SPRING PRIMROSE - PRIMULA

Spring primrose is one of the first that cheers and invites me among their yellow flowers.

In the past there were much more primroses as today, because people didn't use fertilizers for meadow.

In my childhood we were gathering primroses and we put the primrose neck into our mouth and blow in it, which produced a trumpet like sounds. The bigger the primrose was the louder was the sound it produced.

Our grannies used to apply ointments and distilled water for cosmetic purposes.

When I’m taking a walk on the meadow I usually pick up a primrose and blow in it to hear a funny sound, after that I eat it because it contains a lot of nectar. Blossom petals are very soothing I eat it when I’m very tense and upset.

Primroses work very well against colds with fever and opening respiratory, it also cures headache.

I quickly dry primrose blossoms and when I need it I use it to make herbal preparation from it. I boil water and pour it over blossoms and then drink it sip by sip.

Primroses contain vitamin C, so it is recommended to eat it if we suffer from pneumonia or for cleaning blood, kidneys and bladder.

 

Very useful are its roots, which we usually excavate after blooming starts to end. Once people used it for treating arthritis. I personally use it for the treatment of pulmonary/lung disease, especially bronchitis. Primrose roots also contain many of irritant chemicals which encourage cough.

 

Sometimes I make myself a tincture from primrose blossoms and use it when I’m tired or I can’t sleep.

I use primrose ointment when I get sun burnt.

Primrose oil is very effective for massaging joints, relieving headache (especially migraines).

NOTE: this beautiful yellow flower can be also dangerous. People that are sensitive to Aspirin and those who take blood-thinning medicines should avoid preparations of primrose.

BLACK ELDERBERRY

The Elderberry is a medicinal plant which deserves the highest recognition for its healing properties. We used to have a blackberry bush near every house, but today it is only found at the brink of a forest or in a glade. People do not always realize that the elderberry is very healthy.

Elderberry leaves and blossoms stimulate the sweat glands, and increase urine output and toxic substances from the body.

Each year I gather fresh Elderberry blossoms and dry them on fresh air, but not on the sun.

The colour of the blossoms must remain yellow golden in colour. When they are dry I keep them in a paper bag.

When I have a strong cold or a bronchial infection, i prepare myself some Elderberry tea.

Elderberry is very efficient at regulating blood sugar levels, therefore I recommend it to diabetics. Elderberry tea also purifies the blood.

When the Elderberries are ripe in the autumn, I prepare myself some juice. I put around 2 kilograms of berries in the juicer and squeeze them. I cook the juice for an hour and a half and then add 20 dekagrams of honey. When the juice is lukewarm, I pour it in a bottle and store it in a dry and dark space. I drink one spoonful three times a day. Elderberries contain a lot of vitamins, such as vitamin A, B, B1, B2, and C.

I prepare Elderberry tea at least three times a week. I pour boiling water over two tea spoons of dry flowers, strain it after ten minutes and add honey. The tea is very effective against bad body odor. I also use it for rinsing my eyes (without the honey).

Tea from the leaves and tree bark helps with constipation and urinary leakage.

As a child I have fond memories of fried Elderberry flowers, which my mother prepared for dinner, I prepare them even today. I make dough for pancakes and dip elderberry flowers in it (the best are fresh), then I quickly fry the batter, and sprinkle the pancakes with lemon juice, fold and sweeten them with powdered sugar. (Instead of lemon juice I also use honey).

Fresh elderberries should not be eaten raw, otherwise you could get sick or get diarrhoea.



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.