wringing as soon as the cloth gets warm. Depending on the severity of the burn, I usually re-apply at least a dozen times during the first session.
* Let the skin airdry. For a medium burns, I repeat the application about once every two hours. For severe burns, every hour. For light burns, as often as is needed.
* Before bed, a topical application of fresh Aloe Vera gel can be applied (from the plant, not weird preserved stuff from a bottle) to the area.
* Keep up the treatment until the area no longer feels hot to the touch. If the burns are very severe and there is the possibility (or existence) of infection, dress the burns with Rose and/or Beebalm honey between vinegar applications.
* Once the area has cooled off (and stays that way) it’s ok to use a healing salve or cream like Rose, Alder and Elderflower to speed the skin’s complete recovery.

If there’s no Rose vinegar on hand, plain or similarly herbal infused (Elderflower, Chickweed, Alder, Plantain) apple cider may be used.

This is such an effective treatment that I wouldn’t dream of traveling without it or not having several quart jars of it in my pantry and medicine chest.

2 responses so far

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?cat=7

Best Beaver Sauce

Published by Kiva Rose under From the Hearth

This is Loba and I’s favorite way to cook up Beaver meat. I prefer fresh tomatoes or homemade tomato sauce but we’ve given the ingredients in easy to find materials for your convenience. This is a simple and tasty recipe and can easily be adapted to become beaver chili or something similar. It’s also excellent plain, wrapped up in some brined grape leaves.

extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 pint jar beaver meat
1 big can whole tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sage
2 teaspoons bee balm or oregano
lots of black pepper
1 cup red wine

Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil, add the rest of the ingredients, and smush the tomatoes with your hands. Add some more water if it seems a bit thick. Simmer for a few hours. Taste, and adjust the salt and pepper if you like, and add a bit more olive oil. That’s it! Enjoy!!

One response so far

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?cat=7

Golden Flax Bread

Published by Kiva Rose under From the Hearth

For those of us unable to eat grains in any form, bread can seem like a thing of the past. I went years without eating bread, much to my great sadness. And then, I discovered flax! I’d made flax crackers before and they’re great but I had no idea flax could become something firm, fluffy and yummy — something very like bread!

This is my basic recipe, it’s very simple and any part can be modified to suit you needs, it’s really not the kind of thing that falls apart with any variation or omission. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever made it the same way twice! I haven’t tried it as a yeasted bread, so I’m not sure how that would work, but I aim to try.

Amazingly, this bread is really really good. I’ve tried all kind of “fake” bread recipes, but none of them came close to this. This really, truly bread!

Be sure to get high quality flax seed. If it smells strongly or has the least little bit of fishy odor, reject it! I suggest getting whole seeds for this reason. Rancid flax is disgusting tasting and bad for you too. Good flax should be slightly sweet and slippery with a distinctive yet mild aroma and taste.

A word of wisdom: you must understand that flax has a LOT of fiber in it. So, if you’re not accustomed to eating any kind of fiber, well then, flax could have a laxative effect on your belly. That said, I have a super sensitive belly and I have no trouble with flax bread.

* 2/3 C flax meal (I like Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flax, hand ground - but that’s just my preference from what I’ve tried so far)
* 1/3 C almond meal (optional, but nice, other nut meals such as acorn can be substituted)
* 1 - 1.5 tsp Baking Powder
* Salt to taste (I like more salt in my flax bread than I would in regular wheat bread)
* appr 3 tsp olive oil or butter or unrefined coconut oil (depending on what kind of flavor you want)
* 2 eggs (1 egg will suffice, but 2 eggs holds together just a bit better)
* water to texture desired (it makes a big difference, and the wetter it is, the harder it is to get it to cook all the way through, I go for minimal water needed to get things fluid enough to pour the batter)

Mix dry ingredients together well. Gently beat eggs together before adding (optional, but it blends better that way.

The recipe will work for a regular sized pie tin or small loaf pan. Double the recipe for a more normal sized bread loaf pan.Don’t forget to oil the pan well before pouring the batter in.

Get your oven nice and hot (I have wood cookstove, I have no idea what the degrees are, but cooler than for biscuits, more like cornbread temp).

Cook for appr. 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top. Toothpick or butter knife should could out clean if you insert it into the center of the bread. Enjoy fresh out of the oven or at room temperature for a nice sandwich.

Variations:

For an herbed bread: add small chunks of sharp chedder cheese, a TB of crushed thyme, a Tsp of crushed sage, a tsp of oregano or beebalm, small handful of fresh chopped Rosemary, fresh ground black pepper to taste and maybe some coarse salt on top. You can even add some green onion, broccoli or nettles for extra panache if you like.

Sweet Bread: add cinnamon, honey, cardamom, vanilla and even some fresh fruit like sliced strawberries.

Pancakes: just make the batter thin enough to spread on a hot cast iron pan or griddle. Unsweetened applesauce is nice in the pancakes instead of water.

Pictures are of this mornings bread, with walnuts added for extra texture and arugula and sage added for delightful greeness. This loaf was made a metal pie tin.

~~~~~~

20 responses so far

http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?cat=7

Elderberry Sparkle: A Beginner’s Guide to Lacto-Fermented Herbal Brews

Published by Kiva Rose under From the Hearth, Medicine Making

I do a lot of brewing here. This is in part to compensate for the lack of refrigeration at the center but also just because I love the process of fermentation. I make homemade wines and ales of all kinds, but want to start here with a basic primer for Lacto-Fermented Herbal Brews because they’re easy, quick and you and your children can drink them to your heart’s content. The herbal sparkles are fizzy and tongue-tingly, and depending on the culture you use, they can also have a bit of a sour bite to them. Very yummy, and a great alternative to most commercial beverages out there.

1. Make a quart of herbal infusion. Yarrow, Elderberry or Chamomile are all good starting points. Let it infuse for several hours then strain.
2. Add a couple tablespoons of sugar or honey.
3. Pour about 1/2-1 cup of whey into the bottom of a clean quart jar.
4. Add infusion to jar until close to the neck of the jar.
5. Add two or three slices of fresh ginger (optional, but helps with the fermenting process)
6. Cover loosely (you can use a canning lid, just don’t screw it on all the way).
7. Let sit for two-three days (depending on warm the spot was and what you’re fermenting).
8. Drink up.
9. Store remainder in a cool dark place, in an airtight jar once you’re sure the fermentation process is done (you can put a balloon around the jar mouth overnight, and if it inflates it’s still fermenting.

It really couldn’t be simpler or tastier. You can get your whey from plain yogurt (by separating the solids from the liquid, the liquid is your whey) although I prefer the whey from piima. In a couple days, your brew will be sparkly, fizzy and delicious. With yogurt whey based brews, they’ll easily last for more than a month with refrigeration, but will get progressively sourer. I’m not sure what happens with piima because I drink it too fast to find out. I like these brews as a quick ferment for instant gratification. If I want longer lasting brews, I make wine or ale.

In general the more sugar you add, the fizzier the drink and the longer it takes to ferment. With lacto-fermented brews I find you really don’t need that much to make a tasty, sparkly drink. There is some alcohol content happening here, but it’s very low

What herbal infusion you choose depends on your tast. Yarrow is bitter and pungent, providing a slightly mind altering edge while Elderberry is blood nourishing, tart and a beautiful shade of purple. You get all the benefits of a normal herbal infusion plus the extra benefits of fermentation and friendly bacteria for your belly. Who can complain?

As with most traditional foods, there’s lots of room for improvisation with these brews. Endless combinations of herbs, sweeteners and ways of fermenting await you. Be creative, and don’t forget to have fun.

27 responses so far

Paperwhites Basket