The Green Report with Susun Weed ~ January 3, 2012

Greetings from Susun~January 3, 2012
http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/2012/01/02/january-2-2012/

Dear friends of the green,

This month I wish to draw your attention to the mint family, which is well known for its many delicious-tasting, and strongly-scented plants. Most of the mint family plants are excellent anti-spasmodics, anti-infectives, and nourishers of the nervous system.

Many mint family plants are hardy to frost and can be used all winter, or until the ground is covered with snow. I use winter mints mostly as salad greens, but, even in the cold of the winter, they can be harvested for teas, vinegars, honeys, scented oils, and smoking mixes.

For salad greens: I pick a leaf or two, here and there, according to the size of the plant, to enliven my wintertime salads. Although there is no nutrition available from raw greens, they are worth eating. Fresh, unwashed wild salad greens give us something even more important than vitamins or minerals: soil bacteria, which add immeasurably to the health of our gut flora and thus to our overall health and vitality. (One kind of soil bacteria has recently been found to kill cancer cells!)

For teas: I put a spoonful of honey and some fresh mint-family leaves in a big cup and fill it up with boiling water. Drink immediately. When? After meals. While soaking in a hot bath. When spending time with a friend. Sometimes I eat the leaves after I drink the tea.

In the coming weeks I will give you specifics on making winter vinegars, honeys, scented oils, and smoking mixes.

Green blessings,
Susun Weed
www.susunweed.com

To read more of The Green Report and the entire Wise Woman Ezine visit: http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/2012/01/02/january-2-2012/