Tag: Food

A Pioneer’s Apothecary

TO RELIEVE A COUGH, squeeze the juice of one large onion and add one tablespoon of honey. Take one teaspoon three or four times daily. Apply the onion to the chest, “mashing it well.”

Mix two teaspoons of cider vinegar in water or wine. Sip one tablespoon four times daily.

Combine two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of grated horseradish root to sooth a cough.

Make a tea of one teaspoon grated nutmeg in one cup of hot cider. Drink three times daily.

Herb of the Day for July 7th is Agar-Agar

 

Herb of the Day

 

Agar-Agar

Botanical: Gelidium amansii (KUTZ)
Family: N.O. Algae

—Synonyms— Japanese Isinglass.
—Part Used—The mucilage dried, after boiling the seaweed.
—Habitat—Japan, best variety; Ceylon and Macassar.

—Description—-A seaweed gathered on the East Indian coast and sent to China, it is derived from the various species of Sphaerococcus Euchema and Gelidium. It is brownish-white in colour with thorny projections on its branches; the best variety, known as Japanese Isinglass, contains large quantities of mucilage. The seaweed after collection is spread out on the shore until bleached, and then dried; it is afterwards boiled in water and the mucilaginous solution strained, the filtrate being allowed to harden, and then it is dried in the sun. The time for collection of the Algae is summer and autumn when the bleachingand drying can take place, but the final preparation of Agar-Agar is carried out in winter from November to February. The Japanese variety is derived from several kinds of Algae and comes into European commerce in two forms: (1) In transparent pieces 2 feet long, the thickness of a straw, prepared in Singapore by treating it in hot water. (2) In yellowish white masses about 1 inch wide and 1 foot long. The latter is the form considered the more suitable for the culture of bacteria.

—Constituents—Agar-Agar contains glose, which is a powerful gelatinizing agent. It is precipitated from solution by alcohol. Glose is a carbohydrate. Acetic, hydrochloric and oxalic acids prevent gelatinization of Agar-Agar.

—Medicinal Action and Uses—Agar-Agar is widely used as a treatment for constipation, but is usually employed with Cascara when atony of the intestinal muscles is present. It does not increase peristaltic action. Its therapeutic value depends on the ability of the dry Agar to absorb and retain moisture. Its action is mechanical and analogous to that of the cellulose of vegetable foods, aiding the regularity of the bowel movements. It is sometimes used as an adulterant of jams and jellies.

—Dosage and Preparations—It is usually administered in small shreds mixed with fruit, milk or any convenient vehicle. It is not wise to give it in powder, as this gives rise to irritation in some cases. 1/2 to 1 ounce may be taken at a time. 1 ounce to a pint of boiling water makes a suitable jelly for invalids and may be flavoured with lemon.

—Other Species—Ceylon Agar-Agar, or Agal Agal, which is the native name of Gracillaria lichenoides, is largely used in the East for making soups and jellies. Gigartina speciosa, a variety found on the Swan River, was erroneously supposed to have formed the edible swallow’s nest, but it has been ascertained that this delicacy comes from a peculiar secretion in the birds themselves. Macassar Agar-Agar comes from the straits between Borneo and Celebes and consists of impure Euchema Spinolum incrusted with salt.

Herb of the Day for June 30 is Date Palm

Herb of the Day

Date Palm

Gender:  Masculine

Planet:  Sun

Element:  Air

Deities:  Taht, Apollo, Artemis, Hecate, Isis, Ra

Powers:  Fertility, potency

Magickal uses:  The date palm is a celebrated fertility tree, owing to the tremendous amount of fruits produced by it. Thusly, dates or pieces of palm leaves are worn or carried for this purpose dates are eaten to increase fertility, and the pits are carried by men who wish to regain sexual potency.

Cleansing Stones Using Salt

In a small dish of salt, bury the stone you wish to cleanse and leave it for at least twenty-four hours. Depending on how deeply the stone requires cleansing or purification you might wish to leave it buried in the salt for up to a week. Be careful what kind of stone you’re burying: stones with a high iron content react poorly to salt. If the stone is set in metal, do not use this method, as the salt will corrode the metal setting.

If all you have on hand is table salt, it will do. However, if you’re serious about spellcraft, it’s a good idea to invest in sea salt, a more natural form of salt. The less refined the salt is, the more natural energy it contains. Sea salt is only a bit more expensive than table salt, and easily found in most supermarkets now, as well as drugstores or health food stores. Kosher salt is good, too. Never use rock salt designed for outdoor use in winter, as it is toxic.

Happy, Happy, Happy Wednesday To Ya’ !

 

Good Morning or Afternoon my lovely readers! How are all of you doing today? As you know and probably noticed I have been rather quite since my momma wildcat was found dead in the field. She had been shot and then the people brought her over here for me to find, well on our property.  I am dealing with this rather well now. I am still trying to find where my hubby hide the gun cabinet key but life is good. He keeps telling me, “No way in hell are you getting that key now. You will go to the pen.” No, I won’t. Anyway we are having a battle over the key. I know he is right. But you know how we hate for men to know they are right!!!

I have to tell you something funny though, we found the little babies the momma left behind. There were three of the little devils and they are absolutely adorable. I found out something funny last night. I came in the house to get their food to feed them. Stinker was up on the table mad and jealous. So I took the time to love him and reassure him, he was the best cat on the planet. Well he had loved all over my hands and my arms. I didn’t think a thing about it. I went back outside and two of the babies thought I was their mother. They came running, meowing and looking for a tit. When I sit on the ground, I sit Indian style. These two little brats found my toes and they did everything they could to get milk out of them. Well I finally got them to bed. I came up the porch steps and at the back of the porch sit two of the big male wildcats. I came in the house to get their food and by the time I got back out there, they were eating the babies food. I reached for the one shotgun hubby will let me have (because it is filled with rock salt). I took it outside, aimed at their butts and let them have it. Rock salt won’t hurt them just stings like hell and scares them.  They ran off.  Well I had to come back outside and count the kids to make sure they were all right. When I did, I found two of them sitting on the steps. I noticed another tail under the car where I had been hiding their food. I thought this is strange. I went to check to see if this was the little runt that was missing. I got down on both knees and peeped under the car and looking back at me was the biggest skunk I had ever seen in my life. I screamed the skunk jumped up and hit its head and we both run. After I calmed down and got to thinking about how that skunk looked when he saw me, I started laughing. The poor fella, if he had sprayed me, he wouldn’t have been a poor fella. I thought about that also. What if he had sprayed me? Oh my goodness! I don’t even want to think about it. But this place has turned into wild kingdom. All I can say is, “Wish you where here!”

Ancestor Summoning

  1. Add one tablespoon of anisette liqueur to a glass of pure spring water.
  2. Place it on a table to summon ancestral and other beneficial spirits.
  3. That much alone is sufficient; however, to reinforce the spell add photographs of blood relative, even if they are not the ones whom you call.
  4. Provide food or other libations that the ancestors will find hard to resist, whatever is appropriate to your family or cultural tradition, or perhaps serve them whatever you would if they were truly coming to dinner.

Female Tonic

This tonic builds vitality, beautiful skin and regulates the female reproductive system. It is mildly sedative and beneficial for women of all ages.

1  small root (1 ounce) or 1 thin slice tang kuei

2  slices white peony root

3  pieces bupleurun

2  jujube red dates

1  piece licorice or ginger root

In 2 -3  cups of water, simmer herbs for one hour. Strain and drink up to one cup daily. Use 2 cups of water to produce a stronger estrogenic brew.

NOTE: Omit tang kuei if estrogen blockers have been prescribed or consult your physician first,.

Shoulder and Neck Relaxing Tonic

This tonic will ease tension and anxiety and take the edge off a bad day. Use it as a sleep tonic:

3 cups distilled water

2 small tang kuei roots (or 1 large slice)

2 jujube red dates

4 (2-inch) slices white peony root

1 slice fresh ginger or 1 dried Chinese licorice root

In distilled water, simmer the above ingredients. A ginseng cooker or porcelain pot and lid make the best cooking utensils. Simmer for one hour without lifting the lid. Strain and drink 1/2 – 1 cup to relieve tension.

Herb Vinegars and Oils

Combine your favorite herbs and spices in a delicious herb vinegar or oil to flavor salads, vegetables, pastas, and marinades. Add six two-inch sprigs or one tablespoon of fresh leaves to every cup of heated vinegar or oil. Cool, cover, and store in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place up to one year. Reuse the vinegar bottles to store herb vinegar. When adding garlic, chilies, or chives, use one for every cup of vinegar.