Timeless Herb Secrets

Hearty Veggie Soup

Don't think that because it's winter you can't do any gardening. There's a lot you can do. Even if it's just 'desktop gardening' - planning, reading, sorting recipes, dreaming, etc.

I like to focus my winter gardening efforts on designer greens and containers because I can move them with the sun, and I can bring them indoors during bad weather spells. Browse through www.gofoodgardening.com. You'll find lots of tips and ideas.

It's also a good idea to get some 'frost cover' from your garden centre before it's too late. Remember that the 'frost cover' should not touch your plants and that you must remove it during the day.

And to get you into that 'winter mode' here is one of my favourite soup recipes. Serve it with freshly baked Chilli Corn bread, Sweet & Spicy Tomato Jam, and Sherry.

Hearty Veggie Soup Recipe

2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
10 mushrooms, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 can corn, drained
1 potato, peeled, cut into chunks
1cup green beans cut in half
4 cups vegetable broth
3 cups canned crushed tomatoes, drained

bouquet garni consisting of:
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
½ cup fresh cilantro (coriander leaves), chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
¼ cup fresh oregano, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped chives to garnish

In a heavy large soup pot combine zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, celery, corn, potatoes and green beans.

Add vegetable broth, tomatoes, and the bouquet garni (parsley, cilantro, garlic, and oregano.) Bring the mixture to a boil.

Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Take 3 cups of vegetables from pot and ¼ cup cooking liquid and liquidize. Stir puree into rest of soup and season to taste. Heat through, garnish with chives and serve.

Let me know how it tasted.

Source: The Seasoned Chef

Herbal Medicine Making

If you believe in being responsible for your own well being, and you want to improve your health and vitality by becoming your own herbalist, then the "Herbal Medicine Making" distance learning program is the perfect first step to make your dream come true.

It is a comprehensive herbal medicine making program which forms the foundation for becoming your own herbalist.

Step-by-Step Medicine Making

The art and craft of making herbal remedies is all about using the best method and the best solvent to extract the health giving properties of a specific herb. In Herbal Medicine Making a team of highly competent and peer respected herbologists teaches you, step-by-step, how to make a popular range of both internal (oral) and external (topical) herbal preparations.

The program goes way beyond popular folk methods - those that you found in most popular herb books. These methods do work, and their simplicity often belies their effectiveness.  But to become a competent herbologist you also need to be familiar with the 'official' (pharmacopoeia / dispensatory method) and 'standard' (contemporary herbalist's method) of herbal medicine making.

To achieve the above our team of herbologists supply you with detailed instructions and supplementary information on best practices for folk, official and standard methods (where applicable).

And whenever you get stuck help is immediately at hand in the form of a dedicated tutor as well as online forums.

Upon completion of Herbal Medicine Making you will be able to:

• Use credible, peer reviewed, information about contemporary herbal remedies and compile it into your own family herbal.
• Use herbal remedies safely, responsibly and effectively for individual and family health care.
• Set up your own apothecary (low tech kitchen lab) using ordinary kitchen equipment and supplies.
• Use the Rules and Guidelines of Herbal Medicine Making in your own apothecary.
• Formulate and prepare internal remedies including infusions, decoctions, tinctures, wine infusions and vinegar infusions.
• Formulate and prepare external remedies including ointments and salves, lotions and creams, poultices and fomentations.

No Classes to Attend

This being a distance learning (home study) program there are no classes or lectures to attend at a distant venue. No time wasted in traffic and no time wasted traveling. You download all your learning material via the internet and you do the program in the comfort of your home or office.

To read more about the Herbal Medicine Making learning program and to enroll please visit http://www.masterherbremedies.com/herbalmedicinemaking.html

Herbal Cold and Flu Remedies

My granny used to say that "If you take medicine for a cold, you will be cured within seven days, and if you don't, you will be cured within a week." But the common cold is the cause of considerable misery, especially at this time of the year. Searches for its cure are like searches for the Holy Grail. Fortunately herbs, when used as part of a well planned natural treatment protocol, have much to offer. In this weeks newsletter I want to introduce you to 5 herbs that you should consider learning about this year.

Cayenne (Capsicum sp.)

Chillies, especially Jalapeno, are probably the best, most available and most effective antiviral. Unfortunately, unless you are used to taking it, your digestive tract won't tolerate enough cayenne to treat your virus infection. Try to integrate more chillies into your diet before you get sick. Then, when you need it, you'll have a better tolerance for high doses. To get accustomed to the heat of chilli try a glass of water or milk with a few drops of Tabasco sauce on a daily basis. Gradually increase the drops. You can grow your own chilli plants or you can buy chillies from your green grocer.

Echinacea (Echinacea sp.)

Taken frequently, and in sufficient quantities, this is undoubtedly the best herb to take during the early stages of your cold. It is not an antibiotic - it does not kill germs. Instead, it works by stimulating the production of white blood cells, accelerating their maturity, and speeding their travel to the area of infection where they fight off the invaders. You can also take echinacea in small quantities before you get a cold (especially when everybody around you is getting sick) to help build your immunity. Take echinacea as an infusion or as a tincture. Both are available from health shops. You can also grow your own.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

Elderberry has been used for centuries to treat colds and flu. Recent research indicates that elderberry fruit extract may de-activate cold and flu viruses by preventing them from replicating (they must reproduce or else they can't infect the body.) Although this finding is exciting it only proves what millions have known for ages - it works for colds and flu. It is best taken at the first signs of a cold either as an infusion, tincture or capsules. Discontinue use as soon as your symptoms subside. Available from health shops. Don't try to grow your own in South Africa, it's very invasive.

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic is sometimes referred to as a truly natural antibiotic as it can destroy foreign bacteria without any side effects. Its antimicrobial properties stem from the substance allicin, a potent antibacterial agent that is released when garlic cloves are cut or bruised. The volatile oil containing the allicin is excreted via the lungs. This explains why garlic is so successful in combating respiratory infections such as chronic bronchitis, catarrh and recurrent colds and flu. Garlic is best when fresh but it can also be taken in capsule form. But make sure that the capsules contain natural allicin - the synthetic alternatives are useless. Many people use it daily as a tonic to maintain health and to prevent recurrent respiratory infections. About 4 g fresh garlic (one medium sized clove) daily is recommended for tonic use, or if you prefer capsules, one capsule twice daily. For a therapeutic dose use one clove three times a day. Obtain it from your grocer or try and grow your own.

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

Ginger, either freshly grated or powdered, taken as a tea induces sweating and elimination. Hot ginger tea (or my favourite - ginger brandy made with a prima quality 10 year old brandy and fresh ginger root) also supports and tonifies the stomach, spleen and large intestine and it improves bowel function. It is a classic immune system and respiratory tonic. Ginger will also provide relief for virtually all of your cold symptoms - fever, sinus congestion, sore throat, stomach ache and nausea. Available from you grocer or supermarket as fresh root, ginger powder or tincture (Lennon's Jamaica Gemmer.)

To learn how to make your own herbal medicines visit www.MasterHerbRemedies.com.