How to Make a Glycerite Tincture

Do you want to make a pure, effective herbal medicine for your family that builds the immune system, soothes sore throats, and fights infection? You can make this medicine in the comfort of your own kitchen and have absolute confidence that it will be safe and effective for even the youngest members of your family. It contains no alcohol and yet is completely preserved. Making a tincture doesn't have to be complicated! All you need is an assortment of herbs, a jar with its corresponding lid, a towel, and a Crock-Pot! In just six simple steps you will have a pure, concentrated herbal medicine.

Step #1: Prepare your herbs

This step is not always necessary. Some herbs need a bit of crushing and grinding to give the extraction a head start, especially if those herbs have a tough exterior. In my lovely marble mortar I have a nice bunch of dried rosehips which I crushed slightly with my pestle.

Rosehips are full of seeds and a peculiar fuzzy mass.

How to Make Porridge

Yes, indeed! Porridge, a breakfast fare that has become obsolete with the introduction of boxed cold cereals (loaded with sugar, ahem). The only association most of us have with porridge today is the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears.

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Oats are highly nutritious, containing seven B vitamins, vitamin E, and nine different minerals (especially a high amount of calcium), and also contain twice as much protein as wheat. "Oats are the third leading cereal crop produced in the United States (after wheat and corn) and the fourth most important crop world-wide. They were once considered a weed which grew right with the barley and wheat. One day farmers decided to "join 'em rather than fight 'em," and oats started being planted as a crop by itself. It fares best in cool, moist climates, which is why they are such a popular staple of the British Isles like Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The grain was introduced into the Americas in 1602 by a sea captain who planted them in one of the islands off the coast of Massachusetts. They were a popular grain, but corn had a better yield per acre crop, so their popularity wasn't as great as corn. Today, nearly half of the world's oat crop -- more than 4 billion bushels a year -- is grown in the United States and Canada." (Source)

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I'm sure many enjoy quick oatmeal prepared in the microwave or even on the stovetop, if you possess the patience to endure a lengthy cooking period and glue-like remainders in your pot. But what is porridge, and how do you make it?

Porridge is really no different than your standard oatmeal, but it's so much more than oatmeal! Porridge has a smooth, creamy consistency whereas oatmeal is rather thick, chewy, and (sometimes) dry. Quite simply, porridge is different as the oats are soaked for a certain period of time. However, texture is not the only benefit of soaking oats!

"All grains contain phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorous is bound) in the outer layer or bran. Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and especially zinc in the intestinal track and block their absorption... [leading] to serious mineral deficiencies and bone loss. Soaking allows enzymes, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to break down and neutralize phytic acid. As little as seven hours of soaking in warm acidulated water will neutralize a large portion of phytic acid in grains. The simple practice of soaking cracked or rolled cereal grains overnight will vastly improve their nutritional benefits." (Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon)

You see, when oats are not soaked prior to consumption, the phytates keep you from receiving all the incredible nutritional benefits that oats have to offer. And, there are still more benefits to soaking oats:

• Decreased cooking time: Preparing oats on the stovetop normally takes up to twenty minutes; after soaking, you can cook oats in less than five minutes!
• Expansion: An average serving of oats is one-half cup. This same amount, after soaking, can feed two hearty appetites. Oats have always been thrifty but when you soak, you can stretch your dollar even further!

Soaking oats does not have to be difficult. Really, it couldn't be more simple!

First, measure your oats. You can used quick or rolled oats, whichever you prefer or have on hand. I find it handy to dump my oats onto a flexible paper plate...

My First Herbal Tincture!

I'm so excited! Saturday I got a glycerite started in the Crock-pot using three herbs: echinacea, yarrow, and red clover. A glycerite is another way of making a concentrated herbal extract called a tincture. Instead of using an alcohol base to extract the properties of your chosen herbs, with a glycerite you use vegetable glycerine and slow, steady heat for three days.

Note to self: Do not stuff your jar FULL with herbs ever again! You will be sorry. 

Yes, silly me, I crammed too much dried herbs in my jar, not thinking that they would expand as they soaked up the liquid. Yesterday afternoon I was devastated to discover that my jar had leaked most of its rich liquid into the water in the Crock-pot. I was determined to make it work though, so I scooped out some of the herbs and added more glycerine and water, praying my final product wouldn't be too weak. We live and learn. =)

This morning my tincture was finished. If the smell is any indication (whew!), I'm pretty sure it's strong enough medicinally despite the mishap. Using cheesecloth, I squeezed the nutrient-rich liquid off of the herbs. I was so surprised: it gave me a whole cup, filling three tincture bottles!

It has a deep brown color... and a STRONG smell. (gag)

Three bottles full, ready and waiting for my family's next bout with the flu. Bring it on! =D

Household Cleaning 101

I love Saturdays. I love laying my head on my pillow after a long, busy day with a sense of satisfaction that comes from getting so much accomplished. Today everything within sight in the kitchen got scrubbed and scoured, and I finally got to those dusty, greasy light fixtures! Amazing how much brighter the kitchen is now. =)

I discovered a wonderful new "cleaning product" today. Have you ever noticed that, however hard you scrub at smudges on stainless steel appliances, they just won't come clean?! I don't know about you, but it drives me crazy. Somewhere recently, though, I read about polishing stainless steel appliances with olive oil, so today I tried it. Ta-da! I never saw anything so shiny. And it was completely effortless! Just thought I'd pass that tip along. (wink)

Allow me share a few other cleaning tips with you while I'm on the subject.

An orange is precious thing. It is not to be wasted. Not any of it!

Okay, so being produce-deprived has made me somewhat eccentric. (chuckle) However, there are incredible uses for orange peels like you wouldn't believe! 

The Weather and Our Health

On November 13, we sorrowfully said goodbye to the sun.

We were graced with a gentle departure...

...and a final burst of glory as it vanished from the view of our northerly latitude.

The True LIGHT and overcoming peace of Christ's presence becomes so real during the dark days of Arctic winter. During the those endless night-stretching days when it seems that carrying on with joy is hopeless, His presence is enough. When spiritual oppression is strong and sensed, we only have to pray and Jesus delivers us. When a month passes without leaving the house except to walk the dog... when patience runs low and there is a discord in our home, He gives grace and helps and restores.

With His presence comes a real sense of contentment that is found only in Him.

The Comfort and Joy of Herbs

Herbs bring me such happiness. They bring healing to the sick. They're beautiful in their colors and texture. They even taste delicious! God has blessed me with my own little herb office -- half of a kitchen cupboard to call my very own! =)

Just above some coffee mugs, recipe books, and a few "cattle" is my little store of gladness. I keep my reference books (as many as will fit) to the left. The Green Pharmacy. The Herb Book. Probiotics: Nature's Internal Healers. Herbal Antibiotics. I love my books! Hiding behind my books are jars of salves and oils and cotton balls. In the plastic containers are small amounts of herbs which I am to use for projects assigned by my herbology course. In the sour cream container (ahem! I need to find something more suitable...) are bottles of essential oils. Taking up the greatest amount of space are my bulk herbs (from BulkHerbStore.com) -- echinacea, yarrow, oatstraw, chamomile, peppermint, rose hips, hibiscus, cinnamon, cloves, ginger root, black and green tea leaves, beeswax... and a few others I can't recall.

Here's something else that's filled with happiness. Mom graciously let me borrow one of her beautiful tin cans to store my teas.

Introducing Perfect Peace Herbal Tea

I had been anticipating the arrival of my first order from The Bulk Herb Store. Oh, what joy! My herb cupboard in my family's kitchen is absolutely to the brim.

It has been so fun to experiment with different tea blends. So far I have come up with Fruit Felicity, Heart at Home (still needs some work), and Perfect Peace -- which is now available for purchase in my little shop! The others will be making their appearance before long.

Perfect Peace became an immediate favorite with my sister, my mom and myself. I've made it for us to enjoy the past few evenings. It makes us feel so relaxed and quite sleepy. =) As for me, it greatly helped with some bad tummy pain caused by a new brand of garlic capsules. Ugh. =( Thank the Lord for herbs!

"Teas (infusions and/or decoctions) have the advantage of being well assimilated, which make them easier for a weakened body to digest. Hot water releases more of the herb's active elements. Best of all, most teas taste great." -- BulkHerbStore.com

View the listing for more info!

Healing with Chamomile

Peter was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight!

I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.

His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!

Beatrix Potter, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"

Chamomile is such a delightful herb. Although I have only just begun to benefit from its healing worth, I already love this herb. I'm  certain is will be among my favorites throughout my years (eighty, at least) of home doctorin'. Like many other herbs, it is versatile in its uses: tea, massage oil, salve, tincture, liniment, and hair rinse, to name a few off the top of my head. It soothes pain, cleanses wounds, calms nerves, and brings rest.

A Pleasing Herbal Tea

Since early this year, I have been doing correspondent studies from The Herbal Healer Academy on natural methods of healing. I first took their course on homeopathy, seeking a better understanding of the remedies my family has been using for the past several years. I enjoyed every moment of the learning experience.  Homeopathy, the potentization of a particular substance, is truly one of the safest and most effective forms of natural medicine available to us.  It's made a huge difference in the health of each member of my family.  In past years, my dad suffered from severe bronchitis annually, and of course the rest of my family fell victim to colds and flus on a regular basis.  Since using homeopathic remedies, our immune systems have been strengthened and we are far less susceptible to viruses. Additional nutritional adjustments to our diet, such as using whole wheat flour and eliminating junk foods, plus a consistent intake of supplements have yielded further beneficial results. We do not take good health for granted--we thank the Lord!

As I resumed my correspondence Bible college studies (from Landmark Baptist College) this fall, I made the decision to also further my education of natural healing methods.  I am now thoroughly enjoying the process of learning how to use herbs!  I am very excited. =)  There are 22 lessons in this particular course and, much to my delight, each lesson includes a hands-on herbal project.  Project #1 was a hydrotherapeutic bath composed of rosemary, basil, thyme, sage, and lavender (it was wonderful).  I'm currently on the second lesson; its project is four different herbal teas.  The first one I did was Indian Spice. The six ingredients were cinnamon, fennel, anise, cardamom, cloves, and peppercorns.  I think I let it steep too long.  It was STRONG. (gag)  I thought extra honey might help.  Quite the contrary.  I got half of it down, anyway. (chuckle)

My second herbal tea, Forever Fruit, was much better.  In fact, it was delightfully pleasing! As you can see from the photo, the tea contained rosehips, lemongrass, hibiscus, orange peel, and peppermint. Below is a clearer picture of the herbs. The large orange-colored pieces are orange peel and the red pieces are rosehips. The thin herbs are lemongrass and the rosey-hued fragments are hibiscus petals. Finally, the more rounded leaflets are peppermint.
 

I later did some research on the properties of these herbs. I was very amazed by the information I found!