Jekka's Herbal Pick Me Ups

During the colder months and the early Spring days we all need a ‘pick me up’. Below are Jekka's top four homemade ‘pick me ups’ ranging from wellness tonics to soothing cough remedies:

1. Jekka's Chamomile wellness tonic
2. Jekka's relaxing herbal bath
3. Jekka’s sunshine shot
4. Jekka's soothing syrup

These homemade remedies are adapted from Jekka's mother’s and  grandmother’s recipes that she was given as a child and hence, are not meant to replace the advice or guidance from qualified practitioners. No one at Jekka's are trained Medical Herbalists, if you wish to find a Medical Herbalists we recommend using the resources provided by our friends at the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

Jekka's Chamomile wellness tonic

Jekka's Chamomile wellness tonic combines the wellbeing properties of Chamomile, ginger, lemon and honey to make the perfect blend. Overall, this tonic promotes both relaxation and sleep plus it tastes wonderful.

The ingredients of Jekka's Chamomile wellness tonic are:

• Chamomile that helps ease anxiety and also helps if you have trouble falling asleep due to its calming properties,
• Ginger which settles the stomach, 
• Lemon that aids digestions,
  
• Honey that is rich in antioxidants.

 Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp or 1 tea bag of Jekka's Good Night Herbal Infusion
• A slice of ginger. 
• A slice of lemon.
• A teaspoon of Jekka's Herb Farm honey.

 Steps:

1. Add Jekka's Good Night Herbal Infusion into a small cafeteria or your chosen infuser.
2. Add the ginger.
3. Fill with boiled water, cover and infuse for about 5 minutes.
4. Pour the infused herbal infusion over a slice of lemon and sweeten with a teaspoon of honey.

For some more information on Herbal Infusions please see Jekka's Guide or check out Jekka's Herbal Infusion range.

Jekka's relaxing herbal bath

Jekka's relaxing herbal bath enlivens the senses and restores the spirit. It is especially good for soothing muscles when one has been chilled or wet through especially from a day working in the garden.

Breathing in the aroma of Mint calms the mind and Lavender promotes relaxation and balance that results in a more restful sleep. Jekka's perfect way to naturally de-stress and relax after a hard day on the Herb farm. 

Ingredients: 2 generous tbsps of dried Mint or Jekka's Mint Fiesta Herbal Infusion (if using fresh, double to 4 tbsps). 2 drops of Lavender oil Steps: Put all the ingredients into a Kilner jar (or an equivalent jar with a sealed lid). Add 1 litre of boiled water, seal and allow to infuse for 12 hours, Then strain and add the infused water to the bath water. Relax and enjoy.

Jekka’s sunshine shot

Jekka's sunshine shot is great for improving and supporting your gut health. It contains:

• Carrots that are high in Vitamin K1, potassium and antioxidants. 
• Banana which is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with energy giving carbs, and heart healthy potassium, they have a soothing effect on the gut.  They are also a great fuel for gut bacteria. 
• Turmeric that is renowned for being anti-inflammatory.
• Ginger that reduces bad cholesterol and speeds up emptying the stomach so very beneficial if you suffer from indigestion   It also improves the brain function and is renowned for clearing brain fog.
• Orange juice that is high in antioxidants and micronutrients like vitamin C, folate, and potassium. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Banana
• 1 carrot, peeled, grated
• ½ tsp of grated fresh  ginger
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 5 tbsp orange juice,

 Steps:

1. Put all the ingredients into a blender or nutri bullet and blend until smooth.
2. Serve and enjoy.

Jekka's soothing syrup

This is an excellent cough syrup for soothing a prickly throat. Combing the antioxidant properties of both honey and onion makes it antimicrobial, healing and soothing as well as tasting really good.  

Ingredients: 1 Onion. Jekka's Herb Farm honey (or a different Honey as long as it is raw). Steps: Peel and cut up the onion, Put it into a small bowl or a Kilner jar and cover with honey.  Cover the jar or bowl and put in a dark cupboard, not the refrigerator. Leave it for up to 7 days. After 7 days, strain the syrup into a sterilized jar.  It will keep for over a month in a refrigerator. Take one teaspoon as required.

Want to know more?

Check out Jekka's How to Use Herbs Master Class, read Jekka’s "all about herbs" blogs or visit Jekkapedia to learn more about different herbs.

For some more winter pick me ups try Jekka's Garlic and Lemon Elixir, Garlic Oxymel and Fennel Tincture. These were mentioned previously on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.

Disclaimer

The information provided here and throughout www.jekkas.com is for educational interest only and is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat significant health problems. Any serious or long-term health concerns should always be discussed with a healthcare professional.

As with all alternative medicines and plants with purported medicinal benefits it is important to inform your doctor or health care provider that you are using them; this helps to ensure safe and coordinated care. We can accept no liability for any side effect or adverse reaction from any allergy or any other cause of harm that may arise. It is important that you consult a licensed medical expert before making any changes to your diet.