From the kitchen
Recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play the leading role, with ingredients, steps and points of attention. Each recipe links to the herbs it contains.
These are traditional dishes, not treatments. Also read the safety information for each herb, especially during pregnancy, when taking medication, or for children.
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Recipes for: Rest and sleep
Asia · Chinese medical traditionsBrown rice with shiitake, peas and fu lingRice cooked with finely mashed fu ling and shiitake.Rest and sleepImmunityPoria (fu ling) · Shiitake4 people · Preparation 15 min (plus 1 hour soaking), cooking 50 min
Asia · Chinese medical traditionsFour-herb tonic soupWarming soup with fox nut, Chinese yam, lotus seed, fu ling and Job's tears.Tiredness and strengthRest and sleepFeeling coldFox nut (qian shi) · Chinese yam (shan yao) · Sacred lotus4–6 people · Preparation 10 min (plus overnight soaking), cooking 1 h 10 min
Asia · AyurvedaHaldi doodh, warm turmeric milkMilk with turmeric and spices: in Indian households a familiar drink before bed or with a cold.Rest and sleepColdsTurmeric · Black pepper and long pepper · Ginger1 large mug · 10 minutes
가을들녁 · CC BY 2.0 KRAsia · Korean hanbang and the DonguibogamDaechu-cha, jujube teaA sweet, dark tea of dried jujubes, simmered until almost syrupy.Rest and sleepTiredness and strengthJujube (red date) · Ginger4 cups · 1 hour
Europe · Hildegard of BingenSpelt biscuits with nutmeg ('Nervenkekse')The best-known recipe of modern Hildegard medicine: spelt biscuits with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.Rest and sleepSpelt · Nutmeg · CinnamonAbout 50 small biscuits · 1 hour, plus 1 hour chilling
Home remediesSleep teaAn evening tea with chamomile as the base.Rest and sleepChamomile · Oats · PassionflowerEuropeNorth AmericaSouth AmericaLoose herb blend · 20–30 minutes- Home remediesStress teaA gentle, fruity tea for the daytime.Rest and sleepChamomile · Rose and rose hip · Lemon balmEuropeAsiaLoose herb blend · 20–30 minutes
Home remediesNerve tinctureA tincture of calming herbs.Rest and sleepChamomile · Lemon balm · LavenderEuropeNorth AmericaOne bottle · Steep 2–4 weeks- Body careRelaxing bath bagDried flowers in a bag under the tap.Rest and sleepChamomile · Lavender · Rose and rose hipEuropeOne bath bag · 5 minutes
- Body careWarm massage compressHerbal bundles in warm oil.Rest and sleepJoints and musclesAlmond · Coconut · LavenderAsiaEuropeTwo compresses · 20 minutes
Body careMassage oil for loversA warm massage oil with cinnamon and vanilla.Rest and sleepGrape · Cinnamon · VanillaEuropeAsiaCentral America and the CaribbeanAbout 295 ml · 5 minutes