Precautions to Take at Home with Seasonal Illness

Historically herbs have been used as medicine before modern medicine since herbs strengthen the immune system.

“Oftentimes, people think, I will wait until I get sick before I think about herbs. But, herbs can give you a robust immune system,” Susan Tabert, Founding Director Cedar Mountain School said.

Tabert teaches people how to find herbs in the wild and how to use and apply them in our daily lives.

“Herbs will make your immune system so robust that we can deal with illness that comes at us whether it be seasonal cold, COVID, a flu or coming into spring pollen allergies. It is always good to be ahead of immune compromise,Taber said.

Some immune boosting herbs that can be found locally are Dandelions, Oregon Grape, Pine needles and Elderberry.

People want to get dandelions out of their garden, but they don’t realize the great benefits that they are offered freely, a boost to the immune system, Tabert said.

To harvest dandelions, wait until the little leaves come up in the spring then dig up the roots. Clean the roots, chop them up roughly to the size of a pea and place in a food processor. Lay the chopped roots on a cookie sheet in a half inch thick layer and bake for 250 degrees for three to four hours.

Roasting the roots causes the complex carbohydrates to turn into simple sugars so the dry bitter root becomes sweet, Tabert said. Prepare the roots as you would a tea add creamer and you have “poor man’s coffee”.

How to make a decoction: place a couple cups of water in a pot and sprinkle roasted dandelion roots on the top of the water just enough to cover the water surface. Boil then bring to a medium simmer for a bit and let it steep for an hour with the heat off. This will make a stronger tea.

Dandelion is a superfood. The roots, leaves, stems and flowers as well can be eaten, Tabert said. It contains antioxidants that bring down inflammation, antiviral, which is good for digestion. It heals and cools down the liver and it pushes waste out of the body.

Oregon Grape is antibacterial and antiviral. It helps to heal and strengthen the entire digestive system. A tincture of oregon grape rizone (the bark) can be taken in a tonic amount over a long period of time improves one’s health.

Use five to six drops for one to two times a day before 4 p.m, Talbert said. Do that for weeks on end. It helps to create the structure of the digestive system and boosts the immune system.

Stressors cause the immune system to drop and stop working.

“It is very important to evaluate what is causing you daily stress,” said Tabert. “These are all keys to healing.”

Magnesium calms and boosts the immune system and potassium helps give a strong steady heartbeat and regulate our muscles.

Eight drops of a fresh Elderberry tincture will provide the potassium needed for the day. Take it everyday before bed, Tabert said. Elderberry has magnesium, iron calcium and malic acid and is common in North Idaho. It is ready to harvest in the middle of August and September.

“Do not pick the green ones, pick the purple berries. We do not want the stem or the bark. Freeze the berries first to garble the berries,” she said.

Elderberry skin juice is good for sore throat and irritated tissue and boosts the immune system, brings down inflammation in the lungs and sinuses. Use micro dosing 10 drops or less at a time of Elderberry, says Talbert.

The needles and bark of Douglas Fir, also known as Red Fir, contain

terpenes which are also known as essential oils. They are known to break up congestion, thin out the mucus, exportatate the lungs and kill the virus and bacteria that may be causing the overabundance of mucus.

With Lodgepole pine, Doug Fir, Ponderosa and White Pine may be boiled to make a tea. Cut a branch about 12 to 18” peel the bark, chop up the needles and fill a jar half way up.

Then take a couple inches of grated ginger. Add a quarter of an organic orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon or lime, chop it all up and place in the jar together. Let it set and drink.

Fire Cider - You can buy organic gingers, lemons, garlic, onions and cayenne. You can put all those together and make an herbal - fire cider. It is all anti inflammatory

When to gather:

Fir and Pine can be collected all year. In the winter the pines produce more terpenes to help the tree from freezing.

Elderberry flowers can be harvested around May or June.

In the spring you can attend workshops. Do not harvest a plant without knowing what it is and or what to do with it.

For more information visit www. cedarmountainherbs.com

The entire interview is available at the 7Bee Podcast on buzzsprout.com, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.