Sage Tincture for Sore Throats

This sage tincture will ease those first symptoms of a cold or flu while offering other health-giving benefits.

Sage is well-known as an antioxidant-rich seasoning whose pungent and savory flavor makes it a familiar culinary addition to soups and sauces. Because of its popularity in cooking, people may not realize that sage also has a potent medicine profile.

With antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, sage is a natural painkiller that soothes congestion and post-nasal drainage when sprayed at the back of the throat. Sage is considered a herb with drying properties which makes it an excellent plant for alleviating a wet, phlegmy cough and sinus congestion.

You can make your own sage tincture at home by following this simple recipe:

What You’ll Need

• a small glass jar
• Sage leaves, enough to fill the jar lightly packed (dried or fresh—if using fresh, allow it to wilt for a few hours first)
• 90-proof alcohol (vodka, rum, brandy or Everclear)

 
What To Do

1.    Pack the jar with the sage leaves
2.    Completely fill the jar with the alcohol
3.    Seal with an air-tight lid
4.    Shake
5.    Place in a cool dark place for 4 – 6 weeks
6.    Shake every other day
7.    Strain liquid into a tincture bottle with a dropper
8.    Use the tincture as needed for sore throats and congestion. 
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Add the liquid to a glass spray bottle for a soothing throat spray and spray at the back of your throat at the first sign of discomfort. Add a few drops of the tincture to a glass of water and sip throughout the day. Your tincture will keep indefinitely, especially if kept in the refrigerator.

​The Wonder of Wild Lettuce
 
There are over 75 varieties of wild lettuce, of which two main varieties, Lactuca canadensis and Lactuna scariola, are generally harvested and are the predecessors of the wide variety of common garden lettuce. L. canadensis is a plant native to North America, while L. Sariola hailed from Europe and was introduced as an edible leafy green vegetable by early settlers.
 
Wild lettuce looks like its domestic cousins, with a rosette appearance when young. Young green leaves circle out from the main stem. The leaves are edible when they first appear in the early spring and taste like cultivated lettuce, only more so. The window to harvest wild lettuce for eating is short, only a week or two, and once the plant bolts, sending up the flowering stalk, the leaves become bitter and woody. At this point in wild lettuce’s growing cycle, it is harvested for its sap, usually in July and August. A mature L. canadensis can reach heights of four to nine feet, while L. scariola grows from two to seven feet tall.
 
All domestic and wild lettuces have a mild soothing effect on the nervous system, which is why salads are often served at the end of a meal. Lettuce has a milky substance called lactucarium, which is exuded from the leaves and stems when cut or torn. The health benefits of wild lettuce, when consumed as lettuce leaf, include promoting relaxation and sleep (sedative), improving memory and cognitive function (neuroprotective), relieving anxiety (anti-depressant), and supporting weight loss due to its high water content (diuretic).

Like its domestic cousins, wild lettuce leaf is high in Vitamins K, C, A, and potassium. The milky white sap containing lactucarium and sesquiterpene lactones can be collected and used for their medicinal properties. Older plants have higher sap concentrations, especially while the plant is just beginning to bloom. The sap turns brown as it dries and can be used internally. The leaves can be made into a tincture or brewed as a tea. As a caution, do not use Wild Lettuce medicinally unless you know what you are doing or have consulted with a certified Herbalist. You can benefit from all the goodness of wild lettuce by simply putting it in your salads, gently braising, or slightly boiling it, like spinach.

It's essential to confidently identify wild plants before ingesting or using them for medicine. Wild lettuce is often mistaken for young dandelions, which is fine as dandelions are safe to consume and used medicinally. Other common look-alikes to wild lettuce include sow thistle, dwarf dandelion, and false hawksbeard. Depending on your resources, some conclude that these look-alikes should not be consumed, while others have differing views. Always do your research and reference several sources of information. If you are not confident you can eat something you have foraged, then don’t—many wild plants can be quickly and safely identified.

Whenever you are foraging in the wild or in an urban setting, only take what you need, and respect private property and the rules or regulations for harvesting on public, municipal, or federal land. Take your time to learn how to identify and use wild foods confidently.

​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7180447/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6049580/
https://naturalfoodseries.com/11-health-benefits-lettuce/
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/wild-lettuce/
https://www.eattheweeds.com/crepis-japonica-seasonal-potherb-2/
https://feralforaging.com/how-to-identify-wild-lettuce/
Stalking the Healthful Herbs by Euell Gibbons

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The definition of foraging is to go from place to place to search for food or other items, whether in the wild or an urban setting. I consider myself very fortunate to have grown up in a foraging family. We didn’t forage because we needed the wonderfully delicious wild foods we found in our local forests, beaches, and roadsides; we foraged because we loved being out in nature and for the thrill of finding, harvesting, and eating healthy, accessible, and organic wild foods.
 
Embarking on the journey into foraging wild foods can be daunting; it’s a vast subject with lots to learn. So many things can be foraged, both in the wild and as an urban forager. You are surrounded by edible and medicinal foods outside your door, down the street, or in the wilds.
 
The best place to start is to buy a comprehensive plant and mushroom identification book with clear, full-color photos referencing scientific names and common names. Your guidebook should also contain detailed information on how to harvest the plants and the edibility of each plant or fungi. You want to familiarize yourself with your local edible and medicinal plants, so ensure your guidebook is for your area.
 
I recommend you choose one local plant or mushroom at a time and thoroughly familiarize yourself with it. Learn everything you can about it: how and where it grows, which parts are edible or medicinal, how and when to harvest it, and how to prepare it as food. You don’t need to look far; many common “weeds,” such as dandelions, are edible and nutritious!
 
Always harvest ethically. Only take what you need, leaving enough of the plant or fungi behind so it can continue to grow and reproduce. If you are foraging in the wild, have a foraging buddy, and be sure to familiarize yourself with the local you’re in. Learn how to use a compass, have a bottle of water, and a whistle to scare away wild animals if you encounter them.
 
If you’re harvesting in an urban setting, respect private property and always ask permission before picking or harvesting. I have met many neighbors by ringing their doorbells and asking if I could harvest from their yards. Research the rules and regulations for your city, county, state, or province, as there can be limits to harvesting, permits required, or other considerations. For example, in Canada, harvesting in provincial and federal parks is illegal.
 
The best part about foraging wild or urban plants and fungi is that it gets you out in nature, even when it’s the local park in your neighborhood! There is a world of edible and medicinal foods all around you!
 
Beyond the Garden Gate Botanicals inspires naturally-minded people to live with the seasons, become self-reliant, connect with nature, and protect their health and wellness through plant medicine and herbal living. No matter where you live, healing plants are right under your feet and towering above you. We live in a fantastic sea of natural medicines. The best plant medicines for you come from the plants in your environment, whether in your backyard or balcony garden, your local neighborhood, park, or town, or in the wilds that surround you past your city limits. Get out in nature; it’s good for you!