How to Use Russian Herbal Remedies

Russians have a long and rich tradition of herbal lore and remedies. Russian women, especially, rely upon their ancestral wisdom to prevent and treat ailments which come with the long, harsh Russian winter. Herbs gathered in the blessed, but brief Russian summer can be found in most Russians' dachas (country houses). Even now, Russians prefer herbal treatments for ailments and cosmetics over their pharmaceutical counterparts.

Things You'll Need

• Beets
• Honey
• Sage
• Vinegar
• Nettles
• Rosemary leaves
• Chamomile flowers (dried)
• Egg yolk
• Brandy
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Siberian ginseng

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Instructions

• 1

  Eat beets. Beets are a staple in Russian pantries and a favored food. Beets are rich in beta-carotene, calcium, folic acid and iron. They also strengthen the immune system. Borscht is a popular Russian soup made of beets.

• 2

  Treat a cold or the flu with a beet infusion. Wash and scrub a small beet, grate and place in a saucepan. Wear gloves when handling beets to avoid staining your skin. Chop fresh sage and add to pan. Add two teaspoons honey and one teaspoon of vinegar. Pour a pint of boiling distilled water, infuse for ten minutes. Strain, cool and drink. Add honey to ease the flavor. The recipe makes three mugs. Drink it two to three times a day. Make it fresh daily.

• 3

  Gargle with the beet infusion to soothe a sore throat. Use it throughout the day. Gargle it cool or lukewarm.

• 4

  Use Russian herbal infusion treatment for silky hair. Combine three heaping teaspoons chopped nettles, one tablespoon (heaping) chopped rosemary or sage for dark hair or chamomile for light hair, one egg yolk, one teaspoon brandy and one tablespoon olive oil. Whisk the ingredients, and strain them. Apply it to freshly shampooed, wet hair and massage from roots to ends. Cover your hair in plastic or a towel. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water. Drape a towel over your clothing to protect it because the mixture will stain.

• 5

  Use Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero), which may lower cholesterol, improve memory and protect cells from environmental damage. Drink as a tonic. Siberian Ginseng is not the same as other Ginseng plants. They are not interchangeable.