Sometimes there is just too much BAD news. I caught myself with tears streaming down my face, more than once lately, while watching world news at noon. (I've long ago stopped watching evening news!) Yesterday, I burst into tears watching the current UNICEF commercial. I think it's time for a break. It's time to pull away from all this bad news and make myself some herbal helpers. Heart's Ease Syrup is not going to remove the upsetting or heart-wrenching issues of the day but it just may help me to strengthen and find more peace, personally.
Do you watch the news? Is it like a see-saw of wanting to know what's happening versus self-care? Do you find it more and more difficult at times to enjoy a peaceful day?
I remember years ago, many years ago ~ I stopped my weekly 2 newspapers 'cover to cover' habit and pulled the plug on my newscast watching. I was dealing with my father's lung cancer experience and emotionally raw ~ without adding the horrors of the world around me to take me down. I decided my energy was best spent supporting my mom and dad and finding my way along this scary pathway without all the additional drama. It was an extremely difficult time. I needed to focus all of my available energy on self-care so I could function and support my family and my parents. I didn't need the news.. it had to go.... for a long while..
Heart's Ease Syrup
Ingredients
- 3 cups good quality water
- ½ cup Elderberries
- ½ cup Hawthorn berries
- ½ cup Rosehips
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 2 tablespoon Orange peel
- 1 cup raw local honey
- 1.5 ounces of either Skullcap Lemon Balm or Passionflower tincture
- OR if you don't have these tinctures substitute with 1.5 ounces brandy
Instructions
-
Combine herbs with pure water in a pot and bring to a boil.
-
Reduce heat and allow herbs to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
-
Remove from heat and mash the berries with the back of a wooden spoon.
-
Strain the herbs through some cheesecloth and reserve the juice.
-
Pour the liquid into a glass measuring cup and add an equal amount of raw honey.
-
Pour back into the pot.
-
Heat the honey and juice for a few minutes on low heat until well combined
-
Note: LOW heat. Do not boil!
-
Stir in the tincture (or brandy if using)
-
Pour into a sterilized glass bottle or jar.
-
Label and keep refrigerated for up to 6 months.
Recipe Notes
You can drizzle it over pancakes, sherbet, frozen yogurt, ice cream or just sip it by the spoonful.
This Heart's Ease syrup won't make our sadness go away, or make our grief disappear but it can help us to feel stronger and make it all more manageable. The syrup is delicious taken by the spoonful but can also be mixed with a little Seltzer water or Perrier and sipped throughout the day.
I frequently add Bach Remedies to my herbal concoctions and have long believed that these remedies are deep emotional healers.** In this case, I add "Star of Bethlehem" for grief. Just a couple of drops to my small glass of "Heart's Ease Syrup".
Bach Original Flower Essences, Star of Bethlehem, 20 ml
This syrup and in fact this herbal tea recipe can support us with any kind of loss or grief with powerful nervous system nourishment.
- Keep the immune system supported
- Support your digestion.
- Get enough rest (and ideally 6+ hours of sleep nightly)
- Find someone to talk to. Learn to listen.
Elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are beloved for recipe making and other herbal creations; they support healthy immune system functioning*. I write about elderberries and elderflower remedies at this time or year. Here's a post featuring Elder medicine and also my longtime friend Elderberry Syrup as well as another wonderful herbal formula (thanks Rosemary Gladstar) for dealing with fevers here.
I try to use fresh or frozen elderberries when possible but here's an online source I have used when needed.
Hawthorn Berries (Crataegus monogyna ) are recommended by my friend and mentor/herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Hawthorn supports healthy cardiovascular functioning, so why not give it a chance? These berries have antioxidants and taste nice too. Here's a post about Hawthorn for you. Looking for help with finding hawthorn? Here's a link to some good hawthorn berries online.
Rosehips (Rosa spp) are the fruits produced by roses. They provide one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in the plant world, even boasting levels many times higher than citrus fruit. I love the tart flavour. If you are looking for Rose Hips online, you can check out this good source. Here's a post from a while back featuring Rosehips medicine.
I make my own tinctures and grew Skullcap this year successfully (yay!) If you don't and would like to get your hands on some, here's a reputable online source for tinctures. Herb Pharm has been creating wonderful medicine for many years on the west coast.
Herb Pharm Certified Organic Skullcap Extract for Nervous System Support - 1 Ounce
(I make lots of herbal syrups. This one? Inspired by one from Rosemary Gladstar and from Mountain Rose Herbs)
**I often add Bach Flower essences to my herbal medicine. I trained with Bach Centre folks long ago and use the Bach Remedies as much as I use herbal medicine. It's time to share more about that and I'll get busy and do just that.. Stay tuned!
May your life be filled with joy. May you find happiness all around you. May the bumps in the road...
... be small and of small number. For times when you need some extra support, may you have trusted friends and family to speak with and lean on.. All of this I wish for you.
I hope that you'll make this sweet heart healthy syrup to have on hand for moments when support from the green kingdom can truly make a difference in your day. This stuff works.
with Green Blessings, and only good wishes for your health ~ Carol
Erin
This sounds so delicious and I wish I had everything on hand to make it! Gotta check some of this stuff out.
Cheryl Malik
What a great recipe. Totally going to make this to keep on hand during the cooler months. Thank you!
Cheryl Malik
Thanks for such an amazing elderberry recipe! I love this idea!
Carol Little
Elderberry combines well with these other super powers in this case!
Raia Todd
It's so nice to have these sorts of recipes so that I can make them myself! Thank you!
Carol Little
You are most welcome Raia. I am always so thrilled to share ways for us to feel better, be healthier and be more self-reliant!!! xo
Daniela
What a wonderful tea. I really like the fact that it also keeps for such a long time. You're a master at your craft, Carol! Kudos to you!
Carol Little
Oh Daniela, you are so kind. It has been 20+ years and it's still my passion!!
Kelsey
I'm so excited to give this recipe a try! Just need some hawthorn berries...think it'd still be good without them, or should I order them and then make it as per the recipe?
Carol Little
If you can order.. please do so .. It's a synergistic part of the formula. Glad you are going to make this. It's a special one..
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
Oh wow, this is a lovely tea with so much care behind it. I would never thought of something like this for soothing that part, I'm so glad you came up with this!
linda spiker
Yes. The news is just too much these days. News fasts are a way of life for me. Thanks for the helpful herbal recipe!
The Food Hunter
I love all the things you come up with.
Shelby @Fitasamamabear
I love elderberries but haven't tried Hawthorne ones.. thanks for the recipe I'll put it on my list to pick up the ingredients!
Nicole
I love making elderberry syrup to boost immunity. This recipe looks even better! Thank you for sharing!