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Tincturing and
preparing your own personal herbal formulas are simple and affective. If
you are unsure of which herbal combinations are right for you, we offer
a free online
diagnosis which will help guide you to making an informed decision
After Brewing 8 days,
Remove the Kombucha Mushrooms and strain into a mason jar. Add one
Herbal T-Bag or our special herbal extract to your strained brew. Stand
“the Elixir” in a window sill or some place warm for 1-2 days. Strain
again, re-bottle and keep refrigerated. Drink 8 ounces daily for one
week.
Be careful of
mold forming …These home tinctures are
meant for immediate use - as you need them. Discard unused portion after
one week.
By itself Kombucha Brew or Tea is a nice
healthy drink. A little like apple-cider. There are literally hundreds
of claims made everyday. However since each brew is individual and
dependant upon a great many factors your results will vary. Most common
claims are Increased Energy, Weight Loss or Gain, Better Sleep, Body
Building Benefits, Reduced Stress, Relaxation and a general feeling of
well being … Remember your results will vary...
The Happy Herbalist will freshly powder
herbs of your choice or you may select from the combinations below.
When considering comments regarding
herbal products one must understand that the more more common frame of
reference is "European" and not traditional Chinese herbal medicine
(TCM) or India’s Ayduverdic herbal medicine. The use of herbs and most
importantly their diagnosis of presenting conditions are all very
different. Importantly these schools "diagnosis" are very different than
a "western MD diagnosis". One must be clear on the language and the
intent.
My own special interest is twofold. 1.
Self-reliance - or family (folk) medicine. and2. Kombucha (as a daily
health drink) and the combination of natural herbs (grown and harvested
ourselves where possible) to treat specific indications as they appear.
Common to all peoples are fermented
products. Developed in all parts of the world to utilize foods from a
time of plenty (harvest) to a time of shortage (winter) as were "dried"
and other stored foods such as kombucha, sauerkraut, cheese, pickles,
soy, kefir, tofu, etc.
TCM developed pills or "wan" some 2,000
years ago to " extend the shelf life" of herbal formulas. Most of these
are honey coated powdered herbs. TCM also produces "drafts" - powdered
herbs that mixed with a liquid such as water, vinegar, wine or alcohol.
There are also TCM Medicinal Wines and Vinegars that preserved herbal
formulas. As well as the use of stored dried herbs that are mixed fresh
and formed into unique individual TCM prescription.
Harald Tietze's and others points out
that "scientifically" totally different results (after 14 days of
fermentation with black tea) are achieved compared with results from
brewing kombucha with herbal teas.
This is consistent with TCM and popular
opinion. That is - if one brews Kombucha using different "herbal" teas
different results will be achieved. The benefit of which is unknown.
What I suggest, follows TCM, is that
"medicinal herbs" prescribed for a specific individual (not a broad
category of disease) be added after the Kombucha (brewed with normal
Black Tea) has "aged" 14 days or longer.
The longer brewing time is mandatory to
complete the sugar conversion and reduce the pH as low as possible.
Any herbs that work within the TCM
function of a vinegar: warming, breaks up stagnated Blood and Qi,
increases circulation, may be added and their affects better understood
and anticipated.
1. freshly powder, cut up or break into
small pieces your choice of herbs. the quantity and combination of herbs
will depend upon presentation
2. Place the Kombucha Vinegar and herbs
in a pint or quart mason jar with lid. Better results are possible
following typical canning procedure but are not necessary.
3. Place in direct sunlight for 2 days
4. Strain and drink.
note: if you begin Saturday morning,
Sunday would be the 2nd sunlight and Sunday at dusk would be the first
dose. For chronic conditions allow an additional sunlight day.
You may also use as a wash, bath or
foot soak.
As a rule; For acute conditions take
1/2 cup that evening and again just prior to bedtime, finishing the next
day in 2 or 3 dosages. For chronic conditions take smaller doses over a
longer period of time.
NOTES: Because of the
possibility of spoilage
1). keep refrigerated
and warm the dose prior to ingestion. and
2). Do not use after 2
weeks from the first brewing date.
3). White distilled
vinegar may be added as a preservative (correct ratios must be
observed)
4). Over 20% alcohol
(per volume) becomes destructive to the friendly Kombucha, as well as is
treated as a different TCM mythology: Alcohol is HOT as vinegar is WARM
and does not break up stasis as vinegar does.
5). Use Happy
Herbalist's Pure Distilled Kombucha as a preservative. Our pure
distilled kombucha contains all the water-soluble nutrients of regular
Kombucha Tea except of course the live nutrients.
1. freshly powder, cut up or break into
small pieces your choice of herbs. the quantity and combination of herbs
will depend upon presentation
2. Take a "drinkable" amount of
Kombucha Herbal, add warm water if necessary and then add the proper
amount of powdered herbs.
. used for more palatable medicinal
herbs like peppermints, ginger, ginsengs.
2. freshly powder, cut up or break into
small pieces your choice of herbs. the quantity and combination of herbs
will depend upon presentation. Place in a Tea Bag or tea strainer
3. Use as you would a tea bag.
note: you may use your normal Kombucha
brew as well, however TCM patterns may be adversely affected by the
"sweet taste" which (in oversimplified terms) works opposite to the
vinegar energy.
see below for some
herbs that work well with kombucha
When Considering Which
herbs to Add
Teas
high in oils (volatile may destroy the kombucha culture. The oil may
suffocate the kombucha by cutting off the oxygen supply They should not
be used alone. I recommend you add these tea AFTER brewing see
2 Stage Ferment
When
experimenting KEEP A BACKUP of at least one pure kombucha
Mixing
medicinal herbal teas with common black tea in brewing can amplify each
other or create a completely new synergistic response or make each other
worthless. Adding medicinal herbs AFTER brewing results in a more
predicable results
KOMBUCHA and MEDICINAL
HERBAL TEAS recommended to be brewed with Kombucha. Excerpted from
Harald W. Tietz “Kombucha The Miracle Fungus “ and “ Kombucha Tealogogy
Over 1001 ways to Brew Kombucha for Best Flavor and Maximum Healing” .
We stock “Kombucha The Miracle Fungus “ only $9.95
General
Rules: The amount of herbal tea used, should be twice that of common
tea, i.e. approximately 10 grams per litre. (A heaped teaspoon of leaves
is approximately 5 grams.) The first number in brackets represents the
amount of herb and the /second number indicates the amount, or ratio of
common tea (black or green tea) to be used. For example Cayenne is
listed as (1/5) therefore one would use One Part (or teaspoon) of
Cayenne to Five parts (or teaspoons) to Black tea.
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