http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1596055#i
I like goldenseal, but like to save the root for serious situations -- what about goldenseal leaf--is it a good ingredient?
Goldenseal kills the flora so I would not recommend it on that basis alone. But it is also becoming endangered so I prefer people not use it at all.
I am wondering about various recipes. I have one that includes orange peel, (that sounds good) but also has sugar, which I don't want. Another uses raisins (I guess for the palatable part) and then there is the old Paracelsus recipe, later called Swedish Bitters...Anyway, I want to make some
What are some good ingredients? Can anyone add to/amend these?
(I would not not necessarily use all of these)
cardamom seeds
coriander seeds
dried orange peel (bitter orange would work better and helps with weight loss at the same time)
dried lemon peel?
quassia
osha' root (Great herb but hard to come by and runs about $60 a pound)
barberry (I would leave this out due to the berberine)
dandelion root (Dandelion leaf is the bitter, and also helps with hormones)
gentian
myrrh (This is too resinous, so you would need a high concentration to dissolve it in to solution. I would leave it out.)
saffron (You are really in to the expensive herbs. Saffron makes the cost of osha' root look like nothing. Saffron should run you $200-300 an ounce)
(i'm not into the senna)
turkey rhubarb? (Turkey rhubarb is a source of stimulant laxative anthraquinones just like senna, but a little weaker. If you want to avoid the laxative effect I would leave this out as well)
Would milk thistle seed be good? I love the taste.
I would also add artichoke leaf.
I guess I am leaning toward the concept of these bitters combining some of the good effects of Essiac. The more I think about it, the more I feel like this is what I've been missing. Am hoping to forego having to take digestive enzymes, but clearly, I lack digestive power.
Is the best way just a few drops on the back of the tongue, or can one drink a very small glass of water and say 20 drops (as some recommend) before eating?
I would go with 20 drops either on the tongue or mixed with water. If you are going to mix it with water though then you definitely need to leave the myrrh out of it. The water helps to cut the alcohol burn, but you can make a glycerite if you want to avoid the alcohol altogether.
Is there any value in "angostura bitters?
Another flavour I love, esp. in summer.
Yes, they still function as digestive bitters.
yeah, I have pretty simple tastes--they run to things like saffron, beeswax and basilica-type incense resins. :-)The cost of beeswax candles! I know they're worth it, and wish the bees got better recompensed as well.>> Wish someone would give them some olive leaf for their mite blights, and leave them a bit of their own honey...
You can make your own candles. I have not shopped around for beeswax in a while, but there are a few palces you can pix up the wax for around $3.00 a pound.
since I'm only making these for myself, (and for my son, 'on spec')I'm not expecting I'll be using a lot of anything. Everything costs more the first time you try it, right? This'll probably end up being my birthday present to myself.
I would still go with the less expensive herbs since it is only being used as a bitter. What about calendula petals, which are often used as a saffron substitute. Good source of iodine as well.
Bitter orange--Is that what they use to make marmelade?
Yes, it is also known as marmalade orange.
I know an herbalist nearby where I would think they have all these things; maybe down the road I can harvest something myself, or buy in bulk, but I'm really a rank beginner with all this....
Artichoke leaf--that's the edible part people dip in butter right? Or is it another part of the plant?
The part you eat would be the flowering head. The leaves are the bitter and liver support.
I'm always going into a small swoon over the artichoke potion in the health food store. A tall bottle with a picture of an artichoke, and something flowery on the box.
European. Probably it's what my body craves. Curious, my son is also attracted to the box.
*
I'll leave the dandelion out then--I have the dandelion mineral vinegar.
So, what about gentian and burdock, or yellow dock, and as 'base note'?
Gentian would be the best choice.
And about the calendula! I just bought some, solely because its appearance inspired me. I didn't know that about the iodine. Or the saffron; I thought it was safflower that is commonly called "american saffron". Great to know. I like calendula in salads.
Here is a link on calendula:
http://www.kingtutshop.com/Egyptian-Herb/calendula-flowers.htm
"Used historically as "poor man's saffron," in different foods to give a beautiful color and a flavor."
Safflowers primary use at least medicinally is removal of lactic acid.
(funny, I can't get the copy/paste to work today...to quote you)
I will look around for beeswax--actually I have some, that I bought for encaustic painting and salves. And also have chunks of a large candle (a gift) that never worked, wouldn't stay lit!!! that I have saved. The tricky part is the dipping or molding, and getting the right wicks. The wick this large candle had was like a heavy jute, strange. It just kept going out. I've had a candle form these folks in the past (Pheylonian) and it worked great.
I think wicks are treated with potassium nitrate to help them burn properly. This is also used in incense for the same purpose.