Posts by Seraphina Capranos
Elderberry Medicine
The first herb that captured my imagination and my taste buds was the Elder tree (Sambucus nigra). I was twelve years old, and it was the first summer at my grandparents new home in rural Ontario. My grandfather called me out to the backyard to meet him near the bayou of the lake. There, growing…
Read MoreHawthorn: Myth, Magic & Medicine for your Heart
Register for The Alchemy of Herbal Medicine – Online HERE. Botanical Name: Crataegus spp. Common Names: hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry. Crataegus is a genus of several hundred species of shrubs and trees in the botanical family Rosaceae. The species often found where I live in southwestern Canada are C. monogyna, C. laevigata. The rosaceae family…
Read MoreFire Cider: An Easy-to-make homemade respiratory tonic
Decades ago, renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar gave the name Fire Cider to a spicy, delicious respiratory tonic made from simple kitchen ingredients. The basic ingredients are pungent herbs like onions and garlic, steeped in apple cider vinegar which has its own health benefits too. When I was in herbal school in the late 1990’s, I…
Read MoreNaturally fermented pickles – Vinegar Free
Naturally fermented (aka cultured) pickles produce the most delicious sour flavour thanks to the naturally occurring good bacteria. The pickles float in a cloudy brine that is delicious. Many are known to drink this brine for the flavour and beneficial bacteria. When we had sore stomach’s as kids, my mom or grandmother would have us…
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