Jun 09
Yellow of Chamomile and "other coloured" Infusions
When I was a kid, and I felt sick my mom and grand mom would always try to palliate the symptoms with herbs’ infusions: chamomile, lemon verbena and mint for stomach ache, lime blossom tea just before school exams, thyme infusion for my wounded knees.
Since ancient times, we have been trying to learn and understand the power of the herbs that the earth provides us with and we’ve been using them to avoid pain and suffering.
Some of the herbs have a popular use and we can find them in supermarkets or in the pharmacy or we can even pick them up in the country and let them dry at home for a later use. However, other herbs have been forbidden for human use in most of the world countries… I’m talking about marijuana or cannabis. This plant has proved to be a wonderful help against Chemotherapy side effects as nausea, vomiting, general pain, fatigue and muscular pain. Why do we have to be so narrow minded when talking about pain? Nobody should be suffering if there is a remedy for that.
I’m submitting this post to this month’s Click Event: Yellow for Brí. Brí is fighting against a breast cancer and still has the energy to post and write about it at her blog; and Jai and Bee at Jugalbandi’s are dedicating all their efforts to help her. Please head over their blog to get all information. Keep it up Brí!!!
Here in Spain, a pill has been recently developed and it contains the cannabis chemical substances, THC, that will make you feel better after the Chemotherapy sessions. Either it’s still on Clinical trials or it has recently been launched… I don’t know, but hopefully will be able to help patients feel better.
Growing your own cannabis plants at home, in Spain, (as long as you don’t have a large amount) is not forbidden, personal consume is not forbidden. Selling cannabis is forbidden and punished with prison.
If you have the ingredients for cannabis infusion, this is how you can prepare it:
First of all be aware that there’s male and female plants. The male doesn’t contain as much THC as the female and female flowers are the ones containing more. Second, leaves and flowers should be dry before using them in a infusion. Third, THC needs grease to get fixed to it. Let me explain that: if you infuse it in water only you won’t get the THC benefits, you should also infuse it in a grease element such as milk (for example). Also, I’m not an expert here, please contrast my opinion with other Internet sources.
Recipe
Ingredients for cannabis infusion: 1 glass of milk, 4 glasses of water, a small bunch of dried female leaves. Have it simmering (don't let it boil) for 45 to 50 minutes and after that let cool down in the same recipient. Strain and drink a small amount first to see how it works in your body, be aware that the effects will take a bit to show, when you smoke it, it goes straight to your blood system and when you drink it it takes a while to digest and get into the blood system.
Keep in the fridge for a couple of days.
Ingredients for chamomile infusion per person: 1 tablespoon of dried flowers, some drops of lemon and some honey or sugar. Perfect after a heavy and strong meal.
Boil some water, pour the flowers in and take away from the heat. Cover it and let it infuse for 10 minutes. Strain, serve and add a few drops of lemon and sugar or honey to your taste. Have just after your meal.
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Comments
I totally agree with you Nuria! People are so narrow minded when it comes to these things. I also enjoy chamomile to relax after a heavy meal.
Oh Nuria it really is a shame that someone with an illness can’t get this to help them through it!
We drink a lot of chamomile here. It is good for settling the girls in the evenings!
I’m happy that Canada has legalized medicinal marijuana. But, I don’t think we’re as progressive in terms of personal consumption.
I must say, I think this is the first time I’ve seen a cannabis infusion one on a foodblog. I also didn’t know you could infuse cannabis in milk. I’ve only seen recipes for butter/margarine.
Excellent recipes for infusions. Our situation with cannabis is weird. In our town having marijuana is simply a civil infraction (ie. just a ticket – no record, etc.)
In our STATE, it’s illegal and a misdemeanor (bigger crime, possibly punishable by jail time).
If you’re caught in our city by a city police officer, you’ll get a ticket. If you’re caught in our town by the country sheriff or a state trooper, you’ll have to go to trial.
I use chamomile all the time. I love it.
With my grandmother it was anise. It must a grandmother thing. (Of course, I still do it, and I don’t think I’m a grandma yet.)
thanks for participating nuria… i like chamomile in tea sometimes!
- jai
British Columbia as far as I know is the leading grower of cannabis. Of course it is illegal to grow, sell or smoke but there are people who are allowed if they have a doctors permission to take it for pain or other medical reasons.
Hola Peter :D I cannot understand why is a yes to alcohol and a no to marijuana. If on top we talk about avoiding pain…
Hola Judy :D. I didn’t know it also had a calming effect. Or do you mix it also with Valeriana?
Hi Psychgrad :D Thanks for letting me know how it is in Canada.
The milk makes the same job that the margarine or butter do: notice they all have grease components. I was doubting a lot before deciding to post about it.
Thanks so much Jen for such an informative comment :D. Yes it’s kind of weird and contradictory!!! I love chamomile too and going to the country and picking it up is such a pleasure :D
He, he Susan, I’m totally with you… it’s a grandmom thing!!! I still love it too.
Thanks Jai! A pleasure to participate, as always :D
Thanks so much Val for the info :D. Maybe is this wonderful weather you have that helps in the growing of the plants!
These archaic laws need to worry more about deadlier drugs like crack, meth, etc, than a little weed to get you through a rough time.
Totally agree with you Courtney! How is it going in Sweeden? Hope you have a great time :D
Nuria, us Greeks enjoy a Chamomille tea with honey & lemon and I like it regardless if I’m sick or not.
As for marijuana use, I’m all for medicinal usage and I see no problem with it’s recreational use.
My question is though…how would you react to your children using it?
Hola Peter :D. Yes it’s a tough item!!! I would legalize marijuana! Same treatment as alcohol has. I even think that alcohol is worse than marijuana. Never being radical… too much of any substance is bad!
Concerning my kid, I would feel happy if she came to me to ask or if she would just tell me about it(better than hidding the fact). But I am not this open minded with the rest of the drugs!!!
You wacky Europeans and your marijuana tinctures! :D
I used to make a lot of tinctures and stuff, when I was more of a hippie and had my own apothecary. Fun times. My favorite was making love potions. :)
Hola Heather :D I would love to know more about your tinctures and stuff ;-) It seems that one of your love potions actually functioned!!!!
Nice entry for Bri Nuria. Congrats for Spain winning tonight 4 – 1.
Thanks Ivy :D. I heard that Spain won… not that I care much. How was it with Greece? Did you win too?
Nuria, you must have heard by now. It was a disaster.
What a great article Nuria! I totally agree that alcohol is worse than cannabis – there is so much good use for cannabis beyond just consumption, like textiles, that I think they keep it illegal so we have to keep buying more expensive things!
Amazing!
Ooooh, sorry about it Ivy.
Hola Jenn :D. Thanks for your kind words! It’s great to see that we agree in the basics here. And yes, Cannabis has such wonderful uses aside from its chemical substances. If we compare the enviroment in a Spanish Bar with the loud shouts of the agresive drunken people and the laughters and easy environment in a Dutch Coffee Shop… then we see it clearly!