 Smooshed in a middle seat in the deepest, darkest corner of Economy on a plane is a far cry from the golden age of travel.
I love to travel. I hate flying. It’s a problem. (Especially living an ocean away from my family!). Part of my hatred is because I still can’t believe that planes can fly, and am convinced we’re going to crash at the slightest turbulence. The other part of my hatred is because of the hassle of airports, security, endless waits, delays, expenses and the fact that I always seem to catch a cold from a long flight!
Why do we seem to catch a cold on a plane flight? Two reasons: dry air, and lots of people in a confined space. At high altitudes, the air doesn’t have as much moisture in it, which dries out your respiratory system and makes it … Read the rest of this post >>
  I’m on a foraging kick! And I haven’t ventured out of my backyard. First it was nettle tea and nettle pesto, and now I’m onto the dandelions.
We’re all familiar with the common dandelion. In fact, if you’re a suburban dweller on a quest for a perfect grassy yard, the dandelion might be your worst enemy. But this common plant has a long history of traditional medicinal uses. Plus you can find it everywhere, so if you’re a hesitant forager, it’s an easy starting point.
Why dandelions? Dandelions are a bitter tonic, which is good for digestion and the liver. In herbal medicine, it’s frequently used for skin concerns (which traditionally are treated via the liver). It’s also a powerful diuretic, so you might not want to drink this before a long car trip!
What part to pick? The entire dandelion is useful: the flowers, stems, leaves and root. The spring and summer are best for harvesting the flowers, stems and leaves, while the autumn is the best time to collect the root.
I’ve only used the flowers so far, but you can use the young leaves as a bitter leaf in a spring salad.
Always be sure to collect the plants from a clean area, away from roads or any area that might have been sprayed with chemical fertilizers or pesticides or herbicides!
Continue reading Dandelion Syrup
  It’s spring, so it’s detox season. Drugstores are filled with pills and potions you can buy to ‘detox’ your body to get ready for warmer weather. But today I’m suggesting you go foraging for a completely free, nutritious “spring tonic”… nettles.
Ok, “foraging” sounds scary. Or cheap. Or too crunchy-earth-mother. I know. But don’t leave yet!
We’re here to rediscover and test vintage lifestyle tips. And back in the days before a Super Target was in every town, people used the resources around them: things growing in their gardens, and things they found wild in the environment!
Nettles are an old standby in traditional medicine – and we can still use them today as a tasty herbal brew.
If you’re in the US, this probably sounds way far out there. But here in the UK, finding nettle teabags in the grocery store is really common. Of course, picking your own nettles is easy, and even more nutritious (just be sure to wear gloves!)
Continue reading Spring detox with nettle tea
  Not long after mastering the art of making tinctures with herbs, I started acquiring quite a supply of little herb-infused-alcohol on my shelves. What to do with them? I know you can add tinctures to body/beauty products like creams, lotions, body scrubs, facial toners etc. Also, you can use them as part of your kitchen first aid kit. But with my love of food, I wanted to find a more tasty way to use the tinctures.
Enter Rosemary Gladstar. Her book is brilliant if you’re inspired by Harry Potter’s Potions class, and want to start concocting things in your own kitchen.
I adapted this recipe for a chocolate liqueur that uses the herb ‘damiana’ (ok, admittedly, I had to go buy this herb especially for this project, but it just sounded too delicious to pass up!)
Damiana is a restorative herb that is a gentle anti-depressant, helps you deal with stress/anxiety, and is also supposed to be an aphrodisiac! Sounds perfect for an after dinner drink.
Continue reading Chocolate Temptation Liqueur
 Just a few more pictures from my trip to Zagreb, Croatia. You can see the central market pictures here.
While wandering around, we came across the Black Eagle Pharmacy, which is the oldest pharmacy in Zagreb. Their window display was full of vintage apothecary ideas. Here you can see a mortar and pestle for crushing up herbs, some old advertisements, and scales for weighing the products.
Continue reading Inspiration: Vintage Pharmacy Finds
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Friendly Reminder Please remember that I'm not a doctor or expert practitioner of anything we discuss here on Vintage Savoir Faire. I'm still learning and trying these traditional skills and remedies like you are. So please, speak with your doctor or a qualified herbalist before trying any traditional remedies. All the information on this site is provided on an as-is basis. Thanks!
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