Herbal Medicine Chest In Your Backyard
What could be much easier than growing an herb garden with no effort? Of course, you’ll have to harvest your weeds, but you would do that anyhow: it’s called weeding.
Spring is an in particular fertile time for harvesting your weeds – roots and all – and turning them into medicines. Here then are some recommendations on how to come across, harvest, prepare, and use a baker’s dozen (13) of frequent weeds that almost certainly already develop about you.
To make your medicines you’ll need glass jars of a variety of sizes with tight-fitting lids. And at least a pint every single of apple cider vinegar (pasteurized), vodka (100 proof is most effective, but 80 proof will do), and pure olive oil (not additional virgin) or superior top quality animal fat such as lanolin, lard, or belly fat from a lamb or kid. You will also want a knife, a cutting board, and some rags to mop up spills.
In general, you will fill a jar (of any size) with coarsely-chopped fresh, but dry, plant material. (Do not wash any portion of the plant except roots, if you are making use of them, and be positive to dry those properly with a towel prior to putting them in your jar.) Then you will fill the jar with your menstruum, that is the vinegar, the oil, or the alcohol. Label nicely and let to stand at room temperature, out of the sunlight for at least six weeks prior to decanting and utilizing. (See my book Healing Wise for extra particular data on generating preparations.)
A field guide is useful for positively identifying your weeds. The 1 I like best is: A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Widespread Weeds in Colour, complied by E. A. Upritchard. (Accessible from the New Zealand Weed And Pest Control Society, P.O. Box 1654, Palmerston North) This book even shows you how the weeds look when they are emerging.
Ready? OK! Let’s go outside with a plant id guide or experienced herbalist and see what we can obtain.
Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa pastoris) is an annual in the mustard family members. Cut the top half of the plant when it has formed its small heart-shaped “purses” (seed pods) and make a tincture (with alcohol), which you can use to cease bleeding. Midwives and ladies who bleed heavily in the course of their period praise its prompt effectiveness. Gypsies claim it functions on the stomach and lungs as properly. A dose is 1 dropperful (1ml); which may be repeated up to four instances a day.
Cleavers (Gallium aparine) is a persistent, sticky plant which grows profusely in abandoned lots and the edges of cultivated land. The total plant is utilised to strengthen lymphatic activity. I cut the top two-thirds of each plant when it is in flower (or setting seeds) and use alcohol to make a tincture which relieves tender, swollen breasts, PMS symptoms, and allergic reactions. A dose is 15-25 drops (.five – 1 ml); repeated as required.
Chickweed (Stellaria media) has many utilizes, such as delicious salad greens. I cut the complete top of the plant and eat it or use alcohol to make a tincture, which dissolves cysts, tonifies the thyroid, and aids in weight loss. A dose is a dropperful (1 ml), up to three occasions a day.
Daisy (Bellis perennis) is a popular perennial weed of lawns and open locations. Rather distinctive from the native daisy (Lagenifera petiolata), the small English daisy is associated to feverfew and has similar abilities. I use the leaves and flowers to make a tincture (with alcohol) or a medicinal vinegar which relieves headaches, muscle pain, and allergy symptoms. A dose is a dropperful of the tincture (1 ml), up to twice a day; or a tablespoon of the vinegar in the morning.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) is a persistent perennial of lawns and gardens and one of the finest known medicinal herbs in the globe. (The native dandelion of New Zealand – Taraxacum magellanicum – is medicinal too.) Those who really like a pure green lawn curse the sunny yellow flowers of common dandelion. But those who are prepared to see beauty anywhere (such as youngsters and herbalists) treasure this weed. You can use any part of the dandelion – the root, the leaves, the flowers, even the flower stalk – to make a tincture or medicinal vinegar which strengthens the liver. A dose of 10-20 drops of the tincture (.five-1 ml) relieves gas, heartburn, and indigestion, as nicely as promoting healthy bowel movements. A tablespoon of the vinegar functions properly, too. Extra importantly, taken prior to meals, dandelion increases the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thus increasing bio-availability of several nutrients, in particular calcium. The fresh or cooked green leaves are loaded with carotenes, those anti-cancer, anti-heart illness helpers. And the oil of the flowers is an important massage balm for maintaining healthy breasts. (There’s lots a lot more facts on dandelions in Healing Wise.)
Dock, also known as yellow dock, curly dock, and broad dock is a perennial plant, which my Native American grandmothers use for “all women’s troubles.” The Maori call it paewhenua or runa. It is one more plant that disagrees with sheep, in particular when the land is overgrazed. I dig the yellow roots of Rumex crispus or R. obtusifolius and tincture them in alcohol to use as an ally when the immune program or the liver requirements help. A dose is 15-25 drops (.5-1 ml). I also harvest the leaves and/or seeds all through the growing season and make a medicinal vinegar, taken a tablespoon at a time, which is applied to increase blood-levels of iron, decrease menstrual flooding and cramping, and balance hormone levels. If the chopped roots are soaked in oil for six weeks, the resulting ointment is beneficial for keeping the breasts healthy.
Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and Ragwort (Senecio jacobea) are hardy perennials that have a reputation for poisoning livestock, like their cousin tansy. Even though not fantastic for sheep, these two Senecios are some of the world’s most ancient healing plants, having been observed in a grave 60,000 years old. You can use the flowering tops and leaves with your alcohol to make a tincture which acts slowly to tonify the reproductive organs, ease PMS, and cease severe menstrual pain. A dose is five-10 drops (.2-.5 ml) per day, put to use only once a day, but for at least 3 months. (A larger dose is employed to speed up labor.)
Mallows (Malva neglecta, M. parviflora, M. sylvestres) grow well in neglected gardens and are surprisingly deep-rooted. The flowers, leaves, stalks, seeds, and roots are wealthy in sticky mucilage which is best extracted by soaking the fresh plant in cold water overnight or longer or by making a medicinal vinegar. The starch is extraordinarily soothing internally (easing sore throats, upset tummies, heart burn, irritable bowel, colic, constipation, and food poisoning) and externally (relieving bug bites, burns, sprains, and sore eyes). The leaves, flowers, and bark (particularly) of the native Hohere (Hoheria populnea) are used in exactly the similar way by Maori herbalists.
Plantain, also called ribwort, pig’s ear, and the bandaid plant is a common weed of lawns, driveways, parks, and playgrounds. Identify it by the five parallel veins running the length of each and every leaf. You may well uncover broad leaf plantain (Plantago important) with wide leaves, or narrow leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with lance-thin leaves. Either can be utilized to make a healing poultice or a soothing oil widely regarded as 1 of the most beneficial wound healers about. Not only does plantain increase the speed of healing, it also relieves pain, stops bleeding, draws out foreign matter, stops itching, prevents and stops allergic reactions from bee stings, kills bacteria, and reduces swelling.
Attempt a poultice or a generous application of plantain oil or ointment (created by thickening the oil with beeswax) on sprains, cuts, insect bites, rashes, chafed skin, boils, bruises, chapped and cracked lips, rough or sore hands, baby’s diaper region, and burns.
To make a fresh plantain poultice: Pick a leaf, chew it well and place it on the boo-boo. “Like magic” the pain, itching, and swelling disappear, quickly! (Yes, you can dry plantain leaves and carry them in your initial aid kit. Chew like you would fresh leaves.)
To make plantain ointment: Choose big fresh plantain leaves. Chop coarsely. Fill a clean, dry, glass jar with the chopped leaves. Pour pure olive oil into the leaves, poking about with a chopstick till the jar is fully full of oil and all air bubbles are released. Cap well. Spot jar in a smaller bowl to collect any overflow. Wait six weeks. Then strain oil out of the plant material, squeezing well. Measure the oil. Heat it gently, adding 1 tablespoon of grated beeswax for each and every liquid ounce of oil. Pour into jars and enable to cool.
St. Joan’s/John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) This lovely perennial wildflower could possibly be hated by sheep farmers but herbalists adore it. The flowering tops are harvested right after they commence to bloom (traditionally on Solstice, June 21) and ready with alcohol, and with oil, to make two of the most helpful remedies in my first aid kit. Tincture of St. Joan’s wort not only lends 1 a sunny disposition, it reliably relieves muscle aches, is a effective anti-viral, and is my 1st-choice therapy for those with shingles, sciatica, backpain, neuralgia, and headaches such as migraines. The usual dose is 1 dropperful (1 ml) as frequently as needed. In extreme discomfort from a muscle spasm in my thigh, I applied a dropperful each and every twenty minutes for two hours, or until the pain completely subsided. St. Joan’s wort oil stops cold sores in their tracks and can even relieve genital herpes symptoms. I use it as a sunscreen. Contrary to favorite belief, St. Joan’s wort does not trigger sun sensitivity; it prevents it. It even prevents burns from radiation therapy. Eases sore muscles, too.
Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) This scentless perennial mint is 1 of the great unsung healers of the world. The leaves and flowers contain more antioxidants – which stop cancer and heart disease, among other wholesome traits – than any other plant tested. And as part of the mint household, self heal is imbued with lots of minerals, specifically calcium, producing it an particularly crucial ally for pregnant, nursing, menopausal, and post-menopausal girls. I place self heal leaves in salads in the spring and fall, make a medicinal vinegar with the flowers in the course of the summer time, and cook the flowering tops (fresh or dried) in winter soups.
Usnea (Usnea barbata) is that a number of-stranded grey lichen hanging out of the branches of your apple trees or the Monterey pines planted in the plantation over there or in virtually any native tree in locations of the South Island Alps, exactly where it is known as angiangi to the Maori. If in doubt of your identification: Pull a strand gently apart with your hands, looking for a white fiber inside the fuzzy grey-green outer coat. To prepare usnea, harvest at any time of the year, becoming careful not to take too considerably. Usnea grows slowly. Place your harvest in a cooking pan and just cover it with cold water. Boil for about 15-25 minutes, or until the water is orange and decreased by at least half. Pour usnea and water into a jar, filling it to the top with plant material. (Water should be no extra than half of the jar.) Add the highest proof alcohol you can get. After 6 weeks this tincture is prepared to work for you as a superb antibacterial, countering infection anywhere in the physique. A dose is a dropperful (1 ml) as often as each and every two hours in acute scenarios.
Yarrow (Achellia millefolium) This lovely perennial weed is grown in many herb gardens for it has a multitude of uses. Cut the flowering tops (use only white-flowering yarrow) and use your alcohol to make a strongly-scented tincture that you can take internally to stop colds and the flu. (A dose is 10-20 drops, or up to 1 ml). I carry a little spray bottle of yarrow tincture with me when I’m outside and wet my skin every hour or so. A United States Army study showed yarrow tincture to be much more powerful than DEET at repelling ticks, mosquitoes, and sand flies. You can also make a healing ointment with yarrow flower tops and your oil or fat. Yarrow oil is antibacterial, pain-relieving, and incredibly helpful in healing all sorts of wounds.
Trimedica Grobust