TENDER SPRING OXYMEL
There are an incredible amount of nutrient-rich powerhouse herbs right under our feet that often get overlooked as weeds, and they have a lot to teach us. Today I’m crafting a tender spring herb oxymel, made with nettles, dandelion, chickweed, cleavers, and red clover. This rockstar combination is particularly helpful for shedding excess energy, both physically and spiritually, as we shift seasons.
In our bodies, red clover can help stimulate our lymphatic system and improve the quality of our blood. The essence of red clover can root us into ourselves and remind us of our divinity.
Cleavers are also excellent for getting our lymph flowing, for helping escort out any toxins, and for aiding in congestion. In our subtle bodies, cleavers can help us create healthier attachments in relationships and let love in.
Chickweed — in addition to the many benefits I mentioned in my Chickweed Pesto recipe — is a great ally for fighting off germs and reducing inflammation in the body, helping us avoid spring colds. On an energetic level, this little flower can help us be happier and more content with who we are.
Dandelion, a tried and true ally of mine, helps particularly with Liver Cleansing and with giving us the courage to rise into all that we are. Read more about this beneficial weed in my Dandelion Oil recipe.
And finally, nettles — my go-to herbal remedy for both physical and emotional overwhelm — is packed full with nutrients, generously giving us energy when we find ourselves depleted. What a wonderful teacher of boundaries and how to acknowledge when we’ve reached our limits!
These five together, preserved in the magic of vinegar and honey, make for a tonic perfectly fit for bolstering our immune systems to resist spring time allergies.
𖦹
SUPPLIES
Dandelion, nettles, cleavers, chickweed, and red clover blossoms
Apple Cider Vinegar
Local Raw Honey from happy bees
2 16 oz mason jars
Chopstick
Coffee filter and rubber band
Fine mesh strainer
Cheese cloth
INSTRUCTIONS
First, harvest enough fresh herbs to fill a 16 oz mason jar. When harvesting, be sure to ask permission first and wait for an intuitive “yes” from the plants. I like to tell the plants what type of medicine I’ll be using them for.
Make an offering back to the plants as you harvest — maybe it’s a song, a crystal, or a piece of your hair. Be sure to leave enough for the pollinators and never harvest more than you need.
Wash any excess dirt or bugs off the plants and let the water dry.
Be sure to sterilize the jar you’ll be using and wash your hands thoroughly.
Roughly chop up the plant matter to expose more surface area.
Gently place the plants in a 16 oz mason jar. Only fill about ½-¾ full.
Fill the jar with a 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar and honey.
Use a chopstick to move the plants around and get rid of any trapped air. Top off with more honey if needed.
Cover with a coffee filter held on by a rubber band.
Label and date, then place in a cool, dark place to extract for half a moon cycle.
Move the plant matter around every day or two by shaking the jar.
After two weeks time, into a new sterilized jar with clean hands, strain the plant matter out of the liquid using a fine mesh strainer.
Strain again through cheesecloth to catch any tiny particles left over.
Now you have your final oxymel. Be sure to label and date it. Store in a cool, dark place and enjoy!