Doctor Of The Soul
  • Home
  • About
  • Private Sessions
  • Gifts for the Soul
    • FREE HEALING LIBRARY
    • Creativity Bowl
    • 5 Steps to Mastering Your Creativity
    • Joy Cookies
  • Master Your Creativity
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Newsletter
  • Healing Brahman Chant
  • MYC Course
    • Master Your Creativity Module 4: Healing
    • Member Offers >
      • MYC Founding Membership (Annual)
      • Master Your Creativity Membership Payment Plan

Soul Wisdom

The Healing Spice that inspired St. Hildegard's Joy Cookies

3/20/2018

1 Comment

 
​St. Hildegard made many contributions to the field of holistic health and wellness. The wisdom that she shared about natural healing, nutrition, and healthy living was a seed planted that now flourishes within the field of natural medicine.
In the mid 12th century, St. Hildegard recognized the health benefits of many herbs and spices and shared a basic recipe for biscuits or cookies that are commonly called “Hildegardplätzchen” (Hildegard’s Cookies). Today we might call them "Joy Cookies" as she says they lift any melancholia, open your heart, and bring you a sense of cheerfulness and joy. 
Picture
In her book, Physica, St. Hildegard recommended the use of nutmeg for its healing powers and offered the following recipe. 
“Nutmeg has great heat and good moderation in its powers.  If a person eats nutmeg, it will open up their heart, make their judgment free from obstruction, and give them a good disposition.  Take some nutmeg and an equal weight of cinnamon and a bit of cloves, and pulverize them.  Then make small cakes with this and fine whole wheat flour and water.  Eat them often.  It will calm all bitterness of the heart and mind, open your heart and impaired senses, and make your mind cheerful.  It purifies your senses and diminishes all harmful humors in you.  It gives good liquid to your blood, and makes you strong.”  - St. Hildegard von Bingen, Physica -1153AD
If we take this seed that was planted by St. Hildegard long ago into our current times within natural medicine, we see that nutmeg is known for many health benefits including the following:
  • Supports a Healthy Brain – nutmeg contains myristicin and macelignan, natural organic compounds that have a stimulating effect, supporting focus and concentration and also protecting the brain from degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
  • Eases Pain and Swelling – the essential oil of nutmeg helps to relieve muscular and joint pain resulting from injury, strain, or chronic inflammation such as arthritis
  • Improves Circulation – the potassium within nutmeg relaxes blood vessels, controls blood pressure, and improves blood circulation
  • Boosts Immune System – the minerals in nutmeg such as potassium, calcium, iron, and manganese help fight against bacteria and disease
  • Cures Insomnia – nutmeg has a high content of magnesium, a mineral that reduces nerve tension and supports the feeling of relaxation
 
Here’s a recipe for St. Hildegard’s cookies that I’ll share, based on her original ingredients, but adapted to our modern times. Enjoy!
Picture



​The spice of nutmeg along with cinnamon, and cloves, all have their own health benefits that will support mental functions such as concentration, boost immune system and blood circulation, increase vitality, reduce tension, and improve mood.  This will promote a sense of joy and ease in daily life and a good night’s sleep. Something we all would appreciate!
 

St. Hildegard’s Cookies
 
Ingredients
¾ cups butter
1 1/2 c. coconut sugar
1 egg, beaten
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups spelt flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
optional: 1 cup chopped almonds

  1. Cream the butter and sugar together.  Add the egg and mix well. 
  2. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then add to the creamed mixture. 
  3. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. 
  4. Remove, roll out on a floured surface and cut with cookie cutters. 
  5. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
(Based on a recipe from here which was adapted from the original book, Hildegard of Bingen’s Medicine by Dr. Wighard Strehlow and Gottfried Hertzka, MD)
 

The sweet aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves that arise in your kitchen will also bring a sense of joy and well-being!  Enjoy and also don’t forget St. Hildegard’s view of moderation – finding balance in your activities and in your enjoyment of food. 
We’ll try St. Hildegard’s Cookies of Joy, along with other healing recipes and remedies, in my upcoming classes, Healing with St. Hildegard, starting in April. Sign-up here to join us.  
1 Comment
Carol Schultz
9/21/2019 01:36:28 pm

St Hildegard is my patron saint. She has followed me since I fell off the train in Bingen 60 years ago. I have been baking using various recipes for her cookies for many years. I’ll try this one, too since some of the the ingredients look interesting, especially the cocoanut sugar. Don’t think that was available in her day.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    SUBSCRIBE

    About Jeannine

    I was born in London, England, educated in Switzerland, and am fluent in English, German, Spanish, and French. I hold a Doctorate in Ministry Degree and Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology and Education. Also, I am an accomplished artist and educator. I use all of this and much more when helping others heal their souls.

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    November 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

© 2022 by Doctor of The Soul
  • Home
  • About
  • Private Sessions
  • Gifts for the Soul
    • FREE HEALING LIBRARY
    • Creativity Bowl
    • 5 Steps to Mastering Your Creativity
    • Joy Cookies
  • Master Your Creativity
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Newsletter
  • Healing Brahman Chant
  • MYC Course
    • Master Your Creativity Module 4: Healing
    • Member Offers >
      • MYC Founding Membership (Annual)
      • Master Your Creativity Membership Payment Plan