Above the refrigerator in that almost useless cabinet that we are supposed to store those dishes or appliances we least use I store my herbs, resins, and recipes. Well spells more than recipes but they read like recipes and are written on index cards.
For me being a kitchen witch means that I love using my herbs and spices for more than what most folks would use them for. I make incense to burn, potpourri to scent the house, herbal combinations for soaps, tonics and teas for when I'm ill. Some common herbs when combined with others can be quite toxic. My knowledge of herbs recently came in handy. With the poor air quality issue I've had as a resident of WA state my asthma has had a flare up leaving me with a red throat, swollen gland, and hurting ears. I mixed together lavender, chamomile, rose hips, hibiscus, and echinacea for a tea. It does the trick every time. Just two mugs of the tea and my throat is already feeling better. Although this is my decoction I wouldn't prescribe it to everyone as different bodies have different responses. It's more a science.
Science has usually been a male pursuit where I grew up. Most women aspired to be married and pregnant in the back woods area. However,I've always had a pull towards the stars. Even as a small child my brother and I would take nights of observations from his telescope and make notes of when certain events were to occur again in the night sky. I went one step further with the stars and dreamed of Embry Riddle school. Those dreams never came to fruition as I was a girl and was expected to stay near home to attend college. Live at home or with another family member as some sort of protection.
Still to this day I long to travel to the stars. I dream of discoveries and keep hope that one day I just might make it up there. Until then I can be found in my kitchen making herbal recipes for colds, diuretics, and incense.
Inspired by a real-life murder that threatened to topple the powerful Hapsburg dynasty in the 17th century, The Bloodletter's Daughter imagines how one young woman holds more power than she thought possible. Join From Left to Write on September 25 as we discuss the The Bloodletter's Daughter. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
I love to follow you around in the kitchen for a few days to learn your witchery!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a bigger kitchen with a large work counter in the center and open under the counter to store the over-sized pots, bowls, and trays.
DeleteDo you have any fantastic uses for mint, sage, and basil? I have A TON in my garden and don't quite know what to do with them now that its about to freeze. My freezer is still full of pesto sauce from last year...
ReplyDeleteI like to dry a lot of the herbs. Right now I should be out there harvesting the rosemary, lemon thyme, Italian flat leaf parsley, curled leaf parsley, lemon balm, and the yarrow I've been growing.
DeleteMint is great dried for teas. Cooked down with a decent light fragrance olive oil. Remove leaves after cooking and add fresh ones. Store for two weeks before using for mint oil. Mint oil used in a diffuser for congestion.
Basil can be dried or flash frozen too. I use basil in most of my tomato recipes with some tarragon...oh so yummy. Basil tea can be used to induce labor so that particular herb should be avoided during pregnancy. However it is also good for congestion. So if not pregnant and you have a cold usually one tsp of dried herb steeped for 5-7 minutes add honey for sweeter taste.
What amazing knowledge you have! I really think you should teach classes or find an apprentice so you can pass it along.
ReplyDeleteI had one apprentice several years ago. She was a lazy bit of fluff and wanted more for me to do it all for her. Maybe some day, if I'm lucky, I'll have children to pass on my knowledge too.
DeleteYou and Annabella are kindred souls. I loved learning about herbs, flowers, and roots as medicine. Make no mistake, they WERE and ARE medicine. The continuum of science and medicine was a gradual evolution and we having cunning women (and cunning men!) to thank for these discoveries.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you read my book, Rebecca.
You and Annabella are kindred spirits, Rebecca.
ReplyDeleteI loved researching herbal remedies...and not just herbs. Flowers, roots, seeds, resins were used as medicine.
We have the cunning women (and cunning men?) to thank for these medicines that later were labelled as "science" once proved to be potent cures.
Science is a continuum...and these "witches'cures" were part of that evolution.
So glad you read my book and commented, Rebecca. Thank you.
I really enjoyed reading your novel. It brought back some fond memories of my childhood and reminded me I need to get back to drying the herbs for the winter months' usage and to the seed saving that I usually do each Autumn.
DeleteThank you, Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I love about this book group...how differently everyone is inspired. Reading your post reminds me of different concoctions my aunts use to whip up with different herbs. They had one only known to us a Yerba Buena, but which now I know was plain old mint. It was boiled into a tea and sweetened with honey and it cured sore throats and menstrual cramps.
ReplyDeleteMint is also great for upset stomach but only if you don't suffer from GERD. If you have GERD you need to avoid mints as they can aggravate the acid reflux issues.
DeleteI wish I could rely more on putting together homemade, natural remedies rather than grabbing for the OTC options. My former nanny always had a natural option for me, most involved onions, garlic, or ginger. I wish I wrote them all down!
ReplyDeleteGinger is great for an upset stomach. I know that an onion sliced in half and put in a damp heated towel is often applied to an ear ache to help draw out the pain and infection. Garlic is great for the heart but often will cause heart burn if too much is used.
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