Wildcrafting and Preparing Herbs by the Lunar Phases

The moon has always mystified mankind and, just like the sun, she sustains the balance of life. Embodied as the divine feminine, she nurtures the oceans and tends to the earth as we sleep in our beds. In honor of last night's full moon, I would like to share the importance of the moon and it's relation to wildcrafting herbs and medicinal plants. Herbs and plants can be harvested at any time; however, their potency and medicinal properties are furthur enhanced according to the lunar phases.

Although humanity claims to understand the moon through the accomplishments of modern science, I believe she is still quite a mystery that ought not be scrutinized so intently. It seems that everything in this day and age must be based upon factual evidence, disregarding all spiritual and transcendent importance. It is a flaw that continues to taint our intuitive knowledge of the natural world. As a child, I can remember regarding the moon as sacred; no one had endowed this awareness unto me, I just knew. Walking under the moonlight made me feel comforted and protected. Even now, as an adult, she possesses a magnificence that continues to confound me.

Similar to the tides of the ocean, the lunar phases also control the ebb and flow of energy within plants. This is very important for determining when to harvest a plant because it influences where the energy of the plant is focused: inwards (the roots) or outwards (the stems, leaves, and flowers). Since potency is usually desired when wildcrafting, understanding the energy distribution throughout the plant is invaluable.

When the moon is waxing (the stage between the new moon and the full moon), the gravitational force she exerts pulls away from the earth. This is usually when high tides occur and the oceans are pulled towards the moon. This is the perfect time for harvesting plant materials above the soil (leaves, stems, flowers). The energy of the plant is focused upward and therefore the potency of healing qualities within these specific aerial parts intensifies. This can also be applied to crystals and even tinctures! I usually leave my tinctures underneath the full moon just to encourage some added energy.

As oppose to the waxing moon, the waning moon (the stage between the full moon and the new moon) pushes energy down and inward. This means that the energy of the plant is pushed downwards and focused on the roots. It is ideal to wildcraft plant materials beneath the soil at this time as well as take down any dried/bundled herbs in preparation for storage, else their energy be lessened.

So, the basic idea is that the waxing moon encourages growth, whereas the waning moon spurs dormancy. The lunar phases should also be considered when preparing the herbs: for instance, if you were to prepare a tincture which detoxifies the body, you would want to do so during the waning moon to lessen or remove any detrimental toxins. In contrast, if you were to prepare an herbal tea that promotes clear skin, it would be best to concoct it during the waxing moon.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, wildcrafting herbs by lunar phase is not necessary, by any means. No matter the harvest, your herbs will serve you well, so long as you use them correctly. :) If anything, wildcrafting and preparing your herbal remedies by lunar phase will increase your appreciation for the natural world around you and its abundant wealth of medicine
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Fire Cider Season

It's that time of year again! Cold & flu season are in full swing, so I've been busy making fire cider to keep sickness at bay. If you've been with The Wildcraft Chronicles since the beginning, you'll remember we posted a recipe just last year. I decided to revise the ingredients just a bit, hence the reason for this blog post. I originally found this wonderful concoction in Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health; although her recipe is quite potent, I like to add a bit more kick to mine. You can always adjust the spiciness according to your liking. As for my taste, the spicier, the better.

If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, well then, you're in for a treat! Fire cider is a wonderful way to start the day. This special concoction is quite similar to pickled vegetables in brine. The only difference is that the brine is the most important part. Taking a few tablespoons of the spice infused vinegar protects your immune system and warms up your entire body--great for those cold mornings when it's hard to get out of bed! In addition, it's incredibly beneficial for those of us with bad blood circulation (like diabetics). Last year was the first time I made fire cider, and I can honestly say that it improved my overall health and even prevented me from catching any serious illnesses, like I usually do.

I found that fire cider also makes for a wonderful gift as well.  Nothing like ensuring your loved ones stay healthy this year!

Fire Cider
ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped into wedges
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp grated horseradish
1 pepper (I used an Anaheim pepper, mildly spicy)
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 tsp turmeric
1 sprig of rosemary
1/8 tsp cayenne
2 chunks of dried ginseng root
Honey to taste
Apple cider vinegar with mother 

preparation:
 1. Place all of the herbal ingredients into a jar. Pour enough apple cider vinegar to cover herbs, leaving an inch of "breathing space". Seal jar tightly, shake, and place in a cool, dark place for 30 days. Remember to shake your jar once a day.

2. After 30 days, separate the vinegar from the herbs and spices. You can either toss the herbs/spices or keep them refrigerated in a separate jar (I like to add them to salads or just eat them plain. The onions are especially delicious!). Take a teaspoon or two every morning for best results.

Garlic Ginger Cough Syrup

Do ya'll remember me mentioning that I was sick earlier this week? Well, it wasn't just any old cold... it was the whooping cough.

Even though I had been vaccinated as a child against this old-timey disease, it took a swing at me anyway. There's been a recent revival of this epidemic in the U.S. and it's grown to withstand our vaccines. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the symptoms of whooping cough, they include:  a dry and harsh cough, "coughing spells" that can last up to five minutes, and even turning red/blue from the violent, prolonged coughs. Although this infection is more likely to develop in children, adults can get it too. In fact, as the symptoms get worse, your body begins to suffer from exhaustion and you are more likely to force a hernia or even crack a rib.

Honestly, I've  had quite the number of painful and troubling infections in my life, and this ranked number 2! Although whooping cough can easily be remedied with antibiotics, I really didn't want to visit the doctor. I don't particularly like antibiotics--they are over-prescribed and are actually the reason why so many diseases are mutating and making a comeback. In addition, they completely dishevel the balance of your digestive system. Anyway, I decided to treat myself with herbs and natural remedies. If things got too serious after a few days, then I would make a visit to the doctor. 

Firstly, let me tell you just how much I enjoy creating my own remedies. As a wildcrafter, you are your own healer. Preparing the herbs and spices is a ritual in its own right. It's the process and the tender love and care which you prepare your ingredients that makes them so powerful and healing, instilled with your good intent and personal magick. Likewise, if you trust in the gifts of nature, you will certainly have a better chance for a speedy recovery. 

Among the MANY natural remedies against whooping cough, I found two which easily accommodated my spice cabinet. The first was incredibly simple, and something which I actually do quite regularly to fight off other illnesses. Since whooping cough is a bacterial infection, a natural and potent antibiotic that can begin fighting off this illness is none other than garlic! While eating a couple cloves a day was a bit unsettling for my stomach at first, I soon realized how my overall energy improved within a few short hours. On top of that, I found another fast and simple way to ease my coughing: cough syrups from the general drug store seemed to have absolutely no effect on my cough,  so I took it upon myself to make a homemade, natural cough syrup. Here's a brew that I created using several recipes:

Natural Cough Syrup
ingredients:
1 cup of water
1-2 minced cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of fresh ginger
1/8 tsp of turmeric
1/8 cup honey

method:
Bring the water to a soft bubble over medium/high heat. Throw in the garlic, ginger,and turmeric and lower to a simmerfor five minutes. Finally, turn off the heat and add honey. Take as often as needed.

The syrup is simply magic. It tastes absolutely heavenly and it completely settled my nagging cough. This syrup doesn't just treat whooping cough, it's soothing enough to apply to any throat problem. The garlic, honey, and turmeric all clear bacterial infection, while the ginger helps with inflammation and irritation.

I do encourage you to keep healthy and seek natural remedies before sick season fully sets in. It's never too early to prepare. And if you care to learn more about whooping cough and natural remedies, I highly suggest you start here. 

Love & Light

Hearty Chicken Barley Soup

It's been a while since I've posted anything food related, hasn't it? Well, you'll be happy to know that I found a new favorite! 

I was recently inspired to cook a comforting meal as a result of being sick. I couldn't decide between cooking a beef barley soup or a chicken noodle, so I combined the best of both. I love the hearty texture of a beef barley soup, but I knew that the chicken broth would soothe my stomach. The result was a healthy and nourishing meal that enriched my aching body. 

But, before I hand over my recipe, let me first enlighten (or bore) you with a history lesson regarding the Celtic peoples and how they used barley. Barley was a staple to the Celtic diet. Although they utilized this ancient grain in baked goods, like bannock, as well as beers, they also regularly made soups and porridge.  Since barley is extremely fibrous and has a high content of maltose (sugars), it was the perfect grain to sustain whole tribes during the colder months and kept the Celtic people healthy and energized.

In addition to the barley, adding herbs to your soup is a wonderful way to enhance taste as well as health benefits. For this particular soup, I added parsley and thyme. Parsley is a diuretic, which basically encourages urination and thus clears the system from any toxins. Thyme is a warm, sweat-inducing herb which is excellent for ridding oneself of the common cold or even fever. It is quite the versatile herb and is a curative for a sore throat and even whooping cough. The healing powers of herbs never cease to amaze me.

Now, as promised, the recipe:

Hearty Chicken Barley Soup

Serves 4-6, Prep./Cook time ~90min.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 large onion, diced

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

3-4 stalks of celery, chopped

8 cups of chicken stock

1 1/2 cup of pearl barley

3 skinless chicken breasts (boneless optional)

1 tbsp of parsley

1 tbsp of thyme

Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

After peeling and chopping the vegetables, add the olive oil to a large cooking pot and heat to medium/low heat. Throw in the onions first, until soft and wilted, followed by the carrots and celery. Continue cooking veggies until the onions begin to caramelize. Then add in chicken stock and barley. Turn heat up to medium/high. Once the soup comes to nice bubble, lower the stove top to a medium heat, add in chicken breast, parsley, and thyme, and cover with lid. Continue to cook for 30 minutes. Then remove the chicken, shred, and return it to the pot. Add salt and pepper to your liking and the soup is ready!

Of course this meal pairs best with freshly baked bannock bread. Enjoy!

Dream Pillows

It seems as though the dream world has been very active lately. In fact, most conversations I've had with friends and acquaintances recount the wonderful or disturbing experiences we fall into as we sleep. I'm not particularly a dream interpreting expert, but when it comes to controlling, or rather consciously taking charge of your dreams, I'm more than willing to share some secrets.

When I was younger, I had incredibly vivid and frightening dreams, some which would reoccur more than once. Of course, I wasn't sure what to make of these dreams--I only knew that I was eager to rid myself of them. I began experimenting with lucid dreaming to face my fears; before bed I would tell myself what I wanted to dream about, how I wanted to resolve the situation, and what I wanted to remember. In the beginning, this approach seemed to work... but as I got deeper into my dreams and more comfortable with "wandering", I began to lose control again. Falling asleep was no longer a pleasure, it was my nightmare.

Dreaming finally got easier when I discovered the magick of dream pillows. The beauty behind a dream pillow is that you can prescribe yourself any kind of dream, so long as you blend the right herbs together. Rose hips can induce dreams of love, chamomile kindles dreams of relaxation and comfort, mugwort encourages astral projection, and so on. All you need do is simply place the herbal pouch near your head or pillow; as you sleep, inhaling the scent of the flowers or herbs creates your desired dream scenario. Even when awake, I tend to pack a small dream pillow in my purse or pack and inhale its fragrance whenever I'm feeling especially troubled. 

There are countless recipe's for dream pillows. My favorite and most comforting blend has a handful of herbal scents, all of which I believe inspire the most pleasant sleep. Though these pillows do not always guarantee dreams, they most certainly will leave you feeling relaxed and well rested.

What you need:

A cloth pouch

1 part dried lavender

1 part dried rose hips/petals

1 part dried hops

1 part dried calendula

1 part dried chamomile

1-2 drops lavender oil

I do hope you discover the magick of the dream pillow. They make wonderful Samhain gifts. 

Fire Cider to Spark Your Soul

Hello! Indigo here. After a few months of studying and learning more about the ways of herbal health, I feel ready to contribute some love to this blog. Today I bring you a special recipe that will fire up your insides for the cold months to come. Behold the beautiful Fire Cider!

I first came across Fire Cider last year when I began my studies of herbalism. It is said to give a warm and jolting jumpstart to your day when a spoonful is taken in the cold mornings of winter. At the first sign of a cold, three spoonfuls of this spicy concoction will scare the pesky bacteria away! The great thing about Fire Cider is that it is quite simple to make and you may already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen and/or garden.

Fire Cider:

- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh grated ginger root

- 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root

- 10 cloves of garlic, chopped

- 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped

- Zest and juice from 1 lemon

- 1 tbsp turmeric powder

- Black peppercorns

- Organic apple cider vinegar with Mother

- Honey (local is best to keep away allergies!)

- Quart-sized mason jar

- Wax/parchment paper

1. Add all of the chopped veggies, herbs, and juices to your mason jar. 

2. Pour in the apple cider vinegar until all of the ingredients are covered with an inch or so of the liquid. 
3. Place a piece of wax paper/parchment paper on the top and seal the lid. (Metal + Acidity = Bad bad)
4. Let sit in a cool, dark place for one month.
5. Take out the fire cider and strain all of the pulp from the liquid. Do what you will with all those herbs & veggies. (Might I suggest adding to salads, stir-frys, or eating straight up for the bold?)
6. Add 1/4 cup of honey to the liquid and mix. Add as much honey until it tastes to your desires. Voila!

And that's how you make Fire Cider. Really spicy food is extremely good for your immune system, so keep this up your sleeve to keep away those annoying winter sniffles. I made some last weekend to have ready by Samhain and am quite excited to try it. Hope you all find this useful and blessed be!

Wild Ginger Hunting

Well, it's not exactly the season for wild ginger hunting per say, but I've been having a certain craving for it. I've been dreaming and drooling ever since I happened upon a patch last week on a walk through the forest.

What with Samhain on the way, I've decided to prepare a few gifts to honor my friends and family. I could think of no greater gift than that of candied ginger and syrup. Yum!

Wild ginger can usually be found in Northern California's damp forests, among the redwoods and under the protective skirts of the ferns. They tend to like the shadier nooks, where the soil is cool and moist (I found the ones pictured above nestling under a sword fern, sneaky little buggers!). Their leaves are smooth, somewhat shiny, and of a soft heart shape. They're commonly mistaken for wild violet leaves, which are also edible, but definitely not the taste we're looking for. Along with their distinctive heart shape, it's generally easy to identify the roots because they also smell and taste similarly to Asian ginger, only with a subtler punch.

Unlike the common Asian ginger root found in most grocery stores, wild ginger has pretty lanky roots, usually no thicker than pasta noodles. Even though there's not much to work with, the end result is very much worth the toil. 

The indigenous peoples of area have incorporated wild ginger root in their medicinal workings as well as daily diets for hundreds of years. It's no wonder it cures tummy aches and bloating when ingested. Ladies, if y'all are on your moon, I promise chewing a couple pieces of raw ginger will leave you feeling quite pacified. Plus you get a tasty treat.

Also, as with any herb or plant that you harvest, be it wild or homegrown, give thanks! Sing a song, breath life unto the plant, leave an offering (such as tobacco or cornmeal), caress it, or simply say thank you. Another habit I've come to be mindful of is over exhausting the plant; that is, don't harvest the entire plant. Leave some room for regeneration. It's not only beneficial for the plant, but you'll also always have a source to go back to.

Anyway, here's two personal recipes for y'all to try out. I like to incorporate every part of this plant, leaves and root, when making candy and syrup.

What you'll need for candied wild ginger root and wild ginger syrup:
- 11/2 cup of fine white sugar
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of fresh, wild ginger root (chopped into 1 inch peices)
   *Dont have access to wild ginger root? Not a problem. You can easily substitute Asian ginger root, fresh or dry. :)

Instructions:
1. Add the sugars (11/2 cup of fine white sugar & 1/2 cup of brown sugar) to a sauce pan along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the ginger root. Continue to let the syrup and roots boil for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Turn down the heat and let simmer for about an hour.
4. Let it cool and pour syrup and ginger roots into a jar. Let sit in a cool dry place for 3 days. (Such a painful wait! But alas, magick is afoot!)
5. After 3 days, pour the syrup sauce pan -hold the ginger roots back for now- and bring to a rolling boil.
6. Add ginger root to the syrup and boil again for 15-20 minutes.
7. Remove ginger and place on a metal rack to drip dry.
8. Once the syrup ceases to drip from the roots, place the roots in a pie plate and cover with fine white sugar, making sure each piece is coated in the sugary grave. Let sit over night. (Almost done!)
9. Voila! All done! Now you have your own, homemade, candied ginger. You can do whatever you please with the remaining syrup. I usually use it to put into my tea or to top of my ice-cream. Yummy!



What you'll need for wild ginger & mint leaf syrup:
- 11/2 cup of fine white sugar
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of fresh wild ginger leaves and stems
- 3 sprigs of fresh mint leaves

Instructions:
1. Add the sugars (11/2 cup of fine white sugar & 1/2 cup of brown sugar) to a sauce pan along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the ginger leaves and mint. Continue to let the syrup and leaves boil for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Turn down the heat and let simmer for about an hour or until it reaches the desired thickness.
4. Let it cool and pour syrup into a jar (you can take out the leaves now, if you please).
5. Done! Use it for teas or to top off some ice-cream.

Hope you enjoy these recipes.

Let me know how it goes!

Blessed be.

Lemonade Elixir

Growing your own herbs is probably one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. My herbs are my children of the garden. They are the magick which brings life to my home. I tend to them as they tend to me.

Before using herbs for cooking, rituals, or what have you, I always mind the proper plant etiquette--and by this I mean I always thank the plant and the mother for the gifts I am about to take. Giving thanks doesn't take more than a second and is well worth your time. Some people leave corn meal near the plant, whisper words of praise, give breath to the bushel, or even sing a song. Then, gently cut the stalk and carry on with your purpose.

By giving gratitude to the plant it grants you its magickal qualities of healing, protection, and nourishment. After all, the plants are giving up their leaves, petals, and sprigs just for you. Its one more way to get closer with your natural world.

Although the sun graced us with her warmth today, I was feeling a bit drained for no apparent reason.  So, I made a cool and energizing Lemonade Elixir. I'll leave the recipe below so that perhaps you can enjoy a bit of sweetness in your life as well:

1 cup of lemon juice

1 cup of water

1 cup of sugar

A drizzle of simple blackberry syrup (or jam if you'd like)

1 sprig of rosemary

1 sprig of lavendar

And as many ice cubes as you desire

Blessed Be.

Teasday: Week One

What better way to start a Tuesday Teasday morning than with a cup of tea? Tea is not only a lovely supplement for your coffee craze, but it's also highly beneficial depending on the brew. That's why I've decided to feature Teasday every Tuesday on the Wildcraft Chronicles.

I've noticed that most people enjoy a black tea over a green or white. Before I became the Tea Queen, my first favorite was a black tea as well, English Breakfast Tea. Unlike most tea's that  lose their taste and potency within a few months,  English Breakfast Tea can last for yeaaars.

Anyway, to my surprise, English Breakfast tea has a few health benefits which i found to be pretty impressive: 1. EBT inhibits tooth decay and, 2. it also helps in preventing kidney stones. Whaaat? That's amazing.

Well, whether it be that you choose to drink an English Breakfast Tea or a mellow green tea, I bid you a good day. :)

Spicy Super Heroes

It's officially that time of year again. The holiday season has always been about bringing families together, but it also brings another not-so-pleasant surprise... viruses! Even as I write this, I too have fallen victim to the clutches of the flu. Go figure.

Since I've been busy plodding away with finals, I unfortunately have no one to blame but myself! That said, it's never too late to reverse the flu and put up a fight. What better spices to help than cayenne and cinnamon? These two spices are definitely the best reinforcements if you want to get better quick!

I find it best to add cayenne and cinnamon to my morning tea. This may sound odd, even disgusting, but the spicy hot of the cayenne and the subtle comfort of the cinnamon really helps clear up a stuffy chest or sore throat. Along with clearing up congestion and fighting bacteria within your body cayenne and cinnamon are pretty much the super heroes of the spice family. To name a few, here are some of their magical powers:

Cinnamon:
1. Lowers bad cholesterol
2. Helps regulate blood sugars and helps regulate weight
3. Has an anti clotting effect on blood
4. Simply smelling cinnamon improves memory
5. Natural remedy for headaches and migraines

 Cayenne:
1. Eases an upset stomach and remedies diarrhea
2. Natural anti-allergen
3. Detoxes your body
4. Remedies a toothache
5. Improves heart-health

Like I said... super heroes! You don't have to limit yourself when adding these spices just to your tea. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of you morning cereal or grill up some chicken rubbed down in cayenne. Be creative!

Don't forget, it's really important to buy fresh spices from your local natural foods store or herbalist. Fresh spices make all the difference. When powdered spices like cinnamon have been sitting out on the shelf for too long, they loose their curing properties and potency.

Also, cayenne is very hot! A little goes a long way. Just adding a pinch to my morning tea really gives it a kick.

Hope this was helpful and I hope y'all are staying healthy this season. Feel free to share any comments or recipes with Indigo and me. We love feedback! Blessings and enjoy the Yule season!

P.S.

Rather than beating around the bush and taking an entire post to introduce Indigo and myself, we've created an "about us" tab. Feel free to check it out!