WILD ROSE – My Favourite Recipes for this time of the year
Have you noticed the abundance and colour variations of the Wild Rose flowers this year?
They are so bountiful and a delight to all of our senses. You might have noticed that a lot of different insects use the flowers as their home or resting place.
Wild Rose is also a Bach Flower essence, opening the heart and bringing joy into a person’s life.
Here are two of my all time favorite recipes.
1. WILD ROSE FLOWER WATER
Pick some flower petals and put them in a glass filled with spring water. Let sit in the sun to allow the essence of the flower to infuse into the water. Let sit for 1/2 hour to several hours depending on your taste preference.
Enjoy as is or with some ice. If you wish, you may eat the flower petals.
2. WILD ROSE FLOWER HONEY
Pick the flower petals and place on the honey. Honey that has not been processed is typically hard so you need to soften it slowly at low temperature. You can soften it first and then mix the petals into it, or what I do, I add the petals and let them do “their job” while the honey is softening.
Once the honey is soft, I like to stir the petals in with a wooden chop stick only to watch them come up to the surface again after a while. You can pick out the flower petals if you wish but you can also leave them in the honey.
Enjoy as a spread on a rice cake, on pancakes or with ice cream, or just straight from the spoon – whatever your heart desires.
WEEDS FOR WELLNESS – A GUIDE TO YOUR BACKYARD PHARMACY
CHICKWEED – Stellaris Media
Chickweed is one of my favorite herbs. You can use all aerial parts of the plant. My husband has gotten into trouble more than once when he got rid of it from garden beds. Chickens and small birds enjoy feeding on Chickweed as well – probably the reason for its name. Chickweed is very nourishing, it contains many minerals and vitamins such as vitamin C, copper, iron, phosphorus and potassium.
My preference is to use Chickweed raw in salads, added to smoothies and the Jungle Juice, and as a garnish on sandwiches and in wraps. The flavour is mild and as with many herbs the younger plants are preferable. Especially when using it raw for salads and toppings, the stems of more mature plants get stringy, so you may only want to us the (flowering) tops. Try mixing it into cream cheese or make a herbal butter by adding chives and chickweed and maybe a bit of flax oil.
You can also add Chickweed to soups and other cooked dishes. However, you don’t want to cook Chickweed for more than a few minutes; therefore I suggest you add it towards the end after any other vegetables and greens have their required tenderness.
Medicinally Chickweed is very soothing to the skin. I like to use it externally for skin conditions such as eczema and itchy skin. It also has a cooling effect. Apparently the herb is also used as a tea in natural weight loss programs; however, I do not have any personal experience with this application. Less well known is the fact that Chickweed helps to soothe stomach ulcers and other digestive ailments.
Have fun, be creative and I hope you will enjoy Chickweed as much as I do.
Green blessings,
Gudrun
WEEDS FOR WELLNESS – A GUIDE TO YOUR BACKYARD PHARMACY
PLANTAIN – PLANTAGO MAJOR
Plantain is one of the most versatile herbal medicines. We can use the leaves, seeds and roots but I will focus on the use of the leaves in the post. Most of you will have come across it. Most commonly around here we find broad-leaved Plantain (Plantago major). The plant grows along waysides, in gardens, lawns, pastures, meadows and cultivated fields. The leaves are very broad ovate and surround the stem in a basal rosette.
Plantain, just like so many other so-called weeds, is rich with nutrients including vitamins A, C, K, zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and silicic acid. Remember that the nutritional value of any (edible) plant depends greatly on the soil it is growing in. Silica promotes tissue repair, in this case specifically in the lungs. Zinc enhances immune system function. Plantain also contains mucilage. Mucilage has a soothing effect on any tissue.
Internally Plantain is primarily used for any respiratory tract challenges, it restores the lungs and helps to expel mucous. It is helpful in conditions such as coughs including nervous cough, bronchitis, lung infections, allergic asthma and any other congestion incl. sinus and ear infections. I always have a jar of dried leaves on hand in the winter for my grand children. As a tea it can also be useful in cases of urinary tract infections or simple irritation.
Internally and externally it is a great wound healer for sores, cuts, scratches, dog bites, ulcers and burns. Applied as a poultice it provides instant relief from insect bites. Chew on a few leaves to get the juice from the plant flowing and apply directly to the irritated area(s). It is amazing how good this feels.
Plantain has many more usages but these are the most common ones.
As food you can add some leaves to the Jungle Juice or salad, use as spinach (cook only for a few minutes) or as a potherb. The younger leaves are preferable to older ones. And of course, you can make an herbal tea from the leaves as well.
I highly recommend that you get out there, harvest this miracle herb and add it to some of your dishes. But not only this, make sure you dry some for use in fall and winter in case a nasty cough gets hold of you.
Happy herballing and green blessings,
Gudrun
JUNGLE JUICE
Thank you for your interest in my signature drink. Here is the information and recipe you were asking for. The u-tube video, demonstrating how to create this delicious concoction, is a segment taken from my DVD, Herbal Pharmacy for Everyone. A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Herbal Preparations. The DVD is available from my website, www.herbalinstructions.com or you can contact me directly.
Happy herbaling and green blessings,
Gudrun
DID YOU KNOW that we may LOSE ACCESS TO many more NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS?
Knowledge is power. Here is your chance to educate yourself about the proposed “Natural Health Products (NHP) Regulations”.
Live Webinar with lawyer Shawn Buckley – May 13, 2019 at 6pm MST
Shawn Buckley is a lawyer who has focused on protecting our rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and on testing the constitutional validity of legislation. He will explain how Health Canada’s new regulations will affect all of us – consumers, retailers and NHP manufacturers.
If we want our rights and freedom to be protected, we need to stop being complacent!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU to all of you for your wonderful and kind words in response to my TEDx talk! The positive feedback has been overwhelming and at the same so rewarding. The experience of the event will always remain a highlight of my life and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.
If you have not watched the talk yet, please find the link below. The talk is only 11 minutes long.
Thank you again for your support.
Green blessings,
Gudrun
Spring Cleaning the Natural Way
Have you ever wondered about the safety of the cleaning products you use in your home?
How about tackling spring cleaning this year with some home-made products that are easy and fun to prepare while at the same time getting the job done?
Nature offers many alternatives to chemicals; alternatives that are powerful anti-microbial. For example, essential oil of Oregano kills a broad spectrum of bacteria including E.coli and spores from anthrax. It can therefore be substituted for bleach products such as Clorox.
Rosemary is another great option because of its natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties. In times of the plague, Rosemary was worn around the neck for its antiseptic qualities.
Below find two simple recipes – shared with permission from Theresa Mieseler, author of Beyond Rosemary, Basil, and Thyme, available from www.shadyacres.com and Amazon. The book includes 25 recipes.
Countertop Spray Cleaner
1 tablespoon liquid soap, such as Biokleen
¼ teaspoon baking soda
8 to 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 cup distilled water
Combine all ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. It will fizz initially and then settle down. Shake before spraying on the surface—wipe off with a soft cloth.
Rosemary and Geranium Essential Oil All-Purpose Cleaner
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup distilled water
20-25 drops Rosemary essential oil
10 drops Geranium essential oil
Combine all ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Before use — shake well.
HEALING FROM THE RAINBOW Introduction to Light and Colour Therapy Workshop
Presented by Gudrun Penselin, M.E.D. Clinical Herbal Therapist, Bach Flower Practitioner & Author
Come to enjoy a colourful time, learn how to make light and colour part of your Journey to Health!
Join us Sunday March 24, 2019
Time: 1-4pm
Cost $80.00 plus GST
Limited Seating Call Now!
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY 250.782.4656
Have you ever thought about the possibility that light and colour influence us greatly, physically, emotionally and spiritually? Our lives and well-being are truly dependent upon the sun. Life on Earth evolved under natural sunlight and has existed under that full spectrum of light that it contains. Many pre-historic tribes and even entire civilizations worshiped the sun for its healing powers, using its full spectrum of light to treat physical and mental challenges.
Through various exercises you will be able to experience the effects of light and colour – physically, emotionally as well as spiritually. Light and colour are very simple, yet powerful tools that can be integrated easily into a person’s daily life.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC BACKGROUND RADIATION
The public screening of the documentary GENERATION ZAPPED last year has been very successful and has lead to many people taking positive steps to minimize their exposure. I have received a wide range of feedback such as getting rid of baby monitors, turning off the router at night…The most interesting feedback came from someone who has many cats living in the house. The cats used to be very restless and noisy at night; after turning off the router at night the house became peaceful and quiet – no more squabbling at night!
See the handout for resources and suggestions on how you can minimize your exposure.
Please share the information freely. It is so important to increase awareness and especially help to protect our children.
Green blessings,
Gudrun
CURRIED ZUCCHINI BROCCOLI SOUP
This soup is fast and easy to prepare – as always, my preference. It has become one of our favorites during the winter time. Even the grand children (1 ½ – 4 ½ years old) enjoy it immensely.
The soup is lightly curried to allow the delicate flavor of the zucchini to come through. You can adjust the flavor by adding more, or less curry powder.
INGREDENTS
- 2 tsp. butter or coconut oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 5 cups fresh broccoli
- 2 pounds fresh zucchini, sliced
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tsp. curry powder
- ½ cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
- Melt coconut oil/butter in a large saucepan over medium heat
- Add onion and cook until it begins to soften
- Add remaining ingredients except for sour cream (vegetable/chicken broth, zucchini, broccoli, curry powder; if using unsalted vegetable or chicken stock add large pinch of salt)
- Bring to boil
- Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender (about 25 minutes)
- Allow soup to cool slightly; then transfer to blender or food processor
- Puree soup until smooth but still has some green flecks
- Return soup to saucepan and stir in sour cream.
- Reheat gently over low heat
- Adjust seasoning to taste
- ENJOY
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