There's a Little Witch

Florissant Grange

In September, I attended a class about home remedies using native plants and things found in the kitchen. The instructor was Mari  Marques, a certified herbalist. Mari is also known as The Thymekeeper .  She attended school in Boulder and practiced for many years to obtain the knowledge she has about herbs, oils, tinctures, and native plants. And her mental encyclopedia is quite vast. I am hoping she'll have more classes as time goes by. I would love to soak up some of the knowledge she is so willing to share.

She made cough syrup during the class and kept up a constant dialogue about herbs and their uses while she was cooking the concoction. I could see in my mind's eye how this very scenario may have occurred so many times throughout history - a Wise Woman teaching her pupils the ways of healing.

As I glanced around the room of the old Grange, I saw an assortment of people taking notes and absorbing the knowledge that was being given. And I was reminded of a saying from one my favorite movies (and probably one of yours as well!), 
Practical Magic. 

There's a Little Witch in All of Us.


Cough Syrup
**This is meant for information purposes only**

Hibiscus Flowers  - 1/4cp (vitamin C source)

Anise Seed - 3/10 oz (healing to lungs)

Cramp Bark - 3/10 oz (anti-spasmodic)

Ellacampane - 3/10oz. (anti-spasmodic)

Wild Cherry Bark - 3/10oz (reduces fever)

Grindelia - 1 1/2oz (helps relieve phlegm build-up)

Osha Root tincture - 1 oz (all purpose healing agent, promotes sweating & expectoration, antiviral)

Echinacea tincture - 1/2oz

Honey - same amount as water used to boil bark/root/seed mix

Marshmallow Root Powder - 1 TBLSPN (relieves sore throat, good for mouth ulcers)

Brandy - non-flavored 1/4cp (used for a preservative)

1. Steep Hibiscus flowers & 1/2oz Osha Root tincture in 1 1/2cp boiling water. Let steep while making the rest of the syrup.

2. Place Anise seed, Cramp bark, Ellacampane (root), Wild Cherry Bark, & Grindelia in pan. Cover with 2 cps water. Bring to rolling boil, reduce heat and simmer for approx. 15min - 20 min. Strain through a cofee filter or very fine wire mesh strainer. 

3. Add Osha Root tincture (1/2oz), Echinacea Tincture. Stir well. Whisk in Marshmallow Root powder until dissolved. Measure amount of liquid. Add equal part Honey.

4. Strain Hibiscus flowers through coffee filter or strainer. Add Hibiscus flower water to honey mixture. Stir well.

5. Add brandy. stir.

Store in bottles or jars in refrig. until needed.