A Spoonful of Sugar? Recipes for Herbal Compliance

Whether its yourself or a loved one, many times its hard to be compliant and take the right amount of herbs for the right amount of time to get desired results.Many times we get busy, forget our remedy at home, or dont like the taste.The key to getting results with herbs isnt just finding the right one, or the right combination. Its making sure that you are using the highest quality and getting enough of it.Herbs are not like drugs.They are not best in pill form, and many times their effects take awhile.Please try the following strategies and recipes for yourself, elders, sick clients, children, animals or picky eaters.Western Herbalists are very lucky to be able to adapt to our clients unique situation.Thank you to my fellow herbalists who have really helped me with some good ideas for helping with compliance
I often choose to give people who are taking a lot of herbs longterm herbal powders.  Powders are cheaper, and adaptable, and can be put into many preparations.

FOODS
Treats:Many times if our herbs come in the form of a sweet yummy treat, we can feel better about taking them daily.I have learned a lot from Ayurveda with using fat as a vehicle for getting hormonally acting herbs to people, or just herbs that taste bad.Remember: fat nourishes the nervous system and helps hormones to move through our systems.The only con with this recipe, (adapted from my friend and mentor Rosemary Gladstar) is getting creative if someone has diabetes, or sensitivities to nuts.Rosemary has many books that can help you dream up creative ways to take herbs, including the book: Herbal Recipes.

Adaptogen Balls, Adapted from Rosemary Gladstars Zoom Balls
2 cups of tahini (sesame butter)
2 cups almond butter (or any nut butter will do)
1 1/2 cup of honey(start with 1 cup and add if you need more)

Herbs(powder–can be replaced by any formula)
2 oz of Gotu Kola
1 oz of Ashwaganda
2oz of Reishi Mushroom
1oz of Cinnamon
1oz of Ginger
1oz Tulsi
1oz of Maca
Just make sure your formula and ratio is the same nutbutter/herbs
In this case it is 10-12 oz of herbs

Mix the base ingredients well, so honey can be evenly distributed. Add powdered herbsRoll the balls the size of a walnut, and roll them in walnut pieces. Store in the fridge.Take 1 2X a day

Another way to get powdered herbs, especially medicinal mushrooms into you is by putting your dose on a batch of popcorn along with your regular yummy assistants like salt, vinegar, nutritional yeast, and butter.In fact, melting butter, then adding the powder in is a easy and delicious way to enjoy it.

My mentor and friend Margi Flint taught me to make medicinal mushroom gravies with the powdered medicinal mushrooms I was taking.You can go ahead and mix them in with button mushrooms, oyster, chanterelles or whatever you can get your hands on and then drizzle on top of protein dishes or potatoes. Margi also got me into combining powders into batches of delicious bone broth, another simple way to get herbs into people.In fact, for those just out of surgery she reccomended making the medicinal broths into ice cubes and just having folks suck on them.

Another friend and mentor Bevan Claire(who is writing more on this sort of stuff!!) taught a great class showing how to take powders and mix them into hummus or chocolate dips.The hardest trick is to get the dosage down, so I am excited to see what she comes up with.

DRINKS
I enjoy making Shrubs as a base for herbs.Shrubs are basically what is also termed an oxymel(think fire cider) except they are often thought of as sipping vinegars(not fire cider!)Sipping vinegars are both sour and sweet.You can infuse your herbs and fruits into Vinegar and Honey.Then, strain and pour a shot into some sparkling water, or just water for a gatorade alternative.Shrubs are good for fruit and nutritive herbs, as well as herbs that have more alkaloidal properties and aromatics, but may not be appropriate for all.Shrubs are a good choice for digestive ailments, dehydration, and to get added nutrition into people.Here is an example of one I make for pregnancy:
MOM(Mother of Minerals-aka Florayoni)
Fill a 32 oz jar with a combination of fresh weeds and greens:
Nettle Leaf
Dandelion Leaf
Chickweed
Raspberry Leaf
Fresh Greens from the Garden(Kale, Collards)
a bit of Yellow Dock root if you have it
Raspberries
Cover with vinegar.
Let sit for 2 weeks, strain and decant off and add honey to taste.Shake to combine and store in cool dark place.
Take 2-3 shots a day!

Herbal Smoothies
Another way to get powdered herbs down.Just add your dose to a smoothy.

Herbal Agua Frescas
Agua Frescas are a much healthier way to drink juice.Most pure juice is way too high in sugar to drink a lot of.A agua fresca is taking fruit and mixing it in water(and then of course many people add the sugar back!)
To make it herbal you can add fresh herbs from your garden into the fruit water.I like to add in chickweed or some other highly nutritious and tasty herb like hibiscus.Blend away, and you can add a little stevia if you need it sweet.

I hope these ideas inspire you to think of creative ways to turn your herbs into yummy and fun options for taking herbs regularly.