Herbs.
Make a strong tea of Echinacea root and Burdock root to help move the Poison Oak through your system faster. Put two tablespoons of Echinacea root and one tablespoon of Burdock root into a quart jar and pour boiling water over the herbs. Let the herbs steep in the water for four hours and then strain the herbs out. Make a fresh quart each day and drink three to four cups a day for several days. Also make sure you drink lots of plain water.
Tags: Poison Oak, tea
(Guest Article by Ryan Rivera)
Natural medicine offers and effective alternative to many prescription medications. In the case of anxiety, however, natural medicine isn’t just an alternative – the reality is that prescription medications are simply not ideal for treating something like anxiety. At best, they simply mask the problem. At worst they do nothing at all. But they don’t allow the individual to learn how to cope with anxiety separately, and they need to be taken every day to avoid some of the problematic withdrawal symptoms.
Tags: anxiety, kava, natural anxiety treatment, passionflower, stress, valerian
I’ve been reading one of Juliette de Bairacli Levy‘s books (Nature’s children) in the past few days and I wanted to make a few notes to myself and others interested in this topic.
Juliette states that certain foods/herbs are proven to increase human milk production. Among those are cereals, especially oats, barley, corn – these may be taken raw; rolled oats may be taken with milk; barley should be soaked in water to soften and then eaten with a little salt, honey or maple syrup, corn may be eaten when newly ripe and milky, direct from the cob.
Legumes (broad beans, peas, lima beans) can be eaten raw when fresh and tender, otherwise cook them in very little water with a teaspoon of lemon juice and pinch of salt to every large cup of pulses. Lentils and chickpeas may be eaten raw when soaked overnight and then minced.
Raw fruits, especially apples, pears, grapes, peaches and bananas.
Citrus fruits will decrease milk forming so stay away from those.
Root vegetables, especially carrots and sweet potatoes.
Nuts are also beneficial for milk production, especially walnut, almond, pistachio and chestnut.
From seeds sunflower, fenugreek, flax, celery, carrot, anise and poppy seeds are recommended.
Green herbs eaten in a salad, like wild garlic leaves, spring onions, milk thistle hearts, comfrey leaves, chicory, mallows, dill and coriander. Borage (flowers and young leaves) is one of the best milk producers and all the clovers are also very good, along with dandelion leaves, watercress, landress, alfalfa, melilot and milkwort.
I was reading Rosemary Gladstar’s great book, Family Herbal when I first “met” Hawthorn. She thinks every woman should feed Hawthorn jam to their husbands over 40 to keep their hearts healthy. This is a significant claim to make, and I appreciate Rosemary’s teachings so I started my research and dug deep in the books and other resources.
Hawthorn Berries for cardiac health
Hawthorn berries have been used to treat heart disease as far back as the 1st century. By the early 1800s, doctors used it to treat circulatory disorders and respiratory illnesses. Traditionally, the berries were used to treat heart problems ranging from irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pain, hardening of the arteries, and heart failure. Today, besides the berries the leaves and flowers are used medicinally, and there is some research that suggests that hawthorn might be effective when used in the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure.
It has been regarded as the most important cardiac tonic in both Chinese and Western herbalism. A syrup of Hawthorn berries was used as a heart tonic by the private physician of King Henry IV of France.
The characteristics of the berries are similar to those of the leaf and flower. Upon administering orally an increase in myocardial contractility may be observed due to procyanids as well as an increased coronary blood flow.
Hydroalcoholic Extracts: 2-2.5ml daily
Powdered Hawthorn Berries: 0.3-1g 3 times daily or as an infusion
Liquid extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 0.5-1 ml three times daily
Tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) 1-2 ml three times daily
Decoction: Simmer two teaspoons of dried berries in a cup of water for 15 mins and drink three times daily or see these decoction ideas
Tags: blood pressure, circulative disorders, collagen, congestive heart failure, flavonoids, heart disorders, palpitations, Rosemary Gladstar, rutin, tonic, vitamin C
Motherwort, as its name implies, is a woman’s herb. It has been used in Asia to prevent pregnancy and regulate menstrual cycles. It is used by midwives to help expell the afterbirth, to help get the uterus back into shape after childbirth, to prevent uterine infections and to ease symptoms of postpartum stress and depression. Traditional herbals suggest motherwort for “hysterical” conditions and “meloncholy”. As a relaxing nervine, motherwort helps to reduce anxiety and tension and bring one back to a place of calm centeredness. Motherwort is also a digestive bitter and as such encourages bile production, healthy digestion and reduces gas pains.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is used for menstrual and uterine conditions, as well as in heart and circulation treatments
Tags: calming tonic, depression, digestive bitter, Medicinal Uses, menopause, nervine, postpartum depression, regulate menstrual cycles, uterine infections, UTI
Slippery elm has been used as an herbal remedy in North America for centuries. Native Americans used slippery elm in healing salves for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns, and skin inflammation. It was also taken orally to relieve coughs, sore throats, diarrhea, and stomach problems.
Slippery Elm Bark Powder is a soothing nutritive demulcent which is perfectly suited for the sensitive and inflamed mucous membrane linings in the digestive system. It will stay down even if all else comes out.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) for colitis, upset stomach, food poisoning, acid reflux and other gastrointestinal problems
It is often used for its nutritive values during convalescence as it is gentle and easily assimilated.
Slippery elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines; it also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion. The increased mucus production may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity.
Tags: burns, colitis, Crohn's disease, demulcent, essiac, food, Gastroesophogeal reflux disease, nutritive, soothing, stomach, ulcers
“If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than anything else.”
Dr. Richard Shulze.
Chili is the Aztec name for cayenne pepper. It has been used by Native Americans as food and medicine for at least nine thousand years. Based on archeological evidence, its cultivation in Mexico is believed to have begun around seven thousand years ago. It was first introduced to Europe by Dr. Diego Alvarez Chanca, who accompanied explorer Cristoforo Colombo to the West Indies. From Europe, it was then transported to most tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones around the world.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne was introduced into traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine as well as traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicines, respectively. In Ayurvedic medicine, a combination of cayenne, garlic, and liquid amber are used externally in paste or plaster form as a rubefacient (agent which reddens the skin) and local stimulant. The dried fruit and/or tincture are also used internally to treat flatulent dyspepsia and atony of digestive organs. In Chinese medicine, cayenne is considered to have digestive stimulant action and is sometimes used to cause diaphoresis. Topically, it is used in China and Japan in an ointment form to treat myalgia and frostbite.
Tags: bleeding, cataract, digestion, Europe, herb that stops heavy bleeding, herb to prevent heart attack and cardiac failure, herbal stimulant, ulcers, William Cook
Energetics: Spicy, astringent
Meridians: Lungs, stomach
Sage (Salvia Officinalis) - Heals tonsilitis, throat disorders and helps weaning by decreasing milk supply
Sage is well named, coming from the Latin “salvare”, to save, in reference to its curative properties. As a member of the mint family, it has many of the healing properties of its sisters. Of special note are the high levels of calcium and other bone-building minerals in all mints, including sage, and the exceptionally generous amounts of antioxidant vitamins they offer us.
Tags: bleeding gum, blood cleansing herb, clears bronchial tubes, cold prevention, expectorant, flu, herb stimulating hair growth, herb that prevents night sweats, herb to relieve tonsilitis, herbal remedy for hot flushes during menopause, herbal remedy to mouth and throat ulceration, removes slime from stomach, Sage Essential Oils, sage honey, sage tea, sage vinegar, Susun Weed, thujon, weaning
I’ve been hearing and reading about people suffering from seasonal Ragweed allergies recently and at the same time my father advised me to read an article about Ragweed allergies and their natural (herbal) remedies. It was originally published in Hungarian but I thought maybe there are some people out there who would give it a try in other countries as well if they knew about this so I decided to translate it and do some further research.
Ragweed tinture, tea or powder from dried leaves of young plant may help to overcome Ragweed allergies naturally
The author of the hungarian article claims that the author heard about this remedy from a pastor called “Lajos Atya” in 1973 first. He was interested and involved in many applications of natural and herbal medicine at that time and he described the different uses of Ragweed in the past decades in depth.
Tags: hay fever, herbal remedy for ragweed allergy, Mississippi Valley, natural aid to relieve ragweed pollen allergy, natural remedy for hay fever, ragweed allergy, Ragweed Ambrosia Trifida, tea
Its Latin name, Trifolium pretense, means “three leaves, found in the meadow”. Red clover is a source of many nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. Red clover is a rich sources of isoflavones (chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants). The flowers are the parts of the herb used, either fresh or dried. Sheep and other animals that graze on these plants develop fertility problems and it is thought that this is because of the phytoestogens they contain. It is a very gentle herb and is great for long-term use or for weak, debilitated patients, such as children, elderly, or those recovering from a long illness.
Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense)
Red clover has many medical properties. The flowering heads of red clover improve urine production, circulation of the blood and secretion of bile. They also act as detergent, sedative and tonic. Red clover has the ability to loosen phlegm and calm bronchial spasms. The fluid extract of red clover is used as an antispasmodic. Red clover is used in the treatment of skin complaints (especially eczema and psoriasis), cancers of the breast, ovaries and lymphatic system, chronic degenerative diseases, gout, whooping cough and dry coughs. The dried flowers have been used for bronchitis and asthma and as an expectorant. Red clover is one of the richest sources of isoflavones. Isoflavones are effective in treating several conditions such as hot flashes, cardivascular health and osteporosis.
Tags: antispasmodic herb, cancer, detergent, expectorant, herb that enhances fertility, herb to ease dry coughs, herb with anti-neoplastic properties, herbal alternative to estrogen replacement therapy, herbal help for menopause, herbal remedy to ease bronchial spasms, herbal remedy to ease hot flushes, Isoflavones, Red Clover, Relevant Research Results, sedative, tonic
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