Wormwood ~ Useful Bitter Herb

How many times have any of us come home from a great vacation, only to come home and be a little bloated and "draggie" from all the vacation foods we ate that are not normally in our diets? ESPECIALLY, if we went to a seaside area and enjoyed local seafood. 

Or do you eat a lot of sushi or under-cooked meat and have a bloat and maybe some gas that just won't go away?

Chances are that while enjoying the local seaside cuisine or under-cooked meat, you have unintentionally brought home a little "friend." 

For those of us who are normally land locked, eating sea food that is not from our geographical area or eating the raw fish in sushi or for those who do not properly cook through their meats, worms and parasites may have crept their way into your diet. 

Yes, sad but true. Eww.

But . . . there is a very easy way to rid yourself of those little "friends." A truly bitter herb called Wormwood.

The true bitterness of this herb is part of what helps to rid those varmints from our bodies. As with all bitter herbs, it stimulates the stomach, liver and gallbladder, making it an excellent parasitic and worm cleanse.

Even though Wormwood is best known as a parasitic cleanse, it also has other benefits . . . 

As mentioned, it stimulates the digestive juices in the digestive tract, stimulating bile to help with bloating, gas, reflux and other digestive issues. It is also known to ease stomach pain, help with anemia, ease a fever and is a mild antidepressant.

 From my own home apothacary

Wormwood may be used in several ways ~ blended with other bitter herbs in an infusion (a strongly brewed "tea" made from the leaves, made to sipped on throughout the day), a tincture (a liquid, medicinal herb or herb blend; very easy to make, just time consuming), a capsule or your own tea. When using as a tea or infusion DO NOT SWEETEN, the bitterness is part of the cure, and only take on a daily basis for 2-4 weeks at a time.

So, the next time you bring home a little uninvited "friend" from vacation or restaurant meal, remember that you can easily evict them with the bitter herb, Wormwood.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

**See obligatory disclaimer at bottom of blog**

**Please consider fully cooking your meat. As my husband has been known to say to rude waiters who turned their noses up at our request for "well done" meat: "I grew up on a cattle and hog farm, if you knew what they ate, you'd want yours well done, too."

Making Heap Big Medicine

I know I usually write about my medicinal teas, but I also like to make capsules for our family. 

THE Man was fighting off a virus-bug that is going around his office, so I needed to make some more goldenseal capsules and while I was at it, I made some more ashwagandha capsules. 

Just as an FYI, I like to use size 0 capsules which are generally 350-500 mg per capsule. You can get empty capsules at most health food markets.

Making your own medicine is easy-peasy. Make it ahead of time so that you always have it on hand.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

*Please see the obligatory disclaimer at the bottom of the page*

Damiana Herb ~ So Many Uses

 Damiana from my home

apothecary

Every-now-and-then, you come across an herb that has a "certain reputation." And then, as your knowledge of herbs expands, you find out that it's reputation has really cut it's other benefits short. 

Such is the case with Damiana. Yes . . . it is well known among herbalists, and herbal enthusiasts, that this pretty little bitter herb can be useful as an aphrodisiac, and many people are quite insistent about it . . . but . . . that is nipping the OTHER benefits of this herb, right in the bud.

As a bitter herb, you can count on Damiana being very effective as a tonic herb. These herbs are great to restore digestive function, stimulating those digestive juices. Also restoring a tired and debilitated nervous system.

Something that our family uses it for is for are those nasty UTI's, also helping with cystitis. A generous amount blended with a little Uvi Ursi herb in a tea, 2-4 times a day, can do wonders for a UTI. For an even stronger dose, make your own tincture. Making tinctures is far easier than you may think.

Damiana tea is also a mild laxative. If you need something a little stronger, use your tea ball and make a tea blend of Damiana and Senna. **NOTE** Start with a small amount of Senna and use more only if you need more. It's a powerful laxative herb. 

This herb with the nearly perfect green leaves and pretty little yellow flowers can be used as a mild anti-depressant, helping with nervous tension and anxiety. If you are facing something pressing or have had a hard, hurried day, sit back with the pleasant, light herbal taste of Damiana tea. Feel your heartbeat easing back into a gentle rhythm and feel your head start clearing of all the clamor of the day. Along with this, Damiana also helps with menstrual cramps and headaches. 

And for our menfolk, Damiana has developed quite a reputation as a testosterone-builder, helping with impotence. So, if you don't want your dear husband to take those pharmaceuticals ~ that you can't control the dose and also bring many side-effects with them ~ give a daily tea of Damiana a try. He will enjoy a light, tasty mug of tea and he may just be pleasantly surprised. 

Our Lord is a very good God and He knows exactly what His children can benefit from.

Let me know how you enjoy this valuable little herb, Damiana.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

*Please see the obligatory disclaimer at bottom of page*  

Herbal Harvest

Well . . . I'll bet you thought I had dropped off the face of the earth. Nope. THE Man has been doing some projects from home and has needed the the computer ~ on top of that, I've been working crazy hours at the health food store. It has simply been a crazy fall for us.

BUT . . . I did want to show you that I had one of my best herbal harvests ever! 

One of my most abundant were my rosemary plants. Oh my, they were almost 3 feet high. I've never had such large, lovely rosemary.

I also had echinacea, sweet basil, lavender, sage, dill, oregano, cilantro. 

Here are some of my lavender, sage, sweet basil and rosemary.

I love the smell of my fresh herbs hanging up to dry in my kitchen. 

What was in your garden this year?

Thanks, again, for your patience with my absence. And thank you, to those of you who emailed or commented on my Facebook to make sure I am OK. Love you all.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Men's Health Tea

I am married to the most wonderful, godly man. That's why I refer to him as "THE Man". . . because to me . . . well . . . he is. We will soon be married 31 years! WOW. Where did the time go?!

I try very hard to take care of him. He does deal with some issues as a result of a car accident he was involved in about 7 years ago. And . . . as with so many men . . . they turn into 8 year old boys when it comes to taking something for their own good ;-) ~ whether a supplement, a pain killer or sometimes even eating foods that are good for them.


But something that I recently mixed up is definitely a hit with THE Man, and that's my Men's Health Tea. 


He enjoys using my medicinal tea blends and I think it's because they don't seem like medicine, they taste like they are something good for you. When it's high allergy/sinus times, he asks for and enjoys my sinus tea blend. When he can't sleep, he asks for my sleep tea. When his back aches, he likes a blend that takes away the pain. And when certain "manly" issues began, he asked me if I thought I could "mix me up" a tea that would help?

Why, OF COURSE I CAN! :-D 

So, as I do so often, I started looking through my herbs, did some research and put together my own special blend. And THE Man REALLY likes it. He drinks at least one mug full and many times, two a day.

It's simple, it's easy, it's tasty and all you need to do is put these ingredients together in a glass jar to keep them fresh and you will have it whenever you need it. 

You Will Need:

**This recipe makes a large batch so that it's already mixed for future uses**

~~large 3-fingered pinches of . . . 

~saw palmetto berries ~ one of the most well known, and highly effective herbs for the prostate
~white willow bark ~ an effective pain killer that has been used for years, especially for headaches and joint pain
~nettle leaves ~ an anti-inflammatory that is one of the best herbal sinus relievers, opens up the breathing passages
~whole cloves ~ pain reliever, calming, warming and is just plain yummy in a relaxing mug of tea
~skullcap ~ a calmative and aids in relaxing, pain relief and even hysterics
~dried orange peel ~ a good dose of vitamin C for keeping his immunities built up
~holy basil ~ one of the best adaptogen herbs; calms, relaxes, and is wonderful for the adrenal glands for stress relief
~hyssop ~ wonderful healing, tonic herb; helps with joint pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, wrinkles, blood flow
~whisk
~small bowl
~glass jar with air-tight lid
~tea ball or infuser

Directions:

1) put the large 3-fingered pinches (or more) of each herb into the bowl
2) whisk the ingredients together until they are well blended but not so much that they turn to powder
3) carefully pour the herbs into the glass jar and keep in a cool, dry place

To Use:

~fill tea ball or infuser with 1 ts. of the mix per cup OR 1-1/2 ts per mug
~heat water to boiling
~put filled tea ball or infuser into a mug and pour hot water over the herbs
~let steep for at least 10 minutes
~add honey if desired
~enjoy

**NOTE** to make this a nice, soothing night time version, add a small pinch of Valerian root to an individual serving.

Let me know how your man likes this tasty, helpful blend.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

How Does My Garden Grow? . . . .

. . . Let me show you . . . 

This year, I didn't plant any veggies. With my busy schedule and because varmints got into my cucumbers, zucchini and squash the last two years, nope . . . didn't even plant tomatoes. I went the easy route and just planted herbs and some wild flowers. I'm still happy with what I have.

I have echinacea and lavender . . . 

echinacea, rosemary, sage, basil and English Daisies . . . 

I love my sage bush, it's now about 5 years old and when it blooms it's full of gorgeous purple flowers.

This year, I went with simply seeding the front bed with two large packages of assorted wild flowers and I couldn't be happier with how pretty and happy-looking they are.

I still have chamomile, dill, cilantro and oregano on my kitchen window sill. I'm debating whether to take them outside in planters.

Special kudos to our friend, Chet, who did all the preparing and weeding for me, this year, to make it look so good and to my DD#2 who often helps me keep it looking so nice and healthy.

What did you plant this year?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<>< 

Homemade Healthy Tonic Tea

Well, here we are, the middle of July and already I am hearing early sounds of fall ~ the cicadas are already "calling" fall to the area, just as doves (a.k.a. rain crows) call when rain is coming. So, does that mean that we will have an early fall? Mmmmm . . . we can only hope. Only the Lord knows for sure, but as much as I love fall, I wouldn't mind.

And as fall has it's own charm ~ abundant color, the smell of leaves burning, crisp cool air that charms us outside for a walk after donning our favorite sweater; or curl up with a cup of tea and your favorite comforter for cozy night by the fire.

Fall is also a time when we need to make sure that our immune system is boosted and working at it's peak.

Government school and private school kids will be going back into the classroom and breathing in a host of new germs; homeschool kids will be rejoining their clubs, gym classes, sports, dance and other group activities where they will, also, be greeted by others' germs. And if your family's immune system isn't built up, germs will be passed around to each other like a supper plate. 

Almost daily, I enjoy my favorite Wellness Tea blend, but from time-to-time ~ especially if a family member has a cold or if I start to feel some little tickle that could be the precursor of something coming ~ I boost my medicinal tea up a notch and mack my Tonic Tea.

You Will Need:

For a large batch ~
~1 TB. freshly grated ginger root
~1/2 ts. cinnamon
large 3-fingered pinches of . . . 
~lemongrass
~astragalus root
~licorice root
~echinacea leaf OR root (I prefer the root)
~lemon essential oil
~1 large tea ball OR 2-3 small tea balls
~tea pots ~ 1 for boiling water, one for steeping ~ OR 1 medium pot

Directions:

1) fill a tea pot or medium cooking pot with water
2) fill a tea ball(s) with first SIX ingredients
3) bring water to boil 
    ***if you are using the tea pots, once water comes to a boil, place tea ball into pot and pour water into pot...
    ***if you are using a pot, place tea ball into pot of water and let come to boil...
4) once water boils, remove from heat ~ steep for at least 15 minutes, more if you want it stronger
5) then remove tea ball and discard used herbs
6) add 3-6 drops of lemon essential oil to the tea and stir a little to blend
7) fill your tea cup or mug
8) add local honey to taste, if desired
9) settle down, get comfy and drink in that tasty immune-building tea . . . ahhhhh . . .

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Holy (Blessed) Thistle ~ Amazing Bitter Herb

"...[T]he Blessed Thistle, which is much used in the time of any infection or plague, as also to expel any evil symptom from the heart at all other times." 
~William Shakespeare; from Much Ado About Nothing

So many people seem to have issues with their digestion ~ reflux, bloating, bile flow in the liver, stomach pains from poor digestion, all the way down to the intestines. It's a bother to anyone who suffers with these issues, but especially hard if your are nursing or elderly.

Bitter herbs a are a group of herbs that work well with the liver and digestive organs. And we all know that if your liver and digestion are going along as they should, barring any other health issues, you will probably have a healthy day.

Holy Thistle, also known as Blessed Thistle, has been well known since at least the Middle Ages and is a very effective bitter herb that is often confused with Milk Thistle ~ they are related by NOT the same thing . . . 

BOTH help with liver function, diuretic and helping nursing mothers' milk flow, but also . . . 

Holy Thistle stimulates bile flow, saliva production, aids digestion in that it helps the intestines and gallbladder and so helps the whole digestive tract. Holy Thistle, being in the Feverfew family, is an anti-inflammatory and helps with headaches and body aches and is mildly antibiotic. Another benefit is that they contain cancer fighting lignans (as does flax). [DO NOT use if you are pregnant or allergic to the Chamomile/Feverfew family of herbs]

Holy Thistle can be used ~ up to 3x per day ~ as a single ingredient tea, a tea blend, a tincture or in a balm for boo-boos of all sorts ~ from hangnails, to skinned knees, to small open wounds.

In the United States, Holy Thistle is most commonly used to increase nursing mothers' milk production ~ blending it with fenugreek and/or fennel seeds makes a yummy and even more effective nursing tea.

 I love my Blessed Thistle.

As you can see, when I label my 

herb jars, I also include

what they are best used for.

To make a tea, my general rule is 1 ts. in your tea ball per cup OR 1-1/2 or 2ts per mug.

To make a tincture, click HERE. 

To make a balm/salve, click HERE. Simply replace the chamomile in this recipe with Holy Thistle OR blend half-and-half.

Have you used Holy Thistle? What are your favorite ways?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
***Please read the obligatory disclaimer at bottom of page***

Themed Herb Gardens

I've kept an herb/veggie garden in the past, but this year, because I knew I wouldn't have quite so much time to devote to it, I've decided to downsize ~ hoping to have a bigger garden next year, again ~ and just have a small herb garden for now.

 Wouldn't you love to 

stroll through this 

garden?

All I have currently is rosemary, sage, lavender, echinacea, cilantro, dill, oregano and chamomile. Love my herbs.

 Above are some herbs that

are still in my mini hot houses (baggies),

below are some that are ready
for transplant into my herb baskets

for the front porch

(I wait until they are at least

1" high to transplant)

I still have some "babies" in my window ~ using plastic baggies over the starter pots as mini hot houses. But after I write this, I'm going to transplant them into my cute little herb baskets that I found at Meijers, and set them on my porch. I still want a strawberry pot, but none were around when/where I was looking this year.

 Strawberry Pot

Another idea that I LOVE and will HAVE to try someday, is to use an old wagon wheel for herb garden sections. Isn't that cute?

 Wagon Wheel Garden

I am a sucker for books on herbs, essential oils and home rememdies, so on one of my weekly visits to my favorite bulk food store a while back, I picked up a sweet little book called, "The Beauty of Herbs" by Jessica Dorfsmith. The best part: it's written from a Christian viewpoint.

Her first rule for using herbs states: "Carefully avoid New Age or witchcraft influences sometimes associated with herbs. Accept herbs for what they are: a gift from God for the benefit of man, to be properly used and never abused." Amen, sister!

So much of her philosophy and uses of herbs are very similar to mine, even some of her recipes are almost identical. Something that she writes about are "Theme Gardens." A small patch with herbs that meet specific needs ~ I've done that and it's my favorite way to plan. Another thing I want to get back to next year.

This is what Jessica has to say about them . . . 

Herbs planted in separate small gardens, each with its own theme, is gardening at its best! It's also good for the beginning herb gardener, preventing confusion between culinary and medicinal herbs . . . The following ideas are simply that: ideas! Use them as a springboard to get your imagination running. Choose herbs that do best in your climate, suit your family's medicinal needs, and please your eyes and taste buds.

TEA-TIME GARDEN ~ 

Mint                       Chamomile
Lemon balm       Catnip
Lemon thyme     Fennel
Lime and Lemon Basil          Bergamot

CULINARY HERB GARDEN ~

Chives                    Savory
Basil                       Sage
Oregano                Parsley
Cilantro                 Thyme

IMMUNE-BUILDER GARDEN ~

Echinacea            Horehound
Chamomile         Horseradish
Peppermint         Lemon Balm
Mullein                 Rosemary

These are just a few of her ideas. I'm looking forward to using some of these ideas next year.

What do you like to plant?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Horehound Herb

 When I label my herbs,

I also note what they are used for.

When I was a little girl, my Bigmom (maternal grandmother) lived with us. What blessing she was ~ always pleasant, always a wealth of stories and wisdom. She taught me how to spread-up a proper bed, to iron clothes, enjoy coffee, tell a good story, enjoy a good story, to treasure my elders, to enjoy my greens, how to pick the best strawberries, and how endearing the sound of a wonderfully creaky rocking chair can be. She tried desperately to get me to like hominy, but she did teach me that there's nothing for a sore throat like horehound "candy" as a cough drop. And when I could find a source, I have always gone to horehound as my favorite cough drop. Fortunately, when I don't make them, I can get them at my favorite bulk food store. That sweet-pungent taste not only brings relief, but it brings back so many heart-warming memories of my Bigmom.

Now, as I have gotten into medicinal teas over the last several years, horehound herb often finds it's way into a sore throat tea. Granted, the tea is an acquired taste. It can be a little bitter, so you may want to make sure you have a little bit of honey to go with it . . . and local honey has it's own immunity-building benefits.  Horehound herb is renowned for it's immunity building, it's amazing ability to clear your lungs and bronchial passages, flushing your lungs of mucus and allowing for a very productive cough.

A favorite way that my family makes our horehound tea is to make this very simple blend . . . 

You will need:

~1/4 ts. horehound 
~1/2 ts. peppermint OR spearmint 
~a couple small dried olive leaves, crumbled 
~tea ball 

Directions:

1) put herbs into the tea bal
2)let it steep good and strong for 10-15 minutes (depending upon how bad your cough is), 

. . . add honey and sip while it's still nice a warm. Use as often as you need to . . . KEEPING IN MIND that the TEA (NOT the drops) can also be used to detox the kidneys and bowls, which means that using a lot will make you have to potty quite a bit and it can cause slightly loose bowl movements. So, it is wise NOT to drink too many cups back-to-back. 

 Full disclosure ~

these drops came from my

favorite bulk food store

Horehound cough drops are very easy to make. 

You will need:

~2 oz. dried horehound herb
~3 c. water
~3 1/2 c. brown sugar, tightly packed
~powdered sugar (*optional*)
~medium cooking pot
~fine mesh strainer OR cheese cloth
~parchment paper
~dish/plate
~glass container with lid

Directions:

1) In your cooking pot, bring the horehound herb and water to a boil
2) Once it boils, remove from heat, cover and let it steep for 25-30 minutes.
3) Using the strainer OR cheese cloth, strain as much of the decoction out as you can, pressing on the leaves or squeezing the leaves in the cloth
4) Put pot back on low heat, add the brown sugar and cook, stirring nearly constantly, until you can make a hard ball (take a spoon and get a small sample of the "syrup," drop it into a cup of COLD water; if it makes a hard ball, it's ready)
5) Spread parchment paper onto a dish/plate (some people spray it with grapeseed oil ~ optional) and carefully pour the "syrup" and let it cool
6) oil OR butter your hands and shape the candy into balls; if you like, you can flatten them into disks
7) lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar (*optional*)
8) now let them cool completely
9) store in a glass jar with a lid
10) use within a month

Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know how well these horehound herb remedies work for you.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><      

Dandelion "Coffee"

As much as it pains me to say, there are some people who can't have coffee. Oh, how sad! I start my mornings with a tasty, hot mug of coffee and then I drink tea the rest of the day. 

It seems to be the trend, lately, that people are catching on to Dandelion "Coffee" . . . which is really simply a Dandelion Tea with a twist. 

A couple of years ago, I posted on the MANY benefits of dandelion. What a mighty little "weed." So, if you are unfamiliar with those benefits, you really should read my earlier post.

Dandelion Coffee is so easy. To make a pre-made jar full . . . 

You Will Need:

~1/4 c. dried dandelion root
~1/4 c. chicory (a.k.a. cowboy coffee)
~1 TB. mini carob chips
~small mixing bowl
~whisk
~jar with lid

Directions:

1) in the bowl, whisk together all ingredients to blend
2) pour ingredients into jar

To Use:

~add 1-1/2 to 2 ts. of blend to a tea ball or infuser, put into a mug, pour hot water over the blend, let steep for 10 minutes. Enjoy. 

This will help those of you who have had to give up coffee or who just want an occasional alternative with many health benefits, for extra measure.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Skullcap ~ Soothing Herb

Whether through e-mails, messages, conversations or at work at the health food store, I am often approached about remedies for anxiety, tension, panic attacks, tension headaches and problems that come from these issues.

Here are my suggestions for relief: 

1) Draw close to the Lord and HE WILL draw close to you. (James 4:8) There's nothing like talking to the Lord and feeling His loving arms wrap around you to calm your heart. If you need forgiveness, ask for it; if you need to forgive someone . . .

2) Forgive. If you need to be closer to Him, do it. If you are angry at someone or have been hurt by someone and need to forgive them, do it. Even if if requires a heart-felt conversation, it will probably only have to happen once and the results are in the Lord's hands. Just do it so that it won't be hanging over your head and letting your imagination run away with you as to the outcome. Almost all issues related to anxiety come from a circumstance that can be resolved by forgiveness.

3) Use an herbal remedy, tincture, homeopathic remedy or an herbal medicinal tea. 

One of those remedies is Skullcap. Skullcap is the lovely little flower that many of us have seen on the sunny river and creek banks during the summer months. Once again, the simplest thing that the Lord has provided for us has a fantastic, effective use.

 When labeling my herbs, I also

include the symptoms that

they help.

I like to enjoy Skullcap as a part of a relaxing, night-time tea. If I am having trouble getting to sleep ~ from the cares of the day, a busy day that keeps repeating through my mind, night-time stress headache ~ a hot cup of skullcap, holy basil and valerian root tea (in equal parts) really hits the spot. 

Skullcap is well-known to help with migraines, panic attacks, restless legs, neuralgia, shingles pain and the pain from pinched nerves.

You can take skullcap in a tea, capsules or tincture. Almost instant relief. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
**Please read the disclaimer at bottom of page** 

Cleavers ~ Common Bitter Herb with Many Roles

For those of us in the Midwest and the Eastern part of the U.S., how many times have we been on a walk through the a grassy-woody area and passed by those long, sticky plants that sometimes attract those dreaded chiggers? Ick! Many times, they grow in the same areas as Queen Ann's Lace. And like so many plants that people deem to be "weeds," Cleavers (a.k.a. Goose Grass) is actually very good for us.

Cleavers is considered a Bitter Herb, and as such, almost automatically makes it beneficial to the liver and bile-producing organs. Not only, that but Cleavers can clear out your lymph system by reducing inflammation, including tonsils. Like dandelion, Cleavers can helps detox not only the liver, but the pancreas, spleen and kidneys; however, it is not the high, non-constipating iron source that dandelion is. 

Since it helps detox the urinary tract by stimulating urine flow (yes, it makes you pee :-D ), it has been recommended by herbalists to helps clear up urinary tract infections (UTIs) and to help pass kidney stones. 

Making a strong Cleavers tea, and applying with a cotton ball, is known to help with acne, seeping boo-boos, eczema, psoriasis and to tighten the skin so that fine lines are less evident (similar to hyaluronic acid). 

New mommies will want to consider using a Cleavers poultice for mastitis. If possible, use fresh Cleavers, but dried will work. 1) Make your own tea bag stuffed with as much Cleavers as it will hold, boil the bag in a small pot of water ~ just enough to get the bag hot all the way through, you're not making a tea this time ~ once it is JUST COOL ENOUGH to put on your skin, lay the tea bag onto the sore area. Putting it inside your nursing bra will work, however, you may want to put a nursing pad between the tea bag and your bra so that it doesn't stain. Make as many bags as you think you will need and warm them one at a time, use as often as you need to. You will notice almost immediate relief. 2) You can also cut open the tea bag and apply/"paint" the warm poultice directly to the sore area of your breast. Again, put a disposable nursing pad between the poultice and your breast so that you don't stain your bra. The choice of how your want to do it is up to you.

To make your own homemade Cleavers Tincture, click HERE for a simple recipe. Most droppers hold 20-30 drops full. Take 1-2 dropper-fulls up to 4 times per day in a glass of cold water. This recipe should last up to 2 years.

 
Cleavers Tea is very simple. Use a tea ball, infuser or make your own tea bag by using 1 ts per cup or 1-1/2 ts per mug of tea. Add just a large pinch of peppermint or spearmint to it if you don't like the taste to be so "green." However, it is very pleasant on it's own. Do not add honey or any sweetener, let it work on it's own. Steep good and strong for about 20 minutes. Drink as often as you like through the day.

Enjoy your good health.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<>< 
**see disclaimer at bottom of page**