Herbs for the immune system
Vinegar Infusion – thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, garlic
Water infusion - Echinacea Tea
Oil infusion – calendula medicated oil
Honey Infusion - elderberry
Weakens
#1 Stress
Poor nutrition
High Blood Sugar & High Insulin
Unbalanced food choices
Food preservatives
Emotional upset
Scary / Sad movies, books, art, music
Lack of daily movement – lymphatic
Incorrect environment …
Too loud
Too cold /hot
Not enough rest
Not enough friendship
Hungry
Tired
Strengths
Joy full life style approach
Laughter, relaxation
Massage – relaxing & lymphatic
Positive social connections
Fermented foods
Balanced diets with high quality foods. Eating on time
Herbs for stress tonics
Herbs for immune tonics & stimulants
Herbal anti- biotics
Comfortable environment…
Light, proper temps
Sleep & wake cycles not extreme
The Immune System is affected & influenced by…
Herbal Vinegars.
Herbal Vinegars
Any herb can be infused into a vinegar
Vinegar is a natural preservative
They can be used for flavoring foods
Or as “herbal aides”
They can be mild and pleasurable
Or strong and biting
Apple Cider Vinegar… What is it?
Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made from fresh, crushed, apples and allowed to mature. It goes through 2 fermentations, (alcohol to vinegar). When mature, it contains a web-like substance, called "mother“ that is naturally occurring pectin and apple residues - it appears as molecules of protein connected in strand-like chains. Some people feel the best vinegar contains this mother and is not pasteurized. It is “live”.
It can be used on its own as a health aide.
Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits
Body & skin PH balancer
Heart burn & reflux
Reduce allergies – reduces mucus & sinus congestion
Reduces inflammation
Conditions & detangles hair
Anti-fungal for nails & skin
Reduces Candida Yeast in & on body – enzymes dissolve it
Acne treatment
Joint soothing bath ( 1 to 2 cups )
It is mixed with drinking water for chickens for internal parasites & bathing water for ducks.
4 Thieves Vinegar… Many Versions on the Same Legend
Natural Anti-Biotic, Anti-Viral, Anti-Septic, Anti-Fungal
4 cups of good vinegar
2 TBSP Dry Thyme
2 TBSP Dry Rosemary
2 TBSP Dry Lavender
2 TBSP Dry Mint
4 to 8 Cloves of Garlic (optional but valuable)
Fresh can be used –reduce the quantity of herbs
4 Thieves Vinegar…
1 cup of vinegar
1 T Dry Thyme
1 T Dry Rosemary
1 T Dry Oregano
1 T Mint
2 cloves Garlic
Place herbs in a jar. Cover with vinegar. Cap tightly.
Store in a cool place
Making of the 4 Thieves Vinegar
Use plastic wrap to protect metal lids from strong vinegar.
Leave cool & dark for 6 to 8 weeks –shake daily if possible.
After 6 to 8 weeks, strain out herbs.
Bottle “Vinegar Tonic” in smaller jars.
Label.
Uses of the 4 Thieves Vinegar
Your uses will depend on the intensity of the garlic smell.
Insect Repellent for pets & people: ¼ cup vinegar in 8 oz spray bottle topped off with water
Sickness: Quicken recovery. Adults 1 TBSP diluted in water several times a day
Children 1 tsp very well diluted 2 to 3 times a day
Disinfectant home cleaner: 1 to 1 dilution in water (again the garlic version not the most enjoyable )
Foot & Nail fungus: Soak every day for 2 weeks to 3 months.
Dandruff and Hair Rinse & Shine : dilute ½ TAB with 1 cup water
Lymphatic System
Improve Lymphatic Filtration & Drainage
Strengthen Immune Function with polysaccharides, fatty acids, glycosides
Stimulates T-Cell Formation
Inhibits bacteria & viruses
Increases antibody responses to interferon
Safe in Pregnancy
Caution if taking meds for autoimmune disease – may inhibit liver enzymes
Cooling: Long term use need to balance with warming herbs in winter
Purple Cone Flower / Echinacea
Make a tea, add honey for immune support.
This is one of our strongest herbs to boost the immune system when it is under threat.
Most people take it as tea. (leaf)
I occasionally use a tincture. (root)
Or decoct the root and make tea.
Can be used as a bath tea to help detoxify the lymph system.
Purple Cone Flower / Echinacea
Leaf Root ( stronger medicinal )
Prepared and taken as tea, as tincture, or in pill form
Robust
Native exclusively to North America
“Echin” = hedgehog, picky
Used extensively by First Nations as a way to ease pain and treat colds, coughs, colic and even snakebite.
Fell into dis-use in America but became popular in Germany in the 1930s
E. Purpurea is easiest to grow and has the widest range. All commercial crop is cultivated, not wild harvested
Purple Cone Flower / Echinacea Echinacea purpurea; fiberous root
E. Angustifolia; tap root
E. pallida; tap root
There are 6 other species, none used medicinally
Immune System Tonic
Prevents viruses from entering cells
Elderberry Decoction / Infusion
1/4 cup ( about 1 oz ) of dried RIPE Elderberries
(1/2 cup if using if fresh or frozen) remove stems!
1 cups Water
1/2 cup Honey – local wild preferred
Optional-warms the body & anti viral / bactieral
1/2 Tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1/2 cinnamon stick ( or some powder )
2-3 pieces of clove
Safe for kids & adults
Use 1 Tablespoon a DAY for good health
1 Tablespoon an HOUR when sick
Steps to make Elderberry Syrup
Put 1 c water and ½ berries in pot and bring to a boil
Turn down heat & Simmer covered on low until reduced by ½ usually about 10 to 15 minutes
Take the “decocted” herb liquid and strain over a bowl, pressing with a spoon to get all the good juices
Now add 1/2 cup of honey stir
Let cool and bottle & label
Shelf Life : Store in closed jar in frig for 2 to 3 weeks
Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra)
Tonic
Stimulate & Strengthen Immune System-boosting the production of cytokines
High in vit C, Vit A & B
High in Flavonoids –quercetin
Anti- Oxidants
Anti-Viral
Cough Cold Flu -less severe, shorter sickness
Nurture the heart , support the eyes
Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell.
Uncooked, unripe berries and other parts of plants from this genus are poisonous. The Nigra var. is considered “least minimally toxic” and safer to work with
Garlic is the other “super” immune system herb
We will make garlic tincture in lab – this is an alcohol or glycerin infusion
1 clove garlic
2oz high proof alcohol or 2 oz glycerin
Mash clove, let it sit for 10 minutes
Stuff it into dropper bottle
Add alcohol or glycerin
Let it sit for a month before use
Dose: 5 drops in your tea or under your tongue. Twice a day.
Use only when your immune system is actively challenged for up to two weeks
Do not use over long periods of time -
Infusions in Oil
Designed 2014 for NWTC By Erika Van Ryzin of Green Heart Natural Health
Herb infusions in oils
1) Make strong medicinal oils (for immune support, anti-bacterial)
or
2) Milder, sweet-scented massage, skin oils
OLIVE OIL
Coconut Oil
Nurturing Values of Some “Base Oils”
Safflower: Deeply moisturizing. Natural blood thinner, stimulates vessels to
open ( increasing circulation ) linoleic acid (Polyunsaturated fatty acid) heart protector.
Sweet Almond: A light oil, absorbs well, good to blend with heavy oils like olive. Soften, soothe and recondition skin. Strengthens cell membranes, High in essential oleic fatty acids , anti-oxedents, Vit E and B’s, calcium, magnesium, trace elements & minerals. Excellent for massage. Look for cold pressed, if not listed is solvent extracted. Good shelf life 1 year, except in extreme heat.
Grape Seed: Very light oil, absorbs quickly into the body. Good for oily skin. Very short shelf life -6 months to 1 year.
Good oil reference….http://www.gardenofwisdom.com/carrieroils.html
When good oil goes bad
Shelf life varies;
Generally an oil can be kept for about 1 year.
Store in a dark, cool place, tightly sealed to reduce oxidation (spoiling).
Use only dried herbs. Damp herbs or moisture in the jar can cause mold to grow.
Making Medicated Oil infusions
Select the base oil, add the selected herb
Hot Process
Cold Process
SOLAR
Strain
Calendula Infused / Medicated Oil Solar method
To a glass jar with a lid add
Dry Calendula flower petals
Olive oil ( or other carrier oil ) enough to cover all plants with ½ inch of oil and have plants float freely
Let jar sit in a sunny spot for 2 weeks
Turn the jar every day
Strain the oil through cheesecloth or muslin.
Retain herbs in the cloth and squeeze the oil from the plant material
Add a fresh batch of herbs to the previously infused oil
Infuse for 2 more weeks, turning daily
Strain, Bottle and label
Shelf life 1 year. If in the Refrigerator 2 years.
Infused / Medicated Oil Cold Method – Jim Green’s
Dried herb ground as finely as possible
Place in a glass jar with a lid add
Add Olive oil (or other fixed oil ) enough to wet all the herb powder.
Stir well. Let stand and settle.
Cover the wet herb with ¼ inch (or if it floats, ¼ inch oil below)
Many dried will absorb the extra ¼ inch of oil
Cap jar tightly. Place in a thick paper bag (keep light out)
Place in sun and shake frequently for 7-10 days
Strain, press remaining pulp
Allow infusion to settle, then decant (pour) and filter out sediment.
Bottle in glass, cap tightly. Store in a cool, dark place.
Calendula Infused / Medicated Oil Erika’s Cold Method
In a glass jar with a lid add
Dry Calendula flower petals, add
Olive oil ( or other carrier oil ) enough to cover all plants with ½ inch of oil and have plants float freely
Leave jar to sit in a “warm room” and shake every day
Steep for 1 to 6 months –the oil will darken / color as the “medicinal” properties transfer
Strain
Bottle and label
Shelf life 1 year. If in the Refrigerator 2 years.
Calendula Infused / Medicated Oil Erika’s Hot Method
Low temp heat source – crock pot is typical
In lab we are using steel pots on burners
Gently warm olive oil to about 100 degrees. Use low on a crock pot.
Add dry Calendula flower petals, add a dried garlic powder
Olive oil (or other carrier oil ) enough to cover all plants and have float freely
Add calendula and stir to moisten all parts.
Steep & heat for 30 minutes to 1 hour
Strain out plants
Bottle & Label
Shelf life 6 months to 1 year. If refrigerated 1 to 2 years.
Erika’s Hot Method compared to Green’s Digestion Method
For heated oil infusions
Heat source – Erika - crock pot is typical. Jim Green says it’s lowest temp is still too hot. He uses a yogurt maker or over pilot light.
I use a burner and a thermometer to regulate how hot.
Gently warm olive oil to about 100 degrees.
Time: Erika’s method ½ hour to 1 hours. Green – 10 days at low temp!
Add dry Calendula flower petals – Green would grind them to a powder
Olive oil to cover all plants and have float freely – Green covers powder with oil, lets it settle, then adds ¼” more of the oil
Calendula calendula officinalis Flowers
Well known skin healer & good care
Anti- inflammatory
Antioxidant
Anti-septic ( infections )
Rebuilds connective tissue & collagen
All irritations
Allergies & Rash
First Aide…Bruising, Burns
Varicose Veins
Mild Eczema & Dermatitis
Excellent for children Excellent for aging skin