herbal Home Remedies By AJ Drew

(red is by Me Middy)

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Terminology

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Abortifacient:
A Substance that causes Abortions

Anemia:
a deficiency of the oxygen-carrying parts of the blood, often the result of low amounts of iron in the diet. It is measured by the ratio of red blood cells found in the blood.

Alterative:
Tends to restore the body and normal health

Anodyne:
Decreases or eliminates Pain

Anthelmintic:
Destroys or causes parasitic worms to be expelled. See taeniafuge.

Antibiotic:
Techincally an antibiodic is a substance produced by bacteria and other organisms that is used to kill or inhibit other microorganisms. A Good example of an antibiotic is penicillin. However what you will encounter in this section are recipes and herbs that are used topically for their antibiotic properties.

Antiseptic:
A prepartion or plant material that kills or inhibits the growth of microogranisms. Used to battle infection.

Aphrodisiac:
a preparation or plant material that stirs lustful thoughts and or excites the repoductive organs.

Anticolagulant:
 Decreases the bloods ability to clot.

Antipyretic:
reduces fever

Antiperiodic:
prevents the reoccurence of a disease

Antiscorbutic:
Cures or prevents scurvy

Antispasmodic:
relieves or prevents spasms, especially those of smooth muscles

Aperient:
Gentle laxative that purges the bowls.

Arthritis:
Inflammation, Pian , and swelling of a joint not caused by a recent injury.

Astringent:
a preparation or plant material that draws together or restricts tissues.

Bronchitis:
an inflammation of the bronchial system.

Carminative:
Encourages the release of gas from teh intestines and stomach.

Cathartic:
Purges the digestive system. most often used to describe a laxative.

Colic:
Abdominal Pain, usually of the intestines or stomach. Most often used to describe such pain in a young chid or baby.

Decoction:
an extract made with boiling water. Typically called a decoction if boiled further after the plant material is removed to concentrate the extraction.

Demulcent: Soths and softens mucus membranes to relieve pain.

Dentifrice:
used to clean the teeth.

Deobstruent:
Removes obstructions to the flow of the body secreations and fluids

Diaphoretic:
Increases perspiration. useful in cleansing the skin

Diuretic:
Increases urination. usefull in cleansing the system of toxins

Emetic:
Tends to promote vomiting

Emmenagogue:
Tends to induce or quicken menstruation.

Emmollient:
a substance that softens the skin

Enzymes:
Complicated strings of protein that cause chemical changes in other substances. When it comes to herbalizm, these are most often encountered when using a milk infusion

Expectorant:
Assists in the expulsion of phlegm and mucus from the respiratory system

Febrifuge:
reduces fever. See also refrigerant.

Homeopathic:
A medical preparation or practice in which a tiny amount of a medicine is used to treat a condition that would be brought on by a large amount of the same medicine.

hypnotic:
an agent that causes sleep or a twilight state.

Infusion:
an extract made by soaking plant materialwith warm or hot water (not boiling)

INtoxicant:
a preperation or plant material that causes intoxication.

Laxative:
A preparation or plant material that raises the level of moisture in the bowls to fight constipation

Mydriatic:
A subtance that causes the pupils to dilate

Narcotic:
soothing numbing and pain relieving. usually addictive, mood altering behavior altering and sedative in nature.Most narcotics also stiffen the stool, often to the point of constipation.

Nervine.
Preparationor plant material that calms and settles the nerves

Pectoral:
Useful in relieving disorders of the chest

Prophylactic:
Substance that prevnets disease.

Purgative:
Promotes evacuation  of he bowls

Refrigerant:
Reduces fever and may lower body tempurature..

Relaxent: preparation or plant material that relaxes the mind and counters tentions

Rubefacient:
Causes redness of the skin

Sedative:
Preparation or plant material that settles the mind. Most often used to induce sleep or relaxation.

Stimulant:
Increases the function of a portion of the body. Note that this is possible for a single plant to be a stimulant for one portion of the body and also work as a sedative or a nervine for another part.

Stomachic:
 Aids in digestion

Sudorific:
See Diaphoretic

Styptic:
Astringent that specifically decreases bleeding by tightening tissue and restricting blood flow.

Taeniafuge:
A substance that expels tapeworms from the body.  See also "anthelmintic"

Tonic:
A preparation or plant material that strengthens the immune system, the body's function as a whole, or any particular organ. Generally speaking tonics are prevntative measures. They are sometimes used to treat deficiencies of certain citamins, minerals or other nutrients.

Topical:
Applied to the surface of the skin. USEd externaly.

Cermifuge:
Causes parasitic worms to be expelled
Vulnerary:
USEful in treating wounds.

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Using the Recipes

Many recipes given here are provide as tea mixture. To prevent redundancy, the method for using these recipes as tea and the standard measurements for infusions and decotions are described here rather than in each recipe. Simple home remedies and single ingredient recipes are given in the boxes.

To Use as a Tea:
Place 1 or 2 tsp (teaspoons)  of the powder in an empty tea bag or other appropriate device. Alterantively, , place the mixture in a teacup and strain later. Bring water to a boil and then reduce heat. When the water is no longer boiling, pour into a teacup (over miture). Allow to sit until it is cool enough to sip.

For an Infusion:
Unless otherwise specified, the general ratio of a plant material to liquid is 1 OZ (oz= ounce) of dried herb in 1 pt (pt=pint) of liquid (usually water). Simmer for 30 minutes and strain.

For a Decoction:
Unless otherwise specified, the general ratio of plant material to liquid (usually water) is 1 oz dried plant material to 1 qt(qt=quart) of water. Boil to reduce to 1 pt. by volume and then strain.

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Home Remedies:

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Arthritis

Oregano Ointment:
Simmer 1 part Oregano in 4 parts olive oil ( by volume), allow to cool, strain and apply liberally to sore joints.

Arthritis Tea:
Combine 1 part parsley and 1 part ginger root. Grind to a powder and serve as a tea. Better if use equal amounts of fresh ginger root and parsley by weight, simmer for 30 minutes.

Arthritis Rub:
Combine 2 parts rosemary leaves, 1 part Oregano, and 1 part brandy by volume, allow to sit for at least a month. Strain and massage affected areas.

*******Treat Arthritis with Sea salts:
Wimming in the ocean regularly will relieve the pain of arthritis. Most people don't ahve a handy ocean so add a couple cups of sea slats to a warm bath. Add a few drops of lavender oilto make it even better. Epson salts ( 1 cup per bath) will also work. Try both and see which works better for you .

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Burns
Burn Salve:
Following the instructions for a "simple salve", add 1 oz irish moss, 1 oz marshmallow root, and 10 drops tincture of benzoin.

Poultice:
A White viniger infusion of 1 part Irish Moss and 1 part marshmallow makes a fine poultice for mild burns.

Sunburns:
A White vinegar infusion of 1 part chamomile and 1 part irish moss.

*** Treat burns with Red Currant Jelly:
Keeping homeade red currant jelly in the fridge is a tasty treatrns will decrease the pain and lessen the blisters.

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Breathing Problems

Asthma I :
Mix equal amounts of rosemary, clotsfoot, thyme, and lavender. Ths mixture placed in a water pipe and smoked.

AsthmaII:
Grind euqal amounts of thyme and anise sead. Simmer in sunflower oil for 30 minutes. Strain, cool, and serve 1 tblsp (tblsp= Tablespoon) at night.

Bronchitis:
Relief from bronchitis maybe had by making a warm skim- milk infusion of lemon balm. Allow to simmer for at least 15 minutes, cool, strain, and then heat at serving time. Consume an 8 oz cup with and between every meal, and mild sympoms of bronchitis will probally be gone in a day.

Smokers' Cough:
A warm infusion of 2 parts anise seed and 1 part clove, simmer for 30 minutes and strain, and sweeten with honey. Serve warm.

**** Treat Asthma with horseradish:
A warm skim milk infusion of horseradish.
Treat Asthma with Coffee:
Some forms of asthma respond well to a good strong cup of coffee.

 

****Treat allergies with Locally harvested honey:
If you are prone to pollen allergies and you can find a coal beekeeper, you might be in luck. Many folk report relief from Pollen-induced allergies from the daily consumption of locally produced honey, while  Others have a horrible allergic reaction to honey itself

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Cough, Fly, Colds, and Fevers
     ~~ also see "expectorants" and "breathing problems"

Cough Syrup I (Cherry and Cinnamon):
In a pot mix 1 pt cherries, 1 lemon sliced thinly, 1 pt honey, 1 tablesppon cinnamon, an enough water to cover the mxture. Mixand simmer for no less than one hour. Mash with a potato masher and simmer for another hour. Stran or remove the lemon rind and chary pits, but do not remove the pulp. Remove from heat: allow to cool in the fridge overnight. Keep Refridgerated.

Cough SyrupII (Hyssops and horehound) :
Grind 2 parts hyssop and 1 part horehound. Bring 1 pt water to a boil and remove from heat. When the water stops boiling add 1/4 oz ( about 7 grams) of the herb mixture and allow to simmer for one half hour. Strain hot and retunr to heat. Add an amount of honey equal to about one half the amount of remaining fluid. Simmer until the volume decreases by approximately half. Allow to cool. The consistency should be approximately that of maple syrup. If it is too thick, warm gently and add water. If it is too think warm gently and add honey.

Cough Syrup III ( sage and thyme):
In a pot, mix 1/2 oz. sage, 1/2 oz. thyme nad 1pt water. simmer for 30 minutes, strain, and mix in 1 pt. honey. Allow to coola nd keep refrigerated.

Cough Syrup IV (horehound and lemon):
In a pot mix 2 oz of horehound, 1 sliced lemon, and 1 1/2 pt water. Simmer for 30 minutes strain and mix in 1 pt honey. Cool and keep refigerated.

Cough Syrup V ( red Clover, MInt, and Lemon):
In a pot mix 1/2 oz.  red clover, and 1/2 oz. mint and sliced lemon with 1 pt water. simmer for 30 minutes, strain,and mix 1 pt honey. Allow to cool and keep refrigerated.

Cold and Flu Citrus Remedy I :
Mix 3 parts orange juice ( an expression) , 2 parts warm water infusion of sage, and 1 part  lemon juice. Simmer (do not boil)until reduced  by one half. Sweeten with honey and serve warm

COld and Flue Citrus Remedy II:Make a warm water infusion of equal amounts of sage, lemon peel and or ange peel. Simmer 30 minutes, strain, sweeten, and serve warm.

Tea for Flu (Minty):
Grind 3 parts peppermint, 2 parts feverfew, and 1 part elder flowers into a medium powder. Create a warm water infusion of this ixture simmer for 30 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey. Serve hot. Eases pain and aches as an expectorant.

Tea for flue with fever:
Grind equal amounts of feverfew, peppermint, yarrow, and elder flowers. Bring 1 pt of water to a boil and remove from heat. When the water stops boiling add 1/2 oz ( about 14 grams) of the above mixture and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. While still warm, mix in honey to taste. Straina nd serve warm.

Tea for the cold and Flu Symptoms:
Mix 2 parts elder flowers, 2 parts pepermint leaves and 1 part sage. Simmer (do NOT BOIL) for 30 minutes. strain, and sweeten with ohney. Serve HOT

**** Treat congestion with apple cider vinegar:
Mix with equal amounts of water, boil, and inhale the rising steam.
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Treat congestion with Lemon Juice:
add lemon juice to virtually any tea or other beverage to aid congestion.

Milk and Spice for the sick:
Mix 1 tblsp. honey 1 tsp powdered ginger, 1 tsp powdered cinnamon, and 2 cups(cp.= cups) milk. Simer for 30 minutes. Serve hot with a cinnamon stick to stir in more honey.

Rose Hip and Spice for the Sick:
Make a warm water infusion of 4 parts, rose hips, 2 parts lemon peel, and 1 part cinnamon. Simmer for 30 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey. Serve warm  with cinnamon stick.

Sinus relief Tea:
Grind to a powder 3 tblsp fenugreek seeds, 1 tbsp lemon peel, and 1 tblsp orange peel. add 1 pt water and bring to a boil. Add 1/2 of a small sliced onion, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and serve unsweetend. Believe it or not it doesn't taste nearly as bad as it sounds. Drink of the course of a day.

**** Treat Fever with Cayenne:
Cayenne will cause sweating and lower fever. It an be mixed into food, but chances are a sick person won't want to eat much. So ut cayenne powder into empty gelcaps.If using size 00 gel caps, the dose is 1 or 2 cups every three or four hours.

 

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CUTS AND SCRAPES

 
Milk and Elder wash:
for topical use only. make a warm mild infusion of elder leves. Allow tos immer for 30 minutes,strain, and return liquid to heat until it decreases in volume by one half. allow to cool and apply to wounds 3 times a day to speed healing.

**** Treat cuts and scraps with papaya juice:
Store bought papaya jiuce is good topical cleanser or  mild cuts and scrapes.
 
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Treat Cuts and Scrapes with Confection Sugar:
Treat minor cuts and scartches with powdered sugar, decraeses healing time when applied daily.

Poltices to Stop Bleeding:
Make a poultice from 1 part lemon balm and 1 part witch hazel. Other plants commonly used for this purpoe include Oak leaves, honey suckle leaves and root, papaya slices, and st john's wort.

Prevent Blood Clots:
An Infusion of Fresh ginger root will decrease the formation of blood clots. Typicaly, the ratio is 2 tsp. fresh ginger root to 1 pint water. Simmer for 30 minutes, strain and serve hot.

Infection fighting I:
A Decoction of 2 parts comfrey leaves and 1 part garlic will turn back most minor infections when applied topically.

Infection Fighting II:
For topical use only. A white wine finegar infusion of 1 part comfrey leaves an 1 part oak leaves is helpful in treating abrasion wounds that have become more infected.

****Treat a sprain with buttermilk:
A poultice of warm buttermilk is excellent for pulled muscles and sprain.

***treat swollen joints with Cider vinegar:
Mix equal amounts of water and cider vinegar, heat gently and soak affected areas in the warm mixture. Use a cloth if you cannot fit the affected area int he liquid.