This is part 2 of the "Herbs for Back-to-School Season" series.
Even if you aren't going back to school, this is pertinent information in how to prepare your immune system and herb cabinet for whatever this fall and winter may bring.
In this issue, I talk about 2 of my favorite immune supporting herbs, Astragalus root and Elderberry.
A book could be written about each of these herbs. This is a brief overview of each one.
If either of these herbs intrigue you, I hope you are inspired to dig deeper into to getting to know them and experiencing them for yourself.
Astragalus, (Astragalus membranaceous) is an herb that has a long tradition of use in Chinese herbalism, which is where this plant is native to, and mostly still sourced from.
It can be grown in Maine and other regions of the US. I highly suggest adding this plant to your herb garden. If you add a few plants every year, you will end up growing a nice patch of them, that you can harvest from yearly. You will need to harvest the roots from plants that are at least three years old. Start growing them now and in a few years you can begin to provide yourself with homegrown Astragalus root.
Astragalus is an herb that is commonly found in the herbal marketplace. See the end of this post for resources to buy the root from.
Astragalus is an adaptogenic herb. This means that it has normalizing and modulating effects on the body. It can help steer the immune system to a healthy state. There are multiple ways that it benefits immune health.
Astragalus feeds and supports the healthy microbiota in our gut, which is our fist line of immune defense. It wakes up immune cells that seek and identify pathogens in our body. It provides nutrition that our immune system thrives on.
Astragalus has a mild flavored root. I consider it sweet and earthy. Children tend to tolerate the taste of it. It can also be easily disguised in stronger tasting things, like soups, snacks, and smoothies.
It can be purchased in tongue depressor shaped sticks, cut and sifted, or powdered. All forms work well.
The tongue depressor like sticks can be added to soups as they cook and then easily removed when the soup is done. It is too woody to actually eat, but it will impart all of its goodness to the soup while it cooks.
The cut and sifted root is preferred for making decoctions and infusions. Which are essentially tasty concentrated teas.
The powdered root can be added to food inluding hummus, smoothies, granola bars, cookies, and nut butter snack balls.
Astragalus is mild in action and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and health states. It is best taken over a period of time, in relatively large quantities, to build immune reserves.
It is often not suggested to take Astragalus while someone has an acute infection. There are better herbs to take in this instance. One being, Elderberry.
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis) is best known as an antiviral. The berries (fresh or dried) are easily prepared into a yummy medicinal syrup. Find a recipe at the end of this post.
I like to use the leftover berries from the syrup and make an oxymel with them by infusing them in vinegar and honey.
Don't eat bunch of raw elderberries or put dried elderberries in your smoothies. It could make you quite sick and even throw up repeatedly.
Elderberry syrup and dry elderberries are commonly found in the herbal marketplace. Just about every health food store carries elderberry syrup. The bulk dried berries can be found from the same suppliers as the bulk Astragalus root. See the end of this post for resources.
Elderberry is safe for all ages when taken as a syrup that has been cooked down and has sugar or honey added. If honey is added, it is advised to not give it to a baby under 2 years old. Use sugar instead, in this case.
Elderberry syrup is most effective when taken at the onset of a cold or flu. You can also start taking it if you feel like you have been exposed to a virus or it seems like one is working its way around your community.
Constituents in the berries have the ability to stop the viral replication. This is helpful in preventing an infection from taking hold or for shortening the duration of a cold or flu.
Elderberries have an affinity for the lungs. They are helpful in easing cases of bronchitis or chronic coughs.
Needless to say, it is important to have both Astragalus root and Elderberry syrup on hand for this fall and winter.
Simple Elderberry Syrup
1 cup Dried Elderberries (2 cups fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup Honey or Sugar
2 cups Water
Sauce pot
3 4 ounce bottles or jars, cleaned and dried
1 quart canning jar
ceramic coffee drip filter
cheese cloth or a square of potato sack towel
1. Place elderberries and water in a sauce pot.
2. Place a wooden spoon, chopstick, or a clean wooden ruler in the pot, touching the bottom of the pot, hold it straight up and down, and note the water level on the spoon.
3. Make a decoction by simmering the water and elderberries until half of the water has simmered off.
4. You can use your wooden spoon, chopstick, or ruler to measure the water level as it simmers. This will be your ruler to know when you have simmered off half of your water.
5. Once you have about 1 cup of water in your sauce pan, remove it from the heat.
6. Strain your decoction through a ceramic coffee drip filter, lined with a clean potato sack towel or double layer of cheese cloth, into a quart canning jar.
7. Squeeze out all of the liquid from the berries, by gathering them in the cloth and squeezing. You could also spoon them into a potato ricer and press them with it.
8. Add the honey or sugar to the still warm decoction in the jar. Stir or cover and shake until the sweetener is completely incorporated into the decoction, creating the syrup.
8. Pour the syrup into the empty 4 ounce jars or bottles, cover tightly, label, and store in the fridge.
9. Take the syrup regularly, by the spoonful, or add it to drinks, at the first signs of a cold or flu or to beat a stubborn cough.
note: Elderberries are high in pectin. Sometimes the pectin will turn the syrup a little gloppy. If you get a couple little congealed glops in your syrup, it is ok. It is just the pectin.
Resources:
Fedco Seeds: Astragalus roots and Elderberry shrubs
Bulk herb distributors and brands to look for on Amazon or in health food stores, etc.:
Frontier
Mountain Rose Herbs
Pacific Botanicals
Starwest Botanicals
Nourish Yourself online course: contains 2 classes that discuss Astragalus and how to use it.