Anti-Viral

Photo by Matt Briney on Unsplash

A virus is an opportunistic infection and foe - a killer weed in our landscape. But we need not grow a garden of fear and isolation. Instead, one can freely adjust the narrative to rescue not just our immune systems but our own light at this difficult time. My hope is that the tips and recipes I learn (and write as I learn and practice them) can be collective rituals for the safe keeping of our health and healing. 

We can choose to lead magically invincible lives. Instead of pestilence dividing and separating us, each can share our passions and learnings to one another. We can learn to brew our own beer, bake our our bread and cakes, ferment our own 'booch, distill our own spirits, bottle our vinegars and age our herbal oils in our urban homesteads. It's time to garden and homecraft the crap out of this plague.

With a few cupboard supplies and basics we can build a base for salves, tinctures and washes. Like calendula oil, grapeseed oil, apricot oil, beeswax, olive oil, aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, clay and salts. Then you'll need some oils. If no time to grow your own nature's remedies from seed and with plant nurseries closed in COVID-19, your medicine cabinet can be dried and bottles instead. These are essentials I recommend sourcing, saving and using - whether fresh, dried or as essential oils:

Red Clover, Nettle, Raspberry Leaf, Horsetail Leaf, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Hops, Plantain, Self-Heal, Violet leaves, Motherwort, Comfrey, Spearmint, Green Oat Tops, Hibiscus, Hawthorne, Chamomile, Catnip, Elderflower, Ashwagandha, Slippery Elm, Sassafras Root, Thyme, Dill, Marshmallow, St. John's Wort, Rhodiola, Dandelion, Burdock root, Licorice, Coriander seed, Feverfew, Clove, Ginger, Tarragon, Peppermint, Yarrow, Linden, Valerian, Golden Seal, Roses, Lemon Balm, Garlic, Chickweed, Bay and Anise. 

You might find these in dried herbs or teas, locally from online health stores in Singapore. Many are closed at this time but you can find fresh herbs at your local mini mart or corner grocery.

If you can still source cheaply on a Botanica you might like to save a cart of: Comfrey leaves, Blue Cohosh Root, Wormwood Oil, Mullein Leaf, Rue Oil, Dragons Blood Resin, Mugwort Leaves, Devil's Shoestring and Solomon Seal Root. I use Original Products Botanica in New York although it's closed right now sadly - but there are others. 

Nearer to home it's easier to find great essential oils online. I have on hand a supply of these essential oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Cypress, Pine Needle, Lemongrass, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Basil, Orange, Clove, Tangerine, Lemon, Blue Tansy, Copaiba, Lime, Cedarwood, Lavandin, Myrrh, Black Pepper, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, Juniper, Wild Marjoram, Helichrysum, Ginger, Rose, Wintergreen, Vanilla, Thieves, Tea Tree, Rosewood, Geranium and  Chamomile.

A store of some of the above would be a good start. And to stock up on some glass bottles, droppers, stoppers, labels and markers, mason jars etc too. You are now prepped and ready for a new botanical adventure in herbalism. 

YOU are prepped. You are now anti-viral.