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Time of day is 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Paired with the Bladder
Governs water
Controls: the Gate of Life/Ming Men, the reception of Qi, spittle, the two lower orifices
Manifests in the hair
Fluid is spittle
Tissue is bones
Sound is groaning
Climate is Cold
Direction is north
Taste is salty
Season is winter
Sense is ears
Odor is putrid
Emotion is fear
Color is black
Development is storage
Movement is downward
Yin/Yang is utmost Yin
Meat, including chicken, is acidic and should not be eaten in excess; in excess, it can easily contribute to/exacerbate Damp-Heat, Qi stagnation, etc., in the body.
Slow cooking (chicken and meats) in a soup or boiling vs. grilling, broiling, or frying is easier to digest and creates less Yang energy which can be overheating and congesting.
I recommend chicken fairly often to clients with digestive issues and/or fatigue. In terms of TCM, this could be a Spleen or Kidney deficiency. Symptoms may include, muscle weakness, bloat/distention after eating, loose stools, pale tongue, chills, sallow complexion, poor appetite, edema, infertility, etc.
Even for new moms that are deficient and have had Blood loss, I recommend as little as 2 oz of meat (i.e., beef, dark meat chicken & duck, beef/chicken liver, etc.) 3x per week; this is, of course in tandem with other Spleen and Blood nourishing foods and herbs. I also suggest hormone-free, free-range, organic chicken.
𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲: Sweet
𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: Warm
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀: Spleen & Stomach, Kidneys (Flaws)
𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Upbearing
𝗧𝗖𝗠: Warms the Middle Burner, Nourishes the Spleen, Nourishes Qi, Blood, & Jing, Tonifies the Kidneys, Strengthens Tendons & Bones (Lu)
𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: Protein, fat, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, magnesium
🐔Persistent illness, poor appetite - stewed chicken (add in astragalus and dang gui)
🐔Edema - stewed with red or adzuki beans
🐔Palpitations, dizziness, pale face, fatigue, muscle weakness, amenorrhea, weakness &/or lack of milk after childbirth (Qi & Blood deficiency) = boiled (simmer for a few hours) w/ dang gui & jujube dates
🐔Frequent urination, seminal emission, weak & painful knees, tinnitus (Kidney deficiency) = boiled with equal parts water & rice wine (Livingstone)
🐔Diabetes
🐔 Vaginal bleeding & discharge
🐔Rheumatism - boil 100 grams of pomegranate peel in water with chicken to make soup (Lu)
🐔Classic TCM soup for fatigue = prepare & cut the chicken into small pieces. Fry chicken in a pan, add a little vegetable oil & a few slices of ginger and continue to fry until cooked. Add 3 cups of water & ½ cup of rice wine & boil for 20 minutes. (Lu)
🐔Black boned chicken is considered the best energy tonic food (Lu)
🐔Chicken liver acts on the Liver & Kidneys = tonic = blurred vision, malnutrition in children, habitual miscarriage
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
🐔 Eating fatty chicken soup may cause diarrhea in those with indigestion or weak digestion.
🐔 Nitrogen compounds in chicken become soluble in soup (creatine, creatinine, & purine) = avoid with gout, gouty arthritis, and high uric acid (avoid drinking soup, eat only the chicken).
🐔 Avoid at the beginning of a cold.
I have worked with many women suffering from painful periods. The stabbing pain (hypochondrial, abdominal, etc) felt either before, during, or after is a clear indication of Blood stagnation. This can be verified by noting the addition of a couple of the following symptoms: dark-colored menstrual Blood, dark-clotted Blood, purple nails, purple lips, purple tongue, dark sublingual veins, and a wiry, choppy pulse.
In TCM to alleviate the pain, we would use herbs to move Blood along w/other herbs in an appropriate formula. (Please consult a qualified herbalist).
One food that has an affinity for the uterus and moves Blood is eggplant.
TCM
Taste: Sweet
Temperature: Slightly cold
Direction: Downward
Organs: Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen
Moves Blood, relieves pain, clears Heat, cools Blood, reduces swelling, activates Qi and Blood in the Lower Burner
Nutrition Note:
Vitamin C, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, alkaloids
Contains vitamin P which can prevent hardening of Blood vessels
Contains solanine in its skin which is a calcium inhibitor and may also aggravate arthritis
How to enjoy: steam, roast, grill, stew, make dip, juice or wine infusion
Benefits Uses:
🍆Abdominal pain
🍆Stomatitis: bake peel from fresh eggplant until v dark on outside but inside intact; mix w/honey chew like gum
🍆 Promotes urination: dehydrate and grind into a powder ¼ tsp
🍆 Painful urination
🍆 Blood in urine
🍆 Snakebites
🍆 Bee stings - use raw, slice open rub on the affected area
🍆 Diarrhea
🍆 Treats dysentery
🍆 Assists bowel motions
🍆 Hypertension
🍆 Skin ulcers
🍆 Skin eruptions: dehydrate and grind into a powder, mix w/sesame oil for external application
🍆 Canker sores
🍆 Toothache
🍆 Chronic cough: boil white eggplant in water and drink the soup w/honey
🍆 Mastitis
🍆 Carbuncles
🍆 Jaundice-type hepatitis: eat with rice for several days
🍆 Bloody stools due to Heat in Blood: steamed eggplant
🍆 Bloody stools due to Hemorrhoids: eggplant leaves boiled in water, drink water
🍆 Bloody stools due to Intestinal Wind: eggplant wine = toasted eggplants soaked in wine
🍆 Bleeding Hemorrhoids or difficult stools: steamed eggplant
🍆 Treating corns (clavus): raw juice topically
🍆 PID, ovarian cysts, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine myomas
🍆 Chronic venereal infections
Special notes:
Due to its cold energy it stops Bleeding as well, it is therefore considered obstructive to some extent.
Overconsumption may harm the uterus because it moves Qi and Blood without tonification
Please avoid if you are sensitive to nightshades
Avoid in cold patterns
Simple Baba Ganoush recipe
1 medium eggplant
¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup tahini
Clove or 2 of garlic - crushed and minced
1 Tbs olive oil
¼ cup fresh parsley
Turn the oven to 400 F.
Make several piercings with a knife and place in a shallow baking dish.
Tent with foil for about 45 minutes until tender.
Peel and discard skin taking care not to burn yourself.
Put the eggplant in a food processor to puree.
Add in the lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, and parsley to just blend.
Place in a dish to serve. I like this at room temperature.
Other ingredients: tahini is cool (roasted seeds are warmer) and nourishes Blood, parsley is warm and stimulates digestion, lemon is cold and expels Heat, olive oil is cooling and moistening.
I eat a LOT of leafy greens, so it’s a good thing I love them. Dark leafy greens are rich in chlorophyll and not only contain iron but other components that assist in the absorption and utilization of iron and the manufacture of Blood (Maclean).
One of my favorites is beet greens.
Some important nutrients in beet greens per 3 oz serving include calcium 117 mg, iron 2.7mg, magnesium 70 mg, phosphorus 41mg, potassium 762 mg, zinc .38 mg, copper .191 mg, manganese .391 mg, selenium .9 mg, vitamin C 30 mg, beta carotene 3790 ug. Not too shabby, considering all this is packed in about 22 calories.
See the complete nutrient profile here https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170375/nutrients
I often recommend eating at least a couple of servings of dark leafy greens per day to my clients, especially women. Women are at higher risk of becoming Blood deficient due to monthly Blood loss and if she has given birth. Vegans and vegetarians are also at risk regardless of gender.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) standpoint, generally speaking, if someone is Blood deficient there is a good chance there will also be some Spleen Qi deficiency and vice versa. One of the important jobs of the Spleen is transforming (and transporting) foods and drinks into Blood and nutrients for the entire body. When weakened or deficient it is difficult for Spleen Qi to process certain foods and in these cases, I recommend eating all cooked foods vs. cold and raw foods such as salads.
Today’s greens include beet, curly kale, and spinach (I could only fit ½ the amount in the pan until they wilt down a bit). I turn the heat on high and add a tiny bit of water (the greens are already wet due to rinsing to clean them). Add the greens and turn them with a tong as they wilt down. Takes less than 2 minutes. I sometimes add Celtic sea salt and nutritional yeast to flavor.
Rishi loves kale stems.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 - 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿
Sage - antibacterial, antifungal, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, antiviral, drying = good for excessive secretions, a head cold that goes into a sinus infection, staph infection, opens the Lungs relieving Heat and inflammation = anti-inflammatory, sore throat
Pleurisy - antispasmodic, expectorant, diaphoretic, lowers fever, an herb used for when it hurts to breathe, coughing so much it hurts, draws out phlegm from the system, opens up membranes surrounding heart and lungs
Honeysuckle flower- alterative, cools the Blood, antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, upper respiratory tract infection, flu, sore throat, pneumonia, fever, disperses Heat and toxic matter
Ground ivy - antiviral, expectorant, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory activities, upper respiratory tract infection, diaphoretic, sinusitis, viral pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, cough
Usnea- antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, expectorant, clears Heat toxins, upper respiratory infections, strep throat, staph, pneumonia, bronchitis, colds, flu
𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 - 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵
Horehound -slightly cool and slightly moist, Lung inflammation (anti-inflammatory), Lung congestion = expectorant, transforms Phlegm -Heat, non-productive & spasmodic coughs, dry sticky mucus, bronchitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, laryngitis, hoarseness
Red clover flower - alterative, expectorant, antispasmodic, clears Heat toxins, cools the Blood, fever, inflamed Lungs, whooping cough, hot dry irritable cough, lymphatic congestion, moistening
Ophiopogon - antibacterial, antitussive (relieves cough), diaphoretic, tonifies Yin, dry throat & mouth, dry cough with thick or Bloody mucus, fever
Pseudostellaria - energetically neutral, Lung tonic, augments Qi & Yin, generates fluids (can be used with white mucus that is hard to expectorate as well), demulcent, per David Winston: Best Lung tonic - good for weak Lungs
***As always, ask your Dr. or a qualified herbalist about contraindications and interactions***
I’m often asked, “what can I take for my cold/flu,” and I always answer, “it depends.” Cold/flu symptoms change quickly, which means the herb(s) you use should too. We want symptoms to change for the better; however, a quick change can be for the worse if the wrong herb is used.
One part of a cold and the flu is mucus. Here are some helpful herbs to include in a well-balanced formula for a cold or the flu based on the color and texture of your mucus.
Today I’m sharing herbs primarily for clear to white mucus that is either profuse or little amounts and/or difficult to expectorate.
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 = 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 + 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵
Thyme - antiviral, diaphoretic, expectorant, antiseptic, antifungal, drys sinuses, rich in essential oil thymol = antibacterial
Ginger- anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, transforms Phlegm
Purple Perilla Seed - anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antiseptic, transforms Cold-Phlegm
Osha- antibacterial, expectorant, antiviral, diaphoretic as well as a bronchodilator, transforms Phlegm, stops cough, and clears toxins ** this is a very drying herb
Orange Peel - drying, and has a pleasant flavor
Angelica arc. - diaphoretic, expectorant, anxiolytic, analgesic, releases the exterior, warms and transforms Phlegm
Yerba Santa - expectorant, antispasmodic, transforms Cold Phlegm, stops cough
𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝘂𝘀 (𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲) + 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵
Licorice- neutral in property it may be used Cold or Heat type colds, with or without Phlegm, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, antispasmodic, antitussive, dispels Phlegm, relieves soreness, swelling, and pain in the throat, harmonizes other herbs in a formula, excellent for a dry cough
Slippery Elm - expectorant, antitussive, inflammation of all mucous membranes, clears Heat toxins, dry throat, dry cough, slippery elm gruel is excellent as a nutritive when there is upset stomach and it is difficult to keep food down.
Spikenard Root - fresh root - expectorant, antibacterial, antiviral, alterative, antiseptic, warming and moistening, for tough, stringy mucus (David Winston)
Lily Bulb - slightly cool but moistening, antitussive, expectorant, demulcent; I often put lily bulb in my drinking water when I have a dry throat
Solomon Seal - tonifies without stagnating, moistens the Lungs, good for non-productive dry cough, or dry cough with sticky sputum, and dry mouth and throat.
Tips:
Ginger and orange peel mix great together and children find that taste appealing.
From Micheal and Lesley Tierra: slippery elm gruel:
Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of boiling water to 1 tablespoon of powdered slippery elm bark in a small bowl. slowly stir to make a paste. Add honey or maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon for flavor.
Lavender and milky oats for nervous exhaustion and tension
Lavender and rosemary for headache with nervous tension
Lavender and feverfew for migraine
Lavender and catnip for colic in children
Lavender and peppermint for epigastric or abdominal discomfort with depression
𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
We are all familiar with lavender’s calming and tranquilizing effects. It Calms the Heart Shen, i.e., anxiety, insomnia, palpitations. Calms Liver Yang rising and Liver Wind = headache, migraine, nervous tension.
As seen in rat studies, lavender has direct antispasmodic action on the intestines (Intestinal Qi disturbances); this is beneficial for IBS, gas, menstrual cramps, Crohn’s, intestinal colic, muscle spasms, etc.
It is also has a secondary effect as a mild circulatory stimulant. This gentle moving effect can move both Heart and Liver Qi, making it useful for mild depression, indigestion, bipolar disorder, anxiety-depression, etc.
𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀:
❤️ High Blood pressure is more common in males than females
❤️ High Blood pressure is most common in non-Hispanic black adults
❤️ In 2019, over ½ a million deaths had hypertension as a primary or contributing cause
❤️ 1 In 4 adults with high Blood pressure have their condition under control
❤️ In many instances, hypertension is asymptomatic
❤️ Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing high Blood pressure
❤️ If you are diabetic, you are twice as likely to have high Blood pressure
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻s𝗶𝗼𝗻:
❤️ In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is no ancient “disease” called hypertension
❤️ Two of the most common symptoms of hypertension are headaches and dizziness
❤️ Some contributing factors to high Blood pressure:
➳Stress: worry, anger, repressed emotions, resentment, etc
➳Old age: Kidney Jing declines w/age = can lead to Liver patterns & Phlegm
➳Diet choices: excessive sweets, processed foods, dairy, cold & raw foods, alcohol = damages the Spleen, leads to Heat, leads to Phlegm
➳Phlegm
➳Overwork: damages the Kidneys and Liver over time
𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗖𝗠, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
❤️ Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency
❤️ Liver Yang Rising
❤️ Liver Fire
❤️ Phlegm
❤️ Spleen deficiency
❤️ Blood stagnation
❤️ Some other patterns may include Liver Qi stagnation w/Blood rebelling upward, Wind, Kidney Yang deficiency, etc.
𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 -𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻(𝘀)
❤️ Hawthorn - circulatory enhancing herb. It may help improve Blood vessels. Mildly lowers BP, inhibits plaque buildup on arterial walls. angina, palpitations, oppression in the chest.
❤️ Motherwort - used in formulas for hypertension with anxiety/stress, palpitations. oppression in the chest.
❤️ Maca - used in cases of renal hypertension
❤️ Khella seeds - vasodilator
❤️ Yarrow - peripheral vasodilator, also used for nosebleeds
❤️ Garlic - lowers BP, vascular herb, plaque formation
❤️ Passionflower - vasodilating effects, anxiety/stress-induced hypertension
❤️ California poppy - for hypertension-associated adrenal exhaustion due to stress/anxiety
❤️ Tian Ma - used in TCM for headaches, dizziness
❤️ Linden - stress-related hypertension
❤️ Milky oats - for stress-induced hypertension
❤️ Bugleweed - for stress-induced hypertension. Relieves oppression in the chest.
❤️ several TCM formulas are beneficial. Choosing one depends on what patterns of disharmony are present.
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘁 & 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: (check with your Dr. if you are unsure)
❤️ If overweight, reduce and maintain a healthy weight
❤️ Eat a healthy diet: reduce salt, sugar, saturated fat, & processed foods
❤️ Eat a healthy diet: include leafy greens & veggies, legumes, lentils, & whole grains
❤️ Reduce/omit coffee and alcohol
❤️ Quit smoking
❤️ Include omega III fatty acids (wild-caught salmon, sardines, halibut, etc.)
❤️ 30-minutes of aerobic exercise per day
❤️ Meditate, yoga, qi gong, tai chi, pranayama
❤️ Consider supplementing CoQ10
❤️ Make certain you are getting the RDA vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, & calcium
❤️ Remember that not all herbs are suitable for everyone. Please check with your Dr. or a qualified herbalist before starting a new herb.
Things to Know About Bitters
Dates as far back as ancient Egypt
In nature animals intuitively eat bitter plants when needed
Many bitter herbs are classified as a tonic
Bitters can influence all stages of digestion (Cephalic, gastric, intestinal)
Stimulates HCL production and increases digestive enzymes = helps break down foods/nutrients
Stimulates Insulin and glucagon secretions = helps normalize Blood sugar levels
Generally:
Combine cool bitter herbs & warm bitter herbs (or spicy herbs) to create a digestive bitters formula that may be taken daily
If it doesn’t taste bitter it isn’t going to work!
Used for:
Indigestion, flatulence, bloating, nausea, borborygmi, intestinal cramps
Low HCL (contributes to Gerd, IBS, Sibo, rosacea)
Constipation, diarrhea, slow transit time (how long it takes for food to be eliminated: appropriate = 18-24 hours)
Loss of appetite, malnutrition, malabsorption including poor fat and protein digestion, food allergies
Weakness due to viral or bacterial infections
Excessive sweet cravings (which may actually mask a craving for bitter)
Depression, mood disorders
Digestive weakening due to aging, low vital energy
Anemia
Avoid = Children under 5, acute GI inflammation/irritation, excessive stomach acid
Use w/caution = advisement of Dr and/or trained herbalist = Pregnancy
Cool bitter herbs for digestion
Dandelion root
Chicory
Artichoke
Chamomile
Horehound
Blessed thistle
Gentian
Hops
Bitter orange peel
White poplar bark
Warm bitter herbs for digestion
Turmeric
Angelica root (archangelica)
Fenugreek
Aged tangerine peel
Mugwort
Warming herbs for digestion
Cardamom
Ginger
Clove
Anise seed
Fennel seed
Prickly ash
Bayberry bark
Yarrow = neutral
Recipies
Rosemary Gladstar
2 parts fennel
1 part artichoke leaf
1 part dandelion root
1 part (organically cultivated) gentian
½ part ginger
Michael and Lesley Tierra
The Tierra’s suggest making tea, drinking ¼ cup prior to meals. Here are directions on how to make a decoction from Mountain Rose Herbs:
https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-infusions-and-decoctions
2 parts white poplar bark
2 parts (organically cultivated) gentian root
1 part bayberry bark
1 part ginger
½ part clove buds
David Winston
1 part dandelion root
1 part orange peel
1 part angelica archangelica
1 part artichoke
Rosemary’s folk method can be used for all the recipes
Combine the herbs and make a tincture. Here we are using 80-100 proof alcohol as the extractant. Use fresh or dried herbs
Place finely chopped herbs in a clean dry jar.
Pour enough of the menstruum to cover the herbs, and continue pouring until the liquid rises 2 or 3 inches above the herbs. The herbs need to be completely submerged. Cover with a tight-fitting lid use wax paper to avoid alcohol coming in contact with a metal lid.
Place the jar in a warm location and let herbs and liquid soak (macerate) for 4-6 weeks.
Shake the bottle daily during the maceration period.
Strain the herbs from the menstruum with a fine steel mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth reserving the liquid. Store liquid in a glass bottle(s) in a dark location.
I suggest keeping a 2 oz tincture bottle full of your bitters in the kitchen. Take 10-15 minutes before a meal. David Winston suggests 15-30 drops in a small amount of juice or water, swish around your mouth for a bit and swallow.
Also known as Winter Cherry - Indian Ginseng - Ajagandha - Kanaje
Bitter, warm, dry, sweet
TCM: Tonifies Yang, calms the Shen, calms the Liver, augments Essence, transforms Phlegm, and stops coughing
Belongs to the nightshade family - those with allergies or sensitivity to nightshades should not take it
Considered to be Rasayana = tonic for longevity and vitality/vigor
A calming adaptogen that regulates thyroid (stimulates the thyroid), testes, and adrenal glands, normalizes hormones and physiological functions
nourishing, building = relieves weakness and nervous exhaustion, emaciation, malnutrition, chronic fatigue
promotes healthy sleep cycles, insomnia
Grounding herb that regulates metabolic processes and stabilizes mood. Test have shown that extracts produce GABA-like activity = produces a calming effect, which makes sense as it is widely used for anxiety
Often paired with Shatavari (Ashwagandha = Yang tonic - Shatavari = Yin tonic synergistic together)
Used as an aphrodisiac, to build sexual energy and improve sperm count (mixed with ghee and honey), infertility
Rich in iron and used for anemia (mix powder w/ blackstrap molasses)
Back pain, joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis
Type II diabetes
Takes about a month to build up in our system - so its effects won’t likely be noticed right away
Per David Winston-
It has significant benefits for hyperimmune and hypoimmune function.
Used in India as part of protocols for cancer (suppresses tumors and prevents depletion of white blood cells
Per KP Khalsa -
chronic heart and vascular disorders, where it is often combined with the famous Terminalia arjuna (arjuna bark)
Per Michael and Lesley Tierra -
The leaves are used for hemorrhoids, wounds tumors, sores, rashes, and fever
Per Larken Bunce -
Ashwagandha can be uncomfortable for people that aren’t feeling safe or feel too uncomfortable to relax. Of course, we don’t want to force them or contribute to uncomfortable feelings. For these people, she suggests adding in other herbs like damiana or mugwort that have an uplift.
Pitta types = cranky get grumpy on ashwagandha - should give it to them right before bed vs. during the day.