Emma Newlyn Yoga

Spring and Summer herbs and flowers provide an abundance of healing properties, and making tinctures from wild plants found in the area you live is a great way to reconnect with the natural world around you, receiving the benefits these plants have to offer. Nettles are easy to find along hedgerows and in forests, and whilst chamomile is a little more difficult to find, it’s likely you’ll see some springing up right now as the weather conditions and lockdown-induced lack of mowing means wildflowers have had a wonderful time this year so far.

This tincture is great for calming the nervous system, relieving sore muscles and aching joints, and can be taken on a regular basis to prevent inflammatory conditions and arthritis – of course, this is not medical advice and doesn’t take the place of anything you may have been prescribed, so check with your medical provider if needed, and enjoy experimenting with these natural, herbal tonics.

INGREDIENTS

(makes 1 jam jar size amount)

• 1 handful stinging nettles (use gloves to pick them!)
• 1 handful fresh chamomile or dried chamomile flowers
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup brandy (you could also just use more vodka, but brandy is very high in antioxidants and vitamin C, giving the tincture an immune-boosting component too)
• You’ll also need 2 jam jars

METHOD

1. Fill one jar with nettles and 1 jar with chamomile flowers
2. Cover the nettles with vodka, and the chamomile flowers with brandy
3. Place the lids on the jars and store in a dark cupboard for 4 – 6 weeks, shaking the jars daily
4. Be patient….
5. Using a fine sieve or cheese cloth, strain the liquid into a bowl – you’ll want to squeeze the remaining liquid from the chamomile flowers especially, as they will have soaked up most of the liquid.
6. Sterilise a glass jar or bottle by washing it with hot, soapy water and placing it in the oven at 160C for 10 minutes
7. Use a funnel to transfer the liquid from the bowl to the jar / bottle
8. Use a dropper to take between 5 – 10 drops of the tincture once or twice a day. This remedy is best taken in the afternoon or at night, as it will probably make you feel pretty relaxed.