My Philosophy on Medicine

I thought that I should explain my views on traditional vs alternative medicine, least you misunderstand what I'm doing here on my blog.

I believe that God has given us great knowledge, both in the medical arena, and in nature's bounties. If it hadn't been for medical knowledge, my father wouldn't have had the extra 20 years with his family, and would have died from kidney failure. So I do value medical knowledge. However, I do feel that there is great value in the herbs that God put on the earth for our benefit. In fact, I do know that a lot of the medicines that have been developed, are based on the properties of herbs. Since no one can patent a naturally available growing species, pharmaceutical companies develop the herbs synthetically in order to make money on them. The problem with creating medicines synthetically, elements are missing or added, that can cause problems. Man cannot improve upon what God has made. But, I also don't believe that we should only use herbs and shun medicine.

I believe that I have achieved a happy medium. I do what I can with herbs and alternative medicine first. I feel it relieves the load at doctor's offices, and saves on money. I research the symptoms and what herbs/alternative medicines help with those health problems. I do all I can to practice on myself and family, to relieve the symptoms or attack the source of the problem. After all I can do, if the problem isn't cured or alleviated after a few weeks, then I will go to the doctor.

So, I believe my philosophy is a moderate position in health care. Just so you understand, I do not say that these remedies are prescriptions and guarantee a return of robust health. That is up to God. These recipes are to aid in your use of herbs, and to help in your research for caring for yourself, your family, and others. Be wise and prayerful.

Knot Weed

Decongestant Inhalant

1 cup water
2 teaspoons powdered eucalyptus leaves
2 teaspoons powdered rosemary leaves
2 teaspoons powdered pennyroyal leaves and flower tops

Bring water to boil in a saucepan. Add herbs and simmer on low heat. Turn off heat and remove pan to a heatproof surface. Inhale the vapors deeply. It is helpful to drape a towel over head and pan, trapping the steam vapors. Careful not to let the steam burn you.

How to Dry Herbs

Drying herbs is an easy procedure. First pick herbs in the morning hours. Rinse and pat dry. Herbs can be bundled and hung upside down in a warm, dry area of the house. Let hang for several weeks until dry and crisp.

Another method of drying (which I prefer) is to place dry herbs in a brown paper bag like those from grocery stores. fold over the top and secure with a paperclip. Date bag and herb enclosed. Daily shake bag. After two weeks, herb is dried and ready to store.

Store dried herbs in ziplock bags or jars. Label and date.

Horehound Cough Drops and Syrup

Cough Drops
Make a decoction (simmer chopped root in water until most of the liquid is simmered down). Strain into container. Cover same root pieces again with more water and repeat procedure once more or just make a strong tea from the leaves and use that liquid. Add equal amount of honey or sugar to that of the simmered decoction or infused (tea) liquid. Add lemon juice if desired. Boil to hard-crack stage. Pour or drop on buttered cookie sheet, cool. Pull like taffy if you desire or cut into small pieces. With a flour sifter, sprinkle powdered sugar over pieces of horehound drops to remove stickiness. Wrap each piece in wax paper. Keep cool.


Syrup
After making a strong infusion, add sugar (2 parts infusion to 1 part sugar), lemon juice and boil only until juice is thickened. Add butter or vegetable oil and a little cayenne pepper for better results. Store in glass jar in refrigerator.

How to Make a Tincture

A tincture is a concentrated infusion of herbs using a liquid that draws out the medicinal properties of an herb. A common liquid to use is grain alcohol. It will draw out the most of the medicinal properties of herbs. If that is unavailable (or not desired), use vodka, raw apple cider vinegar, or vegetable glycerin. The effectiveness of the liquid is less when using vinegar or glycerin; however, glycerin is more appealing in the use of cough syrups.

How to make tincture: Select herb. An herb that I use a lot is Lobelia. It is very effective in removing congestion from body. Gather the herb and half fill a quart jar with the herb(s) that you desire. Pour liquid of choice into jar, covering the herbs entirely. Close jar with plastic lid, and let set on counter out of the sunlight for two weeks. Shake daily to mix. After two weeks, strain liquid from herbs into another jar. Throw away used herbs from jar. Lable tincture and date. Store in dark cupboard. Ready to use.

Welcome

Welcome to my herb blog. I'm sorry that I'm so slow at getting the herbs posted from the Fair demo. They are coming, but the garden is demanding most of my time now. Keep watching for the updates.

Plantain

Found in lawns, meadows, roadsides and wasteplaces. The leaf of the plantain herb has the strongest concentration of medicinal properties.

Plantain is helpful in drawing out poisons from boils, bites, wounds, sores, and acne. Crush up leaves when fully mature, and apply as poulice, or make into an ointment.

Tea made from plantain, will help clear head of mucus, and good for thrush in children. Has eased pain in bowels and arrests hemorrhage and bleeding; also for heavy menstruation. Has killed worms in stomach and bowels. Plantain is rich in minerals and Vitamins C, K and T (which help to stop bleeding).

Hound's Tongue

Hound's Tongue can be used as an insecticide. Insects and rodents cannot stand the smell of it, and will leave the premises as soon as the aroma reaches them.

Hemlock

All parts are poisonous and especially the root. It is fatal, with violent and painful convulsions preceeding death.

The important thing to know about hemlock is how to identify it. There are several useful plants that closely resemble it. Cow parsnip grows in the same areas as hemlock, and has similar white flowers; however Cow Parsnip has very large umbrella shaped leaves, whereas, hemlock has small ferny looking leaves. Study the photos carefully, before attemping to harvest a plant that looks like hemlock, cow parsnip, or yarrow.

Cattail

One of the best wild plant foods. Roots can be made into a nutritious flour by peeling, drying and sifting the starch-like flour from the fibrous part. The white sprouts, which appear early int the summer, at the base of the plants can be eaten either raw or cooked. In the spring as the young shoots first come up, pull them loose from the rootstalk, peel the outer leaves away and use the tender cores in salads or cook as you would asparagus. The green heads of the cattail (before pollen appears) can be boiled for 10 min. and eat like corn on the cob. Ripe pollen can be collected by carefully bending tops over and shaking into a container. This ripe pollen is mostly protein and is good mixed with other flours for baking.

Horehound

Horehound has been reported to help treat sore throats, coughs, colds, hoarseness and all lung disorders. It can aid in the reducing of fevers. Taken in large doses, it is a laxative. Externally it is good for earache.

Gather leaves when very young, before flowering. Roots in the fall or spring. Flowers when in blossom.

Cow Parsnip

Add young shoots to salads or cook. Roots have a rutabaga-like taste when cooked. The base of the plant can be used for a salt flavoring by drying and grinding.

CAUTION: Be sure you're not gathering water hemlock. They share the same terrain and their flowers look somewhat alike, also, they both have hallow stems.

Poppy

Poppy is only slightly narcotic. Many gather the seeds from the capsules for use in cakes, muffins, and cooking.

Stinging Nettle

Catnip

Peppermint

Parsley

Chamomile

Also known as, ground apple, for it's distinctive apple fragrance. The blossoms, or heads, can be collected and used as a tea. Chamomile is known for it's soothing properties.

Alfalfa

The whole plant can be used. Seeds soaked then sprouted make excellent greens. Leaves can be used for tea. Alfalfa's green leaves contain 8 essential enzymes and is an aid to digestion. Alfalfa also is a source of ten different vitamins.

Salsify

Also known as Oyster plant because the second year roots taste like steamed oysters. The roots should be used before the flowering stem developes. Roots from the first year plants are best, but as the first year plant produces only leaves without flowers, it is often hard to recognize. Tops of Salsify can be used for greens when young and tender. The coagulated juice was used by the Indians for chewing gum.

Wild Lettuce

The young tender leaves can be used in salads. When fully matured, the milky part of the stem can be used as a mild narcotic sedative to kill pain.

Purslane

The entire plant can be used as a pot herb, or in a salad. Purslane can also be used to thicken soups. Seeds can be used in the form of flour or meal.

Rosehips

A tea of rosehip will supply an adult with their daily vitamin C supply. Also contains vitamins A, E, D, B1, and B2.

Gather rosehips after first snow, or as late in the Fall as possible. Remove blossom end, stem, and leaves. Wash quickly. For each cup of rosehips, bring to boil 1 1/2 cups water. Add rosehips, cover pot (do not use copper or aluminum). Simmer 15 minutes. Let stand 24 hours. Strain of extract (liquid). Bring to rolling boil, add 2 tablespoons lemon juice for each pint. Pour into jars and seal. Take 2 teaspoons of extract daily for vitamin C supplement. Refrigerate after opening.

Mallow

Other common names for this herb are Marshmallow, and Cheeses. Received it common name cheeses from the shape of the seed, which resembles an uncut cheese. The leaves and seeds are edible, and can be used in salads. The root can be steeped and made into a cold tea. Mallow is extremely rich in zinc and vitamin A. Useful for kidney and liver complaints, and also beneficial for producing milk in nursing mothers.

Dandelion

Dandelion
The young, tender leaves are good for salads, but can be bitter. To remove bitterness, soak in salt water for 30 minutes. Crisp in fridge, and add to other vegetables. The root, cut up and dried, can be steeped for a coffee substitute.

Dandelion has been reported to help in urinary complaints, rheumatism, and stomach indigestion. It has cleansing qualities that aid in liver, gall and spleen diseases. Also good for skin diseases and female complaints. Contains organic sodium whch purifies blood and destroys acid. An excellent source of vitamin B, C, and G. The vitamin A content is 7,000 IU per ounce, whereas a carrot has 1,275 IU per ounce.

Medicinal Application: An infusion either of green or dried leaves (green best)can be made by soaking 1 tablespoon of herb to a cup of boiling water. Steep for 1/2 hour or more, drink cold 3-4 times a day. A decoction of the root can be made by cutting or powdering the root, and placing 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of boiling water, steep for 30+ minutes, and drink 3 times a day. Tinctures can be prepared. * 5-40 drops as needed.

*See how to make tinctures in other post.

Lambs Quarter/Amaranth

Lambs Quarter (Left)
Also known as Pig weed, this is an excellent pot herb. The stems and leaves can be cooked like spinach, or used in salads when young and tender. Can also be frozen for future meals, by blanching and storing in freezer bags. The small dark seeds can also be harvested and ground into a flour.

Amaranth (Right)
Another name for Amaranth is Redroot. The fresh raw greens are reported to be high in vitamins A and C. The young tender leaves are excellent for cooked greens. The tiny black seeds make a good cereal grain raw or cooked.