| What could be easier than growing an herb
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| | sprains, and sore eyes). The leaves,
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| garden with no effort? Of course, you'll
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| | flowers, and bark (especially) of the
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| have to harvest your weeds, but you would
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| | native Hohere (Hoheria populnea) are used
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| do that anyhow: it's called
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| | in exactly the same way by Maori
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| weeding.Spring is an especially fertile
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| | herbalists.Plantain, also called ribwort,
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| time for harvesting your weeds - roots
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| | pig's ear, and the bandaid plant is a
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| and all - and turning them into
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| | common weed of lawns, driveways, parks,
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| medicines. Here then are some tips on how
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| | and playgrounds. Identify it by the five
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| to find, harvest, prepare, and use a
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| | parallel veins running the length of each
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| baker's dozen (13) of common weeds that
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| | leaf. You may find broad leaf plantain
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| probably already grow around you.To make
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| | (Plantago major) with wide leaves, or
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| your medicines you'll need glass jars of
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| | narrow leaf plantain (Plantago
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| various sizes with tight-fitting lids.
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| | lanceolata) with lance-thin leaves.
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| And at least a pint each of apple cider
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| | Either can be used to make a healing
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| vinegar (pasteurized), vodka (100 proof
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| | poultice or a soothing oil widely
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| is best, but 80 proof will do), and pure
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| | regarded as one of the best wound healers
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| olive oil (not extra virgin) or good
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| | around. Not only does plantain increase
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| quality animal fat such as lanolin, lard,
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| | the speed of healing, it also relieves
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| or belly fat from a lamb or kid. You will
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| | pain, stops bleeding, draws out foreign
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| also want a knife, a cutting board, and
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| | matter, stops itching, prevents and stops
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| some rags to mop up spills.In general,
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| | allergic reactions from bee stings, kills
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| you will fill a jar (of any size) with
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| | bacteria, and reduces swelling.Try a
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| coarsely-chopped fresh, but dry, plant
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| | poultice or a generous application of
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| material. (Do not wash any part of the
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| | plantain oil or ointment (made by
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| plant except roots, if you are using
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| | thickening the oil with beeswax) on
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| them, and be sure to dry those well with
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| | sprains, cuts, insect bites, rashes,
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| a towel before putting them in your jar.)
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| | chafed skin, boils, bruises, chapped and
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| Then you will fill the jar with your
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| | cracked lips, rough or sore hands, baby's
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| menstruum, that is the vinegar, the oil,
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| | diaper area, and burns.To make a fresh
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| or the alcohol. Label well and allow to
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| | plantain poultice: Pick a leaf, chew it
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| stand at room temperature, out of the
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| | well and put it on the boo-boo. "Like
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| sunlight for at least six weeks before
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| | magic" the pain, itching, and swelling
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| decanting and using. (See my book Healing
| |
| | disappear, fast! (Yes, you can dry
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| Wise for more specific information on
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| | plantain leaves and carry them in your
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| making preparations.)A field guide is
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| | first aid kit. Chew like you would fresh
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| helpful for positively identifying your
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| | leaves.)To make plantain ointment: Pick
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| weeds. The one I like best is: A Guide to
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| | large fresh plantain leaves. Chop
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| the Identification of New Zealand Common
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| | coarsely. Fill a clean, dry, glass jar
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| Weeds in Colour, complied by E. A.
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| | with the chopped leaves. Pour pure olive
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| Upritchard. (Available from the New
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| | oil into the leaves, poking about with a
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| Zealand Weed And Pest Control Society,
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| | chopstick until the jar is completely
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| P.O. Box 1654, Palmerston North) This
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| | full of oil and all air bubbles are
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| book even shows you how the weeds look
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| | released. Cap well. Place jar in a small
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| when they are emerging.Ready? OK! Let's
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| | bowl to collect any overflow. Wait six
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| go outside and see what we can
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| | weeks. Then strain oil out of the plant
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| find.Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa
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| | material, squeezing well. Measure the
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| pastoris) is an annual in the mustard
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| | oil. Heat it gently, adding one
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| family. Cut the top half of the plant
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| | tablespoon of grated beeswax for every
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| when it has formed its little
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| | liquid ounce of oil. Pour into jars and
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| heart-shaped "purses" (seed pods) and
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| | allow to cool.St. Joan's/John's wort
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| make a tincture (with alcohol), which you
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| | (Hypericum perforatum) This beautiful
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| can use to stop bleeding. Midwives and
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| | perennial wildflower may be hated by
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| women who bleed heavily during their
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| | sheep farmers but herbalists adore it.
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| period praise its prompt effectiveness.
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| | The flowering tops are harvested after
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| Gypsies claim it works on the stomach and
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| | they begin to bloom (traditionally on
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| lungs as well. A dose is 1 dropperful
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| | Solstice, June 21) and prepared with
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| (1ml); which may be repeated up to four
| |
| | alcohol, and with oil, to make two of the
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| times a day.Cleavers (Gallium aparine) is
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| | most useful remedies in my first aid kit.
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| a persistent, sticky plant which grows
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| | Tincture of St. Joan's wort not only
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| profusely in abandoned lots and the edges
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| | lends one a sunny disposition, it
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| of cultivated land. The entire plant is
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| | reliably relieves muscle aches, is a
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| used to strengthen lymphatic activity. I
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| | powerful anti-viral, and is my
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| cut the top two-thirds of each plant
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| | first-choice treatment for those with
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| while it is in flower (or setting seeds)
| |
| | shingles, sciatica, backpain, neuralgia,
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| and use alcohol to make a tincture which
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| | and headaches including migraines. The
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| relieves tender, swollen breasts, PMS
| |
| | usual dose is 1 dropperful (1 ml) as
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| symptoms, and allergic reactions. A dose
| |
| | frequently as needed. In extreme pain
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| is 15-25 drops (.5 - 1 ml); repeated as
| |
| | from a muscle spasm in my thigh, I used a
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| needed.Chickweed (Stellaria media) has
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| | dropperful every twenty minutes for two
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| many uses, including delicious salad
| |
| | hours, or until the pain totally
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| greens. I cut the entire top of the plant
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| | subsided. St. Joan's wort oil stops cold
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| and eat it or use alcohol to make a
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| | sores in their tracks and can even
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| tincture, which dissolves cysts, tonifies
| |
| | relieve genital herpes symptoms. I use it
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| the thyroid, and aids in weight loss. A
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| | as a sunscreen. Contrary to popular
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| dose is a dropperful (1 ml), up to three
| |
| | belief, St. Joan's wort does not cause
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| times a day.Daisy (Bellis perennis) is a
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| | sun sensitivity; it prevents it. It even
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| common perennial weed of lawns and open
| |
| | prevents burns from radiation therapy.
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| areas. Quite different from the native
| |
| | Eases sore muscles, too.Self heal
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| daisy (Lagenifera petiolata), the little
| |
| | (Prunella vulgaris) This scentless
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| English daisy is related to feverfew and
| |
| | perennial mint is one of the great unsung
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| has similar abilities. I use the leaves
| |
| | healers of the world. The leaves and
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| and flowers to make a tincture (with
| |
| | flowers contain more antioxidants - which
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| alcohol) or a medicinal vinegar which
| |
| | prevent cancer and heart disease, among
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| relieves headaches, muscle pain, and
| |
| | other healthy traits - than any other
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| allergy symptoms. A dose is a dropperful
| |
| | plant tested. And as part of the mint
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| of the tincture (1 ml), up to twice a
| |
| | family, self heal is imbued with lots of
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| day; or a tablespoon of the vinegar in
| |
| | minerals, especially calcium, making it
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| the morning.Dandelion (Taraxacum
| |
| | an especially important ally for
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| officinalis) is a persistent perennial of
| |
| | pregnant, nursing, menopausal, and
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| lawns and gardens and one of the best
| |
| | post-menopausal women. I put self heal
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| known medicinal herbs in the world. (The
| |
| | leaves in salads in the spring and fall,
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| native dandelion of New Zealand -
| |
| | make a medicinal vinegar with the flowers
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| Taraxacum magellanicum - is medicinal
| |
| | during the summer, and cook the flowering
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| too.) Those who love a pure green lawn
| |
| | tops (fresh or dried) in winter
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| curse the sunny yellow flowers of common
| |
| | soups.Usnea (Usnea barbata) is that
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| dandelion. But those who are willing to
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| | many-stranded grey lichen hanging out of
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| see beauty anywhere (such as children and
| |
| | the branches of your apple trees or the
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| herbalists) treasure this weed. You can
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| | Monterey pines planted in the plantation
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| use any part of the dandelion - the root,
| |
| | over there or in almost any native tree
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| the leaves, the flowers, even the flower
| |
| | in areas of the South Island Alps, where
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| stalk - to make a tincture or medicinal
| |
| | it is known as angiangi to the Maori. If
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| vinegar which strengthens the liver. A
| |
| | in doubt of your identification: Pull a
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| dose of 10-20 drops of the tincture (.5-1
| |
| | strand gently apart with your hands,
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| ml) relieves gas, heartburn, and
| |
| | looking for a white fiber inside the
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| indigestion, as well as promoting healthy
| |
| | fuzzy grey-green outer coat. To prepare
|
| bowel movements. A tablespoon of the
| |
| | usnea, harvest at any time of the year,
|
| vinegar works well, too. More
| |
| | being careful not to take too much. Usnea
|
| importantly, taken before meals,
| |
| | grows slowly. Put your harvest in a
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| dandelion increases the production of
| |
| | cooking pan and just cover it with cold
|
| hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thus
| |
| | water. Boil for about 15-25 minutes, or
|
| increasing bio-availability of many
| |
| | until the water is orange and reduced by
|
| nutrients, especially calcium. The fresh
| |
| | at least half. Pour usnea and water into
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| or cooked green leaves are loaded with
| |
| | a jar, filling it to the top with plant
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| carotenes, those anti-cancer, anti-heart
| |
| | material. (Water should be no more than
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| disease helpers. And the oil of the
| |
| | half of the jar.) Add the highest proof
|
| flowers is an important massage balm for
| |
| | alcohol you can buy. After 6 weeks this
|
| maintaining healthy breasts. (There's
| |
| | tincture is ready to work for you as a
|
| lots more information on dandelions in
| |
| | superb antibacterial, countering
|
| Healing Wise.)Dock, also called yellow
| |
| | infection anywhere in the body. A dose is
|
| dock, curly dock, and broad dock is a
| |
| | a dropperful (1 ml) as frequently as
|
| perennial plant, which my Native American
| |
| | every two hours in acute
|
| grandmothers use for "all women's
| |
| | situations.Yarrow (Achellia millefolium)
|
| problems." The Maori call it paewhenua or
| |
| | This lovely perennial weed is grown in
|
| runa. It is another plant that disagrees
| |
| | many herb gardens for it has a multitude
|
| with sheep, especially when the land is
| |
| | of uses. Cut the flowering tops (use only
|
| overgrazed. I dig the yellow roots of
| |
| | white-flowering yarrow) and use your
|
| Rumex crispus or R. obtusifolius and
| |
| | alcohol to make a strongly-scented
|
| tincture them in alcohol to use as an
| |
| | tincture that you can take internally to
|
| ally when the immune system or the liver
| |
| | prevent colds and the flu. (A dose is
|
| needs help. A dose is 15-25 drops (.5-1
| |
| | 10-20 drops, or up to 1 ml). I carry a
|
| ml). I also harvest the leaves and/or
| |
| | little spray bottle of yarrow tincture
|
| seeds throughout the growing season and
| |
| | with me when I'm outside and wet my skin
|
| make a medicinal vinegar, taken a
| |
| | every hour or so. A United States Army
|
| tablespoon at a time, which is used to
| |
| | study showed yarrow tincture to be more
|
| increase blood-levels of iron, reduce
| |
| | effective than DEET at repelling ticks,
|
| menstrual flooding and cramping, and
| |
| | mosquitoes, and sand flies. You can also
|
| balance hormone levels. If the chopped
| |
| | make a healing ointment with yarrow
|
| roots are soaked in oil for six weeks,
| |
| | flower tops and your oil or fat. Yarrow
|
| the resulting ointment is beneficial for
| |
| | oil is antibacterial, pain-relieving, and
|
| keeping the breasts healthy.Groundsel
| |
| | incredibly helpful in healing all types
|
| (Senecio vulgaris) and Ragwort (Senecio
| |
| | of wounds.For more information on making
|
| jacobea) are hardy perennials that have a
| |
| | preparations and on the uses of specific
|
| reputation for poisoning livestock, like
| |
| | herbs, consult Susun's books: Healing
|
| their cousin tansy. Although not good
| |
| | Wise, Wise Woman Herbal for the
|
| for sheep, these two Senecios are some of
| |
| | Childbearing Year, Menopausal Years the
|
| the world's most ancient healing plants,
| |
| | Wise Woman Way, and Breast Cancer? Breast
|
| having been found in a grave 60,000 years
| |
| | Health! The Wise Woman Way.Susun Weed
|
| old. You can use the flowering tops and
| |
| | PO Box 64
|
| leaves with your alcohol to make a
| |
| | Woodstock, NY 12498
|
| tincture which acts slowly to tonify the
| |
| | Fax: 1-845-246-8081Vibrant, passionate,
|
| reproductive organs, ease PMS, and stop
| |
| | and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an
|
| severe menstrual pain. A dose is 5-10
| |
| | international reputation for her
|
| drops (.2-.5 ml) per day, used only once
| |
| | groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and
|
| a day, but for at least 3 months. (A
| |
| | writings on health and nutrition. She
|
| larger dose is used to speed up
| |
| | challenges conventional medical
|
| labor.)Mallows (Malva neglecta, M.
| |
| | approaches with humor, insight, and her
|
| parviflora, M. sylvestres) grow well in
| |
| | vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal
|
| neglected gardens and are surprisingly
| |
| | medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her
|
| deep-rooted. The flowers, leaves, stalks,
| |
| | animated and enthusiastic lectures are
|
| seeds, and roots are rich in sticky
| |
| | engaging and often profoundly
|
| mucilage which is best extracted by
| |
| | provocative.Susun is one of America's
|
| soaking the fresh plant in cold water
| |
| | best-known authorities on herbal medicine
|
| overnight or longer or by making a
| |
| | and natural approaches to women's health.
|
| medicinal vinegar. The starch is
| |
| | Her four best-selling books are
|
| extraordinarily soothing internally
| |
| | recommended by expert herbalists and
|
| (easing sore throats, upset tummies,
| |
| | well-known physicians and are used and
|
| heart burn, irritable bowel, colic,
| |
| | cherished by millions of women around the
|
| constipation, and food poisoning) and
| |
| | world.
|
| externally (relieving bug bites, burns,
| |
| |
|
