January New Moon Reflections and Musings:           finding the heart of the mystery and the beauty from the herbal world.                                                          

 Welcome to the New Moon series of  reflections and herbal musings. I have two intentions with this. First it is to be a newsletter of sorts. News about the herbs? Yes, they speak to us!

Secondly, the New Moon Herbal online “class” is intended to light up your screen and I presenting in lively animation.  I initially wanted to start in January. Rather, the season brought me here with this introductory newsletter with a candle burning, unseen. 

For January, my screen will remain dark. Please bare with me.

 If you are interested in attending a live short class on any of the New Moon class nights, please “register” by sending me an email and I will send you the link so we may light candles together. See a list of New Moon dates below.

My January Reflection

January is dark. Yes, the earth has made its turning and each day will grow a bit lighter. However, it is winter and I feel we are still in recovery during this post holiday season. I agree with Sharon Blackie who wrote that New Year resolutions that include our purges, weight loss goals, detoxes and the rest don’t work. Why? Because it is putting pressure on ourselves when we are already exhausted! We arrive into January frazzled, exhausted and perhaps unsure about what we really should be doing. “The last thing we need is to launch ourselves like rockets into a regime of major lifestyle change, based on a day in the calendar randomly imposed on us”, she writes.  I have to agree! It doesn’t feel like our calendar-made “New Year” is in sync with the seasons, or our natural cyclical rhythms around us, or that of our own bodies.

Then, what is this season for, if it’s not for purges, diets, detoxes and other high pressure “resolutions”? Again, Sharon Blackie writes: “It’s a time to think about change and transformation,  about letting the long cold dark strip us down to the bare bones and seeing what remains of us that matters”. These are soul searching comments but ring  important truths. 

A long time ago, our original Calendar was generated by women. The months coincided with their menstrual cycles as to this day. Each month began with the New Moon. Each season began and ended, as we know, with the earth’s relationship to the sun, light and darkness. 

Ancient peoples followed the rhythms of the earth and the celestial events of the sun; the solstices and equinoxes. When the living creatures and plants of the earth quieted with the winter months and “hunkered down” so did we. As life lay beneath the soil, so we also turned inward in reflection while looking forward to the coming of light and life to the earth once more. 

This is the season of winter. 

If you listen closely, you can tell when the earth, where winter resides, begins to stir and waken. That is the time, when after our quiet reflective days in the darkness, awaken with new energy to generate renewal and change. 

I found myself in that quiet place leading up to January’s New Moon. Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to get in front of a camera with neat hair, face paint and pretty cloths. I feel like I am still without leaves or flowers like the barren living things outside. But, I’m human and not a tree. I hope you don’t mind that I am standing here a bit “stripped down to the bare bones”.

Herbs that help us with Anxiety and Depression

These have been crazy times like no other. My  herbal class intention for January was to look at anxiety and depression.

I trust that most of our anxiety is from stress. Stress being  the root cause for so much of our dis-ease. 

A forest hike one day lead us close to a nearby road. My eyes were watching my feet until I chanced to look up and see this little gnome figure made out of spruce bows, red felt for a hat and a potato for a nose. I love love love my walks in the woods but this little gnome caught my eye, made me stop to take a closer look while giving me a good laugh.  Mind medicine comes in all forms I will have to admit. 

There is so much written about how to manage stress. Forest bathing, meditation, yoga, exercise of any kind or simply by taking a bath. Some need more intervention. This is where it gets tricky.

Mild relaxing herbal teas are many. Consider Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Motherwort, Lavender or Linden. Herbs that are a little stronger include Passionflower and Hops. Mountain Tea which is not easy to find will bring you down a couple of notches. I admire this Mediterranean sage for its powerful calming way. Some swear by the CBD products. My experience have found that more often they make matters worse. Everyone is different. “Start low and go slow” applies as it does with any very strong medicine.

I am leaving sedative herbs out of this list though any of the herbs above can help with sleep. 

Many of us respond well to the adaptogens for managing stress. The adaptogens that are calming include Holy Basil, and for some Ashwagandha. I found that for some people starting with a tincture or capsule of Ashwagnadha in early afternoon will help them settle down by nightfall. Others take it before bed with good results. For others this herb can be stimulating. Don’t take Dr. Google too seriously. You need to learn what works for you. 

Depression, like anxiety has many causes but I’ll keep it simple. Generally, people who feel depressed lack energy and motivation to do anything for themselves or others. There is a dark cloud over their heads that persists. Sometimes it’s paralyzing hence the lack of motivation.  Right now we may all have dark clouds. It’s about resilience between those that cope and those that don’t. How do we keep going? How may we get through this globally imposed disconnection from friends and loved ones? These are deeper questions for our times and very challenging.  The herbs are our allies but they can’t change the world for us without our participation with them. This is one way to make a difference. 

Herbs that help lighten the cloud cover include a number of adaptogens. They are Eleuthro, Rhodiola and Schisandra. Try them as tinctures. Two are roots and Schisandra is a tart berry. A little goes a long way. Their energy giving properties are deep unlike coffee’s more immediate tension-like energy. 

What may also help lighten the dark clouds? It is about choosing to find connection. In these times of isolation, I have been connecting with the quiet forest surrounding me. Waiting with them for spring to waken us together. 

The herbs are powerful. We need focused patience for them to help us. We need trust that the plants are here for us. And, they aren’t far away. 

See below for the upcoming New Moon schedule. 

(Email: rjrcnm@gmail.com to register.) Note each date falls on a different evening of the week. The set time is 8pm EST. 

New Moon Schedule going forward:

February 11                           August 8

March 13                               September 6

April 11                                 October 6

May 11                                  November 4

June 10                                 December 4

July 9

Drop me an email if you are interested in any one of these dates. 

I will be making something or doing something herbal on each one of these to bring in some connection with what I am sharing. I know people love cooking shows. I’m thinking to make the New Moon musings -or whatever else to call this evening- something that touches on doing something I know that we would all love to do together. 

With herbal blessings

Hopefully I will see you as the earth begins to stir in February!

Rachel 

 

Making a Chai Tea for Resilience and Warmth 

These are difficult times with a global raging illness and predictions that it will get worse before it gets better. While conventional medicine is racing to find a medication and a vaccine that will work, there hasn't been any formal attention on the power of the plants and the power that we behold in ourselves to select these gifts right from our natural world for healing and comfort!

Today I started out making an herbal Chai tea and it evolved into this adaptogenic, liver tonic, immune enhancing, warmth promoting and spicy brew. (Thanks to a Vermont-based herbalist for this inspiration, Guido Mase). I intended it as a tea and not a soup! Though it looked like I was making soup! It was fun to do and, in time, I hope to experiment with different herbs and spices.

I put in one of the adaptogens (e.g. ashwaghanda, eleuthro, Rhodiola, ginsengs, licorice and Schisandra) that increase our resilience and survival. The adaptogens help us repair and heal by activating our neuroendocrine-immune systems. 

I included a liver tonic (e.g. dandelion, burdock, milk thistle) that nourish our core where we need our liver to assimilate and eliminate - everything! 

I used one of the medicinal mushrooms (e.g. Reishi, chaga, shiitake, cordyceps.) that ... it would take a book! Primarily they are immune enhancing as is deep-acting astragalus root. You could throw astragalus in, too.

I included a few of the warming spices that aid in circulation such as cinnamon, clove, coriander, anise, cardamom, ginger and warming anti-inflammatory turmeric. 

Simmer your choices in a quart of water for 30 minutes and strain. You may add coconut cream or milk and sweeten with raw local honey as needed for a true chai experience.

Recipe

2-4 tablespoons of a liver tonic root, dried or fresh chopped . You may consider adding turmeric root in addition to one of the liver tonic roots.

2-4 tablespoons of mushroom, chopped, grated or powdered e.g. chaga, shiitake, cordyceps or 4 slices e.g. Reishi

2 tablespoons fresh ginger chopped

1 tablespoon aromatic seeds e.g fennel or anise

1 teaspoon peppercorns

1 tablespoon aromatic spices e.g. cardamon, coriander clove cumin

6 cinnamon sticks

1 Quart of water

Combine everything in a large pot, cover and bring to a boil. Then simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain and add cream, coconut, cream or coconut milk with a little raw honey.

Cheers!

A Short Take On My Personal Experience With Burdock

 

One herb comes immediately to mind, where the getting of the herb was very much part of my experience with using the herb. For what could possibly bring one closer to getting to know and “using” anything intimately, if one does not make an encounter with that desirable wild thing – whatever it is- in its own element, first. We’ve about all lost those experiences of encountering wild things, including plants in their element. Without those intimate experiences, I believe, we have lost our appreciation of the full meaning and value of what we have in our hands before us, because we haven’t experienced simply, getting it. For example, compare the experience of opening a 1 pound plastic bag of cut and sifted Lemon Balm, to cutting handfuls of fresh Lemon Balm growing in the filtered sunlight of a border garden in late spring. Then, you know what I’m talking about.

So, it was true with Burdock. Large fuzzy-leaved and intrusive in my garden scape surrounding my impressive deck, one spring I decided it needed to go and I was going to get it. Get it all. Besides, what a better time is there to dig it out, root and all, than spring? I had dug Dandelion roots before, and I knew they were no small ticket for getting an earth-bonding experience.  I knew I could handle this Burdock, or so I thought. I was ready. I grabbed my shovel and off I started.  Spadesful after spadesful I worked around the thick-necked central tap root. Down, down I went into the earth as I had to enlarge the circle as I went to loosen the hold that the soil had on this massive root. Deeper and deeper down into the earth I carefully shoveled to reach the narrowing end of the now branching taproot.  Challenged not to prematurely break off the tap root I carefully continued on and on into the afternoon of that bright spring day.

Is there something about getting down to the “root of the matter”, or finding the “root cause”, or the “root of the problem”? Is it no wonder that roots are our source for solving problems? And, so it is true with Burdock.  “Burdock is truly a superior tonic herb, both as a preventative and as a medicinal plant”, says Rosemary Gladstar (1). Historically, Burdock has been traditionally used as a “blood purifier”, and liver tonic. In fact, Burdock carries more antioxidant activity than most vegetables and has demonstrated prebiotic properties that may improve health (2). David Hoffman writes (3) and many herbalists agree that Burdock is a valuable remedy for the treatment of skin conditions that result in dry and scaly patches mostly effective for psoriasis if used over a long period of time. Dr. Bove (4) includes Burdock in her herbal remedies for cradle cap, cold sores and eczema for children. Deb Soule, a beloved herbalist of mine, from Maine, writes that Burdock tea or tincture is nourishing for the liver and kidneys and promotes digestion and appetite through the bitter stimulation of digestive juices and the secretion of bile while it helps eliminate ingested chemicals and waste materials (5).  It seems plain and simple: Roots are our roots for health maintenance and well-being. So, how did I use that wild Burdock root that I spent all day spading the soil for? I grated it fresh, and then, dried it, and, then put it in a jar next to my stove in the kitchen. Over this past winter, I took a handful, and would throw it into my stews in which I made many. I did it over and over again. Its nutty earthy flavor penetrated the broth. No one complained. Everyone heartily ate. The little grated roots tasted like ground meat, frankly. No one knew. And, I didn’t tell. They didn’t need to know. And, that was ok. Yes, experience it, to know, first.

 

References

1.       Gladstar, Rosemary. 2008. Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Bibrant Health. Storey Publishing.

2.       http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/burdock

3.       Hoffman, David. 2003. Medicinal Herbalism. Healing Arts Press.

4.       Bove, Mary N. D. 2001. An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants. Mc Graw Hill.

5.       Soule, Deb. 1995. A Woman’s Book of Herbs: The healing Power of Natural Remedies. Citadel Press.

Immune Support Soup

Winter Health is about building your immune system so that your body can do what it needs to do to keep you strong, vibrate and healthy. There are many herbs that have the power to support, build and heal us in this way. How can we do this that is realistic and do-able? Often, there is "information-overload". Where can we begin?

  I have found that people can best incorporate the healing herbs, much like we can of our culinary herbs, when we include them in our everyday diets and cooking.

My thinking is that herbs shouldn't be thought of as a supplement  but a rather a compliment. Just  step back and take a look at how far we Americans have come, pertinent to using herbs in cooking. "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" may have first become popular through a Paul Simon song, but we are familiar with them and enjoy these herbs, particularly, through the winter months. More recently, we have come to love Basil as a Pesto, over fresh Tomatoes, and in sauces, and Cilantro the distinct aromatic herb that we savor in fresh Salsas. There are many more as we have become exposed to culinary delights of other cultures and nations.

 

Fresh Picked Dandelion Root

 

So, now it has come time to celebrate the roots! As the herbs have made their way into our cooking, let's use the roots as compliments in our sauces, soups and stews,  instead of something that we find in the dreaded medicine cabinet. (i.e. How many of us really like taking a cupful of pills every day?)


                                                 
There are many "immune soup" recipes out there. In common, these immune soup recipes use roots and often mushrooms as their ingredients. Any of them can cook up into dense broths that are either frozen in cubes to be added later, or used that same day.  A very hearty soup can result by adding vegetables, beans, potatoes or whatever is available. It's really truly hearty!

The roots come from near and far. Much more has been researched in the East so they are better known. I trust with time we will discover that there are western herbs with equal power and strength.
Right now our best known roots for immune support are Burdock and Dandelion,  particularly.

Anyway, here is a list of the roots and mushrooms that have been used in various recipes that I have found:

Dandelion , Burdock, Astragalus, Ginseng, Ginger, Fo-ti, Chinese Bellflower and Ashwaganda. Popular mushrooms are Reishi, Red Reishi, Chaga, and Shitake.
Fresh garlic is often added as part of the base.

Burdock leaf and flowers.

The ratio of roots to water can vary. For a dense broth use 1-2 cups of roots/mushrooms/garlic for every quart of liquid. Simmer the roots in the water very slowly for a minimum of 1 hour. Preferable longer.
Strain, and either create your hearty soup or place in ice cube trays and freeze to make immune-cubes to put in future soups, stews and sauces.

This is my favorite recipe:

Immune Support Soup

1 cup Astragalus Root, dried
1/2 cup Ashwagandha Root, dried
1/2 cup Reishi Mushroom, dried
1/2 cup Burdock Root, dried
half bulb garlic, chopped. (4-5 cloves)

Take the above ingredients and simmer them covered in a  pot with 2 quarts of water. Simmer slowly on low heat for at least 1 hour and strain. Make into a hearty soup, freeze in cubes or drink 1 cup daily as a tonic.

(This recipe is from a wonderful book filled with herbal wisdom and science: The Wild Medicine Solution; Healing with Aromatic, Bitter, and Tonic Plants by Guido Mase (2013, Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vt.)

Wild-Harvesting your own Dandelion and Burdock roots are do-able here in the Northeast US. This is best done in the very early spring or later fall. Their roots are can be very long (+12") and thick when over 1 year old. They often need a good heavy spade and lots of patience. Once dug they need to be scrubbed clean. I grate the root fresh and then dry the grated root in a very low oven. I find this easier than trying to cut into a whole dried root.

Fall Workshop - Simple Cold and Flu Remedies

What do you do when you feel a cold coming on?

 

 How can we move through this coming  cold and flu season with what nature has given us?

 

Join me for Cold and Flu Remedies Workshop OCTOBER 26 from 2p-4p.

$20. includes all materials and supplies.            Email to sign up    rjrcnm@gmail.com             


Take come a flask of Elderberry Syrup and more!  

See you soon!
Rachel
rjrcnm@gmail.com

The Farmer's Market

Our opening day was beautiful. People were so happy to come out and feel sunshine. New England gave us a long winter this year. Despite global warming, there was a bit of  lingering chill and snow on the ground. I had snow on our fields the beginning of April. Now, spring is beautifully here.

Our Farmer's Market opened this Tuesday. There were many folks with herbs and plants to sell from their greenhouses and gardens. The Goat Cheese lady brought her baby goats for the children to pet. The bread lady, that everyone loves, sold out, as she usually does, before closing. The meat lady has added fruit trees to her inventory of offerings. The homemade ice cream man found his same spot that he had last year.

What is a Farmer's Market? Here, people chat with one another and meet the producers and chat some more. They chat about their problems, and their interests. The Farmer's Market is a place to get to know the people that make and grow the food we eat. I wish there was a measure for this part, for it should be included on the ingredient list. If it's not on the list, then the food isn't as potent or charged with a human-interaction factor.

My most popular medicinal teas were "Sleep Without Sheep" and my Migraine Reliever tea: "Get-it-out-of-your-Mind". Who would know? It seems like there is a lot of anxiety, restlessness and extreme distress from migraines. Such a challenging time. Our lives shouldn't do this to ourselves.

The Holden Farmer's Market is a very small market. There are regulars, though. They show up on the first day and every day until it closes; about 26 weeks from now. There are newcomers, of course, too.
I'll be there every Tuesday until the end of October when it closes. I'll be chatting with the regulars and the newcomers. I'll be getting to know the people that stroll by. I know my conversation and my well-intended smile will become an ingredient in the products they buy. I believe, it changes the potency.

It works- that is, when it includes the human-interaction factor. It works when you know who has made it, who has crafted it, when, how and why it was made. This variable in the research hasn't been tested. I believe we need to have a relationship with the people that feed us and nourish us in order for the foods and herbs that we use will work for us at their optimal best.
While it may be trendy to "buy local", I believe, there is something more happening when we do buy local,  because we're doing it. We are making an effort to do so. We join CSA's. We aren't stupid. And, enough is enough. We don't want chemicalized food. If big business isn't going to look out for us (and they never have and never will) then WE must. We must.
Message here?
Get to know your local producers. Get to know your local Farmer's Market vendors. Buy local. Eat local foods. Know your ingredients. Know that they hidden ingredient in all great food is knowing the farmer that grew it for you.
Our lives depend on it.

Herbal Cold Care Kit; What's in it?

Do you have the "Common Cold"? Or, do you believe you have the Flu? Did you get your flu vaccine injection and did you get sick anyway? Yes, it does happen to the best of us.

What's next?  Pull out your "Cold Care Kit". What's in it? Below are my favorites.
1. A Decongestant Steam
2. Elderberry Syrup
3. Herbal High C Tea (an ideal children's tea)
4. Tea for Cold and Flu (idea for those that can tolerate ginger and cayenne)
5......
What? No Motrin?

The herbs that have served us for healing from congestion, excess fluids and coughs are well known particularly Coltsfoot, Mullein and Eucalyptus. Grieve writes that Coltsfoot  used to be painted as a sign on the doorpost of an apothecary's shop. Doesn't this communicate confidence in this herb's reliability?  (Pharmacies have lost their symbol for healing and care. The mortar and pestle is gone too. What does CVS, Walgreen's and Rite Aid have in common? They have a full length candy aisle and the pills are in the back.)
We have almost completely forgotten about these wonderful herbs that sooth, relieve, decongest and heal us from our sicknesses. It's time to get to know them before we have completely forgotten.


 I am limited with graphic ability. Please trust that these recipes have been tried and are true. They are also very beautiful to look at. Don't rely on a picture, anyway. Just get them and experience their beauty as you sift them through your hands!

I share these recipes to encourage you to experience the healing power of herbs.
I do sell these wonderful herbs and mixes, too.
Email your requests: rjrcnm@gmail.com
Take care!



A Decongestant Steam
3 parts Peppermint
2 parts Eucalyptus
1 part Elder Flower
1 part Comfrey
1 part Lobelia
1 part Chamomile
Place a couple of tablespoons of herbs into a large wide bowl of steaming hot water.
Add a couple of drops of Eucalyptus or Peppermint essential oil.
Lean over the bowl and breath in the aromatic steam. If you can tolerate a towel over your head, try this. You'll get quite sweaty and hot. Stay no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

Elderberry Syrup
1/2 cup dried Elderberries
1 tablespoon dried Rosehips
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon grated Ginger
5 Whole Cloves
1 Cinnamon Stick
Bring to a boil 20-30 minutes. Strain the herbs and spices from the water. Then add 1 cup of honey to the strained water.
Take 1 table spoon of syrup 3 times per day or as needed for cough and cold relief.

Herbal High C Tea
1 part Calendula
1 part Cinnamon Chips
2 parts Lemon Grass
1 part Hibiscus flowers
1 part Nettle
4 parts Rosehips
1/2 part Orange Peel
1 part Spearmint
2 parts Wiintergreen

Tea for Decongestion
1 part Calendula
1 part Mullein
2 parts Peppermint
1 part Coltsfoot
1 part Eucalyptus
1/4 tsp Ginger
A pinch to an 1/8th tsp of Cayenne
Steep 1 tsp per cup for 10 minutes and drink as often as desired.