Medicinal Uses of Dandelion

Growing up, I remember always being sad when my parents would spray weed killer on dandelions or chop them down with the lawnmower. Imagine my delight when I researched all of the medicinal value in dandelions! They have been, and always will be, a welcome addition to my garden. :)

Digestion problems, sluggish liver and/or gallbladder function:
*As a bitter herb, dandelion root stimulates gastrointestinal functions. An infusion of roasted root is an alternative to coffee and, if taken before or heavy meal, can pleasantly stimulate digestion and handle issues with the liver and/or gallbladder

Instructions:
*Infuse 1/2 tsp- 2tsp. dried or roasted dandelion root in each 1 cup boiling water. Steep for 20 minutes and strain. Drink 3 cups per day. If using roasted root, add milk to taste but avoid sweeteners because they diminish the herb's effectiveness.


As a Detox and Diuretic:
*Feeling sluggish or run-down? It might be time to detox. Dandelion leaves have powerful diuretic activity. They promote the production and excretion of urine and also stimulate the liver and gallbladder. The leaf is also a wonderful source of potassium, so if you need this nutrient, try this tea:

Instructions:
*Infuse 1-2 tsp. dried dandelion leaves in each 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 20 minutes and strain. Drink 3 cups per day.


For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Yarrow

Fevers/Colds/Flus:
Yarrow has long been used to treat feverish conditions. It is often used at the beginning stages of a cold or flu and is commonly combined with elder flower to help lower high temperatures. For a herbal tea infusion with yarrow, see below.

To Lower High Blood Pressure:
Yarrow reduces high blood pressure by dilating peripheral blood vessels. It combines great with hawthorn berries to reduce high blood pressure. For a herbal tea infusion with yarrow, see below.

To Stop Bleeding:
Yarrow has a medicinal quality that helps stop or slow down bleeding from cuts and scrapes. Clean the wound. Then apply a compress or a poultice made of yarrow. Dip the leaves in hot water briefly before applying to sterilize them.



Herbal Tea Infusion:
*Infuse 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow (flowers and leaves) in boiling water. Let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups per day.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Chamomile

Chamomile's highly scented flowers possess powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. If taken as an infused herbal tea, it can help with a number of problems: improving appetite, easing anxiety, lessening tension headaches, calming and healing the stomach after nausea, relaxing the body to get rid of insomnia issues, and calming children with teething problems.

To make a Chamomile herbal tea infusion:
Boil 1 cup of water per 1-3 tsp. dried chamomile or 1-3 tbsp. fresh chamomile. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink 3 to 4 cups per day. Children over the age of 4 years can take a third to half of the adult dosage.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Lavender

The scent of lavender has long been known to promote relaxation. Inhaling lavender's essential oils helps ease anxiety and improves feelings of calmness and well-being in stressful situations. Research also proves that lavender reduces the body's production of the stress hormone called cortisol. Lavender can also be taken to get rid of stress-related headaches.

To relieve anxiety and stress-related headaches:
Buy a good quality Lavender essential oil (which is not for drinking but is for the outside of your body). Massage this essential oil into the shoulders and temples. Or, you can inhale the steam by putting 4 drops of the essential oil into 4 teaspoons of hot water. You can also put some drops of lavender essential oil into a hot bath and soak away the stress.

You can also make a herbal tea infusion with the actual lavender plant. Pour 1 cup boiling water over each 1-3 tsp. dried lavender flowers OR 1-3 tbsp. fresh lavender flowers. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup of the infusion 1-3 times per day.



Another magical usage for lavender essential oil is as a first aid item. Essential oil is expensive. One tiny bottle can cost around 20 dollars. However, if you can only afford ONE essential oil, I recommend the lavender essential oil. It can be useful for not only stress and headaches, but also to take the sting out of insect bites.  Lavender essential oil quickly relieves inflammation and swelling when applied topically to insect bites and stings. It also has antimicrobial properties to help prevent wounds from becoming infected. Simply dab undiluted lavender essential oil onto insect bites and stings as soon as possible. Watch in wonder as the sting of that bee no longer hurts so badly...

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Valerian: good for the central nervous system

Valerian is a strong medicinal herb for the central nervous system. It is good as a sedative for insomnia, helps with sudden emotional distress, headaches, intestinal cramps, nervous exhaustion, and as a pain reliever.

Since you use the root of Valerian for medicinal purposes, you do not make an infusion tea with it, but rather a decoction.

To make a Valerian decoction, place 1-3 tsp. of the dried root in a small saucepan and over with cold water. Heat slowly and simmer, covered, for 20-45 minutes. The longer you simmer the herbs, the stronger the tea will be.

Another option is that you can crush 1 tsp. of the dried root and soak it in cold water for 12-24 hours. Then drink.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Hawthorn recipes for the Heart

As previously mentioned (see: Hawthorn article), ripe Hawthorn berries are the best thing for your heart. They help out with almost every heart condition including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, vascular diseases, etc. Here are some Medicinal recipes to help out your heart that use hawthorn:



Hawthorn Infused Herbal Tea
To help with practically all heart conditions, try out this herbal tea:
*Infuse 2 teaspoons of berries (fresh or dried) for 20 minutes in 1 cup of boiling water and drink 1 cup up to 3 times a day for an extended period of time. For exceptionally high blood pressure, combine hawthorn berries with yarrow because yarrow dilates peripheral blood vessels.


Hawthorn Tincture
Tinctures are super concentrated liquid extracts with extra strength. If you don't like the taste of herbal teas, you can make tinctures for practically any herb and hide the taste by putting a few drops of the tincture in juice while still getting the medicinal results. Here's what you do:

In most cases you should choose to make alcohol tinctures because of its superior qualities. Alcohol will extract volatile oils and most alkaloids from your herbs and will preserve your tinctures longer. Most herb tinctures will maintain their potency for many years. A selection of dried herbs in your medicine cabinet has a shelf life of approximately one year. Alcohol also acts as a carrier for your herbs causing them to be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream when you take them.

If you don't wish to consume alcohol it is possible to put the required dosage into a cup of boiled water. The heat will cause the alcohol to evaporate leaving the therapeutic qualities of the herb in the water. For recovering alcoholics, liver problems, children or sensitivity to alcohol it is possible to make your tinctures using vegetable glycerin or raw vinegar. Both glycerin and vinegar tinctures will be less potent and have shorter shelf lives.

To make an alcohol tincture you will need the herb, 100 proof alcohol and a labeled glass jar. An alcohol tincture is most often 50% alcohol and 50% water. 100 proof vodka naturally contains the appropriate ratios of water to alcohol. You can use gin, brandy or rum if you prefer. Do not use isopropyl rubbing alcohol which is very toxic when ingested!

Choose fresh plants for making your tinctures whenever possible. Fresh plants may contain properties that are lost or altered when the plant is dried. Dried herbs may be used when they are of good quality. Do not harvest plants that have been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, car emissions and other toxic substances.

Manually remove any dirt from your plants. Chop the plants up into small pieces so that the alcohol will be able to contact a lot of surface. Sometimes a blender is useful for the chopping hard roots. Use 100 proof vodka if you need liquid in the your blender to chop the herbs effectively.

Place the chopped herbs in a glass jar and cover with alcohol plus another inch of alcohol above the level of the herbs. Shake the mixture well to expose all the surfaces to the alcohol. Label the jar with the contents and the date. 

If you make your tincture using dried herbs they may absorb a lot of alcohol in the first couple days. If this happens simply add enough alcohol to cover the herbs again. Shake your tincture everyday throughout the next six weeks. 

If necessary, you may begin to use your tincture after two weeks but allow at least six weeks extraction time before straining. I often leave my herbs in the alcohol much longer than six weeks and strain it only when I've taken out enough tincture to expose some of the herbs to air. It is convenient if you have small amber dropper bottles to put your finished tinctures in so you can easily carry them with you and measure dosages. 


Dosage for hawthorn tincture is 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon 3 times per day

This tincture information was located at:  
http://www.wildroots.com/herbal.htm

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Rosemary Tea

Rosemary tea makes a great mouthwash for halitosis and general bad breath. It can also reduce flatulence and stimulate the smooth muscle of the digestive tract and gall bladder and increase the flow of bile.

Rosemary Herbal Infused Tea
*Put 1-3 teaspoons of either fresh or dried rosemary leaves (fresh and dried rosemary are equally potent) into each 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and let it steep for 5-10 minutes (again, due to its' potency, you do not need to let it steep as long as most infused teas). Strain and enjoy. Sweeten with honey, stevia, or lemon to taste.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Sage Tea

Sage tea will calm your frazzled nerves, provide relief to aching gums, help heal a sore throat -- and it even offers a reliable reprieve from hot flashes. Making the tea is easy:

Sage Tea Recipe

Pour eight ounces of boiling water over ten large, fresh, sage leaves (or a heaping teaspoon of dried sage). Steep for five minutes and strain.

Sage tea may taste bitter. Sweeten it with sugar, honey, or home grown stevia. You can also combine sage with a favorite black tea (Earl Grey or English Breakfast, etc.).

Note: Avoid using sage tea medicinally if you're pregnant.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Calendula, the Skin Healer

Calendula is a traditional remedy for burns, wounds, grazes, and rashes.

For broken or cut skin:
1) Clean the wound with an antiseptic solution
2) When clean, apply a calendula tincture to the affected area 3 times per day.
3) It can also be applied to rashes, burns, and healing grazes 3 times per day.


For additional information, see: references and warnings