TCM on the Web

Here are two free, online resources that I like to browse in addition to my Traditional Chinese Medicine related books. Enjoy! :)

http://www.itmonline.org/about.htm

http://www.yinyanghouse.com/ (look for the 'Theory' tab at the top of the page to access their databases)

Fire Cider

It seems that my friends are passing around the creeping cruddies this year with abandon. So far, I have not fallen prey to their, um . . . generosity. Still, better safe than sorry. So today, in order to supplement my herbal bag of tricks, I made Fire Cider.

Fire Cider is a vinegar based concoction full of immune and circulation boosting roots. The main ingredients are fresh horseradish and ginger roots, onion, garlic cloves and apple cider vinegar. Honey can be used to sweeten it, and I have seen variations using citrus to temper the flavor.

This will be my first time trying it, so I have no idea what the flavor will be like, but it seems appropriate as I am currently fascinated by vinegar and herbal preparations which make use of it. And besides, I like all of the above ingredients on their own, so why not?

Making Fire Cider is very simple:

1. Peel the horseradish and ginger, and either slice thin or julienne. I found a mandoline slicer to be very useful on the ginger, but I just cut the horseradish into matchsticks. Chop the onion into small pieces, and smash the garlic cloves.

2. Put ingredients in a glass jar, and add the apple cider vinegar to cover the other ingredients.

3. Screw on the lid, and place in a kitchen cabinet for at least two weeks.

4. Strain, and commence flavor tempering with honey, citrus, etc.

Fire Cider can be used as a condiment and as a tonic in shot glass servings. As a tonic beverage, it can either be undiluted (that makes me think painful thoughts, though!) or, as I am planning, mixed with orange juice as a sipping beverage. Sort of like a really spicy winter shrub.

Other tips:

Your hands will be quite smelly after all the garlic and horseradish, but availing yourself of some stainless steel (spoons, sinks, measuring cups) will help to cut the smell. Simply rub your hands with the stainless and the odor will magically abate!

Herbs can be added as well. Cayenne is a popular choice, but I hate cayenne so I left it out. Instead, I added some dried thyme and a few leaves of fresh sage. 

Fire Cider around the interwebs:

Rosemary Gladstar's Recipe
Over at the From Scratch Club

Rehmannia, Astragalus, Agrimony

Sounds like a bizarre incantation, but, along with Prickly Ash, Blue Vervain, and White Peony,  it refers to this:

My latest extracting endeavors.

The minimum time for extracts is two weeks, but it can be interesting to play with longer time frames. My extracts usually sit for about three months before I remember to strain them out and bottle them. Some have even set for as long as six months (a valerian extract of the six month variety is one of my favorite creations). I guess it's a case of out of sight, out of mind - I store them in an otherwise ignored cabinet while they are doing their thing. 

Notice, they are labeled. Labeling is important, especially if you work with more than one herb at a time, blends, or letting them brew for longer time periods. Besides the names of the ingredients, I like to add the date I started the extracts. Once they are poured off, I will enter the start date and press date along with the name of the herb and source of materials into my herbal log book. 

There isn't any particular significance to the herbs pictured. They are some I am interested in, and some that I thought would be useful, some that a friend needed, and some that I wanted to experiment with.   

I'm really looking forward to pouring these off, as I like to compare tastes, aromas, and color nuances between herbs when it's time to bottle. Making the comparisons and having the contrasts helps me get a better feel for identifying each herb. If I have identical herbs from a previous batch on hand, (say, from remaking when I began to run low, or a store bought preparation) I will also compare apples to apples.

Bulk Herbs for Herbal Living on a Budget

So, after last week’s post, which talks about the first tip on the list in the Eight Tips for Herbal Living on A Budget post, now you have a list, or at least a general idea, of what herbs interest you the most. You may be wondering about purchasing the herbs on your list, and trying to decide which form makes the most sense to buy. This week, we will skip ahead to number four from the Eight Tips list, and talk about the benefits of using bulk herbs to make your own herbal preparations. Whether you make or purchase your herbal products, the most common options are capsules, teas, and extracts, so those are the forms we will cover in this post.

The first option on our list is capsules. Capsules are definitely one of the most convenient forms of pre-made herbal products, but they are one of the least convenient forms if you are filling them by hand. Some herbalists prefer teas and extracts because they feel that these forms are easier for the body to digest, but if you don’t want to taste your herbs capsules may be your best bet. Capsule filling tools, which make the job much easier, can be purchased starting at $15.00 or so, and empty capsules start at around $3.50 for 100 capsules. For comparison, a store bought bottle of herbal capsules is going to cost between $5 and $10 on the lower end of the price scale.

Next on the list, teas are very simple and inexpensive to make, and if you have access to a bulk herb supplier that allow you to select small quantities at a time, they really won’t take up more space than a box of pre-made tea bags. But, if you are ordering bulk herbs online, you may only be able to order in three or four ounce quantities. A tea blend can take up a good bit of space by the time you order three or four herbs if you can only purchase multiple ounces of each at a time. This is less of a problem if you love to drink tea, or if you also make extracts out of your left over tea making supplies. Boxes of herbal tea start at around $5 for sixteen tea bags and contain less than an ounce of herbs, while bulk herbs average a dollar an ounce for most common herbs.

The third option is buying or making extracts. Making homemade herbal extracts is a trade off in time and space vs. money. The drawback to making your own extracts is that it takes time (at least two weeks) and more space (for storing bulk herbs, the larger jars to make the extract in, and keeping alcohol on hand). Not a lot of space, but definitely more space than a few one ounce bottles of extract. On the other hand, there’s a favorable difference in cost between homemade and pre-made. To give you an idea, I generally buy a twenty dollar bottle of vodka, which is roughly sixty ounces, and herbs at roughly a dollar an ounce give or take. So, at one ounce of herbs to five ounces of liquid (the usual ratio), homemade comes to less than $1.50 an ounce. You can expect to pay at least $10 at the store for an ounce of pre-made extract.

Buying in bulk and taking the DIY approach can have significant cost benefit and save substantial amounts of money. If you are concerned about budget, buying herbs in bulk and making your own capsules, teas and extracts is definitely the way to go.

Stay tuned next week for another look at the Eight Tips for Herbal Living series! 

So Many Herbs. . .

Hundreds of plants fill the pages of herbal books and supply catalogs, and the amount of information can be exciting and overwhelming. It is better to know a lot about a few herbs than to know a little about many, but how does an aspiring home herbalist choose which herbs to learn about first?  How should a home herbalist decide which herbs to grow or purchase for personal and family use? Making a single list for both purposes works surprisingly well.

A list of herbs should be based around the interest of the herbalist, but it is helpful to decide on a general topic. Considering herbs by geographic location or tradition can be easy ways to come up with a list. Geography can be general (rainforest herbs, desert herbs, forest herbs) or related to country, or the list could be focused on herbs that are native to the area in which the herbalist lives. Herbal traditions to consider include Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese, Unani, or Native American. 

Then again, the list could be based on clustering the herbs around traditional uses. To use this approach, select herbs which were used traditionally to support the heart, the lungs, the digestive tract, or other organ systems. An aspiring herbalist could also focus on herbs which have traditionally been used as support for any health challenges they might be facing personally.

 After a guiding topic for the list is decided upon, the list itself can be made from the herbs discovered in the initial research. The list doesn’t have to be long or complicated. For example, focusing on one to three herbs at a time from a longer list of twelve keeps all the information from running together, but also gives the herbalist a long term study goal.  

Once some time has been devoted to studying the herbs on the list, it will be easier to decide which ones to grow or purchase for personal and family use. Research information related to safety when studying each herb, such as potential toxicity, interactions with medications or health conditions, and how to correctly identify the herb. If an herb doesn’t seem like a good fit based on safety data, consider excluding it from purchase. Also, find out if the herb is commonly cultivated or is facing pressure from over harvesting. Make sure the herb is available from sources that cultivate the herb themselves, or work closely with their growers to guarantee that herbs are ethically harvested. If it isn’t available from reputable sources, seek out an alternative herb.

Remember, knowing a few herbs really well (including how to identify them by sight, what they taste and smell like, any interactions they could have with prescription or over the counter medication) and being able to turn to them with confidence is much better than having a vague idea or an inkling about dozens of herbs, for practical as well as safety reasons. Developing a single list of herbs to study and purchase can help aspiring herbalists focus on using herbs safely at home. So, do some reading, make a list, and have fun!

Eight Tips for Herbal Living on a Budget

A few well chosen herbs, tools, and resources can be surprisingly versatile. Here are eight things that I do around the house that keep us happily in herbs, without needing to invest a lot of money into supplies. But be warned: I have found an herbal lifestyle to be habit forming! It's hard not to get hooked when you can feel great for so little. . .

1.    Focus on a few herbs. Make an herbal wish list of ten or fifteen herbs that you want to learn about and/or keep on hand. 

2.    Shop at discount stores or thrift stores for any tools and kitchenware you need for dedicated herbal purposes.  

3.    Drink herbal teas. Herbal teas come in so many wonderful varieties, and they are surprisingly economical. 

4.    Use bulk quantity herbs to make your own teas and extracts- bulk quantities are usually cheaper, and making your own teas and extracts is much less expensive than store bought.

5.    Dedicate a shelf or cabinet for your herbs, and keep an inventory list so you don’t make duplicate purchases.

6.    Use the public library and/or be selective about which books you purchase. At the very least, look for a book that gives detailed information on many different herbs as your main reference book. Then, add to your personal collection over time. Detailed guides to making herbal preparations, books about traditional herbal theory, and even gardening handbooks are other examples of useful reference books that can be added as you go along. 

7.    Grow your own herbs. Some herbs even do well in extra small spaces like patio containers.

8.   Use the plants around you. Learn to identify wild plants (and weeds!) and how to care for and harvest them responsibly. 

 I will probably be revisiting each tip in a post of its own, but I hope that gives you some useful ideas to play with in the meantime. Happy Simpling! Agatha

Herbal First Aid Kit Additions

Having a First Aid Kit at home is a pretty standard issue practice. If you don’t already have one, they can be bought for less than twenty dollars at most grocery stores and drugstores. You can also go the build your own route for a more customized first aid kit. Either way, the Red Cross recommends your kit contain the items listed on their website, here: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/lifeline/fakit.html

Because I am an herbal enthusiast, in addition to my first aid kit I also have an herbal comforts kit on hand. My herbal comforts kit complements the things found in the first aid kit, and provides a natural solution for occasional, run of the mill discomforts.  

I keep my herbal kit in a bathroom cabinet at eye level. Everything is in a basket so it’s portable, but it’s also easy to reach everything as is. I like to have the option of moving the whole kit around to different parts of the house. It's not necessary to make it portable, but I would at least consider keeping everything together on the same shelf. That way, things are easy to locate as you need them. Other good places to store a kit might be in a kitchen cabinet, or in a nightstand by the bed. Cars, garages, or other areas that get extremely hot or cold aren’t a good idea, because herbs are temperature sensitive.

So, what do I keep in my herbal comfort kit?

Peppermint Tea

Digestive bitters blend

Aloe gel

Plantain and goldenseal salve

Calendula tea

Turmeric extract

Passionflower extract

Soothing throat spray

Herbal cough syrup

Rather than suggest that you copy my kit, let’s take a look at some flexible categories that can be used to put together an herbal comforts kit from scratch.

Digestive comfort

Simples (single herbs) that have traditionally been used for digestive support come in two varieties, carminatives and bitters. Carminatives include ginger, fennel, and mint. They were traditionally used after a meal to dispel gas and freshen the breath. Carminatives generally have a pleasant taste and are easy to find as teas or extracts. Oregon grape, yellow dock, and gentian are examples of bitters. Bitters were historically used before a meal to aid digestion. Generally found as extracts, many different combinations of bitters exist, and some of these combinations also include carminatives, both for their taste and for their complementary action.

Burns and Bruises

Aloe is a live plant that many herbalists keep in the house because it is so soothing to the skin. It excels in comforting burns, whether kitchen or sun related. Aloe may also be purchased in a bottled gel, generally in a 99% aloe form. The other one percent is usually agar, pectin, or another natural substance to give the gel more body, and citric acid or another natural preservative. Calendula, plantain, and chickweed are also very good for burn related skin complaints. Traditional herbs for bruises include comfrey and arnica.  

Cuts and Scrapes

Plantain, calendula, and aloe have all historically done double duty in assisting with cuts and scrapes as well as burns. Salves can be easiest to apply, but an extract can be added to a little olive, sesame, or vitamin e oil with equally good results. Honey has a long tradition as a skin remedy; it can be used plain or herbs may be steeped in it.

Aches and Pains

White willow has traditional uses as an anti-inflammatory and pain and fever reducer. It is considered fine for adults, but should probably not be used in children, for the same reason that aspirin (which was originally derived from willow) should not be used. Turmeric and skullcap are two other herbs worthy of consideration, and several herbal companies make excellent formulas based around these herbs.

Sleep and Stress

Like products for aches and pains, a number of formulas are available which focus on promoting a restful night’s sleep. Single herbs that have historically been used include passionflower, catnip, chamomile, valerian, hops, and lavender. Sleep and stress herbs lend themselves well to both teas and extracts.  Day time stress can benefit from tulsi (holy basil), passionflower, or oatstraw.  

Cold and Flu Season

Throat soothing teas, sprays, and lozenges can be extremely useful during cold and flu season. Many of these are based around licorice, marshmallow, or slippery elm. Herbs for lung support can include wild cherry bark, osha, grindelia, or horehound to name a few. Lung support herbs typically come in syrups, teas, or single herb extracts.

As you can see, the options for an herbal comfort kit are endlessly customizable. A very basic comfort kit could be put together exclusively out of teas. If you hate teas, perhaps try a combination of extracts or capsules and a few topical oils. Whatever you choose, the point is to find something that works for you, is easy to use, and complements your first aid kit. 

Anecdotes or Ideas? Please comment below; I'd love to hear from you!

The Herbalist's Spectra

"Being an Herbalist" has almost as many finer shades of color as there are herbalists to paint the picture.
Also similar to color, many of the concepts herbalists use to describe themselves can be organized along a spectrum with very different world-views described at each end.

While helping to describe what being an herbalist is like, the spectra can also be viewed as a tool for the overview of potential within the study of herbalism. An herbalist who finds that they align most closely with one side of a spectrum can introduce new ideas and concepts by taking some time to work at the other end.

The main spectra which I have observed are along the lines of the following: Theory Orientation, Source of Botanical Materials, Style Orientation, and Educational Background.

Herbalists don't necessarily fall on the same end off all spectra, although I have grouped them according to which values seem to be most consistently selected among proponents of Western vs Eastern philosophy. Values and views which western style herbalists seem to appreciate are on the left, values and views seemingly appreciated by eastern style herbalists are on the right.   

As far as I can tell, herbalists can (and do) also select from various points along each spectrum, which gives even more options. 

Theory Orientation: Western ------ Eastern
Source of Botanical Materials: Local ------- Global
Style Orientation: Folk------Clinical
Educational Background: Self Taught -------School Graduate.

Here is more information about the categories and their spectra:

Theory Orientation

Western Theory is typically based around traditional Greek and Roman medical concepts and the Eclectic traditions of early American physicians, such as the humors and matching herbs with people by way of very specific symptom pictures. The symptom pictures include very detailed information on the emotional state as well as physical state. Eastern Theory favors detailed description of energy patterns within the body and the working relationships of the five elemental organ systems, which are generally described in terms of parent - child or grandparent-grandchild relationships. The parent - child relationship describes which element systems nourish each other, while the grandparent-grandchild relationship explains how the elements are a controlling influence on one another. The systems are not mutually exclusive, however, and a great deal can be learned hovering about the middle of the spectrum and absorbing information from each.

Source of Botanical Materials

Local source proponents tend to grow or wild craft all of their own material, preferring plants which are in the immediate vicinity of where the herbalist lives. They like to have intimate knowledge of the ecological impact of harvesting the plants they use, and often engage in habitat restoration, creating botanical sanctuaries, and tending the remaining plants by weeding out invasive species and helping to distribute seeds. Native plants are often favored over plants from other areas or countries. Herbalists with a more global penchant often use herbs from around the world, such as in the case of Ayurvedic or Traditional Chinese formulas. Rainforest herbs are another example of the herbs a global herbalist might seek out.

Style Orientation

Folk herbalists are more likely to use simpling (use of a single herb rather than a complex formula), be more interested in exploring traditional uses of local plants, and see themselves as kitchen or informal herbalists. This is not to say that their knowledge or experiences are in anyway inferior to those of a more formal clinical herbalists. Rather, that the knowledge and experiences are of a different, and generally complementary, sort. Clinical herbalists may define themselves as such because they work in a medical setting, under the supervision of and as consultants for MDs. Or, they may simply be trying to express their affinity for studying the chemical actions and building blocks of plants in a more structured and formally scientific way.

Educational Orientation

At the left end of the educational spectrum are the self taught or informally apprenticed herbalists. Self taught herbalists may use a combination of books, hands on work, and workshop attendance to further their skills. Moving towards the right are the many and diverse herbal schools developed by experienced herbalists after many years of honing their own skills, and these schools have various levels of intensity and formality according to the personality of the founding herbalist. At the extreme left are the graduates of a Naturopathic program (ND) of formal, rigorous study in a university setting.

Again, there are many herbalists who will identify at various points along each spectrum, but I hope that this will be a good overview about what being an herbalist can mean, as well as useful tool in exploring the full potential of herbalism.

Organization 101 for Herbalists

Feeling overwhelmed with how to organize your herbal accoutrements and notes? I began collecting herbs and extracts in earnest about six years ago, so I have been there. My organization needs fell under two categories: materials and record keeping. Organization is a very personal thing, and some of the best systems evolve over time, but here are some hints and tips I have developed along the way to get you started.

Organization for Herbal Materials

One of the best things about being an herbalist is having lots of materials around to play with. It's much easier, for me at least, to remember what herbs go into a formula if I have made that formula at least once. It is also handy to have different forms of the same herb for comparison. But herbal materials can take up a lot of space and be overwhelming to organize.

A Designated Location

Designating a specific location for my herbs was one of the best things I did to get organized. I bought a freestanding cabinet for my herbs and herb related tools, and set it up convenient to my bookshelves.  Designating a kitchen cabinet can also work well if you have the space for it. In fact, my mason jars of extracts-in-process have a shelf in the kitchen, because I am more likely to remember to shake them up daily if they are there. I wouldn't use a bathroom cabinet. The high humidity in a bathroom isn't ideal for keeping your herbs in good condition.

Organizing the Cabinet

I prefer to keep extracts on the top two shelves, along with my mortar and pestle, my cutting board and knives, and a big chunk of beeswax. Enameled pots (dedicated for herbal concoctions) go on the top of the cabinet, and I also keep bar cloths, mesh strainers, a  coffee grinder and an apron handy in and around the cabinet. Dried herbs are organized along the remaining shelves, and are stored in wide mouth, screw top, bulk containers (easier to handle than lots of bags).

Labeling

Labeling options for bulk herbs include computer printed (my favorite, they look fabulous), taped on labels from the bags the herbs came in (second favorite) and hand labeled. I like to keep track of date purchased, company, and lot number (or location and date of harvest). Labeling with both the common name and the botanical name is a good way to help gradually learn the botanical name by association. Extracts I make myself are usually hand labeled with a press date, common name and whether the extract was made from dried or fresh plant material.

Organization for Herbal Record Keeping

I use spiral bound notebooks for most of my notes and records, and have found that inventory, recipes, and study notes are the categories I use the most. I also keep a herb diary that functions like a personal herbal, but there will be another post about that later on. I prefer using notebooks and index cards over a computer set up, because I like having access to all of my information even if the power goes out. I also prefer spiral notebooks over a really beautiful, expensive journal. With cheap notebooks I am more likely to be thorough and spontaneous, and less likely to be concerned about 'messing up'. Don't be afraid to let your record keeping books get a little messy! They are your personal tools, after all. No need to worry about impressing an audience.

Inventory Index

My inventory index is made up of three sections. One section for bulk herbs, another for store bought products, and the third for home made extracts. Each section takes up about four pages and is listed with five or six letters evenly spaced down the left hand margin. I organize alphabetically by first letter but don't bother to alphabetize past that. When I acquire a new herb for the inventory I simply add it to the correct letter section. It can be really useful to see at a glance whether I have a given herb and in what form.

Recipes

Recipes includes herb-related food and beverage recipes, as well as what most herbalist like to refer to as formulas. When I find a recipe I really like, it gets transferred to a more permanent recipe file, along with the many traditional formulas on index cards that I organized as a study aid. The recipe section in my notebook functions more as a history of times I have used the recipe and what my results were, as well as ways I have altered the recipe at different times to accommodate herbs that I did or did not have on hand. Think of it as an experiments and results scratch pad. A page in the recipe section also helps me keep track of when I started an extract, and when I want to strain and bottle it.

Study notes

I like to take notes while I read, and this is generally where those notes end up. It also holds a wish list of books and magazines I would like to add to my personal library or check out through the public library's inter-library loan system. A back up list of interesting websites also goes here, and I keep a list for interesting herbal gatherings and symposiums as I hear about them. Most of these lists started as mental notes, but transitioned into the study notes sections as they got longer. If there is a particular herb I am interested in, I will create a study page for that, or concepts related to herbal theory. Sketches, drawings or photos could be added to the study notes section, although mine is predominately word based right now.


These are just a handful of ideas on staying organized as an herbalist, and you may find that some of them work really well for you. If they don't, experiment and find a way to organize that makes more sense to you. If you would like to share an idea about how you stay organized as an herbalist, please feel free to leave a note! Good luck!

Beebalm Extract is Delicious

I just thought everyone would like to know, Beebalm extract is delicious. Traditionally, it has a reputation for use with 'drawing out fire' such as in the case of actual burns or burning sensations (like urinary tract infections and joint paint); also as being a nervine. I was introduced to the plant as a garden flower a number of years ago, and was always fascinated by the unique flowers and lovely scent. I was delighted to read about it in Matthew Wood's 'The Book of Herbal Wisdom', and decided that I wanted to make an extract. The extract is not, as far as I know, available commercially, but I purchased a plant from Horizon Herbs and it grew quite happily in a container on my patio all summer, with a harvest yielding a six oz bottle of extract. Among it's other uses,  I am also looking forward to having it on hand for sunburns, skin problems, and nervine related attitude adjustments.