Herbal Heart Remedy for Circulatory and Emotional Health

For Wanted85 and others:

Ingredients:

Reishi Mushroom(Ganoderma lucidum or Ganoderma tsugae) A pretty red shelf mushroom that grows on dead Hemlock trees. Common throughout the U.S.(tsugae species) and China(lucidum species). Both species seem equally good for the heart, both physically and emotionally supporting heart health. Can help release trapped emotions while supporting the strength required to accept them and let go of turmoil due to it’s adaptogenic properties. Helps to overcome grief.

Chaga Mushroom(Innonotus obliquus) A black growth found on birch trees that is not actually a mushroom itself, but a tough, woody mycelium. The mycelium(living fungus) of chaga grows inside the wood of live birch trees, extracting nutrients for years and slowly growing outwards into a “conch”) eventually killing the tree. Chaga’s place in the ecosystem appears to be poorly understood, but it’s medicinal properties are well known. It is also adaptogenic, like Reishi Mushroom and gives it’s properties more to the physical body than the emotional body. Very nourishing in tea or tincture for blood, lungs and skin, and soothing to agitated digestion when taken daily. High in vitamin k which comes out more in tincture than tea, and in many trace minerals. Avoid if you are on blood thinners(like coumadin) as it could potentially interact.

I will not give weight measurements because you would need a small scale just to make tea. Handful measurements work fine. You can adjust this formula as you like, since these herbs are non-toxic and can’t be “too strong” except according to your own taste. I recommend purchasing Chaga from a good supplier already chopped, though you can find it at some farmer’s markets on the east coast of the U.S. for sure. It’s crack with a hammer tough though, so I say buy it chopped already. I currently use mostly Mountain Rose Herbs as a supplier, easily googled, and there are other good companies out there.

Cut Reishi into thin strips and add a hefty handful to a pot with 3 quarts of water. You will need kitchen shears or hand pruners(like Felco) just to cut them. They are light, but tough. Add a slightly smaller handful of chopped Chaga. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes covered at a low simmer. This tea cannot be made by steeping, it must be boiled. The water should be turning the mushrooms, slowly or quickly, but not churning at full boil. Turn it off at the end of 30 minutes and serve yourself some or let it sit. The color will be between a faintly reddish and translucent brown, to a deep almost coffee brown, depending on how much you add and how potent the ingredients are.  It is mildly but not unpleasantly bitter and it has a rich that aroma I find pleasant, like good mushrooms cooking. If it is too bland or bitter for your taste sweeten it lightly. I do suggest sweetening only as needed, since the flavor is part of the medicine. Love it.

Drink 1 quart of this per day, or more if you want to. The ingredients may be boiled twice to get all the good stuff out, and should still make a good cup of tea on the second or even third boiling. You can make 2 quarts or a little more from the recipe above, some water is lost to boiling. You can boil it at night and let it sit on the stove ’til morning too. Tea keeps for about 48 hours in the fridge, maximum. After that any benficial properties are suspect in my opinion. This can be lightly sweetened and iced, and it is quite refreshing. Enjoy!

p.s. Reishi is mildly diuretic, but much less so than coffee.