You might have heard of Clef des champs. They’re my go-to local company for tinctures — bottles of distilled organic herbal combinations that do anything from easing digestion to improving your immune system to helping you relax.
But I didn’t know that they had a terraced garden, “nestled on a mountaintop in Val-David, in the gorgeous Laurentian region,” says Louise Nassif, the company’s press relations coordinator. And this summer, that garden will be open to the public for one month only. You can walk between lavender plants and burdock bushes, past gentian and shiitake mushrooms, while carefully avoiding the stinging nettles (which are great in soup — see recipe below — but live up to their names when raw).
Between July 18 and August 23, the garden will welcome anyone who wants a day out of the city. Visitors have a choice of guided, self-guided or audio-guided tours. There’s a witch’s garden (I’ll leave it up to the panels along the path to explain that one) and a tea room/health bar where you’ll find a little more than English Breakfast. Think lattes and cold medicinal infusions, like chickweed, which is supposed to help with respiratory and skin problems (eczema, psoriasis) and help you lose weight. It also regulates hormones, according to the Clef des Champs description. And for those not looking to wander too far from the tea room, there’s a demo garden up front with 15 of the most used plants in Western pharmacopeia, says Nassif (e.g. echinacea). And at the boutique, you can take home any of the tinctures and spices made from the plants you see growing nearby.
Nassif sent me samples of a digestive tincture and a relaxation tincture, which come with descriptions and ingredient lists. She also sent recipes from the company president for the ultimate superfood homemade chicken broth (below) and curried mushroom and burdock tarts (adapted below to be gluten-free).
There’s no restaurant, but there’s a picnic area, and there are lots of vegetarian-friendly cafés in Val-David (plus a Saturday morning farmers market).
Three Medicinal Plants to Know:
ASTRAGALUS Decoctions or infusions made from this root provide energy and physical endurance and help the body resist infection. It can be used alone but is often mixed with other plants.
BURDOCK This root helps normalise blood conditions, promote digestion and treat skin problems. It can be used as an infusion or a decoction, internally or externally to treat eczema, acne and dry and inflamed skin. It also regularises digestion and tones the liver and the stomach.
SHITAKE This makes a tonic that’s good for the immune system. It has adaptogenic, antineoplastic and tonic properties and is used in combination with other adaptogens (astragalus, reishi, ginseng) as a decoction. It should be steeped in liquid when used in soups, stews and broths and is both savoury and medicinal.
Recipes
Mushroom and Burdock Tarts
Tarts:
6 pieces gluten-free sandwich-style bread (the fluffiest you can find – I like Schär brand)
1 tbsp Earth Balance or vegan butter
Use a glass or mug to cut circles out of each piece of bread. Butter them on one side with the Earth Balance. Press them butter-side-down into a muffin tin and shape them to form a crust. Bake in a 350˚F oven for 10 minutes, or until golden (max 15 min). Remove from the muffin tins and set aside.
Mushroom and burdock filling:
2 tbsp coconut milk
2 tbsp finely chopped mushrooms (shiitake, oyster mushrooms, button mushrooms)
1/4 cup white wine
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp finely chopped fresh (or dried) chickweed
2 tsp cornstarch of gluten-free flour of choice to thicken
1 tsp curry powder
Soak the burdock root in white wine for a minimum of 3 hours.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the mushrooms and reduce the heat to medium. Cook 5 minutes. Drain the burdock root and add to the mushrooms. Cook over medium-low heat until liquid has almost completely evaporated. Sprinkle with flour. Add the coconut milk and cook until thick. Sprinkle with curry powder and remove from the heat.
Add the filling to the tart crusts and bake in a 325˚F oven for 10 minutes.
Superfood Homemade Chicken Broth
adapted by Marie Provost from the original recipe in Soupesoup
Bring to a boil in a big pot a whole medium chicken, your vegetables of choice (carrots, onions, celery, but not celery root), and a handful of astragals root and reishi mushroom. Ad enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Pour through a sieve and salt to taste. Save the chicken meat for sandwiches, salads and soups.
How to get there
La Clef des Champs
Where: 2205 chemin de la rivière, Val-David, Qc, J0T 2N0
info@clefdeschamps.net, 819-322-1561
When: July 18 to August 23, 2015, 10am-6pm
• Guided tour starting at 10:30 every morning, self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How much: $13.50 (guided tour), $9 self-guided tour (Audioguide and children under 12: free of charge)
And for those really into medicinal herbs, here’s the combo that Clef de Champs uses in their digestion-aiding ORGANIC Estomix T.
Gentian Tincture Gentiana lutea, Blessed Thistle Tincture Cnicus benedictus, Raspberry Tincture Rubus idaeus, Dandelion Tincture Taraxacum officinale, Cramp Bark Tincture Viburnum opulus, Licorice Tincture Glycyrrhiza glabra, Fennel Tincture Foeniculum vulgare, Alcohol (50%)
The decoction is stirred daily for 30 days, then pressed, decanted and strained. Then each tincture is combined in the right proportions. There are no additives, colours sugars, gluten, soy, GMOs or preservatives involved. And the process doesn’t involve irradiation. The finished product is sold in an amber glass bottle with a dropper. You take a certain number of drops per day.
According to Clef des Champs’ info, the Estomix tincture is good for treating colic, hiccups, atonic intestines, constipation, intestinal cramps, ulcerative colitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, bloating, motion sickness, lack of appetite, anorexia, heartburn, gastric or duodenal ulcers, dyspepsia, gastric reflux, liver congestion, sluggish liver, biliary colic, gallstones, nausea, pancreas atony.
But you shouldn’t take it if you’re pregnant because of the licorice, fennel and gentian or if you’re breastfeeding (licorice) or have any of the following conditions:
Gastric or duodenal ulcers (re: gentian1,2,3,5,7,8,9 )
Liver problems, cirrhosis of the liver (re: licorice1,2,3,4,5,6)
Kidney failure (re: licorice1,2,3,6)
Hypertension (re: licorice1,2,5,6, gentian)
Hypersensitivity to plants from the Asteraceae (re: blessed thistle1,3,7,11,12, dandelion1,4,6,7,9) or Apiacea family (re: fennel)
Consult a health care professional if you have gallstones (re: dandelion1,3,4,9)
This product is not intended for young children.
INTERACTIONS
Diuretics (re: dandelion6,7,12, licorice1,2,3,4,6)
Laxatives (re: licorice1,2,12)
Cardiac glycosides (re: licorice1,2,3,4,6)
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Estomix facilitates digestion, acting mainly on the stomach functions to improve this organ’s health. Stomach problems require herbs or compounds with a good balance between their tonic and healing effects. In fact, adequate digestive enzymes need to be produced for proper digestion. What is more, these secretions and their digestive action must take place in a stomach whose lining is intact and not irritated. This blend also contains antispasmodic and carminative herbs that help the stomach relax. It stimulates the secretions of the stomach, liver and pancreas, thus improving digestion, stimulating appetite, calming spasms, hiccups, nausea, cramps and bloating.
Gentian: Bitter tonic3,4,5,7,10,11 and stomachic3,4,5,7, gentian is an aperient3,5,7,10,11, sialagogue5,7,11, cholagogue3,7,11, choleretic4,7, anti-inflammatory4,7 and immunostimulant. It is used to treat gastrointestinal problems3,4, lack of appetite3,5,7, anorexia3,5,7,8, flatulence3,7, atonic dyspepsia3,5,7,8, digestive atony3,5,7 and nausea3,5.
Blessed thistle: A stomach tonic3,4,7,10,11,12,13, carminative, antidiarrheal3,7 and aperient3,4,7,11,12,13, blessed thistle stimulates salivary and gastric secretions. It is recommended for lack of appetite3,4,11,12,13, anorexia3,4,7, flatulence3,4,7,12 and dyspepsia3,4,7,12,13.
Raspberry: A nutritive, tonic6,12,16, cleanser, antispasmodic7,12,15, hypoglycemic7,12, anti-inflammatory, antihemorrhagic6,16, astringent6,7,11,12,15,16, antidiarrheal6,7,11,12,15,16 and mild laxative, raspberry tones the mucous membranes. It is used to treat irritation of the urinary tract6,16 gastrointestinal problems13,16, gastritis, dysentery, diarrhea6,7,11,12,15,16, nausea and hemorrhoids.
Dandelion: Cholagogue3,5,6,7,9,11,12, choleretic3,4,5,9,10,11, hepatic3,6,14, bitter tonic3,6,9,11,12,16, stomachic3,4,5,12, aperient3,4,6,9,11,12, cleansing9,10,11,16, diuretic3,4,6,7,9,10,11, hypoglycemic, antiscurvy, lithotriptic, antitumoral6,7,9 and slightly laxative3,4,5,7,9,10,11,12,16. Dandelion is recommended for hepatobiliary problems3,5,6,11,12, lack of appetite3,4,5,6, anorexia, dyspepsia3,4,5,6,7,16, ulcers, constipation7,12, flatulence3,4,12, gastrointestinal problems3,16, cholecystitis, gallstones6, 7and urinary calculi.
Cramp bark: Antispasmodic13,14,15, diuretic14,15,16, astringent and slightly laxative, cramp bark is mainly used to relax the stomach. It is very effective at treating gastroenteritis, intestinal cramps13,14,16, spasms13,14,15, colic and constipation when taken with digestive herbs.
Licorice: Diuretic, emollient3,5,6,7,9, anti-inflammatory3,4,5,6,7,10,11, antirheumatic5,6,9, slighlty laxative4,6,7,9, cholagogue6,9, antibacterial4,9, hepatoprotective4,6, antiulcerative3,4,5,6,9,10,11 and antispasmodic3,6,7,10,11 Licorice lowers gastric acidity, softens the digestive mucosa and helps heal ulcers3,,47.
Fennel: Carminative3,4,11,13,16, stomachic, stimulant and antispasmodic3,4,8,11, fennel soothes gas3,4,8,11,13, intestinal cramps3,4,8,11, dyspepsia3,4,8, indigestion and colic3,13,16.
FAVOURABLE ASSOCIATIONS
MILD LAXATIVE TEA infusion to speed up slow intestinal transit. Drink 1 to 3 cups, as needed.
PEPPERMINT tincture or infusion to ease bloating, flatulence, spasms and indigestion. Take 10 to 20 drops, 1 to 3 times per day .
SLIPPERY ELM powder to soothe irritation of the digestive tract. Mix 1 tbsp. with water or juice. Do not strain.
COLON TEA capsules to soothe irritation of the digestive tract. Take 1 to 3 capsules per day, along with PLANTAIN infusion.
SYNERGY OF THE BLEND
Gentian is a bitter tonic that mainly affects the stomach. It stimulates the production of digestive enzymes and helps the body digest foods completely.
Blessed thistle stimulates salivary secretions and all gastric functions.
Raspberry calms the gastric mucosa and gently stimulates digestive secretions.
Dandelion, a digestive system regulator, tones the pancreas, adrenal glands and liver.
Licorice soothes the lining of the stomach. It is especially effective at treating ulcers and an irritated digestive system.
Fennel and cramp bark are carminative and antispasmodic. In this mixture, they facilitate the action of the other herbs and promote the proper flow of solids, gases and liquids in the digestive system.
CERTIFICATION
Certified organic by an independent third party (Ecocert Canada)
Controlled by the Conseil des appellations agroalimentaires du Québec (CAAQ)
Manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices
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