Choosing the Right Herb

Nothing in the composition of a plant tells us in what way it would be used the best. There are over a half million familiar herbs that could be put to use as probable remedies. In China, The Chinese Herbalist practitioners possess over 2,000 herbs that are easily found in their pharmacies. Herbal remedies around the globe vary in strength from very mild, gentle remedies that we even use as food to strong poisons if the doses are wrong. Folk application of herbal remedies is well-known to all of us in some form or another- this is how these alternative remedies are known. They are passed down from generation to generation and unfortunately; this fuels the fire of the scientific people and their contempt. It really is their defeat in the sense that ages of experience and knowledge, accumulated generation after generation, should not be so readily discarded. In reality, many of our current pharmacological combinations have their origin in herbal medicine. Remedies and recipes for herbal teas are passed down from generation to generation and are still appreciated and used today. Thankfully, the recent changes in the world toward the traditional remedies are changing and this is no doubtly for better. Earlier there were countless herbal combinations useful for specific illnesses. Now, certain herbs are recommended for some specific ailments which are discussed below:

Arteries – Kelp, Hawthorne Berries, Wheat Germ Oil, Garlic and Bioflavonoid herbs such as Ginkgo, Buckwheat and Lime Blossom are especially useful in strengthening blood vessels.

Bladder – Juniper Berries, Buchu, Wild Carrot Seed, Gravel Root

Blood Pressure – European Mistletoe, Apple Bark

Bones – Comfrey, Horsetail Grass

Brain – Lily of the Valley, Ginseng, Gotu Kola

Circulation System – Cayenne (most powerful), Ginger, Bayberry Bark, Prickly Ash

Digestive System – Hops, Papaya, Mustard Seed, Centaury, Gentian, Agrimony, Oregon grape Root, Wormwood

Ears – Eyebright, Golden Seal

Endocrine Glands – Ginseng, Sarsaparilla, Yarrow, Licorice, False Unicorn Root, True Unicorn Root, Pumpkin Seeds, Kelp

Fertility – Sarsaparilla, False Unicorn Root, Damiana, Licorice

Gall Bladder – Olive Oil, Bayberry Bark, Comfrey

Hair – Rosemary, Sage, Henna

Heart – Wheat Germ, Hawthorne Berry, Tansy

Kidneys – Dandelion Root, Uva Ursi, White Poplar Bark, Sandalwood, Parsley

Large Intestine – Cascara Sagrada Bar, Squaw Vine for transverse colon

Liver – Oregon grape Root, Dandelion, Mandrake, Maple Bark

Lungs – Comfrey, Mullein, Lobelia, Oat Straw, Pleurisy Root, Lungwort, Garlic

Mouth – Tincture of Cayenne, Bayberry Bark, Oak Bark

Nervous System – Skullcap, Valerian, Hops, Lobelia, Ladies Slipper Root, Passion Flowers, Linden Flowers

Nose – Bayberry Bark, Golden Seal (Snuff: 1 part Bayberry Bark 2 parts Golden Seal)

Pancreas – Cedar Berries, Yarrow, Periwinkle, Dandelion

Prostate – Pumpkin Seeds, Echinacea, Saw Palmetto Berries, Uva Ursi, Gravel Root

Respiratory – Cayenne, Lobelia, Hyssop, Oat Straw, Garlic, Mullein, Elecampane and Coltsfoot

Skin – Chickweed, Walnut Shell tincture

Small Intestine – Rhubarb Root, Slippery Elm

Spleen – Maple Leaves and Bark, Hyssop Tea with Steamed Figs, Bayberry Bark, Angelica

Stomach – Raspberry Leaf, Dandelion Root, Angelica, Centaury, Agrimony, Calamus, Wormwood, Oregon grape Root

Throat – Mullein, Sage, Golden Seal, Slippery Elm, Eucalyptus, Bay, Poppy Seeds, Yerba Santa, Blood Root, Hyssop, Elecampane

Urinary – Dandelion root, Parsley Root, Wild Carrot Seed, Juniper Berries, Uva Ursi and Corn Silk are useful.

Uterus and Vagina – Squaw Vine, Dong Kwai, Golden Seal Root, Oak Bark, White Pond Lily, Trillium, Beth Root, Uva Ursi, Angelica, Myrrh, Yarrow, Comfrey, Alfalfa, Saw Palmetto Berries

47 HERBAL REMEDIES

Acne

Mix equal parts of Butternut, Burdock, Echinacea and Cleavers to 5ml of tincture and apply thrice a day.

Altitude Sickness

In a pot of boiling water add steep Cloves, Allspice, Bay Leaf, Celery Seed, cinnamon and Marjoram in small quantities to taste.
Mix in the following mints: asil, Savory and Thyme.
This mixture should be taken prior to the anticipated travel or hike.

Alzheimer\’s disease

This disease affects 4 million Americans and striking about 10% of people over 65 and about half of those beyond 85. Acetylcholine is a brain chemical known as a neurotransmitter, is a main ingredient to cognition and reasoning. But people with Alzheimer\’s often lack this Acetylcholine. The problem with experimental and FDA approved drugs is their toxicity. These carry a potential for liver disease. Since the principle is to decelerate the collapse of Acetylcholine and preserve what is already present in the brain, there are certain herbs that can be useful. It just urges us to look at herbal alternatives, especially those herbs that contain certain compounds preventing the degeneration of Acetylcholine: Horse balm, Rosemary, Brazil Nut, Dandelion, Fava Beans, Fenugreek, Ginkgo, Sage, Stinging Nettle, Willow and Gotu Kola are all useful for the treatment of Alzheimer\’s.

Those herbs that can be included as dietary supplements are also encouraged. Horse balm helps to prevent the collapse of Acetylcholine. Add a few drops of Horse balm to a preferred herbal shampoo. Research has also revealed that having foods rich in lecithin show potential to fight Alzheimer’s. Plant foods including Dandelion Flowers, Poppy Seeds, Soybeans and mung beans should also be added to the diet.

Arthritis

The term Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation.” If you suffer from Arthritis, you may either take drugs to combat the effects or tried other “home remedies.” If you haven\’t yet tried “Urtication”, it might prove helpful. The term “Urtication” descends from the botanical name, Urtica dioica and dates back to some 2,000 years to biblical ages. Urtica dioica is “Stinging Nettle”.
Grasp the nettles in a gloved hand and swipe the sore joints with the nettles. This may seem weird, but the practice has seemed to be so useful for some patients of arthritis that they now preserve a nettle plant on their window sill.

Asthma

Ephedra sinica (Ma Huang) is an excellent bronchodilator. The natural form of Ephedra is easier to tolerate than the synthetic “ephedrine” that results in fewer harmful heart symptoms. You can also try this mixture:

Gum weed 24 parts tincture

Pill Bearing Spurge 24 parts tincture

Lobelia 12 parts tincture

Wild Cherry 12 parts tincture

Licorice Root 12 parts tincture

Motherwort 12 parts tincture

Ma Huang 10 parts tincture

Aniseed 1 parts e.o.

Take 5ml. of this mixture 3 times a day.
If Pill Bearing Spurge is not available then double the amount of Gum weed to compensate for it.

Athlete\’s Foot

Fungicidal essential oils (for instance, Myrrh, Ti-Tree and Garlic) are the most useful topical treatment. The treatment will be smelly but will also deliver remarkable results.

Bad Breath

Chew parsley to get rid of bad breath. Chewing on Cardamom is also very effective because Cardamom actually destroys bad breath bacteria.

Bronchitis

Mix 2 teaspoons of horehound per cup of boiling water and you may add lemon and licorice to taste. Try this mixture to treat bronchitis.

Bruises

Crush and chop chilled parsley and apply to bruised area it will pull the color from the bruising promptly. The discoloration may disappear within 24 hours.

Burns

There are three levels of burns. First degree only affects the outer layer of skin, viz. sunburn. Second degree burns will develop blisters indicating the burn penetrating deeper into the skin and is more painful. The most terrible type of burn is a third-degree burn that needs medical emergency. To treat slight first and second degree burns, use an aloe leaf’s gel for immediate relief.

Cancer

There is no definite cure for Cancer. In fact, the term itself is confusing and can denote any type of malignancy. The following mixture is a Cancer and Blood
Purifier:

4 parts Licorice Root

4 parts Red Clover

2 parts Burdock Root

2 parts Stillingia

2 parts Berberis Root

2 parts Poke Root

1 part Cascara Amarga

1 part Prickley Bark

1 part Buckthorne Bark

Fill gelatin capsules take 1 on the first day, 2 on the second until you reach 36 per day for 2 years. Avoid vinegar, pork and tomatoes.

Canker Sores

Mouth wash: Equal parts of Marshmallow and Chamomile are infused to be gargled often. Also consider Balm and St. John\’s Wort.

Colds and Flu

At the first sign of sniffles, instantly consume Echinacea. There are over 200 viruses that can result in the common cold. They are spread by coughing, sneezing and by hand. Therefore, the first step is to prevent! Wash hands frequently and throughly, using a good anti-bacterial soap.
Eating garlic can prevent colds and flu. Few other remedies are listed below:

Pour a cup of boiling water over a couple of tablespoons of fresh, shredded Ginger Root.

It makes a good hot tea effective against the most common cold viruses.

Constipation

Take 1 to 3 tablespoons of whole or crushed Flaxseed two or three times a day. It is useful for chronic constipation. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep the bulk moving through the digestive system.

Coughing

Slice a large onion into rings and keep it in deep bowl. Cover the slices with organic honey and allow leave it overnight. In the morning strain the liquid to make a simple cough elixir.

Dandruff

Create an herbal scalp rinse.

Add one teaspoon of Potassium Chloride (find in salt section at the supermarket) into 6 cups of water.
Heat until the Potassium Chloride dissolves.
Chop 4 ounces of fresh Celandine (if fresh is not available use a half cup of the dried Celandine instead).
Add Celandine to the solution and allow standing for two hours.
Boil the solution slowly for 20 minutes.
Strain out the plant material, and boil reducing the mixture to one and one half cups.
Add 8 ounces of glycerin and continue simmering reducing the liquid to two cups.
Strain the resultant solution and bottle it.
Store the solution in cool place and use once or twice a day as a hair rinse.

Depression

Persistent depression is a severe mental ailment and you should consult your physician for treatment. In the meantime you might try a Licorice tea. Simply add some of it to any of your favorite herbal teas. But be cautious, as using up to approximately 3 cups of tea a day or more or ingesting larger amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, loss of potassium and high blood pressure. At least eight Licorice compounds are Mono Amine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. These compounds are capable of strong antidepressant action.

Diarrhea

Use 2 to 3 teaspoons of Agrimony (rich in tannin) leaves to prepare a tea.
Apple pulp is rich in pectin so try having apple sauce.
Use cooked carrots to treat diarrhea in infants. It will soothe the digestive tract while providing nutrients, lost during diarrhea.
It is important to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration.

Ear ache

Garlic can help alleviate a middle ear infection. A few drops of Garlic oil in the ear can\’t hurt either. You can also try a teaspoon of dried Echinacea in tea.

Fever

Mix 2 to 3 teaspoons of Elder flowers in tea. It will benefit reduce feverish chills. You can also try Ginger tea or eat candied ginger or sip ginger ale.
It is useful to add peppermint to fever-fighting teas.

Flatulence

It is surprising why the instructions on packages of beans instruct soaking the beans overnight? It actually has nothing to do with the recipe, but it is an anti-gas remedy. You can also reduce flatulence with a tea prepared with Chamomile, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Lemon Balm and Peppermint. You may sweeten it with Licorice.

Gallstones and Kidney Stones

It is rational enough to take some basic prevention to combat these diseases.

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. This keeps the urine so diluted that it cannot create the stones in the first place.
Drink several cups of Stinging Nettle Tea each day to prevent and treat kidney stones. To one cup of boiling water, steep one teaspoon of finely chopped dried herb (stinging nettle).

Gout

It is professed that Celery Seed keeps uric acid below critical levels. Consume 2 to 4 tablets of celery seed extract daily.

Headache

No single treatment can cure all kinds of headaches. Feverfew is possibly the best known remedy. Some people try ingesting the leaves directly that causes mouth sores. You can also brew a tea with two to eight fresh leaves steeping in boiling water. Remember; do not boil the leaves as it reduces the effectiveness. Pregnant and breast feeding women should not consume Feverfew.

Heartburn

Chamomile is the best remedy for heartburn and stomach problems. Licorice might be a second choice, but excess of Licorice will cause headache, lethargy, and a serious loss of potassium as well as the possibility of high blood pressure.

Hemorrhoids

Use the following salve after each bowel movement:

One teaspoon Calendula

One teaspoon Chamomile

One teaspoon Yarrow

One teaspoon Plantain

One teaspoon St. John\’s Wort

Mix each herb in powdered form with enough emollient oil (almond) to make a paste, and then apply.

High Blood Pressure

Try any of the following vegetable soups:

Celery, Garlic, Hawthorn, Kudzu, Onion, Tomato, Broccoli, Carrot, Purslane (any anything else that contains magnesium), Saffron, Valerian, Fennel, Oregano, Black Pepper, Basil and Tarragon.

Take on a regular basis. Avoid pork, beef, and alcohol from your diet. Eat more plant foods and herbs and follow a good vitamin regimen.

Indigestion

Create a tincture of:

Mix a dash of Angelica, Anise, Chamomile, Coriander, Fennel, Ginger,
Rosemary and Turmeric along with two dashes of any mint herbs.
Steep these herbs overnight in the refrigerator in a mixture of alcohol and water (One shot of vodka per cup of spring water). Now drink as a tea or mix with juice.

Insect Bites/Stings

Try using Citronella Oil after diluting it. Then add several drops to vegetable oil and rub directly on your affected skin.

Insomnia

Lemon Balm works as a sedative as well as a stomach soother. Try a tea prepared with two to four teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water.

Liver Problems

Use Milk Thistle for all types of liver disorders. It is available in capsule form at health food stores.

Menopause

Black Cohosh, that contains various estrogenic substances, is recommended for many “female complaints.” It relieves menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes. Native American women used it for childbirth and other gynecological problems. You may also try:

2 parts Chasteberry

1 part St. John\’s Wort

1 part Life Root

Mix these to 5ml of tincture and take three times a day.

Motion Sickness and Nausea

Raspberry leaf tea is generally used for morning sickness but it is also good for motion sickness. Ginger is also effective for motion sickness. Munch it or buy Ginger capsules at the health food store.

Osteoporosis

It is known to few of us that high protein diets leech calcium from bone. Therefore reduce intake of protein and try this broth:

Place leftover fish bones in a large pot.

Add a few quarts of water.

Bring to a boil.

Cover and simmer 30 minutes.

Add a couple handfuls of finely chopped Cabbage, Dandelion Greens, and Stinging Nettle

greens, Parsley, Pigweed and Purslane.

Season with salt, pepper and any other seasonings you prefer to taste.

Remove fish bones before serving as a vegetable/herb soup or as a stock for hearty bean soup.

Pain

Use clove oil for toothache. Apply directly to the painful tooth.

Red Pepper contains capsaicin. It stimulates the release of endorphins. You can also use this

in recipes.

Willow bark contains salicin, the original aspirin. First start with a low dose tea. If you are

allergic to aspirin, do not follow this treatment.

Pneumonia

Nothing can substitute your doctor’s recommendations, but you might intensify treatment with a

Dandelion tea.

Cook the greens and roots to prepare a juice that remains after the green are cooked. Incase of

the unavailability of fresh Dandelion, use the dried herb.

Prostate Enlargement

Make a spread of Saw Palmetto, Licorice and Pumpkin Seeds.

Place a half cup of fresh Pumpkin Seeds in a food processor.

Add one Saw Palmetto Capsule contents (without the capsule)

Add a few drops of Licorice extract.

Blend until smooth.

You may mix a little Brazil nut oil to make it spread easier.

Eat a couple of tablespoonfuls every day. Make small batches at a time to insure freshness.

Psoriasis

Folk healers have suggested rubbing mashed Avocado on psoriasis patches. If nothing else, it is cool and comforting.

Shingles

Try using a mixed mint tea for shingles.

Use lots of Lemon Balm along with any other mints you would like: Hyssop, Oregano,

Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Self Heal, Spearmint or Thyme. Add a little Licorice as also

and drink it. You can also try applying it directly to the rash.

Sinusitis

Prepare your favorite vegetable soup. Add considerable amount of Garlic, Onions, Horseradish, Hot Pepper and Ginger to it. Enjoy the dish while feeling your sinuses open.

Skin Problems

In addition to Aloe, the most effective herb for skin treatment, you can try Evening Primrose Oil. Apply it directly to the irritation. You can get it in your health food store.

Sore Throat

Slipper Elm capsules will do the trick for a serious sore throat. Keep it in mind that it is probably a sign of a cold, flu or strep to come. You can also consume a few teaspoons of crushed Eucalyptus leaves per cup of boiling water to make a soothing tea.

Sunburn

Apply wet teabags to sunburned areas. Aloe applied to the affected areas is always a good choice. Calendula accelerates the healing of burns. You may find commercial creams containing Calendula at your health food store.

Swelling

One of the active components in Ginger is Zingibain. One gram of Zingibain has the ability to

soften as much as 20 pounds of meat. The most pleasant method of consuming Ginger is to eat

Ginger candy.

Pineapple also contributes to the reduction of swelling and it tastes good too!

Dandelion is an effective diuretic that can remove some of the excess fluid that causes swelling.

You can also buy capsules.

Tinnitus

Ginkgo is the best treatment for Tinnitus. The most suitable way to consume it as an extract. You may find in a health food store. When purchasing look for 50:1 on the label. 40mgs ginkgo extract per day is recommended to treat Tinnitus.

Tonsillitis

Echinacea and Goldenseal are effective to treat Tonsillitis.

Combine these two herbs as a tea and gargle as well as consume.

Toothache

As mentioned earlier, Clove Oil works well for toothache. Another remedy is a compress of Ginger and Red Pepper. Mix the powdered spices in enough water to prepare a paste. Use a small cotton ball to dip in the paste and thereafter apply the cotton directly to the aching tooth without letting it touch the gum. If it appears too hot, wash your mouth and try a different remedy.

Ulcers

You may find this remedy too tasty to be called a treatment!

Bananas, Pineapple, Blueberries, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Ginger and

Honey are required for this.

Cut up the bananas and pineapple and keep in a serving bowl.

Add blueberries and season generously with the Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger and sweeten with
the Honey. You may use all these ingredients to prepare an anti-ulcer drink.

Vaginitis

Peel a clove of Garlic carefully so that no nicks are made in the meat.

Wrap this in clean gauze with a clean, unbleached string creating a small tampon like packet.

Insert into the vagina each night.

Continue this method for up to six nights.

If this treatment does not heal the infection consult your doctor.

Yeast Infections

Mix 2 to 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil in a tablespoon of yogurt.

Soak a tampon in the mixture and insert it at night for up to six nights.

Be cautious while using any plant extracts. They are very concentrated in nature and even small

doses can cause damage.