Yet More Pharmacopeia

Links to the Series:
The Homesteader’s Medicine Chest
Homesteader’s Medicine Chest II
More From Nature’s Pharmacopeia

In this post I’ll offer some actual herbal remedies that some have found useful in treating specific ailments. There will be some herbs mentioned that haven’t been listed thus far, but they are all readily identifiable and available at natural food stores or herbal apothecaries if you don’t have them in your garden, on your property or in nearby woods.

High mallow (malva sylvestris), a.k.a. French hollyhocks. Garden hollyhocks may be substituted. Mallow is used to calm indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, gastritis and sore throats. Mallow is high in mucilage, roots can be crushed, boiled, folded into a damp cloth and applied to boils, sores or ulcers of the skin. For a medicinal salve powdered roots can be added to olive oil and warmed before applying.

Mallow tea: 1 tbsp. fresh leaves, stem, root, flower or all parts to 1 cup of tea. If using dried mallow reduce to a rounded teaspoon per cup. Most all herbal teas should be measured this way, 1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dry.

Mullein (Verbasum thapsus), a.k.a. Soldier’s herb or Woundwort. An oil made with mullein leaves steeped in vegetable oil for two weeks in a sunny window makes a soothing application for small wounds or hemorrhoids. It got its traditional titles for its efficacy to staunch bleeding and dispell bruising when applied directly to wounds. A friend once badly twisted his foot while here, it immediately swelled and bruised badly. I wrapped fresh bruised mullein leaves to his foot and ankle, held in place by his sock and shoe. Within two hours the bruising was completely gone and there was no swelling. Mullein should not be taken internally, as the leaves contain rotenone and coumarin.

Horehound, (Marrubium vulgare). Tea made with horehound leaves and stems is an expectorant useful to treat coughs. You can also make a cough syrup by boiling the leaves and stems in honey (equal parts). Keep it refrigerated and it will last a year.

Purslane, (Portulaca oleracea). Native Americans and early colonists used purslane to treat burns, headache, insect stings and stomach ache. Purslane is a common garden weed with thick, succulent leaves and is tasty in salads, soups and in stir-fry. High in vitamins A and C plus calcium and iron, the whole above-ground plant can be harvested any time. Often found growing in tandem with chickweed, (Stellaria spp.) which can be boiled and applied as a poultice for boils and skin rashes or drunk to treat urinary tract inflammations.

Bilberry, (Vaccinium myrtillus), or blueberry. The ative constituents in ripe berries are anthocyanosides, bioflavonoids that are potent antioxidants. These support formation of connective tissue and strengthen capillaries, may also improve blood flow. British pilots during WW-II ate bilberry jam prior to missions to improve their night vision.

Did you know that oil of cloves and cinnamon are more antiseptic than carbolic acid? Either of these oils can be applied to cuts and scrapes to kill germs effectively and prevent infection. You should probably keep clove oil around anyway, as it’s very effective for temporary relief of toothache or sore gums and relieving the sting of insect bites.

Garlic, Calamus and Nutmeg are also known for their antiseptic properties.

Sore Throat Gargle

Pour 1 pint boiling water on a handful of sage leaves, let stand for 30 minutes. Add 1/2 cup cider or wine vinegar and 2 tablespoons raw honey. To be used as a gargle followed by a swig.

Migraine Tea

6 parts rosemary leaves
4 parts peppermint leaves
4 parts bee balm leaves
4 parts sweet violet
3 parts feverfew
1/2 part sweet violet flowers

This is a tasty tea that should be made up a gallon at a time and kept in the refrigerator. It’s a good morning drink hot or cold because rosemary promotes vasodilation, peripheral blood flow and is generally tonic.

Links:

Simple Herbal Remedies Information

Natural Herbal Home Remedies

Guide to Herbal Remedies

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Filed under Cultivated Herbs, Health, Herbal Medicine, Medicine, Wild Herbs |