| The Witches' Kitchen simple remedies and recipes. |
| WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE PERSON MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER ~ THIS PAGE SUGGESTS SIMPLE RECIPIES AND REMEDIES MADE FROM HERBS. NOTE, AS ALWAYS, THAT THESE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFFESSIONAL ADVICE. |
| ACHES AND PAINS, STIFFNESS IN THE JOINTS... THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS. A CABBAGE POULTICE ON THE ACHING AREA MAY HELP... |
| TAKE A FEW LEAVES OF CABBAGE AND CRUSH THEM IN YOUR HANDS. DON'T TEAR THEM UP, JUST LEAVE THEM WHOLE. TO SOFTEN THE LEAVES, BLANCH THEM IN BOILING WATER FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. CAREFULLY TAKE THE LEAVES FROM THE WATER AND PLACE THEM ON THE AFFECTED AREA. USE THE LEAVES AS WARM AS YOU CAN BEAR THEM ~ BUT BE VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID BURNING OR SCALDING THE SKIN. LEAVE THIS POULTICE ON FOR THREE HOURS. THIS IS ALSO A GOOD REMEDY FOR SORE THROATS. CRUSH CARAWAY SEEDS AND ADD TO THE CABBAGE TO HELP EASE THE SMELL OF THE VEGETABLE LEAVES. |
| PLEASE NOTE HERE...NOT ALL HERBS ARE SUITABLE FOR EVERY OCCASSION. RECENT ATTENTION HAS BEEN MADE TO THE FOLLOWING: CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN BY MOTHERS-TO-BE TO REDUCE OR OMIT SAGE IN HERBAL REMEDIES DURING PREGNANCY OR WHILST BREASTFEEDING THYME TEA IS NOT TO BE TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY |
| DRY COUGH (IRRITATING): WASH A HANDFUL OF PEARL BARLEY AND SIMMER IN A PINT OF WATER FOR 30 MINUTES. STRAIN THE MIXTURE AND ADD A TEASPOON OF LEMON JUICE OR OTHER JUICE IF PREFERRED. BLACKCURRANT IS QUITE SOOTHING FOR THE THROAT TOO. THIS DRINK MAY BE KEPT FOR UP TO FOUR DAYS IN THE FRIDGE AND DRUNK WHEN NEEDED. |
| CHESTY COUGH: THYME COUGH SYRUP IS A GOOD REMEDY... 1 OUNCE DRIED THYME 1/2 OUNCE DRIED SAGE 1/2 OUNCE DRIED CHAMMOMILE 3 OR 4 TEASPOONS FENNEL (SEEDS) 1 OR 2 TEASPOONS ANISEED SMALL HANDFUL OF CLOVES (PROBABLY 30 TO 40 INDIVIDUAL CLOVES) 3 OR 4 GARLIC CLOVES PINCH (LARGE) GINGER 3 PINTS OF WATER (1750 ML) 2 POUNDS HONEY |
| THE LIST MAY BE ALTERED- BUT PLEASE KEEP THE QUANTITIES RELEVANT TO THE RECIPE ~ SO YOU MAY HALF OR QUARTER THE RECIPE. PUT THE HERBS AND WATER INTO A PAN PLENTY BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD IT ALL WELL ~ REMEMBERING THAT THE HONEY WILL HAVE TO BE ADDED LATER ALSO. THE PAN HAS TO HAVE A TIGHT FITTING LID ALSO.BRING THE INGREDIENTS IN THE WATER TO A RAPID BOIL, THEN TURN DOWN THE HEAT, PUT ON THE LID AND SIMMER GENTLY FOR THIRTY TO FORTY MINUTES. REMOVE FROM THE HEAT AND ALLOW TO COOL FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. STRAIN THE MIXTURE ~ REMEMBERING TO PRESS THE INGREDIENTS WELL, ENSURING YOU EXTRACT AS MUCH OF THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF THE HERBS AS YOU CAN. THE LIQUID IS THE INGREDIENT WE MUST NOW USE ~ THE HERBS MAY BE THROWN AWAY. RETURN THE LIQUID TO THE SAUCEPAN AND HEAT GENTLY, BRINGING THE CONTENTS TO A GENTLE SIMMER AND REDUCE THE LIQUID BY ABOUT THREE QUARTERS (APPROX THREE QUARTERS OF A PINT, OR 400 ML). THIS SHOULD BE DONE AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE ~ THE MORE GENTLE THE SIMMER, THE BETTER THE DECOCTION SHALL BE. WHEN THE LIQUID HAS REDUCED SUFFICIENTLY, ADD THE HONEY TO THE LIQUID. (SUGAR MAY BE SUBSTITUTED ~ BUT HONEY IS FAR BETTER FOR SORE THROATS AND COUGHS). DISSOLVE THIS AND SIMMER FOR TEN MINUTES, STIRRING CONTINUOUSLY. THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE LIKE A SYRUP NOW, BUT BE CAREFUL THAT YOU ONLY SIMMER THE MIXTURE, OR THE HONEY WILL BURN AND THE MIXTURE WILL BE USELESS. ALLOW TO COOL BEFORE PUTTING THE MIXTURE INTO A COLOURED GLASS CONTAINER ~ A BOTTLE WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID OR CORK. THE MIXTURE MAY BE SAVED FOR UP TO A YEAR, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST ABOUT 6 TO 8 MONTHS IS BETTER. THE SYRUP SHOULD BE KEPT IN A COOL, DARK PLACE ~ REFRIGERATED IF THE AREA YOU LIVE IS WARM. THE DOSAGE IS AS FOLLOWS: ADULTS: 2 TEASPOONS (2 X 5ML) FOUR TIMES PER 24 HOURS (PER DAY) CHILDREN: 1 TEASPOON (5ML) 3 TIMES PER 24 HOURS (PER DAY) |
| COUGHS... DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF COUGH YOU HAVE, ANY OF THESE RECIPIES MAY HELP: |
| DEPRESSION: |
| CARDAMOM AND ROSEMARY TEA: A GREAT 'PICK-ME-UP' FOR WHEN YOU ARE FEELING A LITTLE DOWN ~ THOUGH OBVIOUSLY NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PROFFESSIONAL ADVICE OR CURRENT PRESCRIBED MEDICATION YOU MAY BE TAKING. PLEASE NOTE ALSO THAT AS THIS TEA IS A STIMULANT, IT WILL NOT BE A GOOD BEDTIME DRINK. TO MAKE A POT OF TEA TO SHARE WITH A FRIEND (ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE COMPANY): STRIP TWO TWIGS OF ROSEMARY, USING ONLY THE LEAVES ~ THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT THREE TEASPOONS OF THE HERB (OR THREE TEASPOONS OF DRIED ROSEMARY) ~ AND TWO TEASPOONS OF DRIED CARDAMOM. CRUSH THE HERBS WITH A PESTLE AND MORTAR TO BRUISE THEM A LITTLE. IN A HEAT-PROOF JUG OR TEAPOT, POUR BOILING WATER OVER THE HERBS (APPROXIMATELY A PINT OF WATER, OR FOUR CUPFULS). LEAVE TO INFUSE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN USE A STRAINER TO STRAIN THE TEA INTO YOUR CUP. ADD HONEY OR SUGAR TO TASTE (HONEY IS BEST ~ ESPECIALLY CLOVER HONEY, BUT MANY DIFFERENT FLAVOURS ARE NOW READILY AVAILABLE IN HEALTH FOOD SHOPS AND SUPERMARKETS.) SIT AND SHARE A FEW MOMENTS OF STIMULATING CONVERSATION WITH GOOD COMPANY ! |
| HEADACHE: |
| ONLY FOR THOSE 'STRESS HEADACHES' ~ REMEMBER THAT YOU MAY HAVE A HEADACHE FOR MANY REASONS, AND A RECURRING HEADACHE IS SOMETHING THAT A DOCTOR NEEDS TO BE TOLD ABOUT. MAKE A COMPRESS FOR THE FOREHEAD USING LAVENDER: MIX TWO TEASPOONS OF CRUSHED, DRIED LAVENDER WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF HOT WATER (ABOUT A CUPFUL)...LEAVE FOR A FEW MINUTES FOR THE PROPERTIES OF THE LAVENDER TO INFUSE THE WATER.. sOAK A PIECE OF MUSIN OR A FLANNEL IN THE WATER WHEN IT IS COOLED, AND WRING OUT ENOUGH SO THAT THE CLOTH MAY BE PLACED ON THE FOREHEAD. RELAX WHILST THE COMPRESS IS ON. LAVENDER OIL ~ JUST A DROP IN THE WATER WILL DO INSTEAD OF THE DRIED VARIETY. LAVENDER AND CHAMMOMILE MIXED WILL ALSO DRAW GOOD RESULTS ~ ESPECIALLY IF COMBINED WITH THE DRINKING OF CHAMMOMILE TEA. |
| TO WARD OFF A COLD (ALSO VERY GOOD FOR FRESHENING THE BREATH, AND FOR INFECTED GUMS ~ WHEN USED AS A MOUTHWASH) |
| A DECOCTION OF CINNAMON, GINGER AND HONEY: 2 CINNAMON STICKS 2.5CM (ABOUT AN INCH) OF FRESH GINGER ROOT 350 ML WATER 1 TEASPOON OF HONEY CRUSH THE CINNAMON AND GINGER WITH PESTLE AND MORTAR, ADD TO A PAN WITH THE WATER AND PLACE ON HEAT. BRING TO THE BOIL AND SIMMER FOR 10-15 MINUTES. REMOVE THE LIQUID FROM THE HEAT AND LEAVE TO COOL FOR HALF AN HOUR. STRAIN THE LIQUID AND DISCARD THE HERBS. THE LIQUID SHOULD STILL BE WARM ENOUGH TO DISSOLVE THE HONEY ~ BUT IF IT HAS COOLED TOO MUCH, THEN RE-HEAT WHILST ADDING THE HONEY. DRINK WHILST HOT ~ OR USE AS A GARGLE OR MOUTHWASH FOR FRESHENING THE BREATH. |
| FOR CLEANING WOUNDS AND DRAWING INFECTION: |
| ONION POULTICE: YOU WILL NEED ONE LARGE ONION. ROAST THE ONION IN THE OVEN UNTIL IT IS SOFTENED. WHEN FULLY SOFT, CAREFULLY CUT THE ONION IN HALF AND PLACE THE ONION DIRECTLY ONTO THE AFFECTED AREA. THIS IS ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR DRAWING OUT SPLINTERS ~ THOUGH I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS FOR SERIOUS INFECTION OF ANY KIND. ANOTHER METHOD IS TO ROAST THE ONION AS BEFORE, THEN PEEL AND MUSH THE ONION (DISCARDING THE SKIN, AND ONLY USING THE PULP). PLACE A THIN-ISH LAYER OF THE ONION ONTO A MUSLIN SQUARE. WRAP THE ONION IN THE CLOTH, AND APPLY TO THE AREA IT IS NEEDED. |
| CHAPPED HANDS: |
| LEMON LOTION: FRESHLY SQUEEZE THE JUICE OF TWO LEMONS ~ THIS SHOULD GIVE YOU AT LEAST FOUR TEASPOONS OF LIQUID WHEN STRAINED TO SEPERATE PIPS AND PITH. ADD TO THE LEMON JUICE: 2 TEASPOONS OF CLEAR HONEY AND 8 TEASPOONS OF SWEET ALMOND OIL (THOUGH IF THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE, A GOOD QUALITY VEGETABLE OIL WILL SUFFICE) PUT ALL THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A JAR WITH A TIGHT-FITTING LID, AND SHAKE THEM WELL TO THOROUGHLY MIX THE INGREDIENTS. ADD WATER (3-4 TEASPOONS) AND SHAKE THOROUGHLY ONCE MORE. THIS LOTION NEEDS TO BE SHAKEN BEFORE IT IS USED EVERY TIME UNTIL IT APPEARS MILKY. APPLY AND GENTLY RUB INTO THE HANDS FOR INSTANT RELIEF. |
| HOUSEHOLD DISENFECTANT: |
| THIS IS A 'RECIPE' FOR DISENFECTANT, SO OBVIOUSLY MUST NOT BE TAKEN INTERNALLY AT ALL ~ IT IS FOR GENERAL CLEANING OF HOUSEHOLD SURFACES |
| USING DRIED HERBS AND SPICES: ONE TEASPOON GROUND CLOVES ONE TEASPOON NUTMEG ONE TEASPOON CINNAMON TWO TEASPOONS ROSEMARY TWO TEASPOONS PEPPERMINT TWO TEASPOONS SAGE TWO TEASPOONS OF FRESH CRUSHED GARLIC ONE AND THREE QUARTER PINTS (1 LITRE) CIDER VINEGAR PLACE ALL THE INGREDIENTS LISTED INTO A GLASS JAR WITH A TIGHT-FITTING LID. STAND IN STRONG SUNLIGHT FOR TWO WEEKS TO LET THE INGREDIENTS INFUSE, MINGLE AND RELEASE THE CLEANSING PROPERTIES. WHEN THIS IS DONE, REMOVE THE LIQUID FROM THE JAR AND STRAIN THOROUGHLY. RE-BOTTLE IN A CLEAN JAR. THIS MAY BE USED AS A GENERAL DISENFECTANT AROUND THE HOME. |
| The Witches' Kitchen |
| This advice and following recipes kindly given by Suraya. |
| To help in the relief of the symptoms of bronchitis: |
| General Recipes |
| ALL THE FOLLOWING RECIPIES HAVE THE SAME MEASUREMENTS. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, THEY WERE BREWED IN A COFFEE MAKER OR TEA BREWER. |
| MEASUREMENTS: 1 TABLESPOON OF EACH TYPE OF HERB 1 TABLESPOON OF HONEY (TO SWEETEN THE TEA) |
| ALSO, BE AWARE THAT NOT EVERYTHING HERE IS TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY, NOR (IN SOME CASES) TO BE USED ON THE SKIN OR NEAR THE BODY AT ALL. READ CAREFULLY ALL INSTRUCTIONS |
| IF YOU HAVE ANY RECIPES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HERE, PLEASE E-MAIL ME WITH THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS DETAILS (NON-COPYRIGHT MATERIAL ONLY PLEASE), AND I WILL ADD THEM HERE WITH FULL CREDIT GIVEN. |
| OCCASSIONAL BATH SALTS |
| IT IS BEST THAT THIS BODY SCRUB IS NOT USED TOO OFTEN, AS IT MAY UPSET THE NATURAL BALANCE OF THE SKIN. IT IS GOOD FOR REMOVING DEAD SKIN CELLS IF USED AS A SCRUB, IT CLEARS THE SKIN AND PORES, AND HELPS REVIVE BLOOD CIRCULATION TO THE SKIN. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. |
| 1 TABLESPOON (15 ML) BICARBONATE OF SODA 5 DROPS OF ESSENTIAL OIL WITH REGARDS TO ESSENTIAL OIL, PLEASE NOTE THE LIST BELOW TO SEE WHAT OILS TO AVOID IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. JUICE FROM 1 WHOLE LEMON ADDED INGREDIENTS FOR BODY SCRUB: 1 TEASPOON (5 ML) SWEET ALMOND OIL 4 OZ (HALF CUP) SEA SALT TO USE AS OCCASSIONAL BATH SALTS: STIR TOGETHER ALL INGREDIENTS STARTING WITH THE BICARBONATE OF SODA AS A BASE, AND ADDING THE INGREDIENTS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: ESSENTIAL OIL, LEMON. DISSOLVE IN HOT BATH WATER. FOR USE AS AN OCCASSIONAL BODY SCRUB: ADD INGREDIENTS TO THE BASE MIXTURE, AND MIX WELL. RUB ALL OVER THE BODY- AVOIDING FACE AND EYES. RINSE OFF UNDER A COOL SHOWER OR WITH COOL WATER. TOWEL DRY AND WRAP UP WARM DIRECTLY AFTERWARDS. |
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