A succus is a concentrated, nutrient dense tonic full of vitamins, minerals, and medicinal properties. It cleanses/flushes the blood, liver, and lymphatic system. Once very popular with folk herbalists of the past this preparation is making a comeback on-line and in the home. Succi are very easy to make. If you have a juicer you only have to run hand fulls of green goodness through your machine. If you only have a blender just add extra water, blending well to break up the plant material as if making a thin smoothy. Then strain out the pulp with cheesecloth and squeeze out the liquid if desired.
Late spring is the perfect time to make a succus so look for nettles, chickweed, dandelion , violet leaves, purslane, calendula, cleavers, lemon balm, plantain, fennel parsley, or cilantro leaves. I had a bunch of new growth plantain in September, making a succus seemed the perfect idea to use it up.
Some people will also add in lemon , fresh ginger or turneric root.
Once you have your choose there are several choices for preservation and storage.
1)Do not strain but freeze in ice cube trays. This can later be consumed internally or used externally in a pinch for skin issues such as burns, bug bites, wounds, rashes.
2)Add equal parts “juice” to honey. Mix well , bottle and store in the refrigerator for several months.
3)Preserve with alcohol (3 parts juice to 1 part alcohol in case you are not using a higher proof vodka or Everclear to make a succus that is close to 25% alcohol. Let settle for three days and filter. Store in amber glass bottles.
Dose-take a “shot” for acute conditions. OR 1-2 tsp 3X daily added to infusions, smoothies, or fruit juices.
This simple preparation is so easy to have on hand for winter or for the unexpected.
Directions: Juice/blend a generous handful of fresh plantain leaves. Run the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the pulp. Measure and mix with equal parts honey. Freeze in a container or ice cube trays. Defrost and use when needed for coughs and stomach ulcers.
Plantago is a perennial characterized by a basal rosette of several leaves with ribbed/parallel venation. Each terminates in a thick channeled stalk where they attach to a round stem. Leaves can be broad/ovate or narrow/lance shaped. Sometimes margins are toothed. A single, dense ,cylinder shaped, cluster/spike, of greenish white tiny flowers grows on a tall (6-18 inch) erect stem . These have brown sepals and bracts. Plantain is found along paths and roadsides, in meadows and lawns or in wastelands. If cultivating this plant, it likes sun or partial shade but really prefers a moist soil.
Plantago should be your top choice for a first aid remedy. Externally plantain is thought to be helpful for broken bones, wounds, burns, bruises, injuries, boils, acne, shingles, sunburn, eczema fungal infections, sore feet, and plantar fasciitis, . It can draw venom, poison, dirt, splinters, pus, and infection out of insect stings, animal bites, or wounds. It relieves irritation and pain when one has been exposed to irritating plants like nettles or poison ivy. Like nettle is supports the body to release antihistamine for relief when suffering from allergies, hayfever, and asthma. Historically this herb has been used to treat ulcers, bronchitis, coughs, sore throats, lung damage, inflammation in the digestive tract, irritated tissues/organs, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, toothache, fever, mastitis, earache, sore throat, urinary tract infections and internal bleeding. It is known to clear heat and inflammation. The seeds are edible and have been used to make flour or as a thickener. They are also a good source of fiber and may prevent constipation.
Family: Plantaginacea
Parts Used-leaves, seeds, root
Energetics-sweet, salty, bitter, cool, dry
Element-earth
Spiritual and Emotional Uses: Settling a mind that is restless, overactive, irritable or “addicted” to something stimulating.
Contraindications: soak or cook seeds before use.
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