Horseradish, Armoracia rusticana

Hops, CCO Creative Commons, own work by moritz320

Medicinal Use: Hops flowers are a sedative and stomachic, so they promote sleep and digestion. When used as a sedative, use fresh hops. For other medicinal uses, you may use dried hops. Anxiety, Insomnia, and a Sedative: Fresh hops are a strong sedative. For insomnia and anxiety, try a combination of hops and valerian root at bedtime. Use dried hops for the anti-anxiety effects without the strong sedative effects. Digestion: Hops are a very effective bitter. It is an excellent digestive. IBS and Irritable Bladder: Hops treat the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and irritable bladder. The bitter properties and the sedative qualities reduce spasms of both the bladder and the bowel, relieving the symptoms temporarily without affecting the underlying cause. Bruises, Boils, and Inflammation: A poultice made of crushed hops helps heal bruises, boils, inflamed tissue, and arthritic joints. Asthma, PMS, and Muscle Spasms: Hops are an antispasmodic and relieve menstrual cramping, muscle spasms, and bronchial spasms from asthma. It also has phytoestrogenic properties, similar to soy. Harvesting: Time of harvest varies with the climate. Only the female seed cones are harvested and used in brewing, and both the pollinated and unpollinated hop flowers (strobili) are harvested. Recipes: Valerian and Hops Infusion: 1-quart (1 Liter) of water, 1 heaping tablespoon of fresh hops, 1 heaping tablespoon of chopped valerian root, raw honey or maple syrup, if desired. Bring a quart (1 Liter) of water to a boil and add the herbs. Cover the pot and turn down the heat to a very low simmer. Simmer the infusion for 5 minutes, then turn the heat off.

Leave the pot covered and allow the herbs to steep for another 45 minutes. Sweeten the infusion with raw honey or pure maple syrup, if desired. Drink 1 to 1 ½ cups of the infusion at bedtime.

Hops field, Wikipedia Commons

Horseradish is a perennial plant that belongs to Brassicaceae (Mustard) Family. It is a root vegetable that is used as a spice or condiment. It is native to the Southeastern Europe and Western Asia and has naturalized to North America. It is also known as Red Cole. My

Horseradish root, Anna reg, CC by SA 3.0

favorite edible use for horseradish is as a condiment on meat. It is also one of the many ingredients which I use throughout the wintertime. Identification: Horseradish is a perennial fastgrowing plant that grows from 2 to 3 feet (0.6 m to 0.9 meters). Its flowering season is from May to June. It is self-fertile. The roots are thick and fleshy, a medium brown color on the outside, and smooth to corky on the outside. Roots are pure white on the inside and have a spicy flavor. The flowers of this plant are hermaphroditic (both male and female organs). Edible Use: The root, leaves, and seeds are all edible, but the root is most often used. Medicinal Use: The roots of this plant are antiseptic, digestive, diuretic, stimulant, laxative, rubefacient, and expectorant. It is a very powerful stimulant herb that controls bacterial infections, and it can be used both internally and externally.

Colds, Flu, Fevers, and Respiratory Infec-

tions: Horseradish infusion is of great value in the treatment of respiratory problems, colds, flu, and fevers. It is an expectorant, anti-bacterial, a weak diuretic, rids the body of excess mucus and fluids, and treats the underlying infection. It is also a key ingredient in my Fire Cider Recipe. Urinary Tract Infections: The diuretic and antibacterial properties work well against urinary tract infections. Horseradish flushes the bacteria and toxins out of the body. Arthritis, Pleurisy, Chilblains: For arthritis, chilblains, and pleurisy, apply a poultice made from freshly grated horseradish roots or rub the chest with Horseradish Massage Oil, when available. The herb brings blood to the skin surface and increases blood circulation in the affected area. It warms the skin, decreases inflammation, and promotes healing. Infected Wounds: The anti-microbial agents found in horseradish are beneficial in treating infected wounds. It acts as an antibiotic against bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Horseradish Vinegar works well for infected wounds. Harvesting: Harvesting starts in November once the tops are frozen back. Harvesting can be continued through the winter when soils are not frozen. Before digging, mow or cut the dried tops to the ground if still green. Roots are best harvested using a single-row potato digger. Freshly dug roots release valuable volatile oils and begin to lose potency. To avoid this, store them in a box of moist sand in a cool place. Keep the soil moist. Grate it fresh, as needed. Once grated, use it immediately. Warning: People who have stomach ulcers or thyroid problems should not use this plant internally. Caution should be used when applying horseradish to the skin. It can cause skin irritation and blistering. Fire Cider or Horseradish Vinegar – alter to your taste buds: Ingredients: ½ cup Grated Horseradish, ½ cup Grated Ginger, ¼ cup Minced Onions, ¼ cup Minced Garlic, 1 Chopped Lemon (rind on), 1 Tbs Black Peppercorns, ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper and/or 2 Jalapeno Peppers (depends on your spice level), 1 Tbs Turmeric Powder, Raw honey to taste. Put all of these into a large quart (liter) glass jar. Fill with organic raw apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 4 to 6 weeks, strain and store. Use within the year. I take it throughout the winter for wellness, usually about an ounce at a time.

Horseradish plant, Pethan, CC by SA 3.0