“It lifts my spirits and lowers my anxiety.”Jim Duke
We’re taking a tip from a senior botanist with this simple tip for a refreshing cocktail to beat the heat and cure all that ails you.
At the end of most days, 81-year-old botanist Jim Duke pours himself a cocktail. Hardly a Scotch on the rocks, this healthy concoction he’s dubbed Creme d’Mentia is a blend of herbs, steeped in diluted vodka, that are thought to boost relaxation, mood, memory, and overall brain health (see recipe below). “It lifts my spirits and lowers my anxiety,” says Duke.
Recipe: Jim Duke’s Creme D’Mentia
* Mix 1/2 pint of 80-proof vodka with 1/2 pint water.
* Add 1/4 fresh lemon, 4 T. rosemary leaves, 6 T. lemon balm leaves, 4 T. peppermint leaves, and 2 T. sage leaves.
* Add sugar to taste.
* Steep for 3 days. Enjoy!
Now, let’s break it down and grow some herbs in the garden pharmacy or window sill:
ROSEMARY:
memory enhancer
reduce joint pain
SAGE:
painkiller
potent breath freshener
LEMON BALM
Dispels anxiety; improves mood
source: AARP