Herbal Recipes
Rosemary
"As for Rosmarine I lett it runne all over my garden walls, not onlie because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred to remberance, and therefore, to friendship." —Sir Thomas Moore
Latin Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
The leaves and flowers of rosemary contain an essential oil made up of borneol (an antiseptic), camphor, 1,8 cineole (also found in eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) oil), linalol, terpenes, and borneol ester.
The herb also contains tannin, resin, a bitter principle (carboxylic acid), and the minerals calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, and potassium.
- Used for bad breath, baldness, bruises, circulation problem (hands and feet), colds, colic, cramps, dandruff, digestive upsets, eczema, falling hair, headaches, fever, sluggishness, low blood pressure, mouth ulcers, sores and wounds, poor memory, rheumatism, spasms, and sprains.
- Rosemary was held in high esteem in days gone by and most medieval kitchen gardens sported a healthy rosemary bush. It was believed that where rosemary flourished, the woman ruled. Consequently, it was also suspected that many rosemary bushes were secretly damaged by husbands threatened by such a public display of their lack of authority.
- Rosemary has many uses in the kitchen. Most meat will improve with the addition of rosemary and rosemary sauce is a pleasant change from mint sauce. It can also be added to vegetable dishes and is excellent with oven-roasted potatoes. Use sparingly as the flavor is quite strong. The dried flowers are pleasant added to potpourri.
Recipe: Rosemary Infusion
Dandruff, Baldness, Falling Hair Rinse
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis: 1 ounce Filtered water: 2 pints Borax: 2 teaspoons Prepare as a standard infusion. Steep for 20 minutes. Strain, and then add borax. Use as a hair wash when cold. Borax is a preservative and water softener. Petersen, D. (2018). HERB 201: Herbal Studies.Portland, OR: American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Recipe: Rosemary Potatoes
Ingredients: 2 pounds Red Bliss, Yukon Gold, or other thin-skinned potatoes (5 to 6 medium potatoes), scrubbed clean 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon dried rosemary or 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons kosher salt Preparation: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or a nonstick baking mat. Halve the potatoes and chop them into bite-sized pieces, leaving the skins on. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl and toss with the olive oil, rosemary, and salt. Make sure the potatoes are evenly coated with oil. Spread the potatoes out on the baking sheet. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the potatoes are deeply golden, stirring every 15 minutes. Serve while still hot and crispy. https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-rosemary-roasted-potatoes-side-dish-recipes-from-the-kitchn-46732
Nettle
Botanical Names: Urtica dioica, U. urens and many others
Parts that can be used: Young leaves, roots, seeds
Properties: Astringent, diuretic, nutritive
Uses: Arthritis, Asthma, Building blood, Eczema, Fatigue, Food, Hypothyroid, Insulin resistance, Low lactation, Menstrual cramps, Seasonal allergies, Urinary tract infections, Weak hair-teeth-bones, Diuretic, Kidney stones, Compress for gout/sprains
How to use Nettles:
- Nourishing greens and can be consumed in large quantities like kale and spinach
- Needs to be cooked to eliminate stinging hairs
- Blanch prior to using in stir fries, pestos, etc
- Dried and powdered leaves can be used in smoothies, teas, tinctures
Nettle in Chinese Medicine (Xun Ma)
Category: Herbs that dispel wind and dampness
These herbs typically help treat what's called 'bi pain' (i.e. painful obstruction) in TCM. This roughly corresponds to arthritic and rheumatic conditions with pain, stiffness and numbness of the bones, joints and muscles. Open and dry the Lung, Liver, and Kidney meridians.
Stinging nettle leaves are plants that are Cold in nature. This means that stinging nettle leaves typically help people who have too much "heat" in their body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much heat in their body are said to either have a Yang excess (because Yang is Hot in nature) or a Yin deficiency (Yin is Cold in Nature).
Depending on your condition stinging nettle leaves can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Xun Ma (Nettle)
Chinese Medicine Nettles can be included in spring detox or cleanse formulas Perfect in formulas to support pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding for these reasons Also for excess bleeding, such as in postpartum care, or remove mineral build-up, like that of kidney stones Taste is Bitter and Pungent. Five Element Theory: Bitter ingredients like stinging nettle leaves tend to have a cleansing action on the body by clearing heat, drying dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements. Pungent ingredients tend to promote the circulations of qi and body fluids. That's why for instance someone tends to sweat a lot when they eat spicy/pungent food Ayurvedic Medicine Nettles can help move stagnant or stuck Kapha energy, helping to bring the doshas back into balance They can be used to help clear obstructive Vata conditions, particularly those of a damp or clogged nature akin to excess or stuck Kapha energy and those of stuck and heavy ama Nettles are considered cooling and pungent with an astringent taste. They’re best aligned with Pitta energy, helping to gently cool and clear overheated conditions
Recipe: Support Healthy Blood
Watercress Nasturtium officinale (fresh): 2 ounces Dandelion Taraxacum officinale root and leaves: 1 ounce Nettle Urtica dioica leaves: 1 ounce Fennel Foeniculum vulgare seeds: 1⁄2 ounce Elder Sambucus canadensis flowers: 1⁄2 ounce Pour two pints of boiling water over the herbs and steep for 30 minutes. Drink two cups a day for three weeks. Nettles are perfect for times when you want to nourish the blood and drain or move fluids that have started to pool or stagnate Petersen, D. (2018). HERB 201: Herbal Studies.Portland, OR: American College of Healthcare Sciences.