Now is the time to be foraging for herbs your family will need this winter. Keep a watchful eye on Elder. Her gorgeous fluorescence will turn deep purple and hang low and heavy. Then you know she is ripe for the picking. I have Elderflower ready to strain into a simple, ready for compounding with other immune boasting and antiviral packing herbals. I like to combine Elderflower, Elderberries, Echinacea,Goldenrod and Usnea. For a formula that knocks out the flu and colds common in the winter months.
Another herb that is growing in my garden this year is St. Johns wort. Also a powerful antiviral and so much more.
I use it daily in the winter months to give me a happy heart and mind. I have Mimosa and St. John’s Wort tincturing…. waiting to make marry this winter!
Here are some herbal facts about St. John’s wort. Hypericum perforatum provides a great example of how an herb and drug can interact. It is often used by herbalists as a nervine for mild depression and seasonal affective disorder, as a potent antiviral for herpes and influenza, and for its vulnerary and anti-inflammatory actions on wounds and muscle pain. Be aware St. John’s wort interacts with many drugs,like blood thinners and antidepressants, by inducing CYP450 drug-metabolizing enzymes and P-glycoprotein, a drug-transporter protein.
Calendula is another wonderful herb to have on the shelf dried, tincture or in a balm this winter.
All of these precious grow on my property or cultivate in my garden. I am very blessed.
I encourage you to be like the ant working hard and preparing for winter.
Blessing to my friends!
