Medicine woman
Healing remedies are everywhere if only we knew where to look. Fortunately, That Herbal Queen is running a workshop to teach traditional herbalism to stave off the winter sniffles.
Making a cup of warm water with lemon, ginger and honey for the sniffles, is something many of us do without a second thought. A wellness tidbit passed on from Gran that is filed away in your mind and retrieved each winter when the weather cools. How about sucking on a ginger lolly when you’re feeling nauseous? Or a cup of chamomile tea in the evening to help you wind down? Without even realising, you’ve been practising herbalism – the art of alchemising plants into other forms to help you feel well.
Amy – also known as That Herbal Queen – is opening up the doors to her apothecary and offering a workshop to teach people the skills to make their own medicine at home. As a Senior Traditional Herbalist, she works with local, in-season plants to create herbal remedies to support holistic wellness.
“Since the beginning of time, humans have been reaching into their garden or local environment and using plants for medicine. Yet, herbalism has connotations of potionmaking, and witchcraft; of hippie-dippie lifestyles,” says Amy. “Actually, when you look at it very simply, herbalism is getting back to our ancestral ways. It’s stepping into your ‘Gran Era’.”
Learning traditional, slow, herbalism mixes to support our immune system and to treat simple family ailments through winter, Amy will explain and demonstrate the basics of creating three herbal remedies: a syrup, a tincture and a balm. Attendees will receive a workbook, herbal recipes for winter, and to make three remedies to take home afterwards. All materials are provided, as is a delicious morning tea.
Step into the Grandma era and learn to make medicine at home with what you have in the garden. The workshop will be held on Saturday 6 May, 10am-2pm, at Wild Wholistic Hub.
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Elderberry Syrup
INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup dried elderberries
• ¼ cup orange peel
• 2T cinnamon
• 2T ginger
• 2½ cups water
• ½ cup honey
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine elderberries, orange, cinnamon, ginger and water in a pot.
Simmer on medium for 5-7 minutes.
2. Turn down to low, simmer for a further 30-40 minutes partially covered.
3. Strain into a measuring cup, being sure to press the plants into a cheesecloth or similar, to squeeze out all the liquid. You should have about one cup of liquid – if you have more, return to heat and simmer a bit longer.
4. When mostly cooled, stir in honey until it mixes in completely.
5. Store in a glass bottle or jar on a cool, dark shelf for up to a year.
Once open, please refrigerate.
Notes: elderberry helps boost the immune system when you have a cold or flu. As it is stimulating it is not suited for people with compromised immune systems. Please always do research prior to taking any medicines and if in doubt, ask your GP or trusted medical professional.