An Herbal Diary – Details, episodes & analysis

What makes a fruit or vegetable easy to find in grocery stores? While there are many answers to this question, a lot of edible medicinal herbs are not, herbs like nettles, burdock root and elderberries. To this list, I am adding sumac berries. Sumac may not give us delicious fruit, but there is good reason to get to know it better and I am doing this in my kitchen. And in case you are wondering, this is a totally different plant than toxic poison sumac. 

My favorite sources for dried sumac:

Mountain Rose Herbs

Burlap & Barrel

Join me in this episode for more on sumac…its uses as a culinary spice and as an underutilized medicinal herb and also the difference between sumac and poison sumac. 

Sending you warm summer thoughts  and thank you for joining me!

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Connect with me on Instagram 

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow or subscribe where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly share with your friends and family. 

ABOUT DINA

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three humans - two daughters and one son all now living their young adult lives - and one sweet Pomeranian named Maci.

What makes a tree medicinal? The answer to this question depends on the medicine we are searching for. Especially in spring, trees can be medicine for our eyes. After the grayness of winter, glorious flowering trees like dogwood and magnolia are sweet visions. Aside from landscaping decoration, both dogwood and magnolia along with many other trees,have long been used for strong medicines derived from their bark.Tree bark has phytochemicals that make it bitter, astringent, and highly antimicrobial. Bark is a tree’s protective layer, helping it to survive through winter cold and other dangers like bacteria, fungi and troublesome insects.  The same phytochemicals in tree bark offer much medicine to humans as well. 

Join me in this episode for more on tree bark and the medicine of dogwood and magnolia trees. Sending you lovely spring thoughts and thank you for joining me!

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Instagram 

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow or subscribe where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly share with your friends and family. 

ABOUT DINA

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three humans - two daughters and one son all now living their young adult lives - and one sweet Pomeranian named Maci.

Another form of kitchen alchemy and extraction: Kvass. This fermented beverage is refreshing and tangy. Using Kvass as broth may be unconventional but it is also uncommonly good, especially beet kvass used in borscht, either cold or hot. Give it a try.

Kvass Recipe

12 slices dark rye bread

2-3 quarts hot water

¼ cup sugar or honey

1 ¼ teaspoon dry active yeast

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

12 raisins

For Beet Kvass

2-4 beets, peeled and cubed

2-3 quarts water

Mentions:

Beyond the North Wind by Darra Goldstein

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Borodinsky Rye Bread

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please FOLLOW OR SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet. 

Join me in my kitchen apothecary as I make the easiest stock ever. Just garlic and water simmered together results in a versatile, flavorful and densely nourishing stock. It’s perfect for making vegetable soup, rice, marinara sauce or beans. 

Garlic Stock

makes 2 quarts

2 whole heads garlic

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 quarts water

Gently wash garlic head under running water, pat dry with a paper towel.

Slice garlic head in half horizontally.

In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add halved garlic cut side down, cooked stirring occasionally about 3 minutes until garlic begins to smell aromatic. Take care not to burn garlic.

Add water, bring to boil, then lower heat to just maintain a simmer. Continue to simmer for 1 hour. Strain, discard garlic and peels. May season to taste. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

---Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet. 

Chocolate begins as the seeds of Theobroma cacao, a tropical tree. After much processing, we are gifted cocoa powder which is in itself an herbal remedy, a delicious one at that. Come join me in this pop-up tea salon episode where we brew a warm comfort cup of cocoa. 

**NEW TRIAL OFFERING: Herbal Kitchen Styling Sessions**

To Schedule Click Here

Mentions:

Jim McDonald: Herbcraft.org

Jim’s Virtual Classes 

Cocoa Tea Recipe

12 ounces herbal tea (chamomile, mint or any favorite)

1 teaspoon 100% dark cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup coconut milk

Simmer together 10 minutes.

Stir in 1 tablespoon honey.

Inulin-Rich Cocoa

3 cups water

1 teaspoon burdock root powder

1 teaspoon dandelion root powder

2 teaspoons 100% dark cocoa powder

Simmer together 20 minutes

Stir in 2 tablespoons honey.

CONNECT WITH DINA

Together we can transform our kitchens into a unique apothecary.

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet. 

The more I work with weedy plants from my yard and in my kitchen, the greater my confidence in them grows. Plantain is the perfect  bridge for embracing the idea that plants growing around us are remedies readily available. Plantain is a rockstar for healing the skin and mucous membranes where it can soothe pain, cleanse  and promote wound healing.

What plantain heals externally it can also do internally. 

Photo of Plantain major

Photo of Plantain lanceolata

For more on plantain poultices listen to episode 44 of An Herbal Diary

CONNECT WITH DINA

Together we can transform our kitchens into a unique apothecary.

---With all of my heart I would love you to join me, click here to join on Patreon 

---Follow me on instagram: @theherbalbakeshoppe

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges that this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet. 

This is not the tropical fruit plantain, so yummy cooked in butter. This plantain is the leafy green weed growing in any grassy yard, field or meadow. This plantain tops the list for herbal first aid remedies, especially for rashes and insect bites. In this episode, we explore topical uses including the amazing plantain poultice. 

Plantain Poultice Recipe:

Big handful fresh plantain leaves OR ½ cup dried plantain leaf

Hot water, just to moisten

1 Tablespoon calendula oil

2 drops lavender essential oil

Blend either in mortar and pestle or blender

Thicken as needed to form paste using

1 teaspoon to 1 Tablespoon flour, ground flaxseed or bentonite clay powder

Image of Plantain (Plantago major)

Image of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Sources for Dried Plantain

Aunty Peaches Apothecary

Rosemary’s Garden

CONNECT WITH DINA

Together we can transform our kitchens into a unique apothecary

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

Herbs offer all kinds of remedy. Tending a kitchen garden may provide culinary delights and stock for an herbal medicine cabinet, but with additional benefit of peace, solace and hope. Join me in this episode to tour through my 2020 kitchen garden for some delicious and medicinal discoveries. 

Mentions:

Donna J. Haraway: Staying with the Trouble, Making Kin in the Chthulucene

Aaron Bertelson: Grow Fruit and Vegetables in Pots

Companion Plants

Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Rootwork Herbals and the People’s Medicine Project Reclamation

CONNECT WITH DINA

---** Please join me for my new monthly online group gathering, a kitchen medicine club, a place to grow confidence together! 

Each month we will have a live discussion that will be hosted on Zoom.

With all of my heart I would love you to join me, click here to join on Patreon 

Together we can transform our kitchens into a unique apothecary.**

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges that this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet. 

Medicine from plants can’t replace pharmaceuticals, but botanical remedies can contribute to prevention and recovery from illness. In this episode, I explore building the kitchen herbal pantry to include cough remedies. 

Categories and Examples of Herbs with therapeutic use for coughing

Demulcents are herbs that soothe and protect mucous membranes from irritation and inflammation and thin mucus

Examples are flax seed, chia seed, oats, okra, marshmallow, licorice, fenugreek, fennel, slippery elm, mullein, violet, butterfly weed

Expectorants are herbs that help move excessive mucus out of the respiratory system

Examples include wild cherry bark, plantain, hyssop, fenugreek, thyme, fennel, licorice, ginger, marshmallow, anise, onion, garlic, eucalyptus, pine, elecampane, lobelia, horehound

Decongestants reduce and/or eliminate the formation of mucus or phlegm

Examples are anise, black pepper, cayenne, ginger, fenugreek, mullein, marshmallow, licorice, horehound, sumac, wild cherry, elecampane, lobelia

Astringents dry up mucus,  be careful with astringents, use only if copious mucus

Examples include peppermint, spearmint, bayberry, sumach, raspberry leaf, wild cherry, cleavers, lobelia

Antispasmodics relax muscles, decrease constriction and tightness, help coughing spasms

Examples are Fenugreek, fennel, lavender, peppermint, lemon balm, mullein, Angelica, bayberry, red clover, elecampane and  lobelia

Mentions:

American Herbalist Guild COVID19 Resource page

Respiratory System and Respiratory Immunity: Course offered by the Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism

Recipe for Onion Poultice:

1-2 onions, steamed

½ cup flour or cornmeal

2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar except distilled white vinegar)

Mix together to form paste, spread onto a cheesecloth, wrap in plastic. Place on chest and cover with a towel to keep warm. Keep on chest for at least 30 minutes.

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges that this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet. 

Sharing three inspirations of courage from my kitchen apothecary. A calming chai, ideas for a little remedy kit that you probably have already at home and thoughts for future herbal kitchen planning. 

Ashwaganda Chai Herb/Spice Blend

¼ cup ashwaganda root powder 

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder

¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder

¼ teaspoon clove powder

⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

To Prepare Chai

1 cup milk - cow, soy, coconut, nut, oat

¼ cup water

2 teaspoons herb/spice blend

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 

½  teaspoon maple syrup or honey

Blend and warm milk and water, add herb/spice powder, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Remove lid, add vanilla and maple syrup, simmer for 5 additional  minutes

Mentions:

Ashwaganda Root powder

Herbalist & Alchemist Immune Support Tincture

Herbalist & Alchemist Stress Support Tinctures

Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Plantrama Podcast -  make your own pots

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback.  Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is dina@theherbalbakeshoppe.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review. 

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges that this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet.