Making Echinacea Tincture

Here at HIllside Gardens, our lovely Cone Flowers (Echinacea purpurea) have been blooming all summer and are now ready to harvest and make medicine. I have a limited number of plants so I prefer to just harvest the flowers and leaves for making my Echinacea Tincture. I have in the past dug up the whole plant, divided the roots, replanted some, and made my medicine with the roots, flowers and leaves together.

Fall and winter are often the times people start eating a lot of sugar, especially related to holidays, but also just eating ice cream and other goodies. This lowers your immune system and it’s often why we think there is a ‘cold and flu season’. It also relates to kids going back to school. Schools are notorious for being germ factories, and kids bring home whatever is going around. There is also the issue of ‘flu vaccines’ which contain live virus. I’m convinced this is a harmful practice because I don’t see a lessening of flu but instead nastier varieties. Parents send their sick kids off to school for the baby sitting service. Please don’t do this. Think that your kids will also have the bad results from some other kid.

So, I don’t believe that there is so much a season. I just think it’s because we eat junk. Echinacea has been used for ages to help our immune systems combat bacterial and viral infections, and to strengthen our immunity in many ways. Besides fighting viruses, Echinacea can also fight against bacterial and fungal infection.

So, since it’s now the time in the garden to gather the makings, this will give you a nice supply to last for a long time.

If you go to the health food store or online and buy Echinacea tincture you will pay a lot of money. Typically over $8/oz. Why not make it yourself? It’s just a matter of growing Cone Flower in your garden and harvesting the flowers and leaves, or if you have a lot of the plants, harvest the roots. (Or you can purchase the herb from a reputable herb company like Mountain Rose Herb Company or Bulk Apothecary.) But you can cut the roots up and replant some of them so you don’t completely kill off the plant. Here is how to do tincture it:

I get the cheapest vodka, it isn’t for taste anyway. But any alcohol will do. Some use brandy or spirits, even wine though it is much less percentage alcohol. Don’t waste your money on 95% like Ever Clear or Moonshine unless you want to dilute it. I buy it by the quart. Usually I get the 80 proof which is 40% alcohol. You don’t need the higher (50% 100 poof) usually.

If you want a broader medicinal effect, blend it with other herbs which are mentioned in the article below – (increases effectiveness). But make each herb tincture separately and later blend the tinctures. You have more control over it that way.

BTW, other info I have is that Echinacea tincture shouldn’t be automatically taken every day (which would make it a tonic which it is not). But it can be taken 3x a day for 3 days then leave it for some time. I take it when I feel something coming on or when a cold or flu has gone on too long. It isn’t just an antibiotic, it’s a terrific immune booster. But you can abuse your immune system taking it too long. You’ll see that in this reference: https://practicalselfreliance.com/echinacea-tincture/ This gives a full tutorial on how to do the whole process. It also contains dosages.

I purchase or save quart mason jars for my tinctures.

As you make each individual kind of herb MAKE SURE YOU LABEL EACH BOTTLE! All tinctures look pretty much the same once they are in the jar – I put the herb name, the alcohol (i.e. Vodka 80 proof), the date made.

Put the jar out of direct sunlight (back of the kitchen counter works well) and shake it every day or so for 1 to 3 months. Once it has been masticating (soaking) for long enough, it needs to be strained. I sew a bag with muslin cloth (well washed, preferably not bleached), that just fits the inside of a mason jar and is long enough to curve over the top and down about 2” longer. Once ready, I put the bag into another clean mason jar (quart) and pour the whole jar with herbs and all into this. Then I pick the bag up by the part folded over the rim, slowly out of the jar, carefully, let it strain, then squeeze the dickens out of it to get every drop.

Then you can either compost the mast (solids) or if you want to make a double extract, put the now strained mast into a small pan, add filtered or purified water to cover the solids and a bit more, and slowly simmer (don’t boil) it for about an hour (replacing water as it evaporates). I like this method especially when using the root. Then repeat the filtering and pour the water (decoction) and the tincture (alcohol) together, mix and pour into dark glass bottles (old wine bottles of any color but not clear) work the best. Label it with the herb, the alcohol, the date, and call it Double Extract (or DX). This really gets all the medicinal compounds out of the herb. I especially do this with mushrooms or roots but any herb will do.

Enjoy the process.

Once you have a supply of the tincture made up, purchase glass dropper bottles of amber or other color https://www.bulkapothecary.com/categories/containers/glass-bottles/ Bulk Apothecary. Using a tiny mouthed funnel (can be found in a package of 4 sizes at Walmart), carefully fill a dropper bottle and label it (I cover my labels with clear packing tape so later the label doesn’t get washed off or damaged ).

Tinctures are a very long lasting way to preserve and extract the medicinal value of herbs and mushrooms. They last at least 12 years (some say much longer). As long as you keep them out of direct sunlight and in a cool place, almost indefinitely.

Caveat: This article is not meant to replace professional health care. I am not a doctor or a certified herbalist and am not practicing but if you wish to be more self-reliant, it’s a good thing to know how to make home remedies and be able to use plants especially if in a crisis situation. If you are on pharmaceuticals, be sure to check to make sure there are no clashes with what you are taking. Mostly personally I just grow about 150 different medicinal herbs, and make what we need. Echinacea (Cone Flower) is a native of Georgia and is a beautiful flower.

Diann Dirks 9/17/20 Hillside Gardens, Auburn, Ga.

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Summer transition for fall/winter gardening

Fellow gardeners and greenies, in most parts of the country fall doesn’t have to be the end of your gardening or food production. In more northern areas double walled hoop houses well anchored and heated by a rocket mass stove can give you year round production (you build it yourself, fueled by twigs). Building a Greenhouse Rocket Stove https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCp7dQPwdkA .

For those who have a lesser frigid climate, just covering your beds with 3.5 or thicker plastic sheeting (clear or white, never black) and held up from crushing the plants with on-their-side-tomato-cages works great.

I have had a winter garden for 10 years here in NE Georgia, in frigid weather, snow, very low temperatures. Here’s the trick – start your seeds NOW – it’s mid Sept. and time to get those seeds started.

Once your summer plants are dead, or some are and there’s room to put some fall/winter plants in, get started. Before planting, give the soil some good nutrients with compost, worm manure, well composted manure from pigs, chickens, horses, or cows, or goat, sheep, or alpaca manure which doesn’t need composting. Dig in your amends, don’t till (which forces weed seeds to germinate).

Look at your seed packets and determine which are cool weather plants or go to this site: http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/…/vegetables-fall-garden… There are lots of sites which help you pick fall/winter plants besides this one. Pick food you will eat and enjoy.

I have discovered such an easy way to propagate seeds using the least amount of purchased stuff. I get free paper fliers from local grocery stores – just the right size to make newspaper pots. They are usually in single rectangular sheets. I fold them in half lengthwise, then roll them around a wine bottle so there is enough to fold around the bottom of the bottle and make a base. The top gets taped so the tape folds from front to back to secure the top. The bottom gets folded around the bottom of the glass and secured with more tape. Into this gets a good handful of good quality potting soil. Then I sprinkle a pinch of seeds around the top and sprinkle a bit more soil over it depending on what the packet says for depth of seed. I gently compress the soil, label it with cut up blind sheaths (they are UV protected and last a long time) and written on with pencil (they are reusable that way). I set them together on used seed flats on my back deck and water well. They get watered every day. Don’t let them dry out.

When they start to germinate, I give them a bit of liquid fertilizer like diluted compost tea. When they get a second set of true leaves (the first set are not true leaves) I get out the seed cells, fill them with planter soil and individually give each one it’s own cell. I keep them damp but not mushy, and every week or so they get some mild fertilizer.

As the weather cools or space opens up in the summer crops, I set in the plants big enough to hold up on their own. I watch for bugs because baby plants are susceptible to critters. I hand pick. Mulch heavily as soon as the plants are tall enough not to be buried to keep them cool – fall and winter plants like it cool.

I personally put in beets, carrots, garlic, Swiss chards, lettuces, spinaches, oriental greens of many kinds, flat leaf parsley, Calendula, broccoli, cabbages, bok choy, kales, and other cabbage family plants, and if there is time for some late summer, bush beans.

Some plants are particularly cold resistant including parsley, all kales, cabbage, broccoli, and if you like them turnip greens, collards, and other traditional greens.

Good luck. Enjoy food all year around from your garden.

 

What is Permaculture Design?

The word Permaculture comes from “Permanent and Culture”. It’s how nature runs – using permanent systems (cultures) that have survived billions of years on this planet. This is a scientific system of environmental design based on the long term observations and isolations of the laws by which nature keeps an environment living and flourishing – true sustainability.

 

It was developed by environmental activist and scientist Bill Mollison, living in Australia, about 35 years ago (recently passed). He saw the writing on the wall about the long term effects of how we as humans on planet earth are treating the natural system we live on. He tried for years to correct how we view our planet politically in Australia and realized that self interest and special interest are too entrenched to look outside and see how it affects humans and all life forms long term.

 

So, he went into the Outback of Australia for 4 years and just observed how nature worked. He was an incredible observer. And from this he isolated 23 precepts or laws upon which nature works. He translated these laws into a whole design system used to restore damaged systems and increase yields in existing systems – water, soil, growing land, relationship with animals and all other living forms – and started teaching people.

 

He used the precepts to restore and revitalize ‘waste land’, increase yield in exiting functioning land, water sheds, etc. Even went so far as to turn desert into productive land, and bring chemically contaminated land back to health. He also worked out how to rebuild topsoil where erosion and industrial farming has all but eliminated by the billions of tons a year worldwide. It takes nature 100 years to create one inch of topsoil yet the USDA tells farmers that if they only loose one to one and a half inches a year that is good soil management.

 

Some people bewail the idea of ‘peak oil’. I am more concerned with ‘peak soil’. For example 200 years ago the area of New Orleans was situated right on the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the removal of the sod on the Great Plains for agricultural purposes, and flooding thus caused, that soil has run down the Mississippi River system and now New Orleans is about 76 miles from the Gulf. The delta formed down from the Mississippi is soil washed off the land and deposited by the millions of tons into the mouth of the river forming islands and channels. This once was all top soil from Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, etc.

 

Bill Mollison realized the long term unethical methods used by the existing industrial farming techniques, chemical companies, and other special interests were involved only in profit to the detriment of everything else, and was at the base of the destruction happening on the planet’s productive lands. So he built into the design system an Ethic – which is taught to all Permaculture Designers – Care for the Earth, Care for People, Equitable use of the abundance created. It not only is a science of design, but a pattern for the preservation and restoration of our planet so we will have it still, in a thousand years, and not a dead rock devoid of all life.

 

Since its beginning Permaculture has expanded to include methods of living in harmony with natural systems, economic and currency systems, large restorations of vast areas like vast farmland, forest, water sheds (all the land that drains into a river system), and ways of increasing yield so people can survive without chemicals in the food, adequate clean water, life sustaining oxygen in the atmosphere, and plenty. People are experimenting with various ways to live within this ethic. And many have worked carefully to find ways to increase yield without having to depend on chemicals and unnatural methods for growing food and using up the earth’s resources.

 

To become a Permaculturist, the certification course is about 72 hours of classroom and workshops – much like a boot camp. Some courses are done over the internet, but from my own experience, the best way is like learning a new language using immersion technique where you dive in and live and learn it for two weeks. When you are out the other end of it, your whole consciousness has changed. You view the environment completely differently – alive with perception and understanding.

 

Depending on the area you live, there are various courses available. When I did mine in 2009 there was only one on the whole east coast given in Sarasota, Fla. on the site of the first ‘earth ship’ on the east coast. It was a one time only thing graduating about 30 people from all over. Later other permaculturists have come in and set up programs, and an American Permaculture Society. Personally, since then I have gone out and taught classes in Permaculture Design thru my little ‘school’ – Mothers School of Self-Reliance, created a 100 bed demonstration garden in Auburn, Ga. on a steep hill most people would say couldn’t grow anything but trees and weeds, do consultations for all kinds of agricultural and gardening clients, and continued to study and apply knowledge from a wide range of subjects all encompassed by the 23 precepts. It was a life changer for me. I do not offer a certification program but if you are interested I can point you in the right direction for your particular needs.

 

I believe that Permaculture Design when widely applied by ethical and intent people could turn around the destruction of our natural systems that could mean a lot of trouble into the future. I prefer to put my attention on the positive solution creating activities rather than dwell on the problems. But it’s important to know what they are and the importance of not just letting it slide and not do something really proactive about it. It’s a kind of life revolution designed to bring vibrance, joy, and health to a planet that is in dire need of some TLC. We all can be mothers and fathers of earth. But it’s a science and not a tree hugging wishful thinking kind of thing. Knowledge is power and in this case future for our planet and our people, and all of the other wonderful living things our survival depends on.

 

So, down to where the rubber meets the road: Some examples of the precepts: :All elements in a design have to have multiple functions, and conversely, all problems in a given space need to have multiple solutions”. Example – a tree gives shade, produces oxygen, provides habitat for birds and insects, releases moisture into the air to create rain, holds moisture in the soil and prevents erosion, connects by way of fungi mycelium (the threads in the soil which are the body of mushrooms) to feed surrounding plants and transport nutrients widely, provide certain medicines or foods depending on the species, reflects sun to keep the earth cool, and later provide building material or fuel, and they are beautiful.

 

Grass lawns on the other hand create a little oxygen, demands lots of water, often chemicals that leach into the water table, contaminating the water and ground and for some provide a sense of status. It can also provide a play area for children and pets.

 

By planting a tree, multiple solutions are addressed. When designing a space, the intention for use is taken into consideration and all the elements in it are weighed as to most yield, and most long term survival. A Permaculture Designer designs for 7 generations into the future, not a year or two. This is built in sustainability. And a space is designed for maximum yield. But the use by people is also important. It might mean feeding people or providing medicinal plants, giving needed oxygen into the atmosphere, attracting and feeding pollinating insects and birds, giving raw material for survival activities or crafts, or even a way to make a living. This could include besides food, fibers for clothing and baskets, dye from plants for craft or art, insect repellent, medicines, providing fuel such as charcoal or sticks for rocket mass heaters, lumber for housing or wood for furniture and crafts.

 

For example white pine not only makes lumber and fuel, but the needles are a powerful antibiotic when made into a delicious tea. And the pollen is edible as are the little spring buds at the end of branches. Then add in oxygen, moisture into the air for rain, the fact that a pine tree’s roots run laterally around the trunk which holds in the top soil and prevents erosion, and when old, provides habitat for animals and birds. And when felled and rotting on the ground, food for fungi which is then distributed by the fungi throughout the plants living there.

 

Another of the precepts is “the best place for water is in the ground”. So, rather than find a way to run water off of a property or location, in Permaculture Design we find a way to slow it down so it seeps back into the earth. This could mean zig zagging or forming a series of parallel lines with a shallow trench called a ‘swale’ across a property so as rain falls or water comes off a building or slope, it travels farther, giving it time to be absorbed. Or it could mean creating a series of little ponds from the top of a hill to the bottom, along those channels, so fish and water plants can be fostered.

 

Other uses for those channels of running water could be used to run little pumps like a water wheel, only a modern version, to produce energy. It could mean that a barren hillside or gradual grade on land can be made more productive by a series of swales and long narrow hillocks called ‘berms’ across and perpendicular to the ‘fall line’ (the path a ball would travel when rolling down hill). This catches dew, rain or run-off to sink into the soil, to be used to water trees, crops, etc. or for pastureland, without the need for outside water sources. If the soil is then covered with water preserving mulch or a cover crop like various animal feeding fodder, it saves a lot of effort to keep land moist.

 

One of the corollaries of this precept is – “the best way to handle water is to control its path”. So using water with berms and swales can turn erosion from heavy rains, into a positive moisture providing source. It also means controlling the pathways of streams, rivers, water sheds or just dew in various ways to keep it from destruction. The use of large ‘bags’ of chicken wire filled with rocks along the banks of otherwise eroding streams or rivers keeps the flooding from destroying tree and bush lined areas so later the river keeps its shape. Many techniques have been created to control water to keep it from destroying but in fact enhancing the design of the environment.

 

Each precept contains wisdom and understanding which can be used to make the world a better place because it returns to us the bounty of nature. The application of each of them is a whole world of knowledge.

 

If this sounds like a good idea or something you might want to know more about then watching a few videos (see below) or reading the books listed can give you an idea and ways to apply it. Like any subject, its use is up to you. Enjoy it as I have for many years.

Books which further explore this subject are: “Introduction to Permaculture” by Bill Mollison ISBN -0 908 228 08 2, (Bill’s larger work is also available : “Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual” ISBN-13: 978-0908228010 ISBN-10: 0908228015),  “Establishing a Food Forrest the Permaculture Way” by Geoff Lawton,  “Gaia’s Garden” by Toby Hemmenway, “Permaculture in a Nutshell” by Patrick Whitefield, “Permaculture Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability” by David Holmgren (who originally worked with Bill Mollison).

 

Also, a wonderful series of Videos are available from Geoff Lawton – one of Bill’s earliest and best known protoges – http://www.geofflawtononline.com/videos/

One of my favorite series by him is Greening the Desert: http://www.geofflawtononline.com/videos/video/6-greening-the-desert-updated/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rascal

Rascal

 

My cat

His art is being…

Calm, engaged –

in being.

His language in his eyes

He looks at me

Straight on

Time unthinking

Just here.

Enticing me to stroke

his soft head and ears

Reaching up

With his chin exposed

‘stroke here and scratch’

Just so, he says

And rubbing against my hand

in bliss

His fur so soft

Like strands of cloud

Warm, silky, rich

His head deserves a kiss

And then another.

 

I love this cat.

 

Down he jumps

as I attempt to sleep

a few more winks.

Tearing paper sounds

Lift my head

off the pillow

There on the floor

he’s engaged

in eating his heavy paper bag

The grocery bag he arranged

into a nest,

Tearing off pieces happily.

Entertained this early morning

as the lifting day

colors the blinds

of the north facing window.

Then off he ghosts

on quiet feet

on out the door,

he meets the day.

And I find inspiration.

All thoughts of sleep

Evaporated

as the morning mist.

Diann Dirks 8-6-18

Bug Off Mosquito, Tick and Bug Repellent KIT and Serum

 

Finally a bug repellent with no harmful chemicals, smells nice, isn’t sticky, and works like a freight train! No bug bites. The serum alone is great for flying bugs. If you include the essential oils, it keeps off ticks. If you want to save some money, buy the kit, make your own serum, and have enough for all summer. The herbs except the lavender blossoms are all grown here at Hillside Gardens under strict organically grown conditions – we never use chemicals!!!! The soil is especially rich with minerals and beneficial micro-organisms which let the plants really absorb the nutrients. I use it myself and use it with my interns, and have for several years. If you use it, you don’t get bitten.

The serum is a ready made concentrate that you dilute. The kit contains the herbs you make up at home. The essential oils are a separate packet. All the herbs (except lavender blossoms) are Organically Grown from my big garden. Essential oils are therapeutic grade chem. free.

If you have a big family or use a lot, I suggest you get the kit instead which includes the herbs you make into a strong tea. It’s economical – makes a LOT more than just the serum will. It just means you have to make the tea. It comes with good instructions. It’s easy to do.

Once the tea is made keep it in the frig and put it in a spray bottle a batch at a time, (or you can freeze some for later). It contains beauty berry leaves and stems, lemon grass, & lavender blossoms.

If you want the tick repelling enhancing essential oils, that’s another $5.Ingredients: Rose Geranium, Tea Tree Oil, & Peppermint, (optional – Citronella). These are powerful repellants of ticks!!!!

For the kit – You make the infusion (tea) of the herbs: bring a big pot with 3 quarts of water  to a boil, add the herbs, lower it down to a simmer, and let it simmer gently for about 2 hours. Add a bit more water to keep it to 3 quarts. Then you cover it and let it sit over night. Strain. This makes it a serum. Then dilute it – add 2 parts serum, 1 part water, 1 part witch hazel (which preserves it & adds bug repelling properties and dissolves the essential oils).

Add the essential oil packet and let it dissolve. The oil is on a piece of fabric. Just leave it in the pot. Then add about a tsp of vanilla extract per pint of liquid. Put the mix in glass jars (mason jars or used wine bottles, etc.) with a tight lid. Put it in your own spray bottle as needed.

For the Serum –  You dilute it 2 parts serum, 1 part water, 1 part Witch Haze. If you get the essential oil add the packet and let it dissolve, leave it in the bottle.  Refrigerate, put in spray bottle as needed. Shake before pouring in spray bottle and before spraying.

We are heavily infested with ticks around here having a big deer population, and we also are loaded with mosquitoes. But we spray ourselves well before going out in the garden and we don’t get one bite, even with them swarming around. Be sure to spray skin, clothing, shoes, face, and hair. It’s not sticky.

It contains no harmful chemicals and to this date I’ve never had anyone react to it except my husband who can’t handle citronella essential oil. Everyone else loves it. The kids of my interns go thru quarts of this stuff and love it. It smells nice (vanilla, lemon). And it WORKS!

The kit is a result of so many people wanting it and saving money (instead of having me make the serum with less volume) even though it takes a bit of time.

Kit (enough for 3 quarts) or Serum (10 oz. liquid – makes 20 oz.) $15, Essential oil packet $5, Shipping flat rate $8.

You provide: Witch Hazel, Vanilla Extract, Water, Spray bottle, Glass containers for finished product.

Accepting Paypal – use:  didirks@comcast.net Or send check to: 922 Wexford Way, Auburn, Ga. made out to Diann Dirks

Diann Dirks, The Garden Lady of Georgia, FB Georgia Dirks, Blogsite: The Garden Lady of Georgia, em: didirks@comcast.net   Hillside Gardens, Auburn, Ga.  Organic Gardener, Herbalist, Permaculturist

Repelling the bad bugs of summer

Insect Repellant without chemicals – mosquitoes, ticks etc.

So many of the bug repellents on the market have chemicals and toxic elements in them. Even Neem causes reactions in some people. So, with some good research and experimenting with what grows in my garden, I have come up with a really simple solution.

I make a big recipe of nice smelling chemical free insect repellent every year for myself and my interns and volunteers and have for several years. I make a big (two gallons) slow decoction (simmer about half an hour – don’t boil) of Beauty Berry leaves. (two big handfulls of the leaves) Strain. Add vanilla (nice scent but also helps with insect repellent) – about a Tbs. or two. Add 60 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil and if you want, 40 or so drops of Tea Tree oil (Trader Joes makes a good one for little money). Put in about 2/3 cup cheap vodka or Witch Hazel. Shake. Keep extra in the frig. Pour this mixture into big spray bottle. I keep this on hand and spray everyone down every morning when we start in the garden. Smells delicious and keeps off not only ticks but mosquitoes too. I have never found anyone who had any allergic reaction to this mixture and everyone ways how delightful it smells and feels good too. You may have to respray if it is very hot and people are sweating a lot, but usually one spray does it. Be sure to get all the exposed skin (for mosquitoes) and clothing too (for ticks), and shoes and socks.

I sell dried beauty berry leaves enough for this recipe for $8 plus flat rate usps shipping – $8. It makes enough spray for the summer  – even with a bunch of kids. If you aren’t lucky to have a beauty berry bush growing in your yard and would like to, I can also send you a small bush start for the same amount. We’re in Zone 8 here but it is hardy all over the states except very cold climates. These are beautiful plants which grow into small trees. https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-grow-beautyberry-in-your-yard/ The berries in late summer make a delicious jelly. And they are very beautiful in berry – very bright majenta color.

Spectacular berries on beautyberry plant!

Leander, Bruce

Callicarpa americana

Email me at didirks@comcast.net for orders. Pay with paypal on this site.

Diann Dirks 5-18

Summer Hydrating Drink

It’s getting hot out there off and on now, so I thought I’d share my recipe for hydrating electrolyte (aka diy gatorade) with you. It’s delicious, you can use the herbs in your garden or kitchen window, and it’s so much better for you than commercial drinks – besides being way cheaper. Plus you can drink as much as you like without overamping the body or causing water over-detoxing.

Summer Hydrating energy drink – like Gatorade but better – Diann Dirks

16 oz. pure water (or coconut water or Water Kefir) (Or start with a big pitcher and make the same ratio as below for the ingredients – once brewed and flavored, keep in the frig.)

1 Tbs. honey (or Sucanat, organic cane sugar, or maple syrup) (or Trader Joe’s Stevia powder but in lesser amounts as it’s very sweet)

1/8 tsp Himilayan or other colored high mineral natural salt (not table salt)

Juice of 1 lemon or lime or orange (even grapefruit)

Optional: Two or three sprigs of your favorite aromatic herb – my favorites are:

Purple or green perilla (aka Shiso)

Mint (any variety – sweet, peppermint, spearmint, chocolate, etc.)

Basil – any variety

Lemon balm (or lime balm)

Thyme, Oregano, Winter Savory or other similar fresh herb I sometimes successfully mix the herbs for great flavor variety. Basil and Perilla are a good mix. Mint and Lemon Balm or Basil also excellent.

I place the herbs between my hands and roll them to bruise – this brings out the flavors. The herbs also have healing qualities so it isn’t just for flavor.

Or substitute flavorful fruits like strawberry, cherry, peach, elderberry, or other fruit.

If using fruit, crush them well before adding to get the most out of them.

Mix the ingredients, put in the flavorings or fruit, sit on the counter for an hour or so for full flavor. Sometimes I add a portion of Kombucha Tea to the liquid for probiotic

benefits. Water Kefir is also very high in probiotics.

Pour some into a glass with ice and drink.

You may want to experiment with how much salt you want but don’t leave it out unless you have someone in your household who can’t have it.

For an added caffeine energy burst, you can make iced tea as the liquid with Red Rose Tea – the other brands commercially available are contaminated with sprays* unless specifically stated as Organic. (* based on my research)

(I have a great water filter system if anyone wants the best filter on the market – PM me if interested)

5/16/18