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