Dec. 08 Nature's Rx

Spicing up your holidays and surviving those colds and flus By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME Can you believe it? It's December already. Aside from the Presidential primaries and race, this year has just disappeared. Well, now that we are in the season, I feel like offering some presents to my readers. Mulled libations Nothing warms up a chilly winter evening or a holiday party like mulled wine or cider. Aromatic, spicy, soothing and bursting with flavor, mulling spices are a wonderful treat for family and friends. Traditionally, spices were added to poor or souring wine to hide the off taste and to extend its drinkability. Today, we use the mulling spices to enhance the flavors and treat ourselves to a sensuous pleasure for several of our senses. Common spice mixtures might include cloves, cinnamon, allspice and star anise as ingredients. These spice blends are available from many sources, including your local market. At the Herbarium we have a blend of spices that also include citrus for a clean fresh taste. Recipe: Take a half-gallon of cider or red wine and add your mulling spice mixture in a large pot. Heat to just below boiling. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for about 30 minutes. Add some slices of fresh orange or lemon at serving time When we were in Ireland, our friends introduced us to a hot whiskey drink that took the chill right out of your bones. Recipe: 1 ounce good Irish whiskey (a brandy can be substituted), six-to-10 whole cloves, 1 spoon of sugar, boiling water, slice of fresh lemon and cloves. Boil the water, combine the whiskey and sugar in a glass or cup then add hot water to fill the glass, Float the lemon on top and add your cloves. Slante! Recycle those mulling spices! When you are done with your mulling spices, do not throw them out. Strain them from the dregs of your cider, put the spices in a pan or container of water and place them on your stove or wood stove to simmer. The spices still have plenty of scent in them and will fill the house with a wonderful aroma. Holiday aromatherapy In last year's column I gave the history of frankincense and myrrh ( still available in the archives). This year, might I suggest trying a combination of the two essential oils for some holiday Aromatherapy. Catholic readers may be familiar with the heavy scent of frankincense, but when combined with the myrrh, it is a softer, almost sweet scent that is very relaxing and soothing. You can add a few drops of the combination to an aroma lamp, or diffuser or a pan of water on the stove. Putting a few drops of the mixture on your Christmas tree or wreaths can add a fragrant and spiritual touch to your gatherings. Natural aids for colds & flu This is the season for colds and flu viruses, accompanied by raw scratchy throats and general aches and pains. Some simple suggestions to help with the problems would include a Ravensara soak. The soak: Simply put three drops of Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) essential oil into two quarts of hot water from the tap. Stir, then soak cloth in mixture, ring out and wrap around the neck. Secure with plastic wrap. This is great for sore throats, swollen glands and such. For stuffy heads, and tight chests, try the old reliable garlic steam. The steam: Take four-to-six good sized cloves of garlic and chop very fine. Place the garlic in a large bowl and fill about half way with freshly boiled water. Cover the bowl and let some steam build up. Make a tent over your head, shoulders and bowl with a bath towel. Remove the cover, close your eyes and breathe deeply. DO NOT put your face down in the bowl and hot steam. The garlic steam is anti- viral, anti-microbial, and very soothing. It can help clear up that stuffy head or loosen the chest. GH gives wrong info on Frankincense I just had a customer come in asking about taking Frankincense resin for arthritis. The story appeared in the December issue of "Good Housekeeping", citing a study from the University of California, Davis. The story showed pictures of raw Frankincense resin. This form is NOT for internal use. Indian frankincense or Boswellia serrata is a species of frankincense found in several arthritis formulas and is very effective as an anti inflammatory. But it is not exactly the stuff we burn in church. The form and processing of the Boswellia is important. You should not use the frankincense tears or oil for internal use. The frankincense mentioned in the article is a purified form or a CO2 extracted form and is available at health food stores. Well folks, I hope you have a very happy and healthy holiday and New Year. Stay safe and well, Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013