Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Healing for Men: Remedies and Recipes for Circulation Support, Heart Health, Vitality, Prostate Health, Anxiety Relief, Longevity, Virility, Energy & Endurance
224
Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Healing for Men: Remedies and Recipes for Circulation Support, Heart Health, Vitality, Prostate Health, Anxiety Relief, Longevity, Virility, Energy & Endurance
224eBook
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781612124780 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Storey Publishing, LLC |
| Publication date: | 06/13/2017 |
| Series: | Storey Basics |
| Sold by: | Hachette Digital, Inc. |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 224 |
| Sales rank: | 985,775 |
| File size: | 20 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Rosemary Gladstar is the best-selling author of nine books including Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, Herbs for Children’s Health, and Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, which draw on her 40-plus years of experience studying and teaching about the healing properties of herbs. She is a world-renowned educator, activist, and entrepreneur, the creator of the most highly regarded herbal studies course, The Science & Art of Herbalism, and the founding director of Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, the International Herb Symposium, and the New England Women’s Herbal Conference. Gladstar is founding president of United Plant Savers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of native American herbs. She was the original formulator for Traditional Medicinal herbal teas and has led herbal educational adventures around the world. She is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, and serves on the board of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine and The National Health Freedom Coalition. She lives in Vermont.
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
How to Make Your Own Herbal Remedies
You've never made herbal remedies before? Not to worry. The remedies recommended in this book are quite easy, and most are quite delicious. In fact, preparing herbal remedies is a lot like cooking, if not even easier. If the kitchen isn't normally your domain, the most difficult task you might encounter is locating the "tools" you'll need: measuring cups, mixing bowls, the right size cooking pot ...
Though men often say they can't cook, many end up being very adept in the kitchen. Some of the most famous chefs in the world are men, as are many of the best herbal medicine makers, like herbalists Ed Smith (Herb Pharm), David Winston (Herbalist & Alchemist), Matthias Reisen (Healing Spirits), and Guido Masé (Grian Herbs), all of whom have created not only excellent herbal products but also very successful herbal businesses. Give a few of the recipes in this book a try, and see if you don't enjoy being an herbal medicine maker yourself.
The most common preparations of herbs for medicinal purposes are teas, tinctures, and capsules, and in this chapter we'll talk about how to make these kinds of remedies. But don't limit yourself. Herbs can be prepared and administered in many creative ways. Syrups and elixirs are a delicious and effective way to get down the medicinal properties of herbs. You can also add powdered herbs to food or mix the powders into a paste with honey and spices for a delicious daily tonic. Some herbs, such as hawthorn and elder, can be prepared as tasty jams and jellies — not a bad way to take medicine. And herbal oils, compresses, and poultices apply the healing power of herbs from the outside in and are wonderful remedies for cuts, scrapes, bruises, sore muscles, rashes, and other ailments.
If making herbal products is not your cup of tea, not to worry. You can find many excellent ready-made herbal formulas these days in health food stores and herb shops. Even supermarkets generally carry a selection of medicinal herbal teas. And there are countless online retailers ready to sell you a full selection of herbal products. (See Resources for some reliable, high-quality online sources.)
Finding Good-Quality Herbs
The single most important factor for making your own herbal remedies is obtaining the best-quality herbs available. Buy your herbs from reputable companies. Ask where their herbs come from. Are they organically grown? Are they wildcrafted? If they're wildcrafted, are they harvested ethically, with respect for the environment? Buying high-quality herbs ensures not only that you're getting quality herbal medicine but also that the wild herbs are being protected, that the soils are being restored, and that farmers are being treated fairly — all important factors in healing.
Whenever possible, use your herbs fresh. However, for a variety of reasons, it is not always feasible to get fresh herbs. Dried herbs, if harvested and dried properly, will generally retain all of their medicinal properties.
How do you tell if a dried herb is of good quality? Use your senses just like you would when shopping for fruits and vegetables in the market. If an herb looks, smells, and tastes almost exactly as it does when it's fresh, it should be effective. Here's what to look for.
Color
The dried herb should retain almost the same color as it has when it is fresh. If you are buying green leaves, such as peppermint or spearmint, they should be vivid and bright. If you're buying blossoms, they should be bright and colorful; dried calendula blossoms, for example, should be bright orange or yellow. Roots, though generally subtle shades to begin with, should remain true to their original color. Goldenseal should be a golden green, echinacea a silvery brown, yellow dock root a yellowish brown. If you're just getting started with herbs, you may not always know what the correct color of a plant should be, but look for liveliness, vibrancy, and deep, strong colors. You will soon develop a knack for knowing.
Smell
Herbs have distinctive odors that serve as an effective means of determining quality. They should smell strongly, but they may not necessarily smell "good." Herbs don't always smell refreshing and aromatic. The scent of valerian, for instance, has been compared to that of dirty socks. Well-aged valerian smells like really ripe socks. Good-quality peppermint, on the other hand, is delightfully refreshing and will make your nose tingle and your eyes water. Some herbs, such as alfalfa, smell "green," like freshly mown grass or newly cut hay. But in that green odor is a freshness and unmistakable vitality. Sweetly scented, refreshing, pungent, fragile, sometimes offensive — herbs have a variety of smells, but in general that scent is strong and distinctive.
Taste
Herbs also should have distinctive flavors. As with smell, their taste should be judged on potency, rather than whether the flavor is "good" or not. You will quickly learn that not all herbs taste good, by any stretch of the imagination! Do the herbs taste fresh? Strong? Vital? Or do they taste flat and flavorless? Good-quality dried herbs will arouse a distinctive response from your taste buds.
If you enjoy expanding your palate and repertoire in the kitchen, then you'll enjoy this process. It's not work; it's fun. And if you're doing this as part of a process of taking control of your own health, it's very empowering as well.
How to Store Dried Herbs
Light, heat, air, moisture, and age are the major factors that destroy the essence of herbs. Insects also can be a problem. The ideal storage containers for dried herbs are glass jars with tight-fitting lids, though other airtight containers work well too. Store your dried herbs away from direct light and heat; a cool, dark kitchen closet or pantry is excellent. Dried herbs stored this way will last for several months or even years.
Determining Dosage
Even in conventional (allopathic) medicine, correct dosage is often less precise than we're led to believe. With herbs, be aware that determining dosage involves some skill, a healthy touch of "inner knowledge," observation, and a bit of guesswork. While strong, they tend not to be as concentrated or potent (or potentially harmful) as many pharmaceutical drugs. This doesn't mean herbs aren't as effective; it just means they are generally safer.
Dosages for herbal formulas are given throughout this book and on most commercial preparations that you might purchase. However, in determining the proper dosage of an herbal preparation, you should also consider your weight, height, size, overall constitution, and any food sensitivities or allergies that might make you react to herbs. The general rule is to start with a smaller dose and work up. However, if the dose is too small, you may not feel or see any effects. Ultimately, we must each learn to trust the wisdom of our own body and listen to what it is telling us. The following chart shows typical dosages for a variety of remedies. Remember that dosage may also vary based on the potency of the herb.
The Simpler's Measure
While many people are converting to the metric system, I've reverted to the simpler's method of measuring. Many herbalists choose to use this system because it is extremely simple and versatile. Throughout this book you'll see measurements referred to as "parts": 3 parts sarsaparilla, 2 parts dandelion root, 1 part eleuthero. A "part" is any unit of measurement you want it to be: cups, ounces, pounds, tablespoons, teaspoons — as long as you use that unit consistently throughout the recipe. The formula is then a ratio of ingredients, and you can prepare it in the amount you need.
Making Medicinal Herb Tea
There are whole books devoted to the art of making tea. In fact, I've written many pages myself on this subject. But suffice it to say it's probably the easiest preparation you can make in the kitchen. If you've never cooked a thing in your life, trust me, you can make a good cup of medicinal tea. There are two basic methods used for brewing herbs for medicinal purposes: infusions and decoctions.
Method I: Infusions
Leaves, flowers, and other plant parts rich in aromatic oils and other heat-sensitive constituents require infusing or steeping, as opposed to simmering, because simmering them would cause rapid loss of those constituents. Simply boil 1 quart of water per 1 ounce of herb (or 1 cup of water per 1 tablespoon of herb), pour the hot water over the herb, cover, and let steep for 30 to 60 minutes.
That's the general idea, but the exact proportion of water to herb and the required time to infuse varies greatly depending on the herb. Start out with the above proportions and then experiment. The more herb you use and the longer you let it steep, the stronger the brew. Let your taste buds and your senses guide you. And remember, for medicinal teas you want a stronger brew.
Method II: Decoctions
Decoctions are used to make tea from the more tenacious parts of the plant, such as roots, barks, and hard seeds or nuts. These plant materials require more direct heat and longer exposure to the heat to release their healing constituents. Using the same proportions as for infusions (1 quart of water per 1 ounce of herb, or 1 cup of water per 1 tablespoon of herb), place the herbs in a pot of cold water, cover tightly, bring to a low simmer, and let simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. For a stronger decoction, simmer the herbs for 30 to 45 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the herbs sit overnight in the water.
Herbal Capsules
Herbal capsules are among the most popular ways to ingest herbs. They're quick and easy to take, as well as being virtually tasteless.
The powdered herb in a capsule should be of high quality. Open a capsule to test for quality. Does the powdered herb taste and smell potent? Does it retain some of its color? If not, it may be past its prime and not effective. Be sure that the capsules you use are vegetable based; they generally are of much higher quality than gelatin capsules made from animal sources, and they also dissolve quickly and are easy to digest.
There are many excellent ready-made herbal capsules on the market, but it's best to know your sources (see the resources at the end of this book for a list of reputable suppliers). You can also easily make your own capsules. It's a bit time consuming, but it's a nice meditative process. You open the empty capsules, pack powdered herbs in each half, and join the halves together. You can also find inexpensive encapsulating "machines" that quicken the task.
Herbal Electuaries
Though capsules are quick and easy, powdered herbs can be used in far more creative ways. A great way to take herbs — and a very simple method of preparation — is to mix powdered herbs with honey and/or maple syrup, forming a thick paste, known as an electuary. By mixing sweeter spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg with less tasty herbs, you can make these blends quite delicious.
Add a tablespoon of this electuary paste to hot water for an "instant tea," spread it on crackers and toast, or eat it plain. Or you can roll the paste into small pea-size balls and swallow these "pills" straight, if you prefer. Because honey is a natural preservative, they last for weeks, even months, on the shelf.
Making Tinctures
Tinctures are concentrated liquid extracts of herbs. Once prepared, they are taken simply by diluting the desired amount (usually a few drops) of the tincture in warm water, tea, or juice. Most tinctures are made with alcohol as the primary solvent or extractant. Though the amount of alcohol is very small, some people choose not to use alcohol-based tinctures for a variety of sound reasons. As an alternative, you can make effective tinctures using either vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar as the solvent, but they are not as strong as alcohol-based tinctures.
If they are stored in a cool, dark location, tinctures have a very long shelf life, lasting almost indefinitely. Because they are concentrated, follow the dosage chart carefully.
While there are several methods for making tinctures, the traditional or simpler's method is the one I prefer, especially for beginners, since it is easy and reliable. All that is required is the herbs, the solvent, and a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
STEP 1. Chop your herbs finely, or mix the herbs with some of your chosen solvent (see step 2) and blend in a blender. I recommend using fresh herbs whenever possible because one of the advantages of tincturing is the ability to preserve the fresh attributes of the plant. But either fresh or dried herbs will work, and you can even use both in a single tincture.
STEP 2. Place the chopped herbs in a clean, dry jar. Pour enough solvent over the herbs to cover them by 2 to 3 inches. If you're using alcohol as your solvent, select one that is 80- to 100-proof alcohol, such as vodka, gin, or brandy. If you're using vegetable glycerin, dilute it first with an equal amount of water (1 part water to 1 part vegetable glycerin). If you're using vinegar, warm it before pouring it over the herbs to help facilitate the release of the herbs' constituents. Cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid.
STEP 3. Place the jar in a warm place and let the herbs and solvent macerate (soak) for 4 to 6 weeks. The longer the maceration time, the better. Shake the jar occasionally during this period. Shaking keeps the herbs from packing down on the bottom of the jar. It is also an invitation for some of the old magic to come back into medicine making: while you shake the jar, empower your herbal remedies with prayer, song, or just a simple thought of gratitude.
STEP 4. At the end of the maceration period, strain the herbs from the solvent by pouring the mixture through a large stainless steel strainer lined with cheesecloth or muslin and placed over a large bowl or pitcher. Reserve the liquid, which is now a potent tincture, and compost the herbs.
STEP 5. Rebottle and label. Labeling is more important than it seems. If you don't label your tinctures with the date, the herbs, and the type of alcohol, you will, if you're like most people, soon forget what's in your tincture jar. Especially if you have more than one jar of tincture! So label, label, label ...
Simpler's Method for Making Tinctures
Step 1: Chop herbs.
Steps 2–3: Add solvent and macerate.
Step 4: Strain.
Step 5: Bottle and label.
Infused Oils
Herbal oils are made by infusing herbs in oil. It's that simple. They can be used on their own or as a base for making salves. Though any high-quality vegetable oil will do, the oil of choice for medicine is olive oil; there is no finer oil for this purpose.
Many people prefer to make oils using fresh herbs, and you certainly can. But I find that in most cases high-quality dried herbs, which are more concentrated and don't contain water that could spoil the oil, make better oils and salves. I do enjoy making herbal oils from fresh herbs, going outside and collecting fresh plantain, yarrow, comfrey, and chickweed, but I usually dry-wilt these herbs before adding them to the oil. Dry wilting — spreading out the herbs on a towel or rack and letting them sit at room temperature until they are fairly well wilted, which can take a few hours — allows some of the moisture to evaporate, so there's less chance of spoilage due to the water content of fresh herbs.
Double Boiler Method
This is the classic method of preparing an infused oil. It is quick and simple.
STEP 1. Chop the herbs, if necessary, and put them in the top part of a double boiler. I strongly recommend a double boiler over a regular cooking pot because the oil can overheat quickly, destroying the herbs and oil. You don't want deep-fried herbs or burned oil, and believe me, it happens very quickly unless you're using a double boiler.
STEP 2. Cover the herbs with an inch or two of olive oil.
STEP 3. Fill the bottom part of the double boiler with a couple inches of water. Set the top part (with the oil and herbs) over the bottom part (with the water) and slowly heat until the oil reaches a very low simmer, with just a few bubbles. Keeping the heat low, gently simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour, checking frequently to be sure the oil is not overheating. When the oil looks and smells "herby" — it will become deep green or golden and smell strongly of herbs — then you know the herbal properties have been transferred to the oil. The lower the heat and the longer the infusion, the better the oil.
STEP 4. Remove the oil from the heat and let cool. Then strain the herbs from the oil, using a large stainless steel strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard the spent herbs.
STEP 5. Bottle and label your herbal oil. A quick hint: Don't put the label on until after you have poured in the oil and cleaned the outside of the jar to avoid staining your labels.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Healing for Men"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Rosemary Gladstar.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
AcknowledgmentsHerbal Medicine for Men: New Perspectives
1 How to Make Your Own Herbal Remedies
2 Tonics and Formulas for Male Vitality
3 Remedies for Common Men's Health Issues
4 Herbs to Enhance Virility & Potency
5 A Man's Herbal Medicine Chest
Recommended Reading
Resources
Index
Related Subjects
Customer Reviews
Explore More Items
