I honestly believe that everyone should know how to make their own herbal medicines. It's a skill that's been lost in the west, with cheap pharmaceuticals and advertising pushing medicines on us that we buy every time we have a niggle of a sore throat or a headache. But if we are to be truly in charge of our own health, I think we need to know how to nourish and support our bodies in ways that are closer to the source. To me there's nothing better than looking for support in nature, either from foraged foods or ones you cultivate in your own garden.

One of the most ancient herbal remedies that is so easy to make for anyone is an oxymel. It's basically a vinegar and honey tincture, and whilst it might not extract as much as, say, an alcohol tincture might, it's often cheaper, easier and tastier. I'd rather a swig of vinegar and honey over alcohol anyday, especially if it's infused with delicious herbs. They are also super versatile, so you can use them in drinks or in salads, or just swigged straight from the bottle (sorry Mum). They are great to play around with, picking and choosing what you have to hand.

One of the oxymels I have brewing at the moment is from the Plant Clinic book by Erin Lovell Verinder. I used to make, many years ago, a vodka and honey brew with damiana which was a lovely spirit to drink with the husband when we're in a snuggling kind of mood, so to speak. Damiana's said to be an aphrodesiac - I wrote about it some time ago here:

The beautiful yellow fairy that is damiana is well loved in this household. Like her sister absinthe, our vodka soaked damiana is a powerful brew, evoking bliss and euphoria in a gentle and dreamy way. It sends us into an immediate state of well being and, drunk by candlelight and moonlight, increases intimacy, desire and sensation. Damiana tea helps sleep but also brings on lucid and erotic dreams.

I like the way she pairs damiana with rose petals, schisandra and rosehips - it just feels so red and passionate. Schisandra is great for positive effects on the sexual glands and organs - oo er - and for general vitality, and it's little red berries nestle up in the jar in a really lovely, sensual way. Schisandra is meant to help with lubrication the vaginal tissues - we all know what that's good for - and enhancing male sexual fluids. It also helps with libido and stamina!

I can't wait to bottle this up and bring it out on those winter evenings by the fire for a bit of lover-li-ness. It won't get us high like the vodka damiana, but still, it's a lover-ly oxymel, don't you think? I've been saving my own rosehips and rosepetals for this one so it has even more significance.

The other oxymel I make like ALL THE TIME is fire cider. I honestly believe EVERYONE should make this and drink it EVERY DAY in winter for the immune system, and through hayfever season too. It's so accessible for anyone to make - you can find the ingredients ANYWHERE , from the grocery store to backyards to the woods. And if you can't find one, skip it out. Lemons can be exchanged for oranges, chillis can be omitted if you don't like it hot - you get the picture. Just throw what you can in there!

I stuff a jar full of:

• horseradish leaves (my roots aren't ready yet)
• a sliced lemon, lime and orange
• lots of garlic
• a few chillis
• peppercorns
• tumeric
• ginger
• herbs - rosemary, thyme, oregano
• elecampane (gives a lovely sweet taste, and it's good for the lungs)

I put a jar together about once a month so I always have one ready, because I like to leave the herbs for a good six weeks!

Then there's the 'salad dressing' oxymels I love to make, particulary with herbs and berries from the garden. A few combinations which are lovely are:

• Thyme and raspberry
• Blackcurrant, thyme and oregano
• Peach, lemon and jalapeno
• Lemon verbena and thyme.

I like mine more on the sharp than sweet side, but a sweeter vinegar is almost balsamic and great to drizzle over fried stone fruits to have for desert! What's super cool about oxymels is that you're getting all the nutrients that medicinal plants offer, but in a way in which it doesn't feel like medicine at all.

Another lovely combination is anything with sedative qualities! I love lavender, mugwort and tulsi together, but lemon balm is lovely in there too. A beautiful calming tea for dreamy days and nights!

If you'd like to document your oxymel experiments to win some HIVE, head over The Herbal Hive community (link below) and join our challenge this week!!

With Love,

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