January 12, 2009
Starting the year out right
Baby, it's cold outside! We asked Roxanne Vought to share her recipes for two of her favorite tonics to warm your soul and clear your head. Roxanne is the Lane Series Logistics and Special Events Coordinator, as well as the founder of Viva la Voce Puppet Opera and SpielPalast Cabaret. She has been a vocalist all of her life and relies on these tonics to keep herself and her voice strong.
HEAD COLD TONIC - decongestant and anti-inflammatory
1/2 cup shredded ginger root
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best, if not then Santa Cruz or another organic brand - it must be pure lemon juice - no additives!)
1/8 cup honey, preferably raw (optional)
pinch powdered cayenne pepper
3-4 cups boiling water
Steep covered in a non-reactive container. Drink when the tonic has cooled to a comfortable drinking temperature (approx. 1 hour). Be prepared: your body temperature will climb and your sinuses will discharge quickly! The ginger may be steeped twice. Add other ingredients fresh for a second batch.
***Variation for extra immune support: Cover the bottom of a medium saucepan with equal amounts each echinacea, astragulus and freshly grated ginger root. Fill saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Then simmer on low for 30-45 minutes. Strain and add lemon juice, honey (optional) and cayenne as above. Be sure to drink the entire pot!
DETOXIFYING & PURIFYING TONIC
Dried burdock root
Dried dandelion root
Dried licorice root
Shredded ginger root
1/8 cup honey, preferably raw (optional)
unsweetened hemp seed milk to taste (hemp seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids which have an anti-inflammatory effect)
water
Cover the bottom of a medium saucepan with equal amounts each burdock, dandelion, licorice and freshly grated ginger root. Fill saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Then simmer on low for 30-45 minutes. Strain and add honey and hempseed milk to taste (optional). Note: This tea should be drunk in moderation due to it's blood thinning effects. Do not use if you are taking blood thinning agents like Warfarin (also known under the brand names of Coumadin, Jantoven, Marevan, and Waran).
Note: measurements for both tonics are approximate - I usually just throw in a little of this and a little of that. Most ingredients are available at your grocery store. I suggest Purple Shutter Herbs in Winooski for bulk herbs. Mountain Rose Herbs is a good internet source. As always, please be aware of any conflicts between prescription medications and herbs.
Enjoy!
Roxanne
Posted by lane at 9:29 PM | Comments (1)