Good sources of dietary iron include: watercress and other green leafy veg, sprouted grains and seeds, raisins, eggs, molasses, soya, parsley, lentils, kidney beans, sardines, figs, dried apricots, almonds, ginger, wholemeal bread. Take cider vinegar, one tablespoon with each meal, to aid absorption.

Iron Tea

Ingredients:

Nettle, Raspberry leaf, Dandelion leaf, Hawthorn flowers, Comfrey, Mint.

Iron Tonic

Ingredients:

• 1Kg unsulphured dried apricots
• 1Kg molasses
• 3 Litres red Wine
• 5ml/Litre tinctures of Ginger, Gentian, Yellow Dock, Damiana, Nettle tops.
• 0.5ml/Litre tincture of Capsicum (optional)

Method:

Cover the apricots with water and simmer for 6 hours. Add molasses and simmer for a further 2 hours. Cool, and liquidise in a blender. Add red wine, stir for 5 -10 minutes until pourable. Add the tinctures. 1 Kg apricots makes about 4 Litres tonic. Bottle it up in 500ml airtight bottles and keep refrigerated once opened.

Dosage:

15ml 2 times a day. 30ml per day is said to provide 2mg of absorbable iron.

Uses: Anaemia, lethargy, general tonic and during pregnancy.