Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Essential Herbal May June 2025

We struggled with this issue a little bit, but I'm not sure why.  May/June is a joyous time, and we packed the whole thing with herbal happiness.  It was the mechanics that got us, and we were right down to the wire.  It is definitely worth the work, though!  So many ideas, ponderances, things to make, things to plant, and daydreams to have!

We think you'll enjoy it.


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

This and That Crossword
As we shake off our winter mantle, here are some words to get you moving.

Field Notes from the Editor
Musings from the tree farm, while I watch it burst to life from the deck.

Harbingers of Spring -Sweet Cicely and Chervil, Barbara Steele
Two lightly anise scented herbs, and what to do with them.  AND their evil look-alike.

Flavorful Fun with Fruit Scented Herbs, Alicia Allen
8 great recipes that combine color, flavor, texture, and herbs. 

Chamomile Beyond Tea, Tina Sams
A dozen ways to enjoy chamomile, including three recipes.

The Lore of the Easter Season, Jackie Johnson ND
How is the date chosen?  Why do we clean our homes in spring? Why does a rabbit bring eggs? So many myths and legends from different groups of people!

Cleavers: A Spring Cleanser from the Hedge, Amy Jeanroy
Learn about this wildly abundant spring green and enjoy a green drink made with it – directions included.

All Washed Up - A Series by The Twisted Sisters, Public Speaking
Did you ever think that you just could never stand up and speak for a group?  So did we, but soon we found that it was really fun – once we learned a few tricks.

Plant List Word Find
A whole lot of herbs!

4-Step Journey Method, KhadiYah Preciado
Follow along on the journey to herbalism, from the kitchen, to the garden, to the forest, and abroad.

Herbs for Mental and Emotional Stagnation, Jessicka Nebesni
A wonderful group of herbs that can help move us through things.

Wonderful Wild Cherry, Kristine Brown RH(AHG)
All about the lovely, generous Wild Cherry, including monograph, lore, a story, and a recipe!

Jewelweed Soap for Poison Ivy, Maryanne Schwartz
After making this soap for 30+ years before retiring, our recipe is offered here with instructions

Cocktail Herbs for Containers, Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh
Grow your own delicious, fresh herbs to create cocktails and mocktails.  3 great drinks to try.

Meet Our Contributors
Learn a little about each of those who made this issue possible!

Puzzle Solutions

For the Next Issue, ideas for writers and what to look forward to.

SUBSCRIBE!

Saturday, March 29, 2025

EXTRA - Essential Herbal Mar/Apr 2025

 We put out a small taste every other month when we're not publishing a regular issue, so that subscribers get something every month.  Initially it was going to be something little, like *a* recipe, or a little video, or puzzle - just a little something special that is only available to subscribers.  As usual, we got carried away, and they are usually about 1/3 of a magazine.  So much for simple.  We did compile the first couple of years into a book - All the Extras (volume 1), and will soon be making another. 

In this Extra, we continue our tales from All Washed Up, with the time a bus arrived at our house filled with herbal enthusiasts.  We included the recipes for the dishes we served.

We also included the PDF of "Wild Foods for Every Table" because you just never know when it's going to be important to know which weeds are edible, and what to do with them.  There are a lot of great wild food and foraging books out there now, but when we made this one 25 years ago, the only other one I was aware of was Billy Joe Tatum's book.  Anyhow, this is a nice little bonus to get people started with eating weeds.

There's a little bit about pineapple weed in honor of Chamomile as the herb of the year.

As usual, there is a Word Find and a Crossword specifically created with herb folks in mind.

You can still get this Extra with a subscription, but only until April 20.  After that you'll have to wait until the 3rd compilation!


Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Essential Herbal March/April 2025

 The lastest issue of TEH is out.  We love it!

Table of Contents:

Molly took the beautiful cover along the Pacific Coast Highway

Crossword Puzzle
Marching forth into the season of the plants 

Field Notes from the Editor, Tina Sams 
In that space between hibernation and bursting into light

About the Cover
We dedicate this cover to the beautiful shore of Southern California

Wonderful Witch Hazel, Kristine Brown, RH(AHG)
Everything about Witch Hazel, including a story and a craft

At Home Herbal Foot Spa, Jessicka Nebesni
Create your own soaking, exfoliating, and moisturizing preparations

Thyme for Lunch, Alicia Allen 
Sweet and savory dishes that include the versatile herb, thyme

Ask the Herb Farmer, Kathy Musser
Some answers to frequently asked questions about getting ready to garden 

All Washed Up, A Series by The Twisted Sisters
We finish up the farm show, and tell a tale or two.

Word Search
All about plants and growing them

Tuscany Kitchen Hand Soap, Marci Tsohonis 
The combo of tomato, basil, rosemary and sage make a spectacular bar

Birch & Maple Sap Chai, Amy Jeanroy 
Mmmm… tree sap in the chai

Viper’s Bugloss, Jackie Johnson, ND 
All about this roadside “weed”

Book Excerpt, Herbs in Every Season, Bevin Cohen
Read all about parsley in this wonderful excerpt from Bevin's latest book

Meet Our Contributors.                                                                                                                        

Next Issue and Puzzle Solutions
                   

GET YOUR COPY HERE      




Friday, February 21, 2025

Herb folk discuss: "Which herbs would you take along in a disaster/evacuation situation?"

 In 2018 we still had a Yahoo group, which enabled us to do "list articles" in which we posed a question and created an article with the answers.  We tried doing it with Facebook, but the community we had on the Yahoo list was so different.  Over the years we knew each other and understood that it was a sharing of information between friends.  I'm not sure how to build that anywhere else.  Here's one great list of options to take along during evacuation or

List Article
Question:  Which herbs would you take along in a disaster/evacuation situation?
Note:  This discussion happened on both the Yahoo! List and our facebook page.  There are many that repeat important herbs, and MANY that were removed due to repetition.  We think this is a very important topic to think about.

The Essential Herbal Magazine Avoiding lots of heavy liquid, pastilles could be made up ahead and wouldn't require glass or liquid.

Marti Graham - Don't forget insect repellent, flooding and rain and the after effects can be just as damaging as the crisis.

Tina Sams -  Of the 2 or 3 essential oil I'd take, rose geranium to deter insects would definitely be one of them.  Otherwise, lavender and tea tree.

Jackie Tyler Jackson - We were evacuated in a tiny boat, 2 of us plus 2 big dogs. Lost our house & vehicle....but the elderberry came out with me!

Lena B - I took a blend with geranium in it and neat peppermint, helichrysum and lavender essential oil

Judy S - Comfrey, scullcap, willow, poppy, mullein &/or sage, henbane, goldenseal, olive oil, alcohol, bee's wax.
The Essential Herbal Magazine  - Henbane is an interesting addition.
Judy S - Great external pain relief. Pain control would be a big need, as would anything to fight infection.

Sandy Michelsen Yarrow, St. Johnswort, Lemon Balm plantain and comfrey.....and probably more when I think about it...:-)

Linda C -  I'd also go with the tinctures I use regularly for sleep, stress, infection, immunity, and salves and infused oils, like calendula and st. johnswort.for any topical issues. Certain essential oils too, like tea tree and lavender. This post got me thinking of creating an emergency box of remedies from my harvest to grab and go-instead of trying to select at the moment, such as in fire evacuation.

Linda H -  Excellent question...gave me pause for thought. It was hard to choose just a few! Cayenne Pepper (to stop bleeding), Garlic (antibiotic), Arnica (anti-inflammatory/analgesic - for external), Turmeric (anti-inflammatory - for internal), Comfrey (bone fracture healing), and Slippery Elm (for stomach issues).

Adriane B -  St.Johns Wort (dried herb and oil) herb for internal use to boost immune system and limit retro viruses during virus attacks, also for depression, oil for nerve pain & skin healing. Tea tree as general disinfectant and wound healing. Lavender EO for skin healing of burns, sleep help, and skin analgesic. Goldenseal as a general herbal antibiotic for internal and external infections. Yarrow for my flu formula or when a diaphoretic is needed, also to use to stop bleeding. Elderberry to boost immune system and elderberry leaf for fungal infections. Comfrey for bone healing and wound healing. Chamomile for infected skin healing and calming stomach.

Jenn F - Tumeric tincture as an anti inflammatory.  A "calm" tincture...( Chamomile & valarian & Tulsi blend works for me). Elderberry for fighting colds & flus. That's a start....

Jamie E - Yarrow, comfrey, plantain, lemon balm, dandelion root, lavender, chamomile, plantain, orange peel, basil, thyme, cloves.

Mary H - Skullcap and lemon balm to keep myself calm and grounded , tummy blend of mint, catnip, licorice, ginger , and fennel, echinacea.

 Brenda C - I think I would take most of mine in tincture form. Definitely my goldenrod tincture, chamomile tincture. I have several teas made up for calming the nerves so they would have to go along.

 Cristina B-  Thyme, echinacea, chamomile, oregano, linden, yarrow, st Jon's wort, calendula, lavender, mint, basil. Actually, I think I'll take my whole spices and tea cabinets?

 Lisa T - Elderberry products, comfrey, nettles , lavender and raspberry tips. My vinegar and mushrooms as well.

Joanna C - Along with basic herbal first aid, gentle nervine tinctures are necessary. And Rescue Remedy for sure.

 Magdalena - Cannibis - why not go out in style...

 Denelle P - I would take my box of tinctures as well as a book or two.

 Julie G I would pack all 2000 oils!! And my medic bag;)
 Mary H What's in your medic bag?
 Julie G Surgical kit, OB delivery kit, air way kit, IV's, sutures. Gauze, ace bandages. Basic field kit.

Anne L - Oregano, lavender, thyme and lemon. 

Stefanie K - Oregano oil, Thieves, Osha, Rescue Remedy.

Wendy A - Chamomile, plantain, calendula, peppermint, ginger, and Lavender

 Kerri H -  St. John's wort, lavender, chamomile, comfrey

 Lisa P - cayenne, lobelia, echinacea, comfrey, charcoal, green powder, and about a dozen mixes/tinctures

Jennifer W - Black cumin/nigella, hawthorn, rose petals, peppermint

Sharon B -  holy basil, oregano, rescue remedy flower essence

Karen B -  Cannabis products.

Ivette V - Tinctures of lemon balm & ginger.

Tameka C - GOLDENSEAL, ECHINACEA, CILANTRO

My elderberry syrup and fire cider are always handy and easy to grab and go but I think I would be sure to bring some fresh oats for stress, with motherwort and tulsi for anxiety and perhaps hawthorne for the heart.  I would grab all tinctures since they are small easy to carry and don't require potable water in order to take them.  Susanna Reppert, Mechanicsburg, PA

I have a blend of herbs that I drink daily, as a tea, (for my specific health issues & familial predisposition), that includes St John's wort, Tulsi, Hawthorne, passionflower, motherwort, meadowsweet, chickweed, nettle, and horsetail, all blended in a 2 gallon bag. Besides that necessity, I'd take some form of elderberry, raw honey, a topical salve with yarrow, plantain, beeswax, honey, & coconut oil. From the spice cabinet, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, ACV, clove, rosemary, sage, cayenne, and thyme, as well as firecider. I typically keep all of this stuff where it's used, but also in a first aid satchel, in the linen closet, also stocked with bandages & other usual first aid paraphernalia.  Carla

I would take my dried Tulsi for tea for stress, and my elderberry syrup - Mary Ellen Wilcox

I would grab Activated Charcoal Tablets,  Slippery Elm Bark tablets, & if I didn't have any Fire Cider
left I'd grab the bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce & a jar of our home preserved horseradish root.
I'd probably also be grabbing flower essences & other calming aides for our senior dog. Living on the Canadian border, our most challenging "natural disasters" usually happen in the winter.
Sue Ryn Burns

Note: I didn’t copy all of the responses from facebook because fortunately, Becky Bailey posted this:  I can't help myself, I'm a stats junkie... Top 4 most mentioned so far have been comfrey, lavender, plantain, and oregano,  followed by chamomile, and yarrow.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Crossword puzzle - Season of Love, Herbs, and Flowers

 
Sigh...
I was working away, finishing up my parts of the magazine that will go out in 9 days, and suddenly realized this (marvelous, if I do say so myself) crossword puzzle is not in the right time period.  I used to tuck things away for next year, but I don't have next year's issues set up in the computer yet.  So...
To work this puzzle, simply click on the link, where the image is clear:

take me to the puzzle


I'll add the answers below on the 15th. 
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-

don't scroll any farther unless you want the answers

-

-

-

-

I mean it...

 

 


 

Sunday, December 29, 2024

The Essential Herbal January/February 2025

 Another year begins.  I'm starting to get the hang of this!  Seriously though, we still love what we're doing, and that's very fortunate indeed.

The new issue is full of wonderful information.  The cover is Skylar in the Way-Back machine, on a warm day in winter, a first visit to the woods with her mom and Molly a decade ago.

The Table of Contents:

Crossword – Happy New Year 2025         
Words of beginnings and clean slates and herbs                                                                               

Field Notes from the Editor
For Auld Lang Syne – where we’ve been, where we’re going        

About the Cover
Tiny Skylar’s first walk in the icy, cold creek in March, years ago  

Time to Start Planning Your Herb Garden, Jackie Johnson, ND
There are lots of things to think about before starting an herb garden!                                                  

Winter Embrace: An Herbal Tea Blend for Immunity and Warmth, Amy Jeanroy
A delicious warming blend of herbs, spices,  and rooibos tea.

Color My World, Alicia Allen       
Great recipes to help us eat the rainbow and get the health benefits of all those nutrients.                         

All Washed Up – A Series from The Twisted Sisters
Our adventures of 30+ years of wholesale and retail soapmakers and business women                    

Word Search     
All about what’s inside this issue 

 Calming Chamomile: 2025 Herb of the Year, Kristine Brown, RH (AHG)   
Superb monograph to get us started on the Int’l Herb Assoc’s Herb of the Year                 

Kitchen Cough Syrup, Connie Byers
You’ve probably got everything you need in your kitchen!  

Herbal Winter Tea, Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh
Delightful blend of herbs for immunity and good cheer    

Bee’s Knees Mocktail with Lemon Balm, Jessicka Nebesni
Delicious alternative to a cocktail for Dry January (and beyond).                                                

“Rose Quartz” Hot Process Soap, Marci Tsohonis
No rose quartz was harmed in the making of this soap – it just looks like rose quartz and smells great.   

Book Excerpt – The Herbal Dog, Rita Hogan, CH 
Great information about allergies in dogs.                                                                           

Meet Our Contributors.                                                                                                                        

Next Issue and Puzzle Solutions
                   

GET YOUR COPY HERE                            

Sunday, December 22, 2024

EXTRA! November December 2024

 I'm squeezing this in before posting the latest regular issue.  It's been a whirlwind around here!  We realized it was seriously time to stop making soap, and sadly hung up our aprons.  The soap in stock poured out of the shop, as did holiday orders.  Now that there's a moment to think, it's time to post!

The regular issue went out 2 days ago, and I'm already working on the next EXTRA!  They've become a favorite treat for subscribers!  

In this issue:

🔆 The Foraging Year wrapped up with a combination of late November and early December.  We really loved this series!  Becky shared her Cedarberry Tea recipe.

🔆 Crossword and Word Find puzzles, as usual

🔆 Excerpt from The Herbal Doula - the elderberry section with syrup recipe/instructions

🔆Tea blending with Molly.  She has a laid-back attitude that gives others confidence.  PLUS she gives us three of her favorite recipes!

There was a lot in there.