Getting Buzzy with Local Scottish Blossom Honey - Remedies, Recipes and Review of Hood's Honey

As a herbalist I am regularly prescribing concoctions of herbal teas and recommending the benefits of local honey to add a therapeutic touch of sweetness. So I was delighted to be given a complimentary pot of honey to review by Real Foods, one of Edinburgh's natural health heroes, health foods and organic grocery shops.

I noticed that Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey is not just Scottish but also local, based in the village of Ormiston, East Lothian, a stone's throw from Edinburgh. Box ticked! 

Here in Scotland, a reluctant spring has finally sprung! Local honey is a well known remedy to help reduce a sensitivity to spring and summer pollens. You may wonder, "Why is local honey good for allergies"? 

By adding local honey to your diet, you are introducing minute amounts of pollen and bee secretions that support your body in acclimatizing to the very flower pollens in the air that you will be exposed to. 

Take it regularly before and during the hayfever season. This can help minimise unwanted reactions such as sneezing, itching and streaming eyes, nose and throat. Try a spoonful in a cup of peppermint, nettle, chamomile, eyebright and elderflower infusions 3 x daily for a soothing summertime blend.

Sampling Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey straight off the spoon from its honeycomb shaped pot of delicately fragranced goodness, I was impressed by its smooth melting soft set texture. Then tasting it, I was equally pleased by its delicious and naturally sweet warming flavour, with hints of honeycomb wax. Tick, tick, tick!

Having done a little research on the interweb, I discovered that Hood's Honey is a small family run business that produces ethical bee products using traditional methods to very high standards, and has won every top award in Scotland. So, my taste buds were correct and I felt my halo shining a little brighter too. 

Founded by George Hood in 1950, it is now run by his son Stuart Hood. I was tickled to hear that Stuart's earliest memory is getting stung by a bee as a child while getting a bedtime hug from his father George!

Honey is one of the most ancient and remarkable of natural remedies. An Egyptian Papyrus found by Ebers in 1873 is the oldest known medical book in the world containing 800 medical diagnoses and remedies, with around half containing honey. 

A highly effective natural preservative, honey was used in ancient Egyptian times to embalm corpses. Honey has been found among other valuables in Pharohs' tombs, completely intact as honey does not go off! Even today honey is used medicinally as an anti-infective on wound dressings. 

If you are looking for ways to improve your diet, honey is a great sweetener to start swapping with refined white sugary products and to use in recipes that require sugar such as cakes and baking. The oligosaccharides in honey are associated with healthy gut bacterial growth.

Refined sugar is poor in nutrient value and promote inflammation in the body, so alternatives like honey are ideal while starting to reduce the amount of sugar intake. Having said that, honey is still a sugar and affects your blood sugar levels so it is best used in moderation and as part of a balanced diet as with most things.

Here are a few home remedies and tasty drinks recipes to try at home:

Colds and Flu Classic with a twist... Lemon, Ginger and Honey Chai

A warming cuppa with vit C rich lemon, anti-inflammatory ginger, expectorant star anis, analgesic cloves, carminative cardamon, circulatory stimulant cinnamon, and comforting antiseptic honey.

1. Add 3 cups water to a saucepan with peeled sliced or grated ginger (1 thumb-sized piece), stick of cinnamon, 3 cloves, 3 crushed cardamom pods, and 2 star anis. 

2. Bring to a boil and simmer partially covered for 15-20min.

3. Strain and pour into cup with honey and squeezed fresh lemon to taste.

4. Keep warm and cozy in bed and reheat to drink throughout the day. Get well soon!

Garlic and Honey Germ Blaster

When you are feeling under the weather and need an immunity boost, this anti-microbial combo helps to clear an infection or prevent it. The honey takes the edge off the pungent garlic flavour too!

1. Take 1 clove of peeled garlic and chop finely or put through garlic press.

2. Take a teaspoon of honey and mix in with the garlic.

3. Take the mixture straight off the spoon followed by a large glass of water.

Rosemary and Lemon Balm Memory Booster

A great combination to boost circulation and immunity: "Rosemary for remembrance" so the old saying goes. It's rich in reviving volatile oils. Lemon Balm has a lovely citrus flavour, especially when fresh, both have anti-viral properties and research which suggest a boost to the brain - fantastic if studying for exams or feeling fuzzy headed.

1. Put 1 large sprig each of fresh lemon balm and rosemary, or a half teaspoon each of dried herb into a cup.

2. Add hot boiled water and infuse covered for 5-10mins.

3. Strain herbs and add honey to taste. Enjoy an instant mental pick-me-up!

Peppermint and Honey Refresher

A nourishing and delicious cooling summer smoothie to relax in the garden and sip while watching the birds and bees.

1. Take 1 peeled avocado, 2 peeled kiwi fruits, a cup of natural live yoghurt, a large dollop of honey, a handful of nuts and seeds and a handful of fresh mint.

2. Put in a blender and blend until smooth.

3. Pour into a funky glass, garnish with mint or a slice of kiwi. Cheers!

Sweet Almond Milk and Honey 

Do you use dairy milk alternatives? Why not try this recipe and make your own at home? Use on cereals, in smoothies, as you would with dairy milks, or a refreshing drink on its own.

1. Soak 1 cup of almonds in a bowl covered with cold water overnight.

2. Strain off liquid.

3. Put soaked half of almonds in food processor or blender with 1-2 tablespoons honey and 3 cups pure filtered water, and blend.

4. Strain through muslin, clean tea towel or strainer.

5. Repeat with remaining almonds and 2 cups pure filtered water and add to initial mix.

Hope you feel inspired by these honey infused creations. Please do try them out... I'd love to hear how you got on with them, or get in touch to share your own favourite honey based recipes. 

All in all, Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey gets a big shiny gold star and thumbs up from me! 

Thank you Real Foods for introducing me to this lovely locally sourced and health-giving treat.

Fiona Morris is an Edinburgh-based Medical Herbalist promoting optimal well being and vitality at her holistic herbal health care courses, workshops, wild remedy walks and herbal wellness consultations. For more info about her practice and natural health events visit: http://www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk.

Gratitude to: 

Sheila, tea lady extraordinaire at Hanna Cherrie's Teashop (at Gorgeous, 29-35 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5BA) for providing the delightful tea ware and setting for the images above; and

Real Foods, for providing the Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey :)

Coltsfoot flowers - a healing waterside herb

We spotted these lovelies on a Spring Detox Foraging Walk yesterday by the Water of Leith, near Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

Beautiful coltsfoot flower heads (Tussilago farfara flos). The latin tussis ago means "I drive out a cough". These were once commonly called 'Son before the Father' because of their peculiarity of the flower appearing before the colt's foot shaped leaves. 

Dry the flower heads to make a soothing cough tea, or use fresh or dried to make remedies... In fact, the whole flower and stem can be used as a wild edible in your cooking.

They like to grow near water so often found by streams and rivers throughout most of the UK. Their affinity for water reminds me of their property of balancing out damp, wet mucous in the respiratory system. 

You may hear scare stories about avoiding coltsfoot due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver failure (as in comfrey), but you would need to consume an inhuman amount of the stuff to have a detrimental effect (as in comfrey). 

If you are having it to soothe the occasional cough or using the fresh flowers to garnish the odd salad, you will be just fine!

Having said that, if you are sensitive or allergic to the daisy family then do avoid this plant as it is a member of this group (includes many popular herbs: dandelion, yarrow, chamomile, burdock, artemesias etc.)! 

And if you do have a compromised liver, just to be on the safe side, perhaps opt for one of the many alternative cough soother herbs, such as marshmallow, licorice, wild cherry bark, hyssop and so on.

Always remember to forage flowers sustainably and check the local regs (eg. permission for farmer's land and SSSIs - Sites of Special Scientific Interest). 

Miles Irving, author of "The Forager Handbook", recommends for annual flowers to take no more than a fifth of what is to be found in any given place. I prefer to limit my picking to a lot less than ten percent. 

Flowering trees, shrubs and perennials however are less affected by over harvesting, so you can pick a bit more abundantly from those.

Coltsfoot Cough Tea

Take 1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried coltsfoot flower per cup hot boiled water. Infuse for 10min. Strain & drink with honey to sweeten if desired. Take 3-4 cups daily until symptoms clear. 

(For chronic coughs, please visit your local herbalist to get checked out!)

Happy coltsfoot flower foraging!

Fiona :)

Elderberry Immunity Boosting

Image courtesy of Forest Wander

As well as the glorious reddish golden leaves on the trees, Autumn can also bring sniffles, coughs and colds, so now is a good time to strengthen our immune systems.

The Elder tree’s gifts are of great value at this time of year. Elderberry Syrup is a traditional preventative and support for colds and flu with its antiviral properties. It’s delicious drizzled onto a warm bowl of porridge for breakfast or simply taken off the spoon.

Image courtesy of John Seb Barber

For a warming cuppa that packs an immune punch, 
try an exquisite Elderberry Herbal Chai.

Ingredients:
3 cups of water
1 or 2 star anise 
3 or 4 cloves 
3 or 4 cardamom pods 
few slices of fresh ginger 
2-3 slices of fresh lemon
stick of cinnamon
elderberry syrup

Bring three cups of water to a boil, then add fresh & dried herbs. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Strain off liquid into cups, stir in a teaspoon of Elderberry Syrup into each one, and share with loved ones. Enjoy!

Image courtesy of Liam Moloney

If you do end up catching a cold or flu, you can boost your immunity by taking the syrup 3 times daily and also try the classic dried herb blend of Elderflower, Peppermint and Yarrow to help cool the body and ease congestion. 

Image courtesy of Jan Kaláb

Infuse a teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of boiled water for 5-10min. Strain and drink 3-4 cups daily, adding honey and lemon to taste if desired (not suitable for use during pregnancy).


To your flourishing health & wellness,

Fiona

P.S. For more seasonal tips and remedies, you are warmly invited to my Edinburgh based Autumn Immune Boosting Herbal Workshops, or consider coming in for a holistic health check up and personalised herbal prescription at one of my herbal clinics.

Back to Balance with Indian Head Massage

Many of our modern day stresses and strains promote a great amount of tension in our upper body, particularly our head, neck, back and shoulders. Our busy minds are juggling various daily tasks. Our mobiles beep continuously keeping us on constant alert. Emails and messages require our immediate attention.

When we neglect to balance these stressors with rest and relaxation, over time this may lead to long term physical aches and pains, health problems, persistent mental and emotional worry. We find our energy levels, mood, concentration, productivity and general well being gradually wearing down.

What can we do to bring ourselves back into balance?

I have recently added Indian Head Massage to my holistic health care practice, and have found that it serves as a highly beneficial treatment to integrate into my client's lifestyle and holistic treatment plans, helping people bring balance to their busy lives. 

Image courtesy of Aga Machnikowvska

Indian Head Massage has been practiced in India for over 1000 years, based on the ancient Ayurvedic healing system. This deeply relaxing therapy is a fully clothed and seated treatment so can be done anywhere. This massage focuses on the head, neck, back, shoulders, arms, face & ears. A session typically lasts 45-60 minutes, but shorter sessions of 15-30 minutes can also help restore us to a feeling of improved health and wellness.

Benefits may include:

• Improved circulation
• Relief from muscular tension
• Easing headaches & migraine
• Improving eye strain
• Promoting hair growth
• Soothing stress & emotional pain
• Supporting periods of intense study or activity
• Enhanced relaxation
• Deeper sleep

You may choose from a range of my own lovingly hand made aromatic herbal balms that I apply to your neck and shoulders to ease muscle tension and uplift your spirits. People have loved these balms so much that I now make up the balms of your choice fresh to order. 

Herbal balms include: 

• Arnica, Black Pepper, Cinnamon & Ginger
• Nutmeg, Ginger & Lemongrass
• Cardamon & Rose
• Lavender & Chamomile
• Grapefruit, Lemon & Orange
• Specially customised to order

After treatments my clients have reported feeling less stress at work, improved mental clarity and focus, a release of symptoms of physical tension, and a good night's sleep. Everyone is different, for some they benefit from regular treatments on a weekly basis. For others, maintenance treatments every 2-4 weeks helps to keep energy levels and sense of work-life balance on an even keel.

Your session ends with a reviving chakra balancing energy healing if you wish.

I practice Indian Head Massage in clinics around Edinburgh and home visits. Click here for venues.

Book in with me today and ask about my special offers!

To your flourishing health & well being,

Fiona

Happy Dandelion Day!

April 5th is National Dandelion Day! 

The Spring season is the perfect time to turn your attention to this humble hardy plant. 

Dandelion is derived from the French 'Dents de Lion', translated as 'Lion's Teeth', suggestive of its sharp toothy leaves & warm yellow lion's mane of a flowerhead. Despite its sunny appearance and majestic name, this nutritional powerhouse is often one of the least cherished in the garden - considered an ugly weed and the unwanted persistent guest of many a gardener. 

To the herbalist, the common Dandelion is a plant to be respected and revered, a welcome friend reappearing in its glory every springtime with its nutritional gifts. To me, the tenacity of the Dandelion is a strong indication of its potent abilities. Its latin name, Taraxacum officinale is suggestive of its many healing virtues recognised at least since ancient Greek times. The genus Taraxacum is derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder) and akos (remedy).

The Dandelion is rich in vitamins & minerals, especially vitamins A, B, C, D and potassium. Traditionally it is used as a remedy to heal liver, digestive, immunity & skin imbalances.

The bright yellow flower heads and petals may be plucked to make into wines & jams, sprinkle as a garnish to brighten any dish, infused into oils for creams & ointments.

The young leaves may be added to spring tonic teas, soups & salads - its bitterness improving appetites, digestion and elimination through the liver and kidneys.

The regular application of the sap has been used remove warts and blemishes. The root may be chopped & roasted, used as a tasty, nourishing and cleansing coffee substitute.

There is something so light-hearted and liberating about blowing a Dandelion's seed head into the wind and watching them float and dance merrily into the breeze.

I hope you will feel inspired to celebrate and appreciate the noble and mighty Dandelion.

If you have any favourite dandelion home remedies or experiences you would like to share, I'd love to hear them...

Wishes for Happiness, Health & Delightful Dandelion Day to you all!

With Dandelion Sunshine & Warmth,

Fiona