Herbal Medicine Chest in Your Backyard

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