Many of the plants and other ingredients used in my formulas are available from herbalists and health food stores. Whenever possible try to get organically grown herbs rather than those grown with pesticides. When gathering herbs in the wild be sure you are at least one thousand feet from a roadway to avoid the lead, brake linings, and other contaminants emitted by automobiles.
If you wildcraft your plants please check first to see if they are an endangered species and if so DO NOT pick them in the wild. If a species is common in your area be sure you leave at least seven healthy individual plants intact so that the herb can reproduce. When gathering flowers for medicine, please do not strip every blossom off of a plant, leave a few behind to produce seeds. These remedies are not intended to replace the advice of a competent health practitioner. Persons who are ill are advised to seek a professional diagnosis before attempting self medication.
Healing With Honey- When you select honey for medicinal use always buy a variety that is produced by an apiary local to your area. Ingesting local pollens found in honey can build resistance to allergies over time. The honey should be "raw", not heated or processed.
Honey Flu Remedy- Take a six inch ginger root and slice it. Put it in a non- aluminum pot with about three cups of fresh water. Cover the pot tightly and bring to a simmer. Allow the water to simmer (not boil) for about twenty minutes. Remove from the stove and add the juice of half a lemon, a pinch of cayenne pepper and honey to taste. This is a great remedy for bronchitis and flu
Honey Throat Syrup- Take several cloves of fresh garlic (please don't use the genetically altered, odorless variety. It has lost it's healing virtue). Place the garlic in a blender with the juice of half a lemon. Blend until smooth. Add 1 cup raw honey and blend again. this mixture can be taken as it is in teaspoon doses for a sore throat or strained through a cheese cloth and bottled for later use.
Garlic and Honey Wound Dressing- If you have a cut or a wound wash it carefully and then apply chopped or mashed, raw garlic which will kill any bacteria or viruses. Cover the garlic with a slather of honey and apply a clean bandage. The honey will keep the wound anaerobic (without oxygen) so bacteria will be unable to grow in it
Roasted Garlic Sore Throat Remedy- Take unpeeled cloves of fresh, raw garlic and place them in a pan over medium heat (do not use oil). Gently roast the cloves until they are soft to the touch. Remove them from the pan and allow them to cool . Peel and eat
Ginger Ale- This is a good remedy for stomach flu and also makes a tasty beverage. Chop a large ginger root. Place the slices in a non aluminum pot and cover with several cups of fresh, cold water. Bring to a simmer and then simmer for twenty minutes. Remove the pot from the burner and while the liquid is still hot add honey or maple syrup to taste. Allow the mixture to cool. To make the ginger ale fill a glass one half full of the cooled mixture and add sparkling water until the glass is full. Voila!
Thanks! This is useful as I always get a sore throat. I will try this out the next time I get a sore throat (if I can steal the ingredients from the kitchen successfully)
