Ikarian Medicinal herbs

                                                               Silybum Marianum 

                                                                        Blessed milk thistle

Blessed Milk thistle

         

                                                                  Liver Detox

We bought this in a seed form Kira Maria according to the herb expert here on the island 

You crush the seed , boil water, add a small amount of the crushed seed, let steep. Drink this tea for only one week then stop. I looked this up on Mother Earth site for other medicinal  uses, lowers blood sugars, pain reliever, fights infections, can decrease BP, lower cholesterol. If you experience diarrhea stop tea. 

Kira Maria  sells Herbs Tea's at Monastery 

    

                                                             

                

                                                   Frascomilo  mountain tea

Properties Mountain Tea 
According Ikarians

        

               

                                                 

                                                    

Wild Oregano 

     

                                                       

Properties Oregano

     

   

                                              

Chamomile

    

                      

                                               

Saint Johns Wort ((Balsalm oil)

 

 

                     

                                            Thrimbii 

Thrimbi9

    Properties Antibacterial, antioxidants, Astringent, Carminative. Savory can be used  fresh or dried.In cooking or teas. Marianna uses it for salad dressing, she puts a handful of savory in a glass jar,with a good quality olive oil, infuses for 40 days.

                                                 

Herbs drying at Monastery of Theoktis

                                                    

                                                     Origanum vulgare wild marjoram

Marjoram 

                                               

  

                                                            

Mint

              

                              

                                                                 

    

Figs drying outside Monastery 

                                                    

Figs as you know are not a herb , but are also considered  to be an amazing and healing fruit.

At end  of August the trees are heavy with fruit, they are good for asthma, diabetes,Constipation, anemia. 

Studies are being conducted in Athens to find out why Ikarian herbs are more potent than other Greek islands.

Herbs are incorporated in the Ikarians day to day lifestyle, they cook with it they use it for medicinal purposes, they drink it in their tea along with their amazing honey, infuse it into their olive oil  for salad dressings.

Another reason that may contribute longevity. 

Flowers &bees

*The hand written explanations are found at the monastery, written by unknown  author

Kira Maria only speaks Greek*

Disclaimer :Trying any of these teas, herbs,remedies recommend consulting with your Doctor.

 

    

  

                 

Monastery Theokitis

           

                                                                   Theoskepasti

                                                                   Translated Roof of God.

         

Located in the mountains in a small village called Pigi is a  very special place, here you will find a  Monastery  ( nuns left  here 1982)  it is now looked after by a dedicated elder KiraMaria you will also find a 1700century church, relics and as pictured above a small but amazing chapel built from and into the rocks.

       

                                    Sign marking turn onto dirt road to Monastery

                                    

             Peaceful place the walkways are lined with brilliant beautiful flowers.

      

1700 Church is in need of paint and repairs but because of its age it's a expensive undertaking to restore it to its original state requiring special techniques.

                                    

                                      

                                             Inside Theoktisti Church

      

                        KiraMaria lovingly explains the paintings on the wall from 1700 century

                                     

Outside are chairs and tables where herbs are drying later to be sold for the upkeep of the 

Grounds.

        

                                                                      

                                          

Relics found at the Monastery 

         

Kitchen of Kira Maria  located on the grounds where collected herbs are being dried, honeys, along with a few handmade items and of  the course  the locals and one our favorite as well, homemade Loukoumades drizzled with honey, all for sale with the proceeds going for the upkeep of the grounds and church.

        

         

            

         

Their are many legends surrounding this monastery, we will return to Theokitisti  to hear them  directly from their caretaker KiraMaria and post what she shares along with the herbs and their medicinal properties on our next blog.

Religion is a very important  part of the Ikarians day to day life,  could this be another reason why they

Live long and healthy lives. Faith in God  and the Greek Orthodox Religion.

                                    

 

   

                                        

     

                 

   

Greek Mountain Tea (Faskomilo)

   

  

Greek Mountain Tea  Sage

         

                                                    

         Collected  in the  dry high rocky craggy  areas of Ikaria  at the end of  summer is the cherished mountain plant wild sage.

    

        We discoverer an area outside of the village of Frantato, on a side of the mountain covered with this  plant. You can smell it before you see it. We set about collecting sage, till we had 2 large bags full.    

While we are collecting we can see and hear wild goats, curiously peeking at us as we set about our task, filling canvas sacks.

Curious Goats

            

          

         This plant may be a strong anti-inflammatory ,may be considered effective for colds, sore throats , may have anti cancer properties, effective wound healing, may also help in treatment type 2 diabetes.

Being studied  treatment in Alzheimer's, may promote mood, help improve memory.

Studies conducted in Athens, Ikarian herbs are more potent than any other of Greek Islands.

 

We took our mountain sage home rinsed it, set it in a cool dry  shaded area to allow it to dry.

        

Allow to completely dry

         

   

      

Description found Monastery  in Pigi

          

          

         

  

       

                                                                    

Kira Maria caretaker  at Monastery  Theoktis

          

   

          Faskomilo tea

         To prepare Faskomilo 

         Bring water to a rolling boil

         Add 1-2 sprigs to pot

         Cover and let steep for 7 minutes 

         Teaspoon of  honey

Ingredients  Mountain  Tea

      

       Chinese the Greeks and the gypsies all believe that sage is the key to long life. Here on Ikaria you can find Mountain sage tea in every house and I am told the elders drink this alone with other types Mountain Tea's, drank daily especially during winter month's. Wild Oregano, Rosemary, Mint,Chamomile, Fennel,  with Ikarian honey for enjoyment, medicinal , therapeutic properties.

         

      

                         

Harvest time on Ikaria

                                 

       

     

Harvest time in Ikaria, it is mid August and  the gardens here are thriving, the fig trees which are found everywhere on this island are heavy with fruits Just find a tree that looks good to you, pick what you can eat and a few for your fruit bowl at home. I had never experienced a fresh fig, I didn't even  know what they looked like, at home I had only seen them in their dried shriveled up state even at that I always thought figs were tasty, untilI tasted my first fresh fig.

                           

                                 My Hubby stops at the roadside to pick some fresh figs

      

                            Grapes are almost ready, but a rainy spring has delayed them a bit.

                                              

                                          

 

                     Blog  later specifically dedicated to the harvest  of these magnificant grapes

                     

                        Photo of a pomegranate we took in June will be ready t pick in August  .

    

                        

Panigiri (Greek village Festival)

Ikaria is famous for it's Panigiri ! What is a Panigiri you ask it's a festival put on by the   Village, each one being unique in its own way just as Ikaria is different and unique from her sister Islands. Panigiri involves eating, drinking, dancing, socializing, raffles, prizes.

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                                           Guess who won the raffle?

   

  
It's not for the faint heart,  it  begins after dusk and some start in morning and go on well into the next day. 100% of the money raised at the festival goes to village that puts on the festival.The funds are used to repair roads, churches, schools,or if a local needs financial help, it is voted on and decided by the villagers where it is most needed. All who work the festival and cook are volunteers. 

       

Wild goat is on the menu you pay about $40.00 kilo a brown paper is spread out on the tables and you dive in, donated local red wine flows all night, oh I forgot to mention goat broth, one Ikariote mans the vat of goat broth, filling everyone's soup bowls. 

                                                  

                                           

                                                         Serving up the broth

                                     

                                                                         Goat Broth

     

                                                     

       

                                                Vat full of Goat Broth

                                                              

Usually a Church is located in the the center of the festivities and you can see people all night going in and out of their church, to offer up a prayer, light a candle for a loved one, or just to be close to God.  Religion is a very important part of their day to day life.

     

On August 15th The most well attended Panigiri held in the village of  Laggada with over 3000 people coming from all over Greece. This Panigiri is  held high in the mountains, the festival begins  in the morning and goes all day and into the next, the same band will play the entire time with no breaks in the music, the guy with the mandolin will play, then the guy with the violin will take over Then a instrument called a  Pipiza made out of goat skins  (the Greeks version of a bagpipe ) takes over so on and so on. 

          

           

                                                  Bazooki Instrument 

             

There are Panigiri all over the island this day to celebrate Mother Mary's Name day. We opted  out of the large celebration in Laggada to go to a quaint village Panigiri.

The setting was among plantain trees, lit lanterns, stone walls, wooden benches and tables.

                     

                                                      Our Group

                      

                                                                

                     

                            Panigiri are attended  and enjoyed by all age groups.

                               

                                         

                  

            Rings of traditional dancers  young and old get bigger and bigger as the night wears on.

                                

  

              

      After 8 hours of singing, dancing, eating and socializing it's time for us to go home.

                                          I was struck by 2 things

      1st by how each village take matters into its own hand to raise and spend money, there is a real 

        Lack of politics here and more a sense of community coming together, there is no paid 

        Government the people manage their own money and do it quite well.

        Secondly 

        It is truely amazing for me  to see every man, woman, and child come together singing and 

        Dancing to traditional music, their heads are thrown back with true bliss on their faces, the

        Young dancing with the old ,holding hands or their arms wrapped around each other.  

         Maybe this connection is another reason why they live long and well. Who would want to

        Leave this party!