Dandelion Coffee

I'm harvesting all sorts of things this time of year. Not only is my garden abundant with beets, collards, kale and beans, but my yard is abundant with a variety of plants that I like to harvest as well. One of my favorite is dandelion. First of all, you can find it just about anywhere and second of all, there are so many ways to work with this plant. In the spring making dandelion wine and dandelion flower fritters are two of my favorites. But this time of year, as the energy of the plants is beginning to move back into the roots, I begin collecting and continue well into the fall.

Dandelion coffee has a great flavor and is good for you too. (and if you make it yourself, it sure is a lot cheaper than starbucks!) It also stimulates your digestion without stimulating your nerves.

Towards the end of the summer and well into the fall is a good time for digging up dandelion roots. You can dig them up during the spring or summer as well, but in the fall, the roots are a bit more bitter which make them perfect for coffee. After digging the roots up, cut off the greens and wash the roots well. If my wood stove is running, I place the roots on a cookie sheet and roast them right on top of the stove. Otherwise, you can place them in an oven. Roast them slowly and as soon as they're dark, remove from heat. I chop the roasted roots and add them to a coffee bean grinder til they resemble a coarse powder.

You can brew the roasted roots in a coffee maker or place directly in a pot. The grounds can be fine enough to go through a strainer, so I just let them settle to the bottom of the pot before I pour into a cup. Adding a bit of cocoa powder to the dandelion coffee makes a great fall drink!

Vinegars!

Summer is a great time to be making special vinegars that you can use for the rest of the year for salad dressings or sprinkled on your cooked greens for a wonderful nutritional boost. Some people say that vinegar, rich in enzymes and potassium, help to build a healthy immune system and aids in digestion by keeping a healthy PH balance. Vinegar is also good at extracting both the nutritional and medicinal components from plants. So, for an added benefit, collect your favorite herbs this summer, both for flavor and medicinal benefits, and place in a large jar. Then fill the jar with apple cider vinegar, cover and let sit for 6 weeks before straining the plant material. Don't forget that vinegar can rust a metal lid, so if you can, use a plastic lid and glass jar. I'm going to be collecting burdock, yellow dock and dandelion roots to add to my vinegar for a healthy tonic I can use through out the year. Enjoy your summer!

Healing ear infections, naturally

There are many children that are plagued with painful ear infections, especially during the winter months as we are more susceptible to colds and flu. Although using natural remedies shouldn't always replace a visit to your pediatrician in acute cases, they can provide immediate healing and comfort. And although antibiotics may be necessary in some cases, even medical doctors are reluctant to hand out antibiotics every time there is an infection because of the damaging effects they can have on our immune systems making us susceptible to even more disease.

However, there are other ways to deal with ear infections that are safe, effective and soothing. The remedy I most often have used both when my children were young as well as myself when my ears begin to feel discomfort is a Garlic Mullein Flower Remedy. I collect mullein flowers through out the later months of summer and into the fall to dry and store for use during the winter. As you may not likely have mullein flowers on hand, especially during the cold and flu season, you can use just garlic. I pour about a 1/4 cup of olive oil into a pan, and very slowly heat with a clove of garlic and about a tsp. of dried mullein flowers. I don't chop the garlic so as not to worry about any small garlic pieces getting into the ear. Sometimes I will make a larger batch and store in the refrigerator to use as needed. After heating enough to release the smell of garlic into the oil, I let it cool to about body temperature. I have applied it in one of two ways. I will often apply it using a cotton ball in which I then place in the ear and let sit, perhaps pressing a hot water bottle to the ear as well. I will also take a dropper full of oil and carefully apply several drops around the ear canal, allowing it to slowly seep into the ear.

Doses of acidophilus given several times a day is also helpful in healing ear infections. It is more effective than eating yogurt since it's a good idea to eliminate dairy products and sugary foods during ear infections.

Another remedy that is effective for healing hear infections is making an onion pack. Saute fresh onion in olive oil until translucent. While still hot, place cooked onions on a piece of cotton cloth or flannel and fold and then hold to the ear as a hot pack.

According to Rosemary Gladstar, well known herbalist, in traditional chinese medicine, it is believed that the health of our kidneys is directly related to the health of our ears. She recommends that providing your child with warm packs for his/her lower back, providing plenty of fluids and cranberry juice to support the kidneys will benefit the condition of the ears greatly.

Have a warm and healthy winter!