Mamaearth Apothecary

We will be at the Prairie Arts Council holiday sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday with wild foraged medicinal teas and tinctures.

Turkey Tail

It is with good reason that my turkey tail tincture is my most popular product.

This mushroom can be found all over the world, and has been used for thousands of years in Asian medicine.

Modern researchers have identified dozens of compounds, enzymes, vitamins and minerals in turkey tail including Polysaccharide K which has been an approved natural cancer treatment in Japan since the 1970s.

Turkey tail kills cancer cells, shrinks tumors and supports the immune system. It is safe to use in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiation, and has been shown to enhance western cancer therapies.

Turkey tail has been found to be a useful treatment for a variety of ailments besides cancer:

Colds
Flu
HPV
Herpes
Shingles
Digestive disorders
HIV/ AIDS
Karposi’s sarcoma
High blood sugar
Autoimmune disease
Inflammation
Malaria
Chronic fatigue
High Cholesterol
High blood pressure
Heart disease

As there are no known negative side effects, I use turkey tail daily to boost my immune system and prevent disease. The mushroom can be dried and used for tea or it can be soaked in alcohol to make a tincture.

Take a walk in the forest and keep an eye on tree stumps and fallen logs for colonies of turkey tail mushroom. (Always check with a mushroom expert before consuming any mushroom found in the wild).

Boneset

This bitter herb is effective against congestion, chest cold, bronchitis and flu.

Boneset loosens phlegm, discourages the production of mucus and reduces fever.

Traditionally, boneset was used to treat dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever and typhoid.

*Boneset is for short term use only. It should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers, people with impaired liver, or young children.

For boneset tonic, place leaves, flowers and boiling water in a lidded jar for four hours. Strain through cheesecloth.

Acorns

Before we became falsely convinced that the humans ought to consume processed chemicals wrapped in shiny plastic, acorns were a dietary staple throughout the world.

Not only are acorns edible, they are packed with nutrition. Acorns are especially high in iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin E and healthy unsaturated fats.

Over sixty beneficial compounds have been identified in acorns, including catechins, resveratrol, quercetin, and gallic acid. Consuming acorns protects against heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Acorns are also high in fiber and are known to improve gut health. They are beneficial in the reversal of obesity, diabetes, bowel disease and stomach issues.

Acorn coffee

1. Collect acorns. Leave behind any that have holes.
2. Remove the caps
3. Soak ot blanch acorns to remove tannins.
4. Cut the acorns in half, remove the nut and discard the hard shell.
5. Roast the nuts at 180 degrees until they are light brown and dry.
6. Grind the roasted nuts.
7. Roast again until the ground nuts are the color of coffee.
8. Use the ground acorn as a nutritious coffee substitute.

Sumac

Sumac tea is my favorite autumn drink. The red sumac berries have a tart lemony flavor that make a delicious hot drink.

Sumac berries can also be dried and ground into a powder that is commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine.

Like most plants, Sumac has medicinal properties that have been healing people for thousands of years.

The berries contain a wide variety of nutrients including fiber, oleic acid, linoleum acid and vitamins C, B6, B1 and B2.

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that keeps the heart healthy.

Linoleum acid is a polyunsaturated fat that promotes healthy skin as well as strengthening cell membranes.

Sumac is also rich in antioxidants and works as an anti-inflammatory.

Sumac has shown promise as a tool for managing blood sugar in type-2 diabetics.

Those who deink sumac tea daily have reported a marked decrease in muscle pain after exercise.