Notes from the Brew Room

For a change

Ann King

This month’s formulations address menopausal symptoms, and give a resounding boost to those not quite ready to enjoy the changes that are happening, physically and mentally, at this particular life phase. Taking the opportunity to harvest the now abundant Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Heartsease (Viola tricolor), and Nettle tops (Urtica dioica) will reap dividends on many levels— and, if we dry the harvest quickly and naturally, we maximise the nutritional value of this mineral-rich power trio. The alterative action of Red Clover will help our brew reach the parts where it is most needed, while the delicate Heartsease will use its gentle touch to soften any spiky mood swings. Personal experience allows me to add painful joints and itchy skin to the host of menopausal symptoms, and so what better than a luxurious whipped pot of decadence to soothe and restore?

Red Clover Infusion or Club Soda

Take one heaped teaspoon of each of the following: Dried Heartsease flowers Dried young Nettle leaves Dried Red Clover flowers If possible, use a glass teapot or jug— the brew’s beautiful appearance will add to the experience. Simply add freshly boiled water to the herbs, and leave to infuse for ten minutes before drinking. This combination also works well as a decoction; brewed for around twenty minutes, chilled, and then topped up with soda water.

Whip the Change

This pot of delight requires an oil infused with St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), which will take some time to produce. But such a beautifully soft skin massage has to be worth the time investment.

To pre-prepare the oil, crush 25g of fresh St. John’s Wort flowers, and place in a clear bottle with 500g of Olive oil (Olea europaea). Leave to infuse in an uncorked bottle for three to five days, then cork and stand in the sun for five to six weeks, until the oil turns a fullbodied red.

Ingredients for the Whip:

5ml St. John’s Wort oil, for calming the nerves 5ml Evening Primrose oil (Oenothera biennis), for balance

10ml Sweet Almond oil (Prunus amygdalus dulcis), a beneficial carrier oil for skin preparations which facilitates the absorption of the herbs, containing fatty acids which help the skin to retain moisture

10g Cocoa butter (Theobroma cacao), for intense moisture

10g beeswax (grated), to provide a thin layer of protection against the external elements, and to help the active ingredients penetrate the skin

5g emulsifying wax

45ml dried Red Clover flower infusion

Add the Sweet Almond oil, St John’s Wort oil, Evening Primrose oil, Cocoa butter and beeswax to a bowl, and gently heat in a saucepan of water until dissolved and warm to touch. If possible, gently heat the Red Clover infusion and the emulsifying wax at the same time, so that the two liquids are similar temperatures for the next step. Slowly drizzle the Red Clover water-based infusion into the oil-based mix, stirring continuously. Whip with a stick blender until the cream thickens and becomes opaque. Place in a sterilised glass jar, label, and refrigerate. The cream will thicken as it cools, and will keep for a couple of months in the fridge.

Disclaimer: No recipes are intended to replace medical advice and the reader should seek the guidance of their doctor for all health matters. The profiles and recipes are intended for information purposes only and have not been tested or evaluated. Ann King is not making any claims regarding their efficacy and the reader is responsible for ensuring that any replications or adaptations of the recipes that they produce are safe to use and comply with cosmetic regulations where applicable.