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During the winter, I usually pick one large organi

During the winter, I usually pick one large organization project. This year, it is finally making a detailed spreadsheet for all the tinctures and other liquid medicines in my home. Fortunately, this was started by Tahila and Taylor a few years ago. Initially, I wanted a database for these medicines including their ratios and alcohol percentages for a starting point when preparing the same medicine again. I also wanted these numbers to share, as people often are confused by referenced ratios. For instance, some sources say to tincture Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) at 1:4, but in reality, this amount of ethanol does not come close to covering the herb. I can get it saturated at 1:6 as long as I also blenderize it.
But back to this winter’s project. I’ve been making plant medicines for the past 30 years (yes, I still have a few tinctures I made in 1993), and while I try to maintain some organization, there are often multiple bottles of the same plant. So, I am trying to consolidate these when plausible. I am also moving medicines from gallon bottles into half-gallon bottles. These are easier to store and use, and I like the spill-resistant BPA-free plastic lids, rather than the metal lids which rust over time. I often put wax paper between the lid and the jar.
This project will take many months, but fortunately I have Sarah and Lindsay (see photo) helping me.
Most evenings, I go through all the bottles and try to find duplicates, larger jars that I can pour into smaller jars, and labels that need replacing. I have to admit that this type of big organization brings some satisfaction (and then onto the next project).

A Cyber Monday Consumerist Story Apologies, as thi

A Cyber Monday Consumerist Story
Apologies, as this is a bit of a long read. Will it be worth it? Perhaps I will find out with your comments. And truly, this shows 7Song’s consumerist ways.
A few weeks ago, I got some very good news. To celebrate, I thought I would purchase something I have been putting off, and thought would be useful.
A side note. I occasionally purchase human anatomy models, to help me learn about the human body, most notably from Sam Webster videos on YouTube. He uses models extensively. After purchasing a few, I learned that when purchasing anatomy models, the pricier ones are generally better quality. I chose to go with mid-expensive models, as they are within my budget, and work reasonably well.
So, with shopping on my mind, I went to the Anatomy Warehouse website, and decided to purchase a ‘female’ pelvic floor model. I often work with people with pelvic floor dysfunction, and none of my current models show it very well. Before purchasing, I chatted with the sales folks, and they said that all Axis Scientific models would be 25% off on Cyber Monday. This excited my consumerist brain, and I began to look at all the models made by that company. In the end, I settled on four. You can see them in the photo. From left to right are a ‘female’ pelvis, a half life-size 27-part muscular figure, a ‘male’ pelvis, and a ‘female’ pelvic floor. Quite frankly, I am excited to learn more, and to use them as teaching aids.
So, this winter, I will watch Sam Webster discuss these body parts, while following along on my models.
Did any of you make Cyber Monday purchases, or do you avoid it for the consumerist hole that it is? ~7Song

A Calamus Moment Calamus (Acorus calamus, Acoracea

A Calamus Moment
Calamus (Acorus calamus, Acoraceae_ has several medicinal applications. This is due to its complex chemistry. It has a very strong flavor, especially when chewing the raw rhizome, the part used as medicine.
As a teacher, this plant is a favorite as it can help students maintain focus for those with a wandering mind (and a desire to stay focused). Calamus can help with brain fog and is helpful with cognitive dysfunction after an illness (such as Lyme) or an injury or accident. It is also beneficial as a grounding herb after a triggering event.
It is bitter and aromatic, making it useful for GI issues such as sluggish digestion or discomfort after eating.
It can be taken as needed and also taken as a long-term tonic.
This plant has important spiritual and medicinal value for many Native Americans.
There is some concern about its safety as it contains β-asarone, which has been shown to be carcinogenic in lab animals. But so far, it does not seem to be harmful to humans in the amounts ingested as medicine.
(Photo: A Calamus plant growing alongside a creek with its rhizomes exposed.)

I just added an updated Wild oats (Avena sativa) b

Immersion Experiment #2 Some plants are very fluff

Immersion Experiment #2
Some plants are very fluffy and light, such as Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), which makes it difficult to not have too high a ratio of ethanol to plant, which dilutes the final product. I usually use my Vitamix to reduce the plant material and allow it to mix with the alcohol. After last night’s successful Garlic oil, I decided to try the immersion blender again. One of the most significant advantages is that I don’t have to clean the blender afterward.
It was mainly successful, though I had to work it a bit more. After I immersioned it in the video, I took out about half of the plant material in the jar, so the immersion blender could reach the herbal material at the bottom of the jar. I don’t think this is necessary, but I am in the learning stages of using this apparatus.
I tinctured the Meadowsweet at 1:7 in 40% ethanol. If I didn’t use a blender, I would have needed a 1:9 or higher ratio to cover the plant material.
I am not sure why my voice sounds so mucous-y in the video, perhaps due to the small frogs that fall from the ceiling when I listen to hardcore emo.
Once again, thank you for all your suggestions as I continue with my immersion adventures.

(Photo-A large Meadowsweet patch growing in its na

(Photo-A large Meadowsweet patch growing in its native habitat in Scotland).
Tonight’s plant is Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria, Rosaceae). I am making a tincture for the free clinic this icy evening.
I use a lot of Meadowsweet in the clinic, mainly for digestive health issues, especially for pain in the GI tract. The plant contains salicylic acid, a precursor to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Aspirin is named for this plant as Meadowsweet used to be in the genus Spiraea, and you can still see its origin in the middle of aSPIRin. Groovy, eh?
And like aspirin, Meadowsweet is antiinflammatory. While it has broad but mild antiinflammatory action in the body, I find it most useful for inflammation in the gut. It is one of the ‘gut soothers,’ along with Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).
And it also tastes rather nice and has a slight wintergreen aroma (due to its methyl salicylate content). It makes a good tincture, a lovely glycerite, and a finally-an-herbal-tea-I-like flavor. If bloating is involved, mix it with Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and one of the mints (Mentha species).
A good formula as an overall digestive pain remedy is equal parts Catnip tincture, Meadowsweet tincture, Chamomile glycerite, and Fennel glycerite. A shout out to Kate Gilday, who introduced me to this formula years ago. You can mix and match which herbs should be a tincture or a glycerite.
The parts used are the leaf and inflorescence. I like to use the recently dried plant parts, but it dries well and will last for several years.
It is not native to North America and can be gathered freely, as long as the environment is not too trammeled upon. I find it along woodland roadsides here in the Northeast.
I consider Meadowsweet a safe herbal medicine that can be used across a large spectrum of humanity. It can be taken for chronic and acute GI pain. A sample dosage would be 2 ml (1 dropperful) every 4 hours, along with taking that much (or more) as needed.
Take it away, Meadowsweet.

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