AntiPlague

I can hardly believe I am able to post again so soon, that's unusual! I'm over at Kyle and Jenifer's place to make a batch of anti plague because everyone I come in contact with is either sick, just getting over being sick or getting sick for the second time in just a few weeks. 2 of Jenifer's kids are sick and she is really trying to keep the last one from getting it as this thing seems to be really nasty. I had a runny nose last week but that was the extent of it for me, I just can't afford to get sick without a decent bathroom and all of the things that have to be done to keep myself alive like cooking, firewood, livestock chores etc. One of the best things I know of for illness like this (flu) is anti plague, so I figure it's long past time I made a bunch of it.Unfortunately, it is one of the most tedious and time consuming formulas I make, and it takes lots of pots, pans, counter space,containers,stove top, etc, most of which I don't have which is why I am over here making it, Jenifer and I will split the batch and I'll have lots of extra for later or for anyone else that wants it. The stuff I have sampled that can be bought is absolutely worthless watered down excuse for a good product so I always make it myself (not to mention that it's rather expensive to buy). Right now I am waiting for the concentrates to simmer down so I have lots of time to make use of, which I thought would be well used in posting how to make the anti plague so others could make some too.
As I said, it's a long process, messy in the kitchen,terrible smelling and again,very messy! The black walnut in it means that anything it touches that can be stained will be stained forever so be careful not to spill or splash any on something you want to keep, like the new white kitchen towels for instance.
Each ingredient is measured by weight,or that's how it's supposed to be done, I am one of those cooks who doesn't bother to mess with measuring things, it's a handful of this and a pinch or two of that and a splash or two of the other thing. I'll give the proper proportions and then tell how I do it.
8 parts apple cider vinegar,raw is by far the best.
5 parts vegetable glycerin.
5 parts honey, again raw is best.
2 parts garlic juice from fresh raw garlic.
Concentrates of the following herbs:
2 parts comfrey root.
1 part wormwood.
1 part lobelia.
1 part marshmallow (or malva, "cheeses" )
1 part white oak bark.
1 part black walnut.
1 part mullein.
1 part skullcap.
1 part uva ursi, hydranga root or gravel root.
Though not in the original recipe I always add a good sized hand full of chaparral, it's really a powerful antibiotic and anti viral as well as blood cleansing, I wouldn't go without it, though the FDA says not to use it (it's too effective) it's perfectly safe.
I also like to add a half hand full of cayenne pepper,no formula is complete without that!
To make the concentrates you take each herb by itself and cover it with water (preferably distilled, it takes the properties of the herb out better) in a stainless steel pot. (I use a handful of each herb, a little more of the light herbs like mullein and skullcap and a little less of the heavy things like the bark and roots, all herbs in fine chunks or powder though the marshmallow is much nicer to use if it's NOT a powder, powder makes a slimy mess). With each herb in the pots covered with water, simmer on the stove very carefully for 30 minutes covered, do not boil.
After 30 minutes strain all of the herbs through cheesecloth or something else suitable, then put the resulting strong teas together and using a double boiler simmer down uncovered to 1/4 th the original amount. At this point I like to take the used herbs and put them all together into a blender (better use a good one like a Vita Mix) covering with just enough water to keep it from being a paste and blend the resulting concoction a little to help drag every last bit of good from the herbs, then pour the whole bunch into another big pot and lightly boil it for a while. This step is optional because it's my own way of doing it which makes it much stronger. After lightly boiling it for a while I strain it out (when straining, squeeze all of the liquid out, which is usually a tough job best suited to a guy) and add the resulting liquid to the liquid in the double boiler.
While the herb concentrate is simmering down mix the vinegar, honey, glycerin and garlic juice together. To make the garlic juice I usually use about 4-5 pounds of garlic, blend it up as fine as possible, then add just a little water and very lightly heat on the stove while stirring. When I say lightly heat I mean VERY little heat, just enough to help the garlic become liquid enough to strain.After straining the garlic juice I mix it with the honey, glycerin and vinegar.
When the herbs have reduced mix everything together, cool and bottle in dark glass.
The resulting concoction is nasty,smelly and tastes horrible! What you can buy usually tastes like salad dressing, mine is MUCH stronger, people who take it think I am trying to kill them. The benefit is that it works. Dosage is one tablespoon twice a day if you are not sick, just trying to keep from getting that way, three or more tablespoons is not a bad idea, you'll just smell like garlic. If you start getting sick then the dose is a tablespoon every half hour, you would probably rather be sick than taste the stuff but it does work if you actually use it.

Now that that's all written out I suppose I had better go stir my batch before it burns.