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Herbal Medicine Chest in Your Backyard

What could be easier than growing anconstipation, and food poisoning) and
herb garden with no effort? Of course,externally (relieving bug bites, burns,
you'll have to harvest your weeds, butsprains, and sore eyes). The leaves,
you would do that anyhow: it's calledflowers, and bark (especially) of the
weeding.Spring is an especially fertilenative Hohere (Hoheria populnea) are
time for harvesting your weeds - rootsused in exactly the same way by Maori
and all - and turning them intoherbalists.Plantain, also called
medicines. Here then are some tips onribwort, pig's ear, and the bandaid
how to find, harvest, prepare, and use aplant is a common weed of lawns,
baker's dozen (13) of common weeds thatdriveways, parks, and playgrounds.
probably already grow around you.To makeIdentify it by the five parallel veins
your medicines you'll need glass jars ofrunning the length of each leaf. You may
various sizes with tight-fitting lids.find broad leaf plantain (Plantago
And at least a pint each of apple cidermajor) with wide leaves, or narrow leaf
vinegar (pasteurized), vodka (100 proofplantain (Plantago lanceolata) with
is best, but 80 proof will do), and purelance-thin leaves. Either can be used to
olive oil (not extra virgin) or goodmake a healing poultice or a soothing
quality animal fat such as lanolin,oil widely regarded as one of the best
lard, or belly fat from a lamb or kid.wound healers around. Not only does
You will also want a knife, a cuttingplantain increase the speed of healing,
board, and some rags to mop up spills.Init also relieves pain, stops bleeding,
general, you will fill a jar (of anydraws out foreign matter, stops itching,
size) with coarsely-chopped fresh, butprevents and stops allergic reactions
dry, plant material. (Do not wash anyfrom bee stings, kills bacteria, and
part of the plant except roots, if youreduces swelling.Try a poultice or a
are using them, and be sure to dry thosegenerous application of plantain oil or
well with a towel before putting them inointment (made by thickening the oil
your jar.) Then you will fill the jarwith beeswax) on sprains, cuts, insect
with your menstruum, that is thebites, rashes, chafed skin, boils,
vinegar, the oil, or the alcohol. Labelbruises, chapped and cracked lips, rough
well and allow to stand at roomor sore hands, baby's diaper area, and
temperature, out of the sunlight for atburns.To make a fresh plantain poultice:
least six weeks before decanting andPick a leaf, chew it well and put it on
using. (See my book Healing Wise forthe boo-boo. "Like magic" the pain,
more specific information on makingitching, and swelling disappear, fast!
preparations.)A field guide is helpful(Yes, you can dry plantain leaves and
for positively identifying your weeds.carry them in your first aid kit. Chew
The one I like best is: A Guide to thelike you would fresh leaves.)To make
Identification of New Zealand Commonplantain ointment: Pick large fresh
Weeds in Colour, complied by E. A.plantain leaves. Chop coarsely. Fill a
Upritchard. (Available from the Newclean, dry, glass jar with the chopped
Zealand Weed And Pest Control Society,leaves. Pour pure olive oil into the
P.O. Box 1654, Palmerston North) Thisleaves, poking about with a chopstick
book even shows you how the weeds lookuntil the jar is completely full of oil
when they are emerging.Ready? OK! Let'sand all air bubbles are released. Cap
go outside and see what we canwell. Place jar in a small bowl to
find.Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursacollect any overflow. Wait six weeks.
pastoris) is an annual in the mustardThen strain oil out of the plant
family. Cut the top half of the plantmaterial, squeezing well. Measure the
when it has formed its littleoil. Heat it gently, adding one
heart-shaped "purses" (seed pods) andtablespoon of grated beeswax for every
make a tincture (with alcohol), whichliquid ounce of oil. Pour into jars and
you can use to stop bleeding. Midwivesallow to cool.St. Joan's/John's wort
and women who bleed heavily during their(Hypericum perforatum) This beautiful
period praise its prompt effectiveness.perennial wildflower may be hated by
Gypsies claim it works on the stomachsheep farmers but herbalists adore it.
and lungs as well. A dose is 1The flowering tops are harvested after
dropperful (1ml); which may be repeatedthey begin to bloom (traditionally on
up to four times a day.Cleavers (GalliumSolstice, June 21) and prepared with
aparine) is a persistent, sticky plantalcohol, and with oil, to make two of
which grows profusely in abandoned lotsthe most useful remedies in my first aid
and the edges of cultivated land. Thekit. Tincture of St. Joan's wort not
entire plant is used to strengthenonly lends one a sunny disposition, it
lymphatic activity. I cut the topreliably relieves muscle aches, is a
two-thirds of each plant while it is inpowerful anti-viral, and is my
flower (or setting seeds) and usefirst-choice treatment for those with
alcohol to make a tincture whichshingles, sciatica, backpain, neuralgia,
relieves tender, swollen breasts, PMSand headaches including migraines. The
symptoms, and allergic reactions. A doseusual dose is 1 dropperful (1 ml) as
is 15-25 drops (.5 - 1 ml); repeated asfrequently as needed. In extreme pain
needed.Chickweed (Stellaria media) hasfrom a muscle spasm in my thigh, I used
many uses, including delicious salada dropperful every twenty minutes for
greens. I cut the entire top of thetwo hours, or until the pain totally
plant and eat it or use alcohol to makesubsided. St. Joan's wort oil stops cold
a tincture, which dissolves cysts,sores in their tracks and can even
tonifies the thyroid, and aids in weightrelieve genital herpes symptoms. I use
loss. A dose is a dropperful (1 ml), upit as a sunscreen. Contrary to popular
to three times a day.Daisy (Bellisbelief, St. Joan's wort does not cause
perennis) is a common perennial weed ofsun sensitivity; it prevents it. It even
lawns and open areas. Quite differentprevents burns from radiation therapy.
from the native daisy (LageniferaEases sore muscles, too.Self heal
petiolata), the little English daisy is(Prunella vulgaris) This scentless
related to feverfew and has similarperennial mint is one of the great
abilities. I use the leaves and flowersunsung healers of the world. The leaves
to make a tincture (with alcohol) or aand flowers contain more antioxidants -
medicinal vinegar which relieveswhich prevent cancer and heart disease,
headaches, muscle pain, and allergyamong other healthy traits - than any
symptoms. A dose is a dropperful of theother plant tested. And as part of the
tincture (1 ml), up to twice a day; or amint family, self heal is imbued with
tablespoon of the vinegar in thelots of minerals, especially calcium,
morning.Dandelion (Taraxacummaking it an especially important ally
officinalis) is a persistent perennialfor pregnant, nursing, menopausal, and
of lawns and gardens and one of the bestpost-menopausal women. I put self heal
known medicinal herbs in the world. (Theleaves in salads in the spring and fall,
native dandelion of New Zealand -make a medicinal vinegar with the
Taraxacum magellanicum - is medicinalflowers during the summer, and cook the
too.) Those who love a pure green lawnflowering tops (fresh or dried) in
curse the sunny yellow flowers of commonwinter soups.Usnea (Usnea barbata) is
dandelion. But those who are willing tothat many-stranded grey lichen hanging
see beauty anywhere (such as childrenout of the branches of your apple trees
and herbalists) treasure this weed. Youor the Monterey pines planted in the
can use any part of the dandelion - theplantation over there or in almost any
root, the leaves, the flowers, even thenative tree in areas of the South Island
flower stalk - to make a tincture orAlps, where it is known as angiangi to
medicinal vinegar which strengthens thethe Maori. If in doubt of your
liver. A dose of 10-20 drops of theidentification: Pull a strand gently
tincture (.5-1 ml) relieves gas,apart with your hands, looking for a
heartburn, and indigestion, as well aswhite fiber inside the fuzzy grey-green
promoting healthy bowel movements. Aouter coat. To prepare usnea, harvest at
tablespoon of the vinegar works well,any time of the year, being careful not
too. More importantly, taken beforeto take too much. Usnea grows slowly.
meals, dandelion increases thePut your harvest in a cooking pan and
production of hydrochloric acid in thejust cover it with cold water. Boil for
stomach, thus increasingabout 15-25 minutes, or until the water
bio-availability of many nutrients,is orange and reduced by at least half.
especially calcium. The fresh or cookedPour usnea and water into a jar, filling
green leaves are loaded with carotenes,it to the top with plant material.
those anti-cancer, anti-heart disease(Water should be no more than half of
helpers. And the oil of the flowers isthe jar.) Add the highest proof alcohol
an important massage balm foryou can buy. After 6 weeks this tincture
maintaining healthy breasts. (There'sis ready to work for you as a superb
lots more information on dandelions inantibacterial, countering infection
Healing Wise.)Dock, also called yellowanywhere in the body. A dose is a
dock, curly dock, and broad dock is adropperful (1 ml) as frequently as every
perennial plant, which my Nativetwo hours in acute situations.Yarrow
American grandmothers use for "all(Achellia millefolium) This lovely
women's problems." The Maori call itperennial weed is grown in many herb
paewhenua or runa. It is another plantgardens for it has a multitude of uses.
that disagrees with sheep, especiallyCut the flowering tops (use only
when the land is overgrazed. I dig thewhite-flowering yarrow) and use your
yellow roots of Rumex crispus or R.alcohol to make a strongly-scented
obtusifolius and tincture them intincture that you can take internally to
alcohol to use as an ally when theprevent colds and the flu. (A dose is
immune system or the liver needs help. A10-20 drops, or up to 1 ml). I carry a
dose is 15-25 drops (.5-1 ml). I alsolittle spray bottle of yarrow tincture
harvest the leaves and/or seedswith me when I'm outside and wet my skin
throughout the growing season and make aevery hour or so. A United States Army
medicinal vinegar, taken a tablespoon atstudy showed yarrow tincture to be more
a time, which is used to increaseeffective than DEET at repelling ticks,
blood-levels of iron, reduce menstrualmosquitoes, and sand flies. You can also
flooding and cramping, and balancemake a healing ointment with yarrow
hormone levels. If the chopped roots areflower tops and your oil or fat. Yarrow
soaked in oil for six weeks, theoil is antibacterial, pain-relieving,
resulting ointment is beneficial forand incredibly helpful in healing all
keeping the breasts healthy.Groundseltypes of wounds.For more information on
(Senecio vulgaris) and Ragwort (Seneciomaking preparations and on the uses of
jacobea) are hardy perennials that havespecific herbs, consult Susun's books:
a reputation for poisoning livestock,Healing Wise, Wise Woman Herbal for the
like their cousin tansy. Although notChildbearing Year, Menopausal Years the
good for sheep, these two Senecios areWise Woman Way, and Breast Cancer?
some of the world's most ancient healingBreast Health! The Wise Woman Way.Susun
plants, having been found in a graveWeed
60,000 years old. You can use thePO Box 64
flowering tops and leaves with yourWoodstock, NY 12498
alcohol to make a tincture which actsFax: 1-845-246-8081Vibrant, passionate,
slowly to tonify the reproductiveand involved, Susun Weed has garnered an
organs, ease PMS, and stop severeinternational reputation for her
menstrual pain. A dose is 5-10 dropsgroundbreaking lectures, teachings, and
(.2-.5 ml) per day, used only once awritings on health and nutrition. She
day, but for at least 3 months. (Achallenges conventional medical
larger dose is used to speed upapproaches with humor, insight, and her
labor.)Mallows (Malva neglecta, M.vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal
parviflora, M. sylvestres) grow well inmedicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her
neglected gardens and are surprisinglyanimated and enthusiastic lectures are
deep-rooted. The flowers, leaves,engaging and often profoundly
stalks, seeds, and roots are rich inprovocative.Susun is one of America's
sticky mucilage which is best extractedbest-known authorities on herbal
by soaking the fresh plant in cold watermedicine and natural approaches to
overnight or longer or by making awomen's health. Her four best-selling
medicinal vinegar. The starch isbooks are recommended by expert
extraordinarily soothing internallyherbalists and well-known physicians and
(easing sore throats, upset tummies,are used and cherished by millions of
heart burn, irritable bowel, colic,women around the world.



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