Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth, We are happy when we are growing.
William Butler Yeats
Spring is a time of renewal and growth, it is not the old flowers coming back to life, but new flowers growing from old roots. What better time of year for us to renew ourselves while looking for life to return to our gardens. Spring tonics can be as simple as the dreaded dose of castor oil and as complicated and difficult as trying to pulp burdock root to add to twenty other different herbs that are difficult to find.
A simple way to shake off the sluggishness of winter is to start with the food we eat. Take a week, drink water infused with lemon and eat a salad every day that is laced with bitter greens, endive and dandilion leaves, arugula, escarole; dress with olive oil and apple cider vinegar, this will stimulate and cleanse your liver.
A receipt for a simple tonic made with ingredients easy to find follows. This tonic is made with white or red wine, or, a good quality apple cider vinegar, ( any old plonk of a wine will do!) It makes enough for 16 six oz. doses, enough for eight days, which is plenty.
12 cups wine of choice or vinegar - heat slowly until very hot but, do not bring to a boil.
While the liquid or, "menstum," is heating crush the following herbs between two pieces of wax paper with a rolling pin or large can.
1 oz. by weight sage
1 oz. by weight basil
1 oz. by weight rosemary
1/2 oz. by weight fennel seed or fenugreek seed
4 cloves garlic
(you can also add a lemon or orange peel if you like)
Place crushed herbs into 3 quart container, add hot liquid and cover. Store on a cool shelf away from direct light for two weeks, strain and bottle. Dose: Two x 6 oz. morning and night for 8 days. If you use vinegar but do not like the taste, add 6 oz. boiled water to 12 oz of tonic plus 1 tbls. honey - drink throughout the day warm or cold.
What will happen? If you are drinking the water and eating the salad as well as taking the tonic, you will notice that you need to urinate more often. Also you will poop more and the first several days will be stinky!
After a few days you will notice that you feel better, happier, lighter, more energetic, your sleep as well as your attitude may improve also. You will no longer have to look for spring, you will have found it!
A receipt for a simple tonic made with ingredients easy to find follows. This tonic is made with white or red wine, or, a good quality apple cider vinegar, ( any old plonk of a wine will do!) It makes enough for 16 six oz. doses, enough for eight days, which is plenty.
12 cups wine of choice or vinegar - heat slowly until very hot but, do not bring to a boil.
While the liquid or, "menstum," is heating crush the following herbs between two pieces of wax paper with a rolling pin or large can.
1 oz. by weight sage
1 oz. by weight basil
1 oz. by weight rosemary
1/2 oz. by weight fennel seed or fenugreek seed
4 cloves garlic
(you can also add a lemon or orange peel if you like)
Place crushed herbs into 3 quart container, add hot liquid and cover. Store on a cool shelf away from direct light for two weeks, strain and bottle. Dose: Two x 6 oz. morning and night for 8 days. If you use vinegar but do not like the taste, add 6 oz. boiled water to 12 oz of tonic plus 1 tbls. honey - drink throughout the day warm or cold.
What will happen? If you are drinking the water and eating the salad as well as taking the tonic, you will notice that you need to urinate more often. Also you will poop more and the first several days will be stinky!
After a few days you will notice that you feel better, happier, lighter, more energetic, your sleep as well as your attitude may improve also. You will no longer have to look for spring, you will have found it!
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