Post by Brandybuck on Jun 27, 2006 16:48:19 GMT -5
Excerpted from: "Herbal Gold" by Madonna Sophia Compton
Aloe- Every household should have at least one aloe plant. Its strong, fibrous root produces fleshy leaves up to 2 feet long. The leaves are light green with spiny teeth on the edges and a gelatinous interior. Alexander the Great is said to have used aloe for healing the wounds of his soldiers. In the 1930's, it was noticed to hasten the healing of x-ray burns. For household burns and cuts, harvest an outer leaf from a mature (3-5 year old) plant. Split the leaf open and apply it directly to the injury.
Catnip- A member of the mint family, catnip has a square stem and grows to about 2-4 feet high, producing pointed oblong leaves. The plant has been shown to be high in iron. Catnip migrated from the Himalayas and Siberia to Europe and North America. Native Americans used the tea for childhood colic. A tea to sooth digestive problems can be made by pouring a cup of boiling water over teaspoons of the dried herb and steeping for 10 minutes. It may be drunk several times a day, if needed. Catnip is reported to have small effects on cats.
Chamomile- A low-growing plant with a stem that trowels the ground without rooting. Roman chamomile is a perennial, and German chamomile is an annual. Long a popular herb in Europe, over 4,000 tons are harvested annually for use there and in the U.S. A relaxing tea made of chamomile flowers is often used to help with insomnia. A bath with chamomile infusion is a calming and fragrant treat.
Echinacea- also known as purple coneflower, it still grows wild on the prairie. Its hairy stem supports large, purple flowers with ray-like petals surrounding a raised conical disk. It is one of the most widely used herbs in Europe. Extensive German studies over the last 20 years demonstrate a host of infection fighting properties. One or two capsules several times a day help fight off infection and flu.
Perennial Marshmallow- Years ago, this was a major ingredient in the candy now known as marshmallows. There are still recipes that use the plant in the creation of tasty confections. It usually grows 2 to 4 feet high in moist meadows. The stems are wooly and without branches, the leaves soft and serrated. It is rich in calcium, vitamin A, and pectin (the substance that makes jellies jell). When combined with comfrey or slippery elm and mullein, it makes a soothing poultice.
Peppermint- Another of the mint family, this is one of the most effective agents for stomach problems in the herbal kingdom. It relieves gas, and as a tea, is excellent for nausea and travel sickness. The plant has a common folk medicine for many native North and South American tribes. The oil also makes a pleasant and relaxing component of massage oil.
MODERATOR'SNOTE: Remember that the use of these, or any other herbs for medical problems is not the only treatment you should be taking. These are not meant as cures, only supplements. Always visit your doctor when you have medical issues.
Aloe- Every household should have at least one aloe plant. Its strong, fibrous root produces fleshy leaves up to 2 feet long. The leaves are light green with spiny teeth on the edges and a gelatinous interior. Alexander the Great is said to have used aloe for healing the wounds of his soldiers. In the 1930's, it was noticed to hasten the healing of x-ray burns. For household burns and cuts, harvest an outer leaf from a mature (3-5 year old) plant. Split the leaf open and apply it directly to the injury.
Catnip- A member of the mint family, catnip has a square stem and grows to about 2-4 feet high, producing pointed oblong leaves. The plant has been shown to be high in iron. Catnip migrated from the Himalayas and Siberia to Europe and North America. Native Americans used the tea for childhood colic. A tea to sooth digestive problems can be made by pouring a cup of boiling water over teaspoons of the dried herb and steeping for 10 minutes. It may be drunk several times a day, if needed. Catnip is reported to have small effects on cats.
Chamomile- A low-growing plant with a stem that trowels the ground without rooting. Roman chamomile is a perennial, and German chamomile is an annual. Long a popular herb in Europe, over 4,000 tons are harvested annually for use there and in the U.S. A relaxing tea made of chamomile flowers is often used to help with insomnia. A bath with chamomile infusion is a calming and fragrant treat.
Echinacea- also known as purple coneflower, it still grows wild on the prairie. Its hairy stem supports large, purple flowers with ray-like petals surrounding a raised conical disk. It is one of the most widely used herbs in Europe. Extensive German studies over the last 20 years demonstrate a host of infection fighting properties. One or two capsules several times a day help fight off infection and flu.
Perennial Marshmallow- Years ago, this was a major ingredient in the candy now known as marshmallows. There are still recipes that use the plant in the creation of tasty confections. It usually grows 2 to 4 feet high in moist meadows. The stems are wooly and without branches, the leaves soft and serrated. It is rich in calcium, vitamin A, and pectin (the substance that makes jellies jell). When combined with comfrey or slippery elm and mullein, it makes a soothing poultice.
Peppermint- Another of the mint family, this is one of the most effective agents for stomach problems in the herbal kingdom. It relieves gas, and as a tea, is excellent for nausea and travel sickness. The plant has a common folk medicine for many native North and South American tribes. The oil also makes a pleasant and relaxing component of massage oil.
MODERATOR'SNOTE: Remember that the use of these, or any other herbs for medical problems is not the only treatment you should be taking. These are not meant as cures, only supplements. Always visit your doctor when you have medical issues.
