Making violet syrup

Ingredients:
Water
Violet Flowers
Honey/sugar
Lemon juice (optional)

 Pour 3 oz. boiling water over 2 oz. of the flowers; let infuse overnight in a covered container.  

Strain, then add half the infusion's volume of honey or sugar; cook on low till sugar dissolves. Do not boil; this helps the syrup retain color and medicinal value. I added the juice of half an organic lemon, which seemed to enhance the flavor well. I would say if you are looking to use this for primarily culinary purposes, it might be recommendable to use sugar, as the sugar won't alter the floral flavor as much as the honey. Medicinally, though, honey would more effectively complement the violet's soothing effect on sore throat/bronchitis. For more on the historical and medicinal applications of violet, see this Sweet Violets article on Mother Earth News

It's delicious! Piquant, primaveral, purple! I plan to cover, refrigerate (like most syrups, it should last at least 3 months in the refrigerator) and experiment! Violet cocktails in August sound divine...

Kava Kava toxicity issue

While working in the herb aisle today at the co-op, I had a customer ask about the nerve-racking warning label of potential liver toxicity on a bottle of kava kava capsules. This is a common question, and I thought I'd link to the following Herbal Gram article that thoroughly outlines the issue. Herbal Gram is the peer reviewed journal of the American Botanical Council.
After a comprehensive, historical examination of toxicity case reports and existing research, the article points out that there is little evidence to support  a direct causation between kava kava and toxicity of the liver, especially when taken within the recommended dose, and not continually. Kava is contraindicated with some pharmaceuticals, namely benzodiazepines. Kava has a long history of traditional use in the South Pacific.  Read on:

"Kava safety questioned due to case reports of liver toxicity"

by Mark Blumenthal

HerbalGram. 2002; 55:26-32 American Botanical Council

To read, please visit: http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue55/article2147.html


Piper methysticum (kava)
NPS Photo by Bryan Harry, see http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/htms/haleplnt/fish_pops/piperaceae/plant02.htm