Mountain Dragon Herbs

04/09/2022

Violets❤️

Violet Medicine 💜
Violet's leaves are a traditional nutritive spring tonic, high in vitamin A and C and soluble fiber. They are heart-friendly, as they are full of antioxidants and their soluble fiber helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the body (similar to oatmeal).
I enjoy them in salads, stir-fries, quiche, and as an ingredient in wild greens pesto. They can be added to soups as a healthy thickener.
Medicinally, violet leaves are a traditional cleansing herb and remedy for dry hacking cough, as the demulcent (mucilaginous) leaves are soothing to irritated mucus membranes. They can be eaten or prepared as tea.
Violet's flowers are packed with antioxidant bioflavonoids and can be sprinkled on top of cakes, pancakes, toast, and spring salads. You can find our recipe for Violet Spring Fairy Vinegar on the blog:
https://chestnutherbs.com/violet-springtime-fairy-vinegar/
P.S. Do you want to learn more about herbs? ALL of our Online Herbal Programs are 30% OFF through April 19th!!
For details on our course offerings:
🌸The Online Herbal Immersion (1,000 hours):
www.chestnutherbs.com/immersion
🌸The Online Foraging Course (375 hours):
www.chestnutherbs.com/foraging-course
🌸The Online Herbal Medicine Making Course (150 hours):
www.chestnutherbs.com/medicine-making
Class begins as soon as you enroll!
(Viola spp.).
Photo © Juliet Blankespoor
*Please research any new herb and consult your health care providers for possible drug/herb contraindications and precautions before ingesting. Be sure of your identification before ingesting any plant or mushroom.

01/17/2022

Five Things You Need to Know About. . .
ASTRAGALUS (Astragalus propinquus)

1. One of Chinese medicine's most famous herbs, astragalus is famed for its ability to help boost the immune system.

2. As a powerful immune tonic, astragalus is taken alone or in formula to keep colds and flu at bay. For this use, it's an easy and tasty ingredient to add to winter soups.

3. This herb has found a special use in cancer cases, where it can not only help the body fight the disease, but also to combat nausea and vomiting so common in patients receiving chemotherapy.

4. As a sweet, warming Spleen Qi tonic, astragalus helps the body build energy and strengthens digestion.

5. While astragalus is specific for helping protect the body against pathogens, do not use it during acute infection.

🌿 East West School 🌿 planetherbs.com 🌿

06/01/2021

Yum

Let the preservation begin!

01/10/2021

Yum

Oxymel of Haws...A Medieval and Renaissance style sipping medicine made by simmering down hawthorn berries in water and blending that decoction with orchard vinegar and garden honey. The ancient Greek word oxymeli translates to “acid and honey.” First by sips, then in water, finally in tea - I felt it open my heart, lungs and circulatory system with its concentrated sweet, tart, citrus and berry flavor. It also tasted great when I added to champagne for a 'quarantini' zoom with friends. Recent batches with rose hips, elderberry and ginger were tasty too.

11/30/2020

Support your digestive system with this delicious and nourishing Chinese rice dish, with custom variations for your flavor preferences and dietary needs!

11/21/2020

Sage! Also curbs hot flashes & dries up breast milk

Sage: The Herb of Thanksgiving. Ever wonder why we put sage in stuffing?
Today we understand that sage is an antibacterial herb. Our ancestors also knew that to insure food safety, it was best to add an abundance of sage to the stuffing or 'belly pudding', and rub the bird inside and out with salt before filling the cavity (where we know today bacteria is most likely to form). Scientific studies can now help us understand why many of our 'classic flavor combinations', demonstrate that our ancestors knew a great deal about preserving food, food quality and health - leading to the old adage that 'The cook is half a physician'.
Sage is also synonymous with wisdom. In fact, it might be said that many an 'old sage' gained her wisdom from the use of sage. "As far back as 1597, herbalist John Gerard wrote that sage was 'singularly good for the head and brain and quickeneth the nerves and memory.' Half a century later, Nicholas Culpeper, claimed the herb 'heals the memory, warming and quickening the senses".
The Latin name for Sage is Salvia which translates to "Life"...so add some life to your holiday foods this season with Salvia officinalis or our common perennial garden sage!
*(I also just made a great batch of cornmeal, apricot, sage cookies, and a pot of sage tea to ring in the beginning of the baking season). What is your favorite way to use sage?
Happy Thanksgiving from The Heirloom Gardener - John Forti

11/13/2020

Related to mums!

Chrysanthemum tea--the flower that flowers once on the plant, again in the teacup, and finally--in the heart.

Bo-ju-hua (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Family: Aster (Asteraceae)

Hardy to Zones 5 to 10

(Autumn Chrysanthemum) Evergreen subshrub native to China and hardy to 0 degrees F, an ancient cultigen that cannot be propagated by seed. This is a choice cultivar with medium, single-petaled flowers of cream. Flowering occurs in my Zone 7 garden in the fall. Main harvest occurs around Halloween (Oct 31). This cultivar flowers earlier than Gong-ju-hua. Taste sweet, considered to be a superior flower for making Chrysanthemum tea. Traditional uses (TCM): one of the Chinese herbs that releases the exterior, used in treating common cold, flu, fever and heatstroke; high blood pressure, heart pain, atherosclerosis; dizziness, hearing loss, tinnitus, headache and migraine; red and swollen eyes, blurry vision; liver inflammation and toxicity; infections including staphylococcus, streptococcus and blood spirochetes. Plant prefers sun and well-drained garden soil, frequent watering.

11/09/2020

It’s Natural?

Nov. 12,1920