Reflections of katlupe: medicinal plants

Showing posts with label medicinal plants. Show all posts

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Planning Our Garden Now

Summer 2014

Spring has started here in New York with a fury of cold weather and snow. That is not unheard of. Though most people forget that. I take this time to get some chores and projects finished in my house since soon I will be into gardening season. I am making a lot of plans for our new garden. We are adding some fruit sources to our homestead this year. I regret doing it so late, but better late than never, as the saying goes.

Some of our raised beds

This morning I took the time to make a list of the herbs and flowers I need to add to our garden. I have spent so much time cultivating the vegetables that I don't have any area devoted strictly to the medicinal and culinary plants we need. One stone raised bed has two trees in it and I am hoping my husband sees it in his heart (with all the other projects he is waiting for the weather to warm up so he can tackle) to take those trees down. One tree has my clothesline attached to it. He wants to change that set up so that is no problem.

The Snake Bed

That raised bed we refer to as the snake bed, not because it has snakes (though it does), but because of the shape. Long and curling. I think it would be a good spot for the medicinal and culinary plants. And one section for the asparagus bed. This year I plan on increasing our greens and salad vegetables. I don't even know if I will bother with squashes as I have a huge amount canned. If I do, I will plant only one or two plants of winter and summer varieties. Probably zucchini and one winter type.

Nutmeg's Garden

I have a special bed (called Nutmeg's Garden) for lemon balm because it takes over the whole bed. Last year it got plowed under by mistake and I didn't have much of a crop. That was okay though, as the years before it was too much for me to harvest or handle. I am thinking that if I have it growing that much again, I will offer it for sale. It is a good medicinal plant. The leaves can used fresh or dried for fevers, period cramps, headaches, colds, insomnia and other uses to many to mention here. I wrote about it in a past post, Lemon Balm: Food or Medicine. What special plans are you making for your 2015 garden? Don't forget the herbs!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Wild Plants Around Your Home

Dandelions

My newest blog post on my new blog is about wild plants. One of my favorite subjects! This is the link to it:

Edible Or Medicinal Foods Are Plentiful Around Our Forest Homestead

Friday, November 09, 2012

Become An Herbalist Outside Your Front Door

Burdock and Day Lilies in summer

In August of 2007, a couple of homesteaders moved here to upstate NY from Texas. They were members of the Homesteading Today community and when we knew they were moving here, they joined our NY Homesteading forum. Jamie and Jeffrey became fast friends with our group. They had many plans and went right to work on their new homestead. They were living in a house they bought, while they built the underground house they were planning. I won't go into all the details, but they didn't build their house and instead moved to Missouri. Jamie and I have stayed friends though.

Plantain grows all over the yard

The first time Jamie came to my house, she had asked if I would show her the various wild plants that grow in New York state. I have always said that it is best to use the plants that grow around your home. That way when you need them, they are close by, easy to get to. I showed her the various ones growing right in my yard, plantain being the most plentiful that year.

Cherry Bark

Later on, I told Jamie about The Christian Homesteading Movement, which is local and teaches many courses on various homesteading activities. She went up there and met their family and learned many different things. One thing about Jamie, is that if she needs to know something, she finds the source to teach her. So it was with much interest yesterday, that I went to her new post on her blog and read, How I Became An Herbalist For (Almost) Free. Jamie is a very talented writer, as well as honest. Whatever she says, you know it is the total truth.

Willow growing along the road and creek near us.

Becoming aware of the wild plants in your area of the country is common sense. Why run to a doctor to take medicine that has all kinds of side effects, when you can take care of it yourself, with no side effects? My husband will not take even an aspirin. He has been known, to pull over to the side of the road and pick a piece of willow bark when he had a headache. Just chewing on it, seemed to make his headache go away. At home I usually brew it in a tea.

It is fairly easy to start learning how to recognize the different plants. I use A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Of Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides). It has excellent pictures and information. It is easy to use and since it is small, you can carry it with you. Make a list of the plants you see growing around your home and then read about them in the guide and on the internet too. Next spring you can start experimenting and see which ones you like. It is best to do this before you need them. And if you never use them on a regular basis, it is still important to learn about them now. In case the time comes when you have no other choice, you will know what to do. Learn how to find and identify them. Learn when and how to harvest them. Learn how to use them, including how to make tea, infusions, salves, herbal vinegar or tinctures with them. You never know what lies ahead. The time to prepare is NOW! Your family's life could depend on it.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Medicinal Plants And Herbs On A Forest Homestead

Red Clover is a pretty common plant in most places. I have plenty of it in my horses' paddock and our yard. You probably do too. It seems to grow abundantly everywhere. I pick just the flowerheads. To dry them you can use your dehydrator or what I do, is to put them on cookie trays in my oven which has a pilot light and leave them in there for a couple of nights. Then put them in a tin or some canning jars and store in a cool place with low or no lights. I usually drink my Red Clover as an infusion. I put a handful of flowerheads in a canning jar and fill it with boiling water and put the lid on and leave it till morning. In the morning, I have enough Red Clover to drink through out the day. You can just make a tea with it by putting the flowerheads in a tea ball or loose, whatever you prefer. Let it steep for about 15 minutes, drink it with honey or sugar, or plain. I wrote about it in this post, Harvesting Red Clover.

Red Clover is definitely one of God's blessings to us here on earth! It is good for so many different things. I started drinking it as I found it was real good for menopause. But it is good for a lot more than that! For starters, it eliminates toxins and stimulates the immune function to remove toxic waste products. It will also relieve skin problems such as psoriasis, acne, eczema and other types of dermatitis. The flowers are also effective as a mild expectorant and cleanser for the respiratory tract for helping to heal lung problems such as, dry coughs, laryngitis, bronchitis, and whooping cough. Rich in phytoestrogenic compounds like genistein, Red Clover is well known for its part in the fight against Cancer and helping to prevent it as well.

Burdock is another well known weed around these parts. But it has an undeserved reputation! Burdock Root will neutralize toxins in the blood, stimulate liver secretions which will cause the liver to eliminate toxic compound build-ups. It strengthens the liver and other vital organs with necessary nutrients such as, Chromium, Iron, Magnesium, Silicon and Thiamine, which it is high in. Also has other ingredients such as Niacin, Riboflavin, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Being a blood purifier, Burdock makes an excellent remedy for any skin problems.The root, called Gobo in Japan, is used to help ease liver congestion and difficulty in digesting fats. The root or seed can be used for Rheumatism and Arthritis and the root is very well known as a protectant against Cancer. And is also in the famous Cancer cure, Essaic tea, which we drink regularly here.

You can dig the roots and most people will be happy for you to come dig their burdock up for them. Especially......horse owners! First year roots are more tender and are suitable for cooking. They are good used in Stir Fry recipes. The tougher, woody 2nd year roots can be dried and stored and then sliced for winter teas as you need them. These are a labor intensive herb, so I warn you! I try do it more, but it is hard work.

Elderberry is everywhere around me. Easy to harvest. I usually make the berries into juice and we drink it all winter to ward off colds and flus. You can make the dried blossoms into teas or infusions. Elder's anti-viral properties make it effective for relieving colds, flu, and fevers. Infections like acne, boils, skin rashes and other forms of dermatitis will be relieved by it. Even present day research proves that the elder blossoms can help strengthen resistance against infections by supporting immune function. Also good for hay fever and sinusitis. Extracts from elderberry are an excellent remedy for chronic rheumatism, neuralgia and sciatica.

Yarrow - this little flower will stop bleeding, inside or outside. It really works as I have used it more than few times. I add it to our salads and use it for teas.

Dandelion - I feed a handful of leaves to my horses almost every day in spring, summer and fall. We eat it all summer long in our salads. I prefer to use it raw though I know it is known for being cooked but it is VERY bitter and you have to keep changing the water. So I worry that you have cooked all the good stuff out of it. Better to put in salad with your salad dressing taking the bitterness away. The roots are known for being high in medicinal purposes. This little weed is one of the most valuable you can have. If you don't have anything else, this is your treasure. Grows everywhere I think, even in cities. Is used for liver, gallbladder and kidney ailments, is a diuretic. Also for weak or impaired digestion and constipation. Leaves and flowers are high in Vitamins A and C. I add it to our Essiac tea.

Raspberry Leaf - this is the woman's herb, good for lots of woman problems and pregnancy. This is good for teas or salads also.

Black Raspberry or Blackberries is everywhere around us. We clear it out and it keeps trying to come back. I can eat it fresh by the handfuls most summers as soon as it ripens. It is a part of the natural medicine chest too though most people do not know that. Here is a post I wrote about it, In Search Of The Wild Thorns.

Hawthorn - in the heart medicines that the allopathic doctors give you. These are red berries that grow on the trees around us. Just pick and eat. Doesn't get much easier than that.

Plantain - Known as "white man's walk" by the Native Americans as it grows in paths. The juice in the leaf is good for bee stings. I wrote about that on this post, Common Plantain's Place In The Natural Medicine Chest.

White Pine - Was used extensively by the Native Americans. It is good for so many thing, from the needles, to the pitch and the inner bark. I have used for colds by making a tea of the needles. It is one of my favorite smells! The pitch draws out boils and abscesses, also for broken bones, rheumatism, bruises, sores, cuts and inflammations. The bark and the needles are used for sore throats, lung ailments, colds, coughs and poulticed for headaches and backaches. Twig tea is used for kidney and lung ailments. I wrote about it in Vitamin C Plentiful In White Pine Needle Tea.

Willow - Is exactly what aspirin used to be made of. You use the inner bark. If you bite into a piece, you will recognize the taste of aspirin. Used for pain. We harvest the inner bark and dry it real good, put in a tin and use it in teas for pain. This is all my husband will take for pain. But if you are allergic to aspirin then you are probably allergic to willow too.

There are tons more than these. When I moved out here, I just started studying them and I am so amazed at what we have growing here. I learn about them little by little. Some years I focus on one particular one and another year another. It is an ongoing learning process. But it is best to learn the ones that grow around you since you have access to them regularly. The main thing is to get a good book that has pictures not so much drawings. I use Peterson Field Guides. Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke is my most trusted guide. Start reading about them now in the winter so you will be ready for spring.

Clinical studies and double blind tests have not been done and are therefore not endorsed by the FDA. Information provided is for educational and experimental purposes only and my opinion only. If you have any questions, please consult your physician.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Lemon Balm: Food Or Medicine

Lemon Balm picked from my herb bed.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) seems to be a herb that many people are curious about. I will be honest with you, I did not know much about it myself until I started growing it. A local lady had some plants to share on Freecycle so I went to her house and she offered me some lemon balm.

I planted it in the center of one of my raised beds. This bed is round, and I couldn't have any plants that I would need to dig around underground for, since this used to be our house's previous owners' dump. There were old rugs, tin cans and much, much broken glass in this bed. So I put big rocks around it in a circle of sorts, and added a lot of compost to it. I decided to use it for a herb bed so that all I had to do was to harvest the herbs. Once they were growing, I would not have to dig around in the bed. It has worked great. I have chives, oregano, and a couple of flowers as well, as the lemon balm growing in it. The lemon balm though, will take over the whole bed if you allow it to. I cut it back often and harvest it almost all summer long. I also cut it way down in the fall after the frost has hit it.

Lemon Balm has a very good reputation, as it is a herb that many mothers will give to their children. It is known for being a relaxing herb and one that will relieve stress. Well publicized is the fact, that it relaxes you and will cause you to fall asleep if you are having trouble sleeping. It is also used for digestive upsets. But is used for far more than that!

Dried lemon balm stored in a tin.

I use it as a dried leaf tea or infusion. Infusions being made by adding about an ounce of it or so, to boiling water. I use a handful of the dried leaves and put in a quart size canning jar. Then fill the jar with boiling hot water and cap. I usually do it overnight and let it sit, at least eight hours. In the morning, you can strain out the herb if you choose or not. Add sweetening if you want and drink it through out the day. To make tea, put the dried or fresh leaves in a tea ball and add boiling water. Let it sit for a little bit and then take out the tea ball. Add sweetening or drink plain. Either way is good.

An oz. about a handful in a jar, add boiling water.

Lemon Balm extract has been found to contain acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a messenger compound that is found to be lacking in the brain cell cultures of Alzheimer's patients. It has also been used for period cramps, headaches, toothaches, digestive upsets, nervousness, colds and sleeplessness. Poultices of the leaves are used for tumors, sores and insect bites. In Europe extracts of lemon balm are sold for genital herpes and cold sores. Germany approves it's use for sleeplessness stemming from nervousness, and also for digestive upsets. It contains 8 antiviral compounds, 8 sedative compounds and 12 anti-inflammatory components. The leaves contain antibacterial, antihistaminic, antispasmodic and antioxidant activity.

I also use it in cooking and adding it to ice tea for the lemon scent and slight taste. It is not as strong as a lemon, but it is a good addition to any dish. I notice that at times the lemon scent is stronger than other times. Sometimes I will cut long stems of it, and put it in the kitchen in a vase, just to give us that wonderful lemon scent in the house. So refreshing! Many times I add it to stuffing, potato casseroles, spaghetti sauces, chili, soups, stews. Just about anything, as it is not a real powerful lemon flavor. Fresh leaves are a welcome addition to our fresh salads all summer long. I make salads with a variety of wild, as well as my own homegrown greens.

Capped and wait overnight to drink.

I researched this information from various sources. But my biggest and most reliable source, I use for all my herbal use for wild foods or medicinal plants are the Peterson Field Guides. This one is my constant use book, Eastern Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs written by Stephen Foster and James A. Duke. This book is exceptional! I highly recommend it if you are using wild plants for any use.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Drying Plants For Future Use

Lemon Balm is one of the herbs I grow in this raised bed.

I grow a variety of herbs around my homestead. Plus I also have many, many wild medicinal plants growing in the forest and surrounding area. It is best when you use plants for medicinal purposes, to use the ones you can harvest yourself. It is not only for saving money, but this way you can use the freshest available, and you know for sure what you are getting. Plus, there are no chemicals on the plants. But the best reason of all, is that when you need more you can usually get it quickly. To go out to the forest or field near your own home is the best way to utilize plant medicine.

I usually pick the plants in the early afternoon after there is no sign of dew on them. Leave a stem so you can hang them easily. I have a clothesline upstairs in my house, that I use for hanging laundry, as well as hanging herbs. I hang the plants with clothespins and let them really dry out. You cannot hang them in a damp room such as a basement. My root cellar tends to be damp at various times. That would cause the plants to mold and you do not want that.

Lemon Balm drying on an inside clothesline.

The plants I hang are usually the lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley,chives, sage, various berry leaves, etc. Roots such as dandelion or burdock, I dry in my oven. I put them in a foil pie plate, and let them sit in the gas range oven for a few days, until the pilot light from the oven has dried them out.

Dandelion Roots dried in my oven.

Dandelions are plentiful in my yard. I feed the leaves to my family in salads, and feed them to my horses daily. It is so good for you health wise that I cannot stress this enough to people. Eating dandelions on a regular basis is so good for your liver, and that is where you need to start to improve your health. Dandelion and burdock roots look about the same when they are dried, and they both are made into teas and infusions. They are used as blood purifiers and liver fortifiers. You can also eat the roots cooked and served as vegetables with your meals. Dandelion root is a well known coffee substitute.

Red Clover grows abundantly in NY state!

Here is the link to a previous post I wrote about Red Clover, Harvesting Red Clover. Red Clover, I dry in the oven also, but I dry only the flowers. I won't go into the many benefits of Red Clover here as I did that in the post I mentioned. I dried this in the same way as the roots, by putting it in a foil plate in the gas oven. I also dry celery purchased on sale from the store the same way. You can dry many vegetables and plants in that manner. Just make sure when you put them away they are definitely DRY and the container you put them in is DRY and has absolutely no wetness to it.

Red Clover drying

Some people dry their plants and vegetables in a car sitting in the sun. That is a good way to do it too. But make sure you cover it with some kind of netting to protect them from flies, bugs and dust. You will be eating these foods. I add many of these dried plants to soups and stews. They add so much nutritional value to your foods and the taste is pretty good too. For instance, I pick all types of plants that grow all summer and add them to our salads. Dandelion is one that we use a lot this way. It is bitter tasting but with salad dressing on it the bitter taste isn't all that bad.

You can easily make an infusion which is stronger than a tea. I put an ounce or so of the dried plant in a quart canning jar, add boiling hot water and cap. In the morning you can add sweetening if you must and drink through out the day. I like to drink various ones a couple times a week. That way you are getting various nutrients and not too much of any particular one. I would be interested in any thoughts you have on this if you use medicinal plants as well. They are a way of life around here. Using willow bark for pain relief instead of allopathic medicine is what we have always done since we moved here.

Today, go out in your yard and count how many wild plants you have growing that could help you in case that was all you could afford or get. You'd be so surprised how much of a medicine chest is contained right around your home!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Vitamin C Plentiful In White Pine Needle Tea

My husband has been sick the last few days. He had a hard cold. Knowing he is not one to catch colds or get sick very often I thought I better do something to help him recover as quickly as possible. I harvested some white pine needles the other morning. The other side of our horses' paddock is a field that has quite a few young white pine trees. Patches, my cat walked down there with me and it was so beautiful and peaceful in the early morning hours. I could smell the pine trees before I even started picking. The birds were singing and it was so quiet except for them.

I picked a basket full and brought them back and rinsed them off. I put a handful in a pan and covered it with water and brought the needles and the branch they were growing on to a boil and then turned it down and let them simmer for about twenty minutes. The house smelled like pine! Love that smell!!!

I put a green tea bag in a cup and covered it with the boiling pine needle tea and let it steep a little bit. Then you can add sugar or sweetener of your choice such as honey or stevia. I didn't use any in my cup. I made the tea throughout the day for my husband and he is already feeling better and hardly coughing at all. It worked very fast. The conifer trees are full of vitamin c and that is why it cured early settlers of Scurvy.

Hope you are having a nice spring. Our spring was pretty nice but has turned chilly and rainy. Though having rain in the spring is a good thing. Gets rid of the dirt and grim of the winter. Plus we need the rain to get our grass and plants turning green.

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