Urban Herbalism: Turmeric Compress

My long time readers will remember that just over a year ago my husband and I were in a pretty bad car  accident. It turns out that some pretty serious crap went down with our spines. Yikes.  With herniated disks and numbness and pain to tend with, since then, I have been exploring options for healing.

Honestly, I am the kind of herbalist who gets a little skeptical when a new remedy from far away becomes the new "it" herb. Call me an herbal-hipster, if you will. I prefer my herbs before they are cool (or wayyyyy after). A few years ago, that herb was turmeric and I have, in honest, never been able to embrace it. You may not remember, if you're new to the scene, but turmeric, 7 or 8 years ago was as big as acai berries are now. I resisted. But when it came down to it, turmeric is a strong medicine with an amazing capacity to heal. I had once heard Rosemary Gladstar mention watching a traditional herbalist make a turmeric compress specifically for back pain, in all of her normal Gladstariness, and it sounded beautiful.

So when I was at the local health store and a bunch of going-soft-but-still-quite-good turmeric was on sale for 99 cents I decided it was time. Then I had to convince Mark to get naked and let me rub turmeric juice all over his back. Less easy than you'd think, ladies. Yesterday evening, I finally pinned him down.

Making a compress, depending on your method, is essentially like making a tea but with one additional step. For roots, a decoction is recommended. Essentially, to decoct something is to simmer it to release all the juicey herbal goodness. Toss in the herbs and the water, essentially one to one, and bring to a boil. Then cover and simmer the mixture on low for about 20 minutes. The herbs should become quite fragrant a few minutes before done. I tossed in some powdered turmeric towards the end of the simmer for some extra kick.

Then, strain. After it was strained I emptied it into a 9x13 cooking sheet and soaked several pieces of cotton fabric in it. Then I applied to one hesitant husband and covered the most painful spot with a hot water bottle, and then him with a wool blanket.

Turmeric is a powerful herb with anti-inflammatory capabilities. It's also known to be an immune booster, carcinogen fighter, and an infection kicker. But in this situation, I was hoping for the anti-inflammatory and pain relieving actions.

Initial response from the husband pinned down and covered in turmeric? "Actually, my back feels ok so far."

I'll take it.

Urban Herbalism: DIY Hydrosols

Here's a fun afternoon project that will make your house smell lovely and give you a useful product in return! A hydrosol is a steam distillation of an herbal decoction- called a disillate. The great thing about a hydrosol is that it allows you to access the whole spectrum of available nutrients an herb contains. They are often compared to aromatherapy oils, which they do contain, but a hydrosol boasts containing both the water soluble and the fat soluble properties of an herb. When a recipe calls for rose water or orange water, they mean a hydrosol of rose petals or orange zest. You can make it yourself!

In this post, I am using eucalyptus that I bought at the farmers market and dried. Originally I had meant to craft with it, but I had so much of it that I had to consider how to play with the extra.

Eucalyptus is an herb with so many healing properties: antimicrobial, cooling sore muscles, opening clogged noses, clarifying the air with a fresh scent. So I decided I would use it for a hydrosol. This eucalyptus is from an ornamental relative of the eucalyptus known to koalas, but still contains the useful elements of the same.

Hydrosols can be used as toners, body spray, cleansing agents, muscle rubs, after-sun sprays and air fresheners. Others -like rosemary- are useful for hair care.

To make a hydrosol (pictures of each stage, below): 

1. Start with a large stock pot. Using a rock, brick, or, in our case, an upside down mortar or crucible. Place filtered water to an inch or so of your stand. 
2. Add two or three heaping handfuls handfuls of the herbs that you would like to distill. Lavender, chamomile, peppermint... anything leafy and lovely makes a good first bet. Make sure there is room for the herbs to move freely, but don't be afraid to add a healthy bunch. 
3. Place an empty heat-safe bowl on top of your hard surface. Use a bowl you know to be sturdy. Sometimes I use a ramekin, since I know they can absorb high heat. In this case, I tried a sturdy bowl I got from a thrift store. 
4. Cover your pot with an upside down metal lid or a large metal bowl. DO NOT USE GLASS. We made this mistake once. Shattered the top of my stock pot. Like exploded. Like all over. Don't go there. 
5. Turn your pot at medium heat. While it is heating up, add ice, as much as you can fit, to the bowl on top of your pot. This will cause the steam that rises to become liquid again quickly, sliding back into your bowl. 
6. Allow to come fill boil. Very carefully, after about ten or so minutes of boil, check your inner bowl. It should be filling with distillate. This liquid will be clear and scented, you may see drops of essential oils floating on the surface. 
7. For this hydrosol, I actually got several bowls worth of amazing eucalyptus goodness. I think the moment you are "finished" is the moment you notice a decrease in smell quality. Around 30-45 minutes. 
8. The bowls of distillate should be added to a tightly sealed container and allowed to condition in the fridge over night. From there, add to a spray bottle to keep it fresh as you use it. It's great for all kinds of things. I recently lent to a friend with a cold for her pillow. I've used it as a room freshener and a toner. I'm struggling to NOT to use it all! 

Urban Herbalism: Healing Broth

Getting ready for broth.

The herbalist's first line of defense is a well-stocked kitchen.  Some of the best natural defenses are already in there waiting for you.  Some of my favorite remedies against illness are used in this healing broth.  Sipping this broth alone will provide you dozens of phytonutrients and help you become or stay well. It can also be used as a base for soup. Buying broth is expensive and much less nutritive. Spend an afternoon or evening allowing these scents to fill your home. It's the best aromatherapy there is!

I'll break down the ingredients and then we can explore making it together! 

Have on hand:

• Chicken bones and gizzards. Aside from the respect that we show by using every part of an animal, using bone broth just makes sense. The bones contain several minerals our body easily absorbs. Gelatin to lubricate our joints, calcium for strong bones, magnesium for healthy bones, nerves, and muscles. Food sources are the absolute best places to find these nutrients, so use those bones! 

OR 

• Large beef bones and fat trimmings. All the same nutrient, just add a few hours to your pre-herb simmering. 
• Garlic. Garlic is a tasty treat many people love. It is also antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. It may have cardiovascular and anti-carcinogenic characteristics as well and can be useful in the management of blood sugar concerns. This well known allium is inexpensive and many varieties exist to ensure you get the taste you need. We buy local garlic in season and then cellar it throughout the winter. We get a good price and we never have to run out for it. 
• Onion. So much to say! Studies show that onions specifically help with sore throats and coughs. This punchy allium has been in Ayurveda for centuries. Anti-carcinogenic, a guard against osteoperosis, anti-inflammatory. Onions do it all. 
• Carrots. Tons of minerals! Vitamin A! Antioxidants!
• Potatoes. More vitamins and minerals than the day is long. Did you know these beasts even have Vitamin C? Leave the skin on for maximum benefit.
• Thyme. Another antibacterial and anti-fungal herb. It is especially useful for respiratory functions and the reduction of mucus. I've definitely appreciated that quality. So sniff it up while you sit with your broth :) 
• Oregano. Another herb with antibacterial properties. Hippocrates used it for infections and respiratory issues. Can't go wrong with that. 
• Sage. You guessed it. Antimicrobial in general, a strong tonic, so many useful properties.
• Salt.  When you are sick it is important to stay hydrated. Salt keeps you in balance. 
• Peppercorns. Increases absorption of other vitamins, increases circulation, increases seratonin.

Use fresh if you can, it is absolutely best in this case. I also save things like broccoli stems, potato skins,  and cabbage leaves while I am cooking. Stored in a jar in my freezer, they make sure I get every piece of vitamin I can out of the food we eat. If you have some but not all of these items, you will still make a tasty broth. Don't be afraid to toss in other things you love. Today, I included a maitake mushroom and left out the oregano, for example.

So how to make it?

1. Toss in your chicken, vegetables and alliums and fill with cold water. Starting with cold water will help get a very deep flavor as you simmer. Place on a burner on medium-low heat. To extract extra calcium, Sally Fallon recommends tossing in a bit of vinegar. Either way, you are doing something lovely and poetic for yourself.
2. Slowly bring to a boil. Strain anything funny that comes to the top. Lower heat and simmer, covered. Simmer for a few hours.
3. About twenty minutes before you intend to remove the broth from the oven, toss in as much of each herb as you like, leaving out those you don't have access to or don't enjoy will not hurt this broth! 
4. Continue to simmer, covered with herbs for twenty minutes. 
5. Strain, tamping to extract every last nutrient. You will be happy you did. 
6. This broth can be used immediately, stored in the fridge for up to a week, or frozen indefinitely.  
7. Enjoy.   It is especially great the day of. Today, I made ricotta gnocchi in broth. It was a delightful. 

Ricotta gnocchi act as dumpling in this delicious Italian first course.

Urban Herbalism: Summer Time Tincturing

One of the easiest and most fulfilling projects we accomplished this summer was tincturing local herbs for the winter. I've been making herbal tinctures out of store bought herbs for years, but getting to do it from herbs we foraged, bought fresh straight from a farmer, or grew ourselves was simply magical. I honestly never realized it could be so beautiful to use herbal medicine. And I have always thought it was pretty darn magical.

picking rose hips of the plant.  

We made hyper-local tinctures of lavender, rose hips, hops, and lemon balm. In some of these, we had been involved in the process of the remedy from the moment it was a seed put into earth.

In moments like these, I feel so connected to the place where I am. I am so grounded. I understand seasons. I am so unlike the me who wastes hours on Facebook a week.I feel centered and true.

This winter, when I am sleepless or anxious or getting a cold, I will have a sip of homemade love-plus-magic, and I will feel better because of the sun, the earth, the compost, the seed, the love that was given to me or that I invested all year. And I will be better knowing I loved myself, my home, and that moment so much.