[MotherMaidenCrone] Herbal Medicine Chest In Your Back Yard

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Misty L. Trepke

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HERBAL MEDICINE CHEST IN YOUR BACK YARD

Posted by: " Kim " kimsterthirteen kimsterthirteen

Thu Mar 1, 2007 3:18 pm (PST)

 

 

HERBAL MEDICINE CHEST IN YOUR BACK YARD

cSusun S. Weed

 

 

Don't kill, spray, tear up, or destroy the weeds in your garden,

yard, and fence rows. Many of them are actually highly-regarded,

widely-used, and extremely-valuable medicinal herbs! What could be

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 especially fertile time for harvesting your weeds -

roots and all - and turning them into medicines. Here then are some

tips on how to find, harvest, prepare, and use a baker's dozen (13)

of common weeds that probably already grow around you.

 

To make your medicines you'll need glass jars of various sizes with

tight-fitting lids. And at least a pint each of apple cider vinegar

(pasteurized) , vodka (100 proof is best, but 80 proof will do), and

pure olive oil (not extra virgin) or good 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 part of the plant

except roots, if you are using them, and be sure to dry those well

with a towel before putting them in your jar.) Then you will fill

the jar with your menstruum, that is the vinegar, the oil, or the

alcohol. Label well and allow to stand at room temperature, out of

the sunlight for at least six weeks before decanting and using. (See

my book Healing Wise for more specific information on making

preparations. )

 

A field guide is helpful for positively identifying your weeds. The

one I like best is: A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand

Common Weeds in Colour, complied by E. A. Upritchard. (Available

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 and see what we can find.

 

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa pastoris) is an annual in the

mustard family. Cut the top half of the plant when it has formed its

little heart-shaped " purses " (seed pods) and make a tincture (with

alcohol), which you can use to stop bleeding. Midwives and women who

bleed heavily during their period praise its prompt effectiveness.

Gypsies claim it works on the stomach and lungs as well. A dose is 1

dropperful (1ml); which may be repeated up to four times a day.

 

Cleavers (Gallium aparine) is a persistent, sticky plant which grows

profusely in abandoned lots and the edges of cultivated land. The

entire plant is used to strengthen lymphatic activity. I cut the top

two-thirds of each plant while 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

(.5 - 1 ml); repeated as needed.

 

Chickweed (Stellaria media) has many uses, including delicious salad

greens. I cut the entire 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

times a day.

 

Daisy (Bellis perennis) is a common perennial weed of lawns and open

areas. Quite different from the native daisy (Lagenifera petiolata),

the little English daisy is related 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 best known medicinal herbs in the world.

(The native dandelion of New Zealand - Taraxacum magellanicum - is

medicinal too.) Those who love a pure green lawn curse the sunny

yellow flowers of common dandelion. But those who are willing to see

beauty anywhere (such as children 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 (.5-1 ml) relieves gas, heartburn, and indigestion, as well

as promoting healthy bowel movements. A tablespoon of the vinegar

works well, too. More importantly, taken before meals, dandelion

increases the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thus

increasing bio-availability of many nutrients, especially calcium.

The fresh or cooked green leaves are loaded with

carotenes, those anti-cancer, anti-heart disease helpers. And the

oil of the flowers is an important massage balm for maintaining

healthy breasts. (There's lots more information on dandelions in

Healing Wise.)

 

Dock, also called yellow dock, curly dock, and broad dock is a

perennial plant, which my Native American grandmothers use for " all

women's problems. " The Maori call it paewhenua or runa. It is

another plant that disagrees with sheep, especially 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 system or the liver needs help. A dose is 15-25 drops (.5-1

ml). I also harvest the leaves and/or seeds throughout the growing

season and make a medicinal vinegar, taken a tablespoon at a time,

which is used to increase blood-levels of iron, reduce 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. Although not good for sheep, these two Senecios

are some of the world's most ancient healing plants, having been

found 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 stop severe menstrual

pain. A dose is 5-10 drops (.2-.5 ml) per day, used only once a day,

but for at least 3 months. (A larger dose is used 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 rich 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 (especially) of the native

Hohere (Hoheria populnea) are used in exactly the same way by Maori

herbalists.

 

Plantain, also called ribwort, pig's ear, and the bandaid plant -

and kopakopa or parerarera by the Maori - is a common weed of lawns,

driveways, parks, and playgrounds. Identify it by the five parallel

veins running the length of each leaf. You may find broad leaf

plantain (Plantago major) with wide leaves, or narrow leaf plantain

(Plantago lanceolata) with lance-thin leaves. Either can be used to

make a healing poultice or a soothing oil widely regarded as one of

the best wound healers around. 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.

 

Try a poultice or a generous application of plantain oil or ointment

(made 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 area, and burns.

 

To make a fresh plantain poultice: Pick a leaf, chew it well and put

it on the boo-boo. " Like magic " the pain, itching, and swelling

disappear, fast! (Yes, you can dry plantain leaves and carry them in

your first aid kit. Chew like you would fresh leaves.)

 

To make plantain ointment: Pick large 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 until

the jar is completely full of oil and all air bubbles are released.

Cap well. Place jar in a small 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 one tablespoon of

grated beeswax for every liquid ounce of oil. Pour into jars and

allow to cool.

 

St. Joan's/John' s wort (Hypericum perforatum) This beautiful

perennial wildflower may be hated by sheep farmers but herbalists

adore it. The flowering tops are harvested after they begin to bloom

(traditionally on Solstice, June 21) and prepared with alcohol, and

with oil, to make two of the most useful remedies in my first aid

kit. Tincture of St. Joan's wort not only lends one a sunny

disposition, it reliably relieves muscle aches, is a powerful anti-

viral, and is my first-choice treatment for those with shingles,

sciatica, backpain, neuralgia, and headaches including migraines.

The usual dose is 1 dropperful (1 ml) as frequently as needed. In

extreme pain from a muscle spasm in my thigh, I used a dropperful

every twenty minutes for two hours, or until the pain totally

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 popular belief, St. Joan's wort does not cause sun

sensitivity, it prevents it. It even prevents burn from radiation

therapy. Eases sore muscles, too.

 

Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) This scentless perennial mint is one

of the great unsung healers of the world. The leaves and flowers

contain more antioxidants - which prevent cancer and heart disease,

among other healthy traits - than any other plant tested. And as

part of the mint family, self heal is imbued with lots of minerals,

especially calcium, making it an especially important ally for

pregnant, nursing, menopausal, and post-menopausal women. I put self

heal leaves in salads in the spring and fall, make a medicinal

vinegar with the flowers during the summer, and cook the flowering

tops (fresh or dried) in winter soups.

 

Usnea (Usnea barbata) is that many-stranded grey lichen hanging out

of the branches of your apple trees or the Monterey pines planted in

the plantation over there or in almost any native tree in areas of

the South Island Alps, 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, being

careful not to take too much. Usnea grows slowly. Put 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 reduced by at least

half. Pour usnea and water into a jar, filling it to the top with

plant material. (Water should be no more than half of the jar.) Add

the highest proof alcohol you can buy. After 6 weeks this tincture

is ready to work for you as a superb antibacterial, countering

infection anywhere in the body. A dose is a

dropperful (1 ml) as frequently as every two hours in acute

situations.

 

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 prevent

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 more effective 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

types of wounds.