In the days before capsules and tablets, healers practiced the art of the Electuary. This was the “old practice” of mixing finely powdered herbs directly into raw honey to create a thick, stable medicinal paste.
Unlike modern tinctures that use harsh alcohols, or pills that use industrial binders, the electuary used honey as both the delivery system and the preservative. The honey would “lock in” the volatile oils of the herbs, preventing them from oxidizing. It was believed that the sweetness of the honey helped the body “willingly accept” the medicine, carrying it directly to the heart and blood.
The Benefits
- Complete Herbal Spectrum: Because you are consuming the whole herb (powdered) rather than just an extract, you receive all the minerals and fibers.
- Heart Tonicity: Hawthorn is traditionally known as the “nurse of the heart,” used for centuries to strengthen the cardiac muscle and balance blood pressure.
- Emotional Grounding: The combination of honey and rose was used to soothe “melancholy” and reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.
The Remedy: The Heart-Strengthening Honey Electuary
A traditional heart and nerve tonic, free of refined sugars and industrial oils.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Raw, thick honey (a floral honey like Clover or Orange Blossom is best)
- 3 tbsp Hawthorn berries (dried and ground into a very fine powder)
- 1 tbsp Dried Rose petals (powdered)
- 1 tsp Ground Cardamom (to “open” the chest and aid circulation)
- A pinch of Sea salt
Instructions
- The Preparation of the Herbs: It is essential that your herbs are ground into a “flour-like” consistency. If they are gritty, the electuary will be unpleasant. Use a stone mortar and pestle to grind the hawthorn and rose until very fine.
- The Sifting: Pass the herbal powders through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any large woody pieces or stems.
- The Honey Folding: Place your raw honey in a ceramic bowl. Do not heat it. Slowly fold in one tablespoon of the herbal powder at a time.
- The Kneading: Use a wooden spoon to “knead” the herbs into the honey. As you add more powder, the honey will transform into a thick, dark, dough-like paste.
- The Maturation: Transfer the paste to a small glass or stone jar. Let it sit in a dark cupboard for one week before using. This allows the honey to draw out the medicinal resins from the hawthorn.
- The Dosage: Traditionally, a small “nut-sized” piece (about a teaspoon) was taken slowly on the tongue, twice a day, or stirred into a mug of warm (not boiling) water.
