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Renaissance and Modern Herbal Preparations

By Angelique -
This article comes from a class I taught at LORE, the Loyal Order of Renaissance Enthusiasts. The regular type is the outline, and the italicized are from the lecture and additional information. Powdered Herbs The easiest way to powder herbs in our time is a good coffee grinder. For the Renaissance times, a mortar and pestle were an herbalist’s best friend; or rather, the herbalist’s apprentice’s best friend. Some examples of how a powdered herb would be used include: Cayenne pepper. This is a powerful, although painful, styptic, meaning that it causes the blood to clot very quickly. Because of the capsaicin contained in Cayenne, it is almost like cauterizing a wound, and the person you’re treating is not going to be happy. However, it will accomplish the job. (As an aside, if you’re around someplace with spider webs, it’s a much less painful way of accomplishing the same thing, although slower.)  Licorice root. This is a mild anti-depressant which, if used in food (works w
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Kitchen Medicine Notes

By Angelique -
KITCHEN MEDICINE Foods Fresh vs. Processed             Gluten and Lactose Intolerances               Numerous studies have found that when grains are soaked and sprouted, improvements in digestibility and nutrient absorption are commonly seen and also vitamin, mineral, protein, and antioxidant levels are increased.             Milk from commercially raised cows is actually dangerous to consume unless it is pasteurized. Factory-farmed animals are routinely fed an unnatural, high-protein soy- and corn-based diet and given shots of BGH (bovine growth hormone) to artificially increase milk production. This diet is so contrary to their biology that it causes severe illnesses that can only be combated by continually injecting the cows with antibiotics.  Don't get raw milk from that.  It *needs* to be pasteurized.  Raw milk from healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised cows is in a league of its own.   It protects against allergic reaction and boosts the immune system.
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Recipes for Kitchen Medicine

By Angelique -
Most of these were taken from K. P. Khalsa and The Green Pharmacy. EASY VEGETABLE SOUP BASE Fill a pot about half full with water.  Add: Celery Garlic Hawthorn berries Kudzu Onion Tomato Broccoli Carrots Purslane Saffron Bring to a boil, and then simmer, adding any other vegetables or spices or meat you want. Blood Pressure The above, by itself, is good for lowering blood pressure.  To aid in that, add: Oregano Black Pepper Basil Tarragon BONE STRENGTHENING BROTH To help prevent osteoporosis In large pot, place leftover fish bones in a few quarts of water.  (If bones are tiny, tie them in a cheesecloth bag to make it easier to remove them later.)  Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 30 minutes.  Add couple of handfuls each of: Finely chopped cabbage Dandelion greens Stinging nettle greens Parsley Pigweed Purslane Simmer until greens soften slightly.  Season to taste with salt/pepper and any other seasoni
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