Is Master Tonic For You!?!

This past week I have been doing a lot of late fall/winter preparations. Putting up some of the last ends of the harvest, making laundry soap to last until spring and even delving into making kombucha at home. (Have you ever priced that stuff?!? It's outrageous.) 

Here in the upper Ozarka winters can be harsh. They can literally throw you into the 1900s with no electricity, water or internet. So the preparations have to start early, because without running water or heat, there can be many opportunities for  catching some nasty bug. 

Perhaps the biggest preparation I have started was my Master Tonic. While this is mainly for myself to use as a preventative to not catch anything (never know when a mama is going to go into labor) that might come floating around. 

So what is Master Tonic?

Master Tonic is a potent blend of food ingredients that are known to hold anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. Very similar to the concoction of herbs used by thieves during the Black Plague to prevent people who came in contact from catching it. 

What is in Master Tonic?

The blend can vary a lot depending in the region and the creator of your blend. Personally, I like to use all fresh ingredients either grown in my garden or wild crafted to get the most benefits out if them. Dry herbs can be used for just the plain herb version, but you will sacrifice some of the potency of your tonic. 

The list of herbs used in Master Tonic is considerably shorter and uses more common kitchen ingredients than Thieves   Vinegar, they can be used interchangeably with some discretion. **You would want to exercise caution in using anything on your skin or internally that could cause a reaction.**

Herbs/Ingredients Traditionally Used:

White Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar

Red Wine Vinegar

Wormwood

Meadowsweet 

Wild Marjoram 

Sage

Cloves 

Campanula Root

Angelic

Rosemary

Horehound

Camphor

Lavender

Rue

Thyme

Mint

Garlic

Ginger

Onion

Horseradish

Hot Peppers (cayenne, Thai, jalapeño, etc.)

**Please research any ingredient before you use. Some are not intended for use in people with health condition, pregnant or nursing moms or with certain medications. Consults a physician or pharmacist with any questions. 

So do I still have you interested? Want to make your own version of Master Tonic? I'll provide two versions that I use. I like to start them on a New Moon and finish them up on the Full Moon. Make sure to shake vigorously atleast once a day. 

Standard Master Tonic

Garlic

Onion

Ginger 

Horseradish

Cayenne Peppers -Seeds and Gills incld. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Use equal parts of food ingredients. 

Grate or chop all ingredients into small pieces. Put in glass jar to about 3/4 full. Cover with ACV and put a lid on and let sit for 15 days. 

CVM's Ultra Potent Master Tonic

Cayenne Peppers

Ginger

Sage 

Mullein
Garlic
Onion 
Clove

Apple Cider Vinegar

Equal parts on all ingredients except the ACV. 

Chop or grate ingredients. But all ingredients into a glass jar to about 3/4 full, cover with apple cider vinegar and put a lid on it. Let sit for 15 days. 

To Finish

Strain "pulp" in a cheese cloth over a bowl and squeeze pulp to remove extra liquid. (Wearing gloves is smart!! This is super strong.) Put your liquid in a jar with a lid and store in a cool dark place. Out pulp in another jar and save for salads and such. It is still very potent and adds zing to meals. 

To Use

Take 1 ounce and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds and then swallow. Use 2x-3x daily as a preventative during cold an flu season. 

You can also put it on your hands to help prevent contracting any bugs when interacting with people. 

Master Tonic is a great preventative that packs a potent kick in upping your immune system and fighting bugs while still supports your overall health. So, is Master Tonic for you? 

Send in your pictures of your completed tonic to share!! I'd love to hear how yours turns out! 

(sources)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thieves_Vinegar

http://heal-thyself.ning.com/m/blogpost?id=2814160%3ABlogPost%3A10555

The New Norman Rockwell

There is this idea out there that moms (and especially WAHM/SAHM) moms are supposed to be perfect. We're supposed to have our shit together and dinner ready when our husband/boyfriend/wife/etc walks into our house. Society tells us that all we do is sit merrily in our rears eating Pinterest inspired meals while our children happily play together in the corner- oh wait, they're playing on iPads and cell phones these days.  A modern day Norman Rockwell. 

And while soda shops and homemade apple pie are all peachy kin and shit, we've created a monster. We've set our future generations up on the front line of the mother of all wars. To fight the battles  of living their lives with their families without Facebook induced judgement and unwarranted DFS calls. 

I want to say we fueled this war on moms. This saga of never ending guilt and shame by putting other mothers down. We've all done it. We've all made the snide comment about how Mary parents or how Jan and her clan always look perfect so she must be up to something. We relish in the reality TV version of other women's lives, not realizing our actions and reactions are what is fueling this war on moms. 

We've become so desensitized to cruelty and judgement. It's a part of our everyday life. We are teaching it earlier and earlier in our children's lives by just our normal actions. We are literally teaching our children the battle strategies to continue an industry created war on parenting, especially mothering. 

All of a sudden, ever little parenting move you make is judged. Gauged even. We are defined by a series of government and society approved ideas and standards that really do not fit most of us. Yet we don't change them. We work to change ourselves into something we do not even recognize. 

Again, we fuel the war. 

We refuse to be unique (who wants to be labeled something far worse for walking to your own drum) and conform. Even when we are walking our own path, we receive even more criticism. We are in a giant catch-22 of craptastic values, morals and ideas spoon fed to us by the international giant of society. 

Breaking free is hard, but doable. You might get yelled at, name called or unfriended on your social media site of choice. But breaking free is the best thing for your sanity, your children and future parents out there. 

And in the meantime, let whatever flag you relate to, fly!!