13d • The Herbal Hearth Fire
SPRING GREENS- foraging
Wild Garlic:
Wild garlic is the ultimate spring cleansing herb, it’s antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, supports the cardiovascular system whilst cleansing the gut, helping to restore healthy gut flora. I add this to stews, soups, and use when baking. They pair beautifully with cheese in home made scones and can be found in abundance in many woodland areas.
Dandelion:
Another spring cleanser. The slightly bitter taste stimulates the digestive tract and liver, and it's an incredible detoxifying plant medicine after a winter spent on processed food, alcohol, and breathing in household chemicals.
Dig up the roots but rather than throwing them in the compost bin, clean and chop them to make Dandelion coffee, Dandelion and Burdock, and use them as a food in casseroles and curries.
Combined with burdock in a timeless drink, you have two powerful herbs in the deliciousness of a healthy soft drink that aids in the removal of toxins from inside the cells of the body, breaking them down by the liver, and out through the digestive tract and kidneys.
Dandelion Root alkalises the body, reduces inflammation and removes toxins, it is a blood sugar balancer and helps rebalance hormones.
The root, combined with the leaf, stem, flower, and seed, can provide all 8 amino acids essential to the human body.
The leaf has a slightly bitter, nourishing yet earthy flavour and is ideal in salads. Most conventional diuretics deplete the body of potassium, whereas dandelion leaf enriches your potassium stores whilst still being a highly effective and powerful diuretic.
The flowers are great to use in food and cakes, make syrups with, and they make an amazing salve for aching joints and muscles, as well as for healing psoriasis and calming the skin.
Nettles:
Nettle is a naturally growing super food abundant on most people's doorsteps. It is one of the most nutritionally dense foods in the world; full of vitamins A, C, some Bs, thiamine and K. Iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chromium, copper, protein, phosphorus, selenium, riboflavin, and silicon, providing the body with the nutrition it needs to heal and function correctly.
Nettles are another great cleanser following winter, an effective anti-inflammatory and ideal support for the adrenal glands. Nettles are great for cleansing the blood.
Mother Nature's answer to hay fever, especially when combined with Elderflower and Plantain. It’s also a great herb for supporting new mums, helping restore a pregnancy-tired body, and increasing breast milk supply.
For a nutrient rich tea; Take a handful of fresh nettle tops: you want the top 5 or so leaves. The sting is neutralised in hot water. Put them in a pan and cover with hot water and leave to steep overnight. The resulting drink will be a deep, dark green, and you may smell the minerals. Strain, reheat gently and drink throughout the day. Your body will love you and crave this powerful, nutritious drink.
I also include dried Nettle in cakes, and add to other baking and cooking.
Cleavers:
Cleavers, also known as sticky willies or goosegrass, is another renowned spring cleanser.
Cleavers are wonderful at helping to cleanse the lymphatic system; getting rid of dead white blood cells and infection debris accumulated over the winter, whilst acting as a diuretic to remove toxins from the body. Traditionally its used to help reduce weight gain and is allegedly an aid in dieting and reducing cellulite.
Cleavers can brighten the skin, and are widely used to cool eczema and other inflamed sore skin irritations when applied externally. It makes a beautifully effective skin cream.
I make a beautiful cleansing drink by putting fresh cleavers into a container, adding cold purified water and leaving to steep overnight. I then drink this the next day, occassionally adding mint, lemon and or cucumber to it.
...
As with all Wild foods be 100% sure of your identification and start with smaller amounts initially to ensure you are not allergic. Always double check for contraindications if you take any prescription medications.
2
2 comments
SPRING GREENS- foraging
powered by
skool.com/hagwitch-herbals-3611
An alternative health and spiritual wellness community. Online accredited workshops & courses, pagan/ spiritual development, home ed and sovereignty.
Suggested communities
Powered by