HERBAL REMEDY
for IBS, bloating or digestive discomfort
This tincture is the mother of all indigestion and bloating remedies. I’ve packed five herbs into it, all of which have a long history of use as carminatives and digestive tonics.
This is something that can be made in large batches and stored in the fridge for up to a year. You don’t need to take it every day to see the benefits, but rather use it whenever you feel bloated and uncomfortable. Measure out 20ml (1 tablespoon) and either take on its own or in a small amount of water.
We all overeat at times (I am certainly guilty of it!) so this can also be taken as a shot or added to a mug of hot water and sipped as a preventative following a large meal. Makes 200–300ml.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
60g dried angelica
40g dried licorice root
30g dried fennel seeds
15g dried peppermint
10g dried greater celandine
400ml vodka
METHOD
1 Grind the dried herbs in a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, then transfer to a sterilised glass jar.
2 Pour the vodka over the herbs, replace the lid and shake until well combined.
3 Leave in a cool, dark place—your pantry is ideal—to infuse for 2 weeks.
4 Strain through cheesecloth, squeeze well with clean hands, and discard the solids. The more strength you can muster, the more you’ll be able to squeeze out and the more tincture you’ll get as a reward for your efforts. The strained liquid can be left for an hour for the finer sediment to settle, then decanted into a sterilised glass bottle and stored in the fridge for up to a year.
If some of these herbs are a bit tricky to come by, you can make a simpler version with just the licorice, peppermint and fennel—it’s a classic carminative combination. An alcohol-free version of any of these remedies can be made by using two parts food-grade vegetable glycerine and one part water instead of the vodka. My recommendation is to heat the two in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until completely dissolved, then pour into the jar. Read more about glycetracts on page 41.