Llewellyn's 2012 Herbal Almanac by JD Hortwort

Author:JD Hortwort
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: herb, herbal, calendar, annual, herbalism, health, healing, crafts, plants, nature, natural, annuals, calendar, calendars, datebook, date book, 2012
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2011-07-28T16:00:00+00:00

[contents]

Herb Soups that Heal

by Darcey Blue French

Your granny always knew that a steaming bowl of chicken soup was the best medicine when you felt sick. Long before herbs came in capsules, or even herbal tinctures, people all over the world used herbs in teas and soups to make medicines. Though tinctures and capsules are certainly convenient, many herbs used for healing lend themselves better to long cooking in tea or soup.

The benefits of soup itself are numerous. The best broths are made by cooking animal bones (chicken, beef, lamb, or others) in a large amount of water with a source of acid, usually lemon or vinegar, for a long period of time. These “bone broths” are full of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as collagen and gelatin.

Not only are the minerals contained in bone broths important for bones, they are vital to the healthy function of muscles, nervous system, and every cell in the body. Collagen and gelatin are known to improve the elasticity of skin and strengthen hair and nails; they also repair and maintain a healthy digestive tract. Bone broth is considered by many natural health practitioners as one of the most nourishing healing foods available to us, in a time when many of our foods are lacking in minerals and vitamins resulting from depleted soils or excessive processing. Of course, you want to make sure to use bones from organically raised, and if possible, pastured grass-fed animals to avoid antibiotics, hormones, and other toxins associated with industrial meat production.

Basic Bone Broth

1 pound bones from organic, free-range

chicken, beef, lamb, shellfish, or fish

2 cups cold water, or enough to cover the bones

1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice

1. Add all the ingredients to a large stock pot or crock pot.

2. Bring to a low simmer.

3. Cover and cook on very low heat at least 8 hours, but up to 36. The longer it cooks the better it gets!

4. Periodically check the level of the liquid and replenish to keep the bones covered. A crockpot can easily be left on “low” for a few days at a time. If you are using a stockpot on the stove, you may turn it off when leaving the house or sleeping, but make sure to bring it to a simmer and reduce the heat again when you return to cooking.

5. After the cooking, remove from heat and cool. Strain bones from the liquid and store in portion sized jars or freezer bags. Broth keeps for a week in the refrigerator. Freeze for longer storage.

Adding Healing Herbs

The addition of herbs to this healing broth can make a remarkable medicine. I’ve included some recipes to start with, but once you get the hang of it, you can create your own healing soup brews by choosing herbs that you like and are appropriate for the situation at hand. Here is a brief introduction to some of the most commonly used soup herbs.

Astragalus Root

The Chinese say that astragalus strengthens the “wei-qi” or the shield qi.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.