Good Quality Snot Stops Infections

Simply using herbs that tend to “moisten” mucus membranes can be your friend this fall. With dryer air in the places with a lot of dryness, like Calgary, Alberta plus spending more time indoors with forced-air furnaces, this is extremely important. As you can keep yourself from getting respiratory infections by simply having a proper mucus layer in your nose.

Moist mucus, the “clear” type is ever so important to keep the foreign invaders out so that when you breath a virus into your nose for instance the immune system can go after the foreign invader ASAP. Dried mucus in your nose means viruses can get in because the immune system cannot “get to” the virus since there is no “fluid” for the pathogens to get stuck in…not to mention they are easier to blow out of your nose when the mucus is moist and wet…and clear. Green or yellow mucus means you have an infection.

Here is an excerpt from a medical journal National Library of Medicine: Cell Host Microbe. 2016 Feb 10;19(2):159-68. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.01.001

“The interaction between respiratory pathogens and their hosts is complex and incompletely understood. This is particularly true when pathogens encounter the mucus layer covering the respiratory tract. The mucus layer provides an essential first host barrier to inhaled pathogens that can prevent pathogen invasion and subsequent infection. Respiratory mucus has numerous functions and interactions, both with the host and with pathogens.”

Further more;

“The classical roles of respiratory mucus are to maintain the hydration of the respiratory tract and to act as a protective barrier against the external environment by trapping particulate matter, including pathogens. Trapped matter can then be expelled from the airways by mucociliary clearance, the rhythmic beating of cilia bundles on the airway epithelium. It is now clear that this classical model is not complete and that mucus is a complicated, multi-component secretion with numerous functions. The functions of respiratory mucus now include immune response regulation, the presentation of molecules that are inhibitory to pathogens, the regulation of cell differentiation and proliferation and the maintenance of the barrier function of the epithelium.

Respiratory tract mucus is the first interaction that inhaled agents have with a potential new host. Accordingly, this mucus layer can determine the infectivity, and potentially the transmissibility, of respiratory pathogens etc.”

There are 2 big things that help keep your mucus of high quality and they are;

1. Purified water…drink up to 3 litres per day depending on your size. 25 mL of water per Kg of body weight. This keeps the mucus membranes from drying out everywhere in the body. (Drink water with minerals in it unless you have a condition that requires you to drink R/O water or distilled water.)
2. Diet low or lower in mucus. This means avoiding or limiting dairy, soy, wheat, and other gluten-rich foods. This means you will not have “excess” mucus to deal with which can clog your sinuses and nose which is not good quality snot.

Basically, you want a “moist” nose and sinuses so that your first “barrier” to the world of microbes is in tact, so that you stop it from “getting in.”

Some herbs to help you do that are;

1. Marshmallow root in a capsule form or tincture, though I find the capsules are better and you usually only need 1 or 2 per day to accomplish a moister mucus membrane.
2. Fenugreek in capsule form, the tea can be good, though I don’t like the flavour of it. Again usually 1 or 2 capsules per day are usually required.
3. Licorice root capsules or 1:1 tincture. Do not use if you have high blood pressure. Dosage 1 or 2 capsules per day or use 10 drops of a 1:1 tincture.

Other helpful tips to create great snot:

1. Rinse nasal passages with salt water to remove dried mucus and keep sinuses clear.
2. Rinse with a herbal solution containing Yerbe manse. (I make up the formula as required to help get rid of infections and moisten directly.)
3. Rub your forehead with a Lavender/Eucalyptus essential oil blend or you can also use Rosemary in the blend as well.
4. Use a drop of Peppermint Essential Oil on the back of your hand, lick it off…it will clear your sinuses and give your throat a nice cool feeling…it can be a bit of a shock when you use this as it can be strong…but it is good to do and has some anti-microbial activity as well.

With all this Covid 19 craziness going on it would be advisable to take care of your snot!

Disclaimer:

This article was written for information purposes only, not to diagnose or treat and does not replace proper medical treatment when required. Please see a Professional Registered Herbalist or another licensed Natural Health Practitioner of your choice.

How to Make the Immune Tonic Brew.

The Immune Tonic Brew contains many herbs in the dried raw form…Ie. American Ginseng whole root, Reishii Mushroom, Codonopsis, Licorice Root, Sassafras bark, Maitake Mushroom, Shitake Mushroom, Astragalus root and Echinacea angustifolia root.

It is meant for modulating your immune system so it will help if it is over-active or under-active.  It is used during the season changes when people often get sick.  You can take it to prevent getting sick or to help you get better if you are already sick.

Usually you take about 1/4 to 1 cup per day.  I recommend staring with 1/4 cup and then taking it more frequently if you are fighting something off up to 3x per day.

Supplies needed are:

1. Crock pot or large pot that can hold 4 litres of water.

     2. Stainless steel colander

     3. Cheesecloth at least 24 inches long.

     4. Stainless steel bowl.

     5. Sterilized jars with lids.  (Run through dishwasher.)

Step 1. Soak all the herbs given to you in the bag for 8 to 12 hours…12 hours is better and longer is okay…in 4 litres of water..purified water…Ie. filtered with no chlorine or other contaminants.

Step 2. Turn crock pot or stove if using large pot on stove, to low and bring to a simmer.  It may take an hour or more. 

Step 3. Simmer for 4 hours.

Step 4. Allow to cool.

Step 5. Line the inside of the stainless steel colander with cheesecloth.  Make sure that the cheesecloth goes up over the sides of the colander.  Place this over a good-sized bowl.

Step 6. Pour the mixture with the herbs through the cheesecloth/colander into the bowl it is sitting over.

Step 7. Once the liquid is all in the bowl, take the cheesecloth and pull it around the “marc”, which is the herbs and squeeze all the liquid you can out of it.  Then discard this into the compost.

Step 8. Pour all the liquid from the bowl into jars.  You should have about 3 litres.  Refrigerate.

Step 9.  It should keep in your fridge for at least 4 to 8 weeks or longer.

Note:  This is for information purposes only and is not meant to prescribe.  If you use this information to help yourself then you take full responsibility for any reactions you may have.

 

Sore Throat Be Gone!

Cayenne Pepper (also called Capsicum) drink for sore throats:  

Step 1: Take about 75 mL of water and add 1/2 of a freshly squeezed Lemon to the water along with one opened capsule of Cayenne Pepper.

Step 2: At this point you would add any other herbs,  like Barberry, Oregon Grape Root, Garlic either freshly minced or powdered (minced mixes better), Black Walnut, Marshmallow Herb etc.  Usually you add 1 capsule or 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of the powdered or 1 tsp of the tincture.

Step 3: Then mix with the straw that you will drink with.  Do this over the sink because mucus will be released from your sinuses and throat area.  You may repeat as often as necessary.  If you have an empty stomach you will want to eat a piece of fruit before taking the drink so that you do not get nauseated.  If the cayenne is too hot for you you can add in Marshmallow Herb to cut the heat from the Cayenne Pepper.

This is good for viral and or bacterial infections, and if you use it at the beginning of a cold or strep throat you can do it every hour or two until your throat is not sore and you can get rid of the infection in less than 24 hours.

If you have Strep throat or suspect it, use Oregon Grape Root or Barberry in equal proportions to the Cayenne Pepper.  Do it every hour until your throat does not feel sore.

The way this works is; Cayenne Pepper activates your circulation and attracts white blood cells to the area to get rid of the infection, plus Barberry & Oregon Grape Root have antibacterial action in and of themselves.  But these herbs must come in direct contact with the microbes in order to be effective since very small amounts of the active constituent of the Oregon Grape Root and Barberry are actually absorbed into the blood stream.  Ie.  These herbs will not be effective for systemic infections like sepsis or blood poisoning since only about 5 % of the active ingredient is absorbed.

Note:  This information is used by the reader and his/her own discretion as this is not intended to diagnose or prescribe or take the place of regular medical attention.

 

Steps to Healing (adapted from Dr. Mikael Adams N.D.)

 Steps to Healing (adapted from Dr. Mikael Adams N.D.)

These steps are for chronic conditions of the body, which we will all experience at some point in life, whether the beginning, middle or end.  These steps are not necessarily in the order that you will heal, in fact some of them can be done together.  Ie. Psychological/Spiritual help can be done at the same time as taking drainage or detoxification therapy.

These steps are based on the supposition that the person is on the correct diet for themselves & avoiding exposure, as much as humanly possible, to toxins in their environment. (Correct diet, with good, filtered water, preferably alkaline water so it will absorb properly & the avoidance of chemicals in food, air, water and on your skin.)

Step One:  Open the Excretory Organs & drain:  a)Bowels, b)Lymphatic system, c) Kidneys,    d) Skin, & the liver empties via the bowel.  Ultimately you want to get at the CELLULAR level which requires more than just a great diet.  This is where herbs & homeopathic remedies come in.  Herbs can scour the toxins around & inside your cells, the Unda #’s, which are homeopathic remedies, are used to get rid of cellular toxins, & will help you get rid of toxins affecting cellular function & enzyme systems, that rely on nutrients to run.  When your body’s cells are  “cleaned” this way,  then your supplements & even food  you use will be less in volume or calories, but nutrient rich, since your body will run more efficiently and need less calories to do it. So eating nutrient dense foods with less calories will help your body function correctly while you do the cleansing but it will NOT take the place of cleansing.  Eating a diet such as this will not detoxify you at the cellular level by itself…this is a mistake that a lot of people make.  It isn’t all about diet, in this case. (Ie. When you tune up your car, your gas mileage gets better because it will require less to run on.)

Step Two: Eliminate Environmental Toxins & the predisposition to “collecting” them in your body.  This can be done by treating your “constitution” and your “tendencies” that  you were born with.  This is usually through homeopathic remedies that release the negative tendency and “neutralize” its influence.  These are chronic conditions like; scoliosis, schizophrenia, alcoholism, diabetes, weak lungs, weak joints etc.

Step Three:  Stimulate the enzymes & substitute where necessary.  Using certain herbs to increase digestive power or using the Unda #’s to clean off the enzyme systems can help the person’s body to digest & assimilate their food much more effectively.  (I always say “you are what you assimilate.”)  In this way, all the organs and the systems made up from the organs will function more effectively creating a stable energy flow through out the day with no dips to the energy.  Remember, we are a human chemical factory and if there is a blockage in any of the enzyme systems the liver will try to push wastes through another enzyme system, if it does not work, you will store the toxins often in your bowel, lymphatic system and your between your cells causing you to become lethargic.  This is gradual of course and is often why people do not pick up on their problems quick enough since they believe it has to do with “old age” or working too much etc.  Cancer and other degenerative dis-ease starts here…at the cellular level.

Step Four:  Dysbiosis Therapy which is basically working on your gut and making sure that you are eating fermented foods daily like; water kefir, milk kefir, sauerkraut, fermented veges etc.  (Pickled food is not fermented.)  You may also need some herbs for the gut if you have a parasite or an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut which can lower your B12 levels and cause low energy.  Having a gut with the correct amount of healthy flora will help you produce B vitamins, enzymes etc.

Step Five:  Reduce Stress & Tonify the Qi.  Herbs & diet combined can help to tone the Qi & reduce stress in our body. If you compare this to your car engine, the gas will flow freely to the engine to combust with little waste left over and give your car the energy it needs to run smoothly. This is when you will have the best energy, no blocks to your energetic system.  The herbs & diet you need to maintain this energy or Qi will depend on your body type & individual idiosyncrasies, which is why it is important to get checked out by a professional.  Since just because a certain herb/regime helped someone else does not mean it is the best for you.  It will save you time and money to actually get checked out by a Holistic Professional of your choice since you will not have to guess what you need and waste money trying it out.

Step Six:  Nutritional Support, like Vitamin & Mineral supplements or nutritive herbs can also work well or green smoothies or juicing etc.  Anything to get your nutrient quotient up.  Think organic veges with some fruit in season.

Step Seven:  Constitutional therapy especially for the way you express and feel emotions & your body’s tendencies to certain dis-ease.  Healing your emotions or the way you express them can be challenging for some people.  Ultimately, the way you express yourself or do not express yourself is the way you were built and conditioned.  Certain homeopathic remedies can be helpful for those whose emotions are “stuck” and cause havoc in the body.  Ie. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or any chronic disease has an emotional element to it plus some so called “genetic” dis-eases can be helped by this type of therapy.

Step Eight:  Organ & Enzyme regeneration are sometimes required and organotherapy (a specific form of homeopath aimed at a specific organ to help it function normally) can be useful here.  Even some high strength antioxidants either in foods or herbs are very useful here to restore and protect the liver especially, but also the cardiovascular system, kidneys etc.  This will keep the body from degenerative diseases by protecting the body against the pollutants we have no control over as in the “air you breathe”.  Ie. We all need protection from air pollution.

Step Nine:  Spiritual/Psychological Healing:  Personally, I believe all that we do is spiritual, even if it is just the body, since the body houses the soul and we are one unit.  But sometimes people experience trauma in their life and it will create a vortex that uses up a lot of energy, since the person will be reacting to things that set them off without control.  So these traumas need to be healed and can be released through EMDR methods quite effectively or even talk therapy,  if you get the right professional for yourself.  Also, having a faith in someone bigger than your world can be essential to healing as it will give meaning to the suffering we all endure to one extent or another and hope, to get through it or be healed in the next life, in heaven.

Step Ten:  Removal of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMG) & Geopathic Stress from cell phones, cell phone towers and zones that cause geopathic stress in houses or buildings that people reside in.  Generally, EMG and Geopathic Stress cause Cancer over time but also very low energy and other inflammatory conditions of the body in the mean time.  There is a lot of evidence out there now where you can see the research on the cause and effect of these sources of radiant energy.  These types of energy will affect the body’s electrical system and cause the  bodys’ energy field  to be over-powered by the energy fields from phones & cell phone towers especially, but also geopathic stress will do this also.  One of the protectors I recommend are the Pulsor products which contain various strengths of Piezo Electric Crystals which will emit a field over your own energy field and strengthen it so that you are not affected by the fields that surround you.  (I have experienced this personally around large pieces of automated chemistry equipment while working in the hospital and the Pulsor Crystals saved me.  Very low energy was my symptom…so low that I could hardly function at the end of the day.)

 

Disclaimer:  Please note this article is strictly for information purposes only.  It is not meant to diagnose or prescribe or give advice.  Each person must take responsibility for their own health and get the advice specific for their own situation from a professional of their choice.

 

Long Life Winter Soup

Long Life Winter Soup                                                                     

Use a small handful of American Ginseng root cut up is best, a small handful of  Rehmannia root, 125 mL Wolf Berries, a medium handful of Codonopsis root, 5 large slivers of Reishi Mushroom, 6 dried Shiitake Mushrooms and 5 large Bay Leaves.

Use as follows to make your soup…you can adjust the taste as required like use more Codonopsis than Reishi to increase the sweetness of the soup.

 

1. Put herbs in 1 gallon pot along with 2 large onions cut in quarters,

2. 3 carrots cut in chunks,

3. 3 big, fat fresh burdock roots, cut in chunks,

4. and 1 whole organic chicken or 5 or 6 beef marrow bones (optional, of course). 

5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and partially and cook for  1.5 hours. Cool.

6. Pour through a colander to strain herbs, veggies and chicken or marrow bones, discard. Use herbs only once, then discard.  You can use this base for any soup that you want to make and can add whatever other spices you want to make it a tasty soup. (Ie. sea salt, seaweed, italian spices, curry, cayenne etc.)

 

Adapted from Patricia Kyritsi Howell, RH (AHG), original recipe for Winter Soup by Monica Hirai NHPC #3812, Registered Holistic Practitioner.

Tips to Increase Your Energy

 1. Remove all white flour, white sugar and white rice from your diet.  Replace 

with whole grain flour, whole grain sugar cane and brown rice….according to your ABO blood type.

2. Eat the “beneficials” off your blood type chart.

3. Food combine.  Proteins and veges.  Starches and veges.  For more information read about it in the “Body Ecology Diet” book.

4. Drink hot water with fresh lemon squeezed into it.  It helps to unclog the liver.

5. Do a liver/gallbladder flush after doing a series of colonics.

6. Do a liver cleanse with herbs and a series of colonics to flush out the toxicity from your body.

 7. Use fiber drinks and bowel tonic herbs to increase your elimination.

 8. Eat raw veges at lunch and at dinner.

 (compatible with your blood type.)

 9. Juice vegetable juices and drink 2 to 4 – 8 oz glasses daily.

 10. Drink wheatgrass juice in lemon water or in unfiltered, organic apple juice.

 11. Go on a cleansing diet of raw vegetable juices and raw vegetable salads with lots of green veges and sprouts…do for 4 to 10 days if you can.  Come off of it with light proteins.

 12. Drink non-chlorinated water.

 13. Have a bath with 35% hydrogen peroxide in it….soak at least 30 minutes.

 

Fruity Lemon Water Kefir

1/  1 package of Water Kefir Grains that have already been activated.  (If you do not know how to do this, then please refer to the instructions contained in the box that held the package of Water Kefir Grains.)

2/  125 mL of Cane Sugar  (Organic Cane Sugar is the best.)

3/  1 to 2 dried figs (Can also be raisins, sultanas, dried prunes etc. Organic is best.)

4/  Half a lemon.

5/ 1 to 1.5 Litres of Filtered Water, it can be water that contains minerals. Ie.  Does not have to be distilled or reverse osmosis water.

6/  2 Litre glass container or two different glass jars that will hold 1 litre each.

7/   Coffee filter or cheesecloth & 1 elastic.

8/  Plastic sieve or strainer.

9/  Plastic or wooden spoon.  (Do not use metal spoons or bowls or metal anything when you make any kind of culture.)

Steps:

1/  Dissolve sugar in the water.

In the container, pour in mineral water and add the sugar.  Dissolve sugar using the plastic or wooden spoon or even better just swirl the jar gently until all the sugar dissolves.

2/  Add the kefir grains, dried figs or dried fruit of your choice and the lemon as is, do not sqeeze it yet.

3/  Cover the container with the cheesecloth or coffee filter and secure with an elastic.  (It should not be air tight.)

4/  Place away from sunlight and leave at room temperature of 18 C to 25 C.

(65F to 77F)

5/  Allow to ferment for 24, 48 or 72 hours.  For a stronger kefir, ferment the grains longer.

6/  Once the fermentation is completed to your satisfaction, squeeze the lemon.  (Use plastic tongs to get the lemon out of the water.  Do not put hands into the water.)

7/  Strain & separate the kefir grains separately from the fruit.  Store the kefir grains in a BHP free plastic container either in the fridge or the freezer.  When you want to make your next batch, just warm it up on the counter in your kitchen to room temperature…and start the whole process over again.

Benefits of Kefir are:

1. Helps to restore normal flora inside your gut.
2. Helps your probiotic to “implant” inside your gut.
3. Crowds out unfriendly bacteria, yeast and parasites.
4. Can get rid of “tummy aches” and pains in both adults and children.
5. Good for breast feeding women to take in regularly to increase digestion & prevent colic in infants.
6. Good for restoring normal flora after antibiotics especially when taken with a good Human Microflora strain of probiotic.
7. Helps to manufacture certain Vitamins like some B vitamins, vitamin K, enzymes etc.
8. Can help with hormone balance by crowding out the yeast.
9. Can help get rid of food cravings due to low normal gut flora.

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What you will need:

How to stop a cold or flu in its tracks.

Colds & Flus started early this fall…even before fall officially got started…a lot of people had their “Summer Cold” going into September.  The transition times of the seasons are hard on the body and even harder if you are not well rested and nutritionally sound.

One of the best things to do to prepare for cold & flu season is to get your juicer out in September and do a week or two of juicing.  You can juice along with eating or you can do a juice fast depending on your body type and what you can handle.  This will build up the body with important minerals for the immune system, plus antioxidants & phytochemicals to protect cell membranes.  It will also help the liver detox from the summer fair of food ingested at outdoor barbecues.  Just make sure that you do not juice too many green leafy veges or you could bring on a back ache…and do them minimally if you have had kidney stones.

The other important thing to do is to bring out your fermented drinks, but not the beer!  Bring on the Kambucha, the Coconut water kefir or a nicely flavoured water kefir to replenish your gut flora. The summer stress of doing too much or stress in general, can takes its tole on the gut flora. Take your probiotics while you ingest your fermented drinks daily to increase the gut flora and increase your immune response.  Fermented foods make the probiotic proliferate profusely in your gut.

There are brands of probiotics that are especially formulated to help your immune system during the flu season.  Take them in the early morning while your stomach acid is lower.

You can also use the Homeopathic Flu prevention kits available at the Health Food store.  Just follow the instructions carefully.

For the onset of a flu or cold, put on a “flu tea” containing; Peppermint,Yarrow, Red Raspberry, Boneset and steep 30 minutes for the full effect.  A small handful in a regular sized teapot will do.  Drink it hot. Wrap yourself in blankets or sit in your hot tub or in a hot bath.  Sit, soak and drink until you sweat!  It is the best way to flush out your flu or cold fast.

For head colds, get out your trusty Peppermint Oil and take small drops on the back of your hand and lick them off.  The “Pow” of the Peppermint will clear your sinuses, ears and throat while protecting your mucus membranes from further invasion.

Make sure you have a good quality Vitamin C & take at least 2000 mg 3 times per day. If the Peppermint has not taken care of the perpetual drip coming from your nose or back of throat…and your throat is getting sore..add in Zinc lozenges or Zinc tablets with Thyme herb in them.

For a basic drippy nose try taking the 12 tissue salts.  Take 5 to 10 of the small dissolvable tablets in your mouth 3x per day.  Great at drying up the Schnoz!

Lasso the Flu and get your immune system in gear by trying out the suggestions above.

I guarantee your winter will be sweeter with a stronger system to fend off the foe!

God Is Holistic. Our Medical System is not. Which will you choose?

God is Holistic.  When He created us we were created as one unit; body, mind, free will, spirit & emotions.  As this world became less than what it was intended to be, we have lost connection between all our parts.  But God gave us ways to ease our suffering until we see His face.  God created all the healing plants and the people who developed remedies from all parts of the earth like Samuel Hahnemann who created Homeopathy.

Unfortunately, our medical system is tainted with greed.  It started with the dissolution of the Eclectic Schools of Medicine, when a very rich family started putting their money into Medical Schools that promoted pharmaceuticals only.  This was because there was and still is very big money in drugs because they can be patented.  Greed has hit the Holistic side as well and you will find some remedies promoted for the sake of cash only.  It is too bad, but it is the way this world is right now and to get through it to make good health choices for yourself you must be discerning and find a professional to help you with the problem you have.   In fact, it is good practise to have more than one person on your health team.

The important nugget of information I want to get across is that drugs can be useful at times, with the exception of Type 1 Diabetes, most drugs should be used temporarily because they tend to suppress functions of the body and this suppresses the symptom or symptoms deeper int he body which will give you a new set of symptoms.  This is NOT a holistic approach at all.  This is SUPPRESSION.  In fact, did you know that the word ALLOPATHY, actually means to INCREASE SUFFERING.

Now having said all that, I will say I am not against drugs.  What I am against is the way our health system makes us believe it is “free health care”, when in fact, since we are one of the most taxed countries in the world…….where do you think some of that money goes to?  Especially when you consider that some drugs are marked up 3,000 per cent and it is covered by the government when this is given out in hospitals.

I believe we need health reform.  Not sure if that will happen.  But it can happen with you.  Take the time to find the cause of the problems you are having and if you pray about it see where God leads you.  Sometimes it might be pharmaceuticals, but many times “no”.  There is  a whole world out there in Natural Medicine that might have been discovered had the Eclectic Medical Schools had the money to stay open.  There is people like me that hold to their philosophy around healing you just have to seek us out.

Check out this article:http://www.planetherbs.com/history/what-is-eclecticism.html

It describes in detail Eclectic Medicine.

My heart goes out to a suffering world with huge medical expenses due to the greed of a few visionary people.  It doesn’t have to be this way.  We are the change.  We are holistic, because we were made as one unit…think about it.

How to Administer Herbs to Babies & Small Children

Administering herbs to small children & babies can be challenging to say the least.  There are a few things that you can have on hand to make this job easier and almost pleasant.  Most of these things are to sweeten the mixture so that the child will take it.  Some of these things are;

1.  Maple Syrup, most kids love this one.

2. Agave Syrup, good for low carbohydrate diets.

3. Honey, good for yeast free diets.

4. Glycerine, the best choice if you don’t want added calories.

5. Straw to suck the mixture down.

6. Small syringe to squirt the mixture down their throat.

Most tinctures of herbs that have an alcohol base can be mixed with glycerine or one of the other sweeteners listed above, to sweeten slightly to get the mixture down.  The more bitter the mixture, the more glycerine or other sweetener you will need.  Usually if you put 1 part tincture to 1 part glycerine it will be enough to sweeten it so the child can get it down.  Put it in a shot glass or another small glass and dilute a bit with purified water as well.  Then you can get the child to suck it down with a straw.

When you are using powdered herbs, that is a different story.  These need to be mixed into a smoothie of fruit or even mixed in with a little Aloe Vera juice with some glycerine for taste.  The problem with powders is that they have a texture as well as a taste and some children have a real problem with this.  The best thing in this case is to blend the powdered herb into a fruit smoothie.  Berries are ideal to do this with and don’t forget to add some hemp protein powder or some vegan protein powder if you want the drink thicker but are not using dairy products for the base of the smoothie.  You can also try just berries and ice cubes to make a thick shake without the protein or dairy base.

Some of the tinctures can be given as a tea to the child.  Just add boiling water and honey to taste or another sweetener of your choice.  This is important if the child has the flu or a cold and needs something hot to keep them warm.

Another idea to change the taste of a herbal mixture is to add either Peppermint or Spearmint essential oil to the mixture in the glass.  Just a couple of drops will do.