DANDELION

Thank the wind which blew the golden dust of the dandelion blossom from the far Asia to us. When I look at the yellow dandelion flowers I always thank the sun for its gift. The sun rays which warm the Earth also make the dandelion flower so beautifully yellow.

 

When the first dandelion flowers start to blossom, I know that spring is here. The people are happy to see it and bees as well. In my opinion honey made from the dandelion flowers is the best. It is thick, yellow and with many crystals.

 

In the spring and also during the year, I often prepare myself dandelion tea, because it helps with bad digestion, strengthens the stomach and the immune system. Fresh juice made from the grinded dandelion leaves with a little water is the most efficient. I store it in the fridge and drink it throughout the day.

When I feel bloated or when my body is acidified due to sugary and fatty foods, I make myself tea from the dandelion blossom. I pour boiling water over the blossoms, leave it a couple of minutes and then drink it.

When consuming dandelion regularly I find myself loosing quite some weight. Because dandelion is a diuretic it encourages the differentiation of urine, stool and bile acid. It contains a lot of potassium, so there is no danger of losing to much bodily fluids, like with the nettle, which is a huge advantage over other herbs.

I also remember that my mother used dandelion milk which she squeezed out of the stalk to wash my eyes.

I use dandelion in salads and for decoration throughout the year. Even in the late autumn days, when there is no more salad on the garden and you have to go to buy it. You can still go to the meadow, pick dandelion leaves and put them in the salad.

 

I also used the root from the dandelion a couple of times when preparing coffee. The aroma was most interesting and after a coffee with the root, the intestine quickly empties. I also dry the roots and add them to different types of tea.

For the colder days I prepare myself syrup out of the dandelion blossom.

I use dandelion leaves through the whole year.

RIBWORT PLANTAIN

If I even think, how many times a human foot steps on such a useful grass as Ribwort Plantain and crumples it, it breaks my heart. I know two different species of Ribwort Plantain, narrow leaf and broadleaf.

 

 

In past, I used Broadleaf Ribwort Plantain, when my husband had stomach problems. I gathered it, added a little of Dandelion leaves, Yarrow and Camomile flowers. Tea from those herbs helps with inflammation gastric mucosal. It is even more affective when you squeeze juice from leaves and consume it twice a day with spoon.

Now, when I and my husband are a little older, I started to use Ribwort Plantain seeds. In my opinion these are one of the best natural medicines for intestinal problems and hemorrhoids. I use dry seeds when I want to eradicate unnecessary substances from the intestines. I put Ribwort Plantain seeds in water, to swell and become slimy (It is known that Ribwort works anti-inflammatory), then I drink a lot of water and thus facilitate drainage.

Every year I make syrup for respiratory. I make it from leaves, which I ground in food processor, and then add some water, sugar and honey. I boil them all together on a stove, this makes a thick liquid, and then I add some warm water and pour it lukewarm into glasses and put it into fridge. Syrup helps against dry cough.

 

 

From Ribwort Plantain I also make juice, which I ground it, drain it and add some honey, then drink it. This juice helps to drift away toxins from our body, and also works for diabetics and those with gout.

In gastronomy Ribwort Plantain is very popular, I always add it in green salad (especially if I buy a salad from a store), to consume more healthy ingredients. Many times I am using it instead of Swiss chard and spinach.

 

 

 

In my opinion, everybody should know Ribwort Plantain, because it can be found on every meadow. 





 

GARDEN NASTURTIUM / INDIAN CRESS a beauty at home garden

A human could hardly believe that such a beautiful herb, as Nasturtium, can be so healing. Nasturtium caught my eye a decade ago, when I saw it on some neighbour’s garden in our street. The following year I bought seeds and planted it in my garden. Now this beauty boasts in my garden every year. However, you can also find it in some balcony planter box or in concrete planter. I plant it because it repels aphids, caterpillars, snails, ants and mice.

 

Nasturtium has beautiful red, orange and yellow flowers and leaves are coloured green. My son, who is a gastronome by profession, told me, that in gastronomy a nasturtium is mostly used for decorations, soups, and salads, even for meat. I’m using it for making sandwiches, toast, sometimes I add it to sausages, because it tastes like mustard.

 



 

When I have a cold, I eat Nasturtium on a piece of bread. It`s seeds are even better. Those are very spicy, that’s why they are good for your lungs.

Nasturtium contains a lot of sulphur, that’s why I eat it when I have indigestion, because it helps me passing urine and stools. It also helps to boost your immune system.

When my hair is massively falling off, I make a Nasturtium hair tonic for myself. For making tonic I use alcohol, fresh leaves, flowers of Nasturtium and add some nettle. I dunk this tonic mixture from ten to fifteen days, then I strain it. Then I massage it into my hair.

I put Nasturtium flowers in risotto and pasta. It leaves I add to cheese, mixed eggs and omelettes.

 

 

My advice to you is, grow Nasturtium at your home garden.



THE LEMON BALM HERB (MELISSA)

Melissa reminds me of my early childhood. Before I went to sleep, my mother always put three or four leaves of Melissa into my milk, which helped me to fell asleep easier. Still today I watch this herb with such admiration, while bees graze upon it. Even our ancestors were saying that, where the bees are, there is healthy life.

I often cook Melissa’s tea for myself and my children, because it cools and calms our body, I even use it for my digestive problems. You wouldn’t believe, but even my dog likes it, because it calms his wild energy.  I usually cook it for my menstrual cramps, now that I am in premenopausal period I use Melissa’s tea even more. I usually cook Melissa in the morning, so that I am calm most of the day and in the evening before I go to sleep. The herb helps my children, so that they can be more effective with their school obligations.

For my stomach problems I use Melissa’s syrup, it relaxes my spasms and bloats.

I recommended Melissa’s tea poultices to my long-time acquaintance, who is suffering from gout. He confirmed that this treatment helps him ease the swelling.

I also like to use Melissa in the winter and summer time, especially when I cook mulled wine, I put a leaf of herb in it or I put it in lemonade to really cool off.

I cook Melissa’s tea when I have the fever, for it is known that it cools your body. My grandmother taught me how to prepare massage oil from the herb. While I was a kid I often suffered from bronchitis, so my granny used to spread warm oil (almost boiled) on my chest. 

I use Melissa’s leaves for baking honey cookies, which makes the cookies even more delicious and healthier. Cottage cheese cake or cottage cheese strudel are even tastier, after I add some cut leaf of Melissa.

Melissa is more effective fresh than dried. Melissa gives better taste to egg omelettes, vegetable dishes, venison, diary drinks and white wine. 

Melissa must be used in moderation.