The Remedy Practice
Create an Herbal Honey
Herbal honeys (or their vegan variation made with agave or food grade vegetable glycerin) are a sweet way to take your herbs and have a special affinity for the throat. Creating syrups with honey, adding honey to warm water, or taking a spoonful when you have a cough or sore throat is an old and effective remedy. In addition to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities, Honey is pleasant to take, making it a good option for little ones and picky old ones alike.
My favorite way to make herbal honey is to mix dried herbs with honey, making sure that the herbs are completely covered with the honey with about an inch of honey sitting above or below them. I make sure to put this in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and set it in a spot that I'll see everyday (out of direct sunlight, but in a warm spot if possible) where I can flip it over once or twice a day. You will probably need to add some more honey after the first day or two, making sure to keep all the plant material covered while avoiding air bubbles. After a full cycle of the Moon, I'll strain the herbs from the honey and it's good to go! Other times, I'll leave the herbs in the honey and when I need to use it, add a tablespoon of honey and herbs to warm water, straining out the herbs before I drink it.
You can also make herbal honey with dried powdered herbs, mixing it together as an herbal paste. To use you simply add a teaspoon to tablespoon of the herbal paste to warm water or milk. I like making an herbal paste of haldi doodh or gold milk when I'm traveling because it's much more convenient than traveling with powdered herbs and honey separately not only because herbal pastes aren't runny and tend to be less messy to manage overall.
Some folks like to warm their honey and herbs together for a few hours and then strain. A crockpot or double-boiler situation is best for this so you don't overheat the honey and damage its medicinal qualities. This is a great technique when you need to be able to use the honey sooner than later. Some folks use fresh herbs in their herbal honeys, but the water content of fresh herbs can make it more likely for the concoction to ferment or spoil, especially when using plants with higher water content. I've had mixed results over the years and tend to use dried herbs nowadays, but if you do want to use fresh herbs, keeping the mixture refrigerated and using it within a six month period can be a good option.
Herbal honeys that have been strained (so no plant material remaining in them) can be used as topical treatments for small cuts, scrapes, and burns. Simply apply a thin coat of honey on a clean wound or burn and cover with a bandage. You can also add a few drops of skin safe essential oils to a batch of herbal honey, making sure to mix well and let sit for a bit before use. An herbal honey with essential oils in it is a great topical treatment but should no longer be consumed or used for internal remedies.
Honey is an ingredient used by a variety of cultures in healing and ritual practices. Within Celtic cultures, especially those that thrived in bee-abundant Britain, the honeybee is seen as a keeper of wisdom and messenger between our world and the Otherworld. Later early medieval European beekeeping traditions and charms were really interesting and symbols of this period have endured into modern culture. Honey was widely used in medicinal and ritual practice in ancient Egypt and its magickal use was widespread throughout Slavic cultures, but you'll find modern and traditional honey practices throughout the world.
Wise Song Herbal Honey
The following recipe combines some classic throat herbs with ones that help us open up to our energetic voice, helping us to travel between the worlds along the pathways of our songs. It's a useful remedy to have on hand for sore throats, coughs, and for helping to alleviate symptoms from the common cold.
Blend together the following herbs:
2 parts Sage (Salvia officinalis or local variety)
1 part Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
½ part Rose (Rosa spp.)
Prepare as herbal honey (following instructions above). Dosage: A teaspoon taken directly or added to warm water or tea (up to 3 to 4 times daily).
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Remediations: An herbal honey that's purpose is to help us find our song is well-served by singing to it daily. Simple chants, wordless tunes or humming, or whatever song you like can all help to imbue your herbal honey with magickal energy. You can even make a remedy-making playlist! You can also easily add flower essences and gemstones that are safe to submerge in fluid to your herbal honey - which can be especially useful when you're seeking to address the underlying emotions of finding your voice and expressing your song.