Sweet, soft, fluffy, delicious are all excellent descriptions of this useful herb. Therapeutic properties include: anti-inflammatory, antitussive, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, galactogogue, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, laxative, nutritive, and vulnerary. Let's delve a little deeper into some of these properties.
Demulcent is, perhaps, Marshmallow's best known property. Demulcent means that it can soften the mucous membranes and skin and relieve swelling and irritation by leaving a protective, moistening film. This alone makes a cold infusion of Marshmallow beneficial for stomachache, heartburn, reflux, sore throat, dry mouth and throat, dry cough, dry skin conditions, minor wounds, and minor burns. Marshmallow is so good for the skin, it's even used in skin care products! As an expectorant, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory herb, it can soothe pleurisy and dry, hot lung issues. (Cold, boggy lung conditions would call for some different herbs.) It has a phagocytosis property which means Marshmallow will stimulate the phagocyte immune cells to gobble up pathogens and dead cells. This is important when you're sick, since your immune cells are waging war against harmful pathogens, and both sides end up with lots of dead cells. Mothers can use a Marshmallow compress to reduce pain and swelling of the breast for breastfeeding and to relieve mastitis. This herb's galactogogue property may also help increase milk supply. UTIs and bladder infections don't stand a chance with Marshmallow. Hmmm, I just had an idea. I may have to try making (separately), cranberry tea and cold infusion of Marshmallow, then mix them together. It seems to me that this blend would be powerful against a UTI. Diuretic properties of the herb may then help get you going more easily. Marshmallow is generally safe, but does have a couple of precautions. Because it coats the mucous membranes, it can affect absorption of medications. The recommendation, if you take medications, is to leave at least 1 hour between taking your medicine and ingesting Marshmallow preparations. (My take on that is 1 hour before and 1 hour after.) Marshmallow may interact with Lithium. It may interact with diabetes medications because it can lower blood sugar. Always consult with your doctor before using any herb. To learn more about this sweet, fun herb, check out its Datasheet in the membership section of this website.
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We hear a lot of information about oats from ads on TV, the internet, and in magazines. We see adds for oatmeal, oats in soaps and lotions, and oats in products to relieve itching. There's a good reason for what we're hearing -- oats really can do a lot for us.
Oats are highly nutritious with properties that help strengthen our nails, teeth, bones, and hair. They can lower cholesterol, which is good for the heart. They are especially restorative for those who are experiencing physical and mental exhaustion due to illness, drug withdrawal, and/or long-term, high stress situations. They can relax the nerves and restore energy. Oats are demulcent, so they soothe dry, irritated skin and mucous membranes. Rashes and hot, dry skin conditions generally respond well to topical products containing oats because of their moistening and anti-inflammatory properties. Milky oats, oatstraw, and oatmeal are forms of oats we use. Milky oats are the oat seeds before they are ready to harvest. There is a short period of time when the 'milk' can be squeezed out of the seed. Herbalists often make milky oat tinctures to preserve the therapeutic properties of the 'milk'. The tincture is known to be fast-acting. Ripe oat grains are harvested to make oatmeal. This is likely to be the best known form of oats, and makes a great breakfast, nourishing meal during illness or after surgery, and delicious, healthy cookies (or other dessert). Oatstraw includes the aerial part of the plant -- stalk and seeds. These can be harvested at any time and then dried. Oatstraw is best used as a decoction (or tea). [Simmer 1 ounce of oatstraw in 4 cups of water for 20 (or more) minutes.] Some traditional herbal remedies: * Add milky oats tincture to oatstraw decoction to help strengthen/heal bones. * Use milky oats tincture for MS as it may reduce the symptoms and fatigue, nourish the muscles, and help with nerve function. Solidago canadensis, Solidago virgaurea, Solidago odora, Solidago lepida,
Solidago serotina . . . These are just a few of the species (out of more than 130) of Goldenrod, a plant in the Daisy family. Commonly, the leaves and flowers are used, though the roots are also beneficial. This herb is bitter and pungent, drying, and, depending on the species, may be warming or cooling. I will note here that, although it's bitter and pungent, it does have a pleasant taste that is slightly sweet. Wow! Something that tastes good AND is good for the body! Goldenrod is often used to help with allergies, colds, respiratory infections, coughs, sore throats, and congestion. It's antiseptic, astringent, and expectorant properties come into play with all of these conditions. If allergies leave your eyes irritated, washing them with a cooled Goldenrod tea may just relieve them. Goldenrod supports mucous membranes. As such, it's a fine choice when one has a UTI, incontinence, bladder infection, or frequent urgency. It's good for the kidneys and has been used historically for kidney stones and nephritis. It has diuretic and diaphoretic properties which promote detoxification. It can loosen up stuck fluid in the body -- from congestion in the lungs to improving circulation. Goldenrod does just as much for the skin as it does for the inside of the body. Saponins in the herb are effective against Candida, so the tea can be used as a mouthwash (for thrush) or in a sitz bath to reduce fungal infections. Powdered Goldenrod can be applied topically to minor wounds to stop the bleeding. A Goldenrod oil infusion added to a salve -- perhaps mixed with Plantain, Comfrey, Aloe, and/or Yarrow -- may be used on burns, skin irritations, boils, carbuncles, bites, and stings. Compresses, liniments, and oil infusions applied to arthritic joints or acute injuries may relieve pain and swelling. Scientists believe that Goldenrod may have up to seven times more antioxidants than Green Tea! The current theory is that, between the high level of antioxidants and the ability to prevent new blood vessel growth, Goldenrod may be able to play a role in preventing some types of cancer. Goldenrod has GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status. When we were little, we'd collect dandelion "bouquets" to give to our mothers and teachers, then we'd make a wish and blow the fluff off of those that had gone to seed. As we got older, we were sent out into the yard to dig up the dandelions -- sadly, not for food, but because they were weeds. As I look back, I think what a shame it is that we think of this valuable plant as a pest! Our ancestors knew the nutritive and medicinal value of the Dandelion plant (many around the world still know it today). Let's share that knowledge.
Almost every part of the Dandelion is edible -- the roots, the leaves, and the flowers! The roots are high in inulin (a prebiotic) which can help with digestion. They also support the liver and liver function, which, in turn, may help balance hormones for women. Scientists believe that taraxasterol in the roots is responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties. There are ongoing studies to determine if Dandelion root may help cancer patients. In vitro studies show promise, but human studies still need to be conducted. Dandelion leaves, when picked in spring (from young plants) make a great addition to salad. They contain vitamins A, B, C, D, and K1 (phylloquinone), beta-carotene, magnesium, potassium, beta-sitosterol, flavonoids, and inulin. Later in the season, the leaves turn bitter and are best dried and used in other preparations like tea. The leaves are good for digestion as prebiotics. Their diuretic property can help with ridding the body of excess fluid, thus functioning as an anti-inflammatory and promoting detoxification of the liver and tonifying the blood. The flowers are often used in making tasty wines and jams. They are high in polyphenols and antioxidants. As a result, they may play a role in preventing degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes. So, if your yard is full of dandelions and hasn't been exposed to harsh herbicides and pesticides, let the Dandelions grow! It's free food! (Note: If your yard has been exposed to harsh chemicals, find out how long it will take for the soil to be free of those chemicals. Please, do not use Dandelions (or any edible plants) that were grown in soil with a toxic chemical content. One of the few plants I've been able to successfully grow is Aloe. The plants in the picture above are mine. (I know, they're overcrowded, but I haven't figured out a way to re-pot them.) Fortunately for me, Aloe is a very hardy plant that is able to survive in all kinds of adverse conditions. If you've ever used Aloe, you know why I say 'fortunately'.
My first introduction to Aloe was back in the 1980s. I had second degree steam burns on my fingers, and a friend harvested an aloe leaf, scooped out the gel, and brought it to me. I slathered the gel on my fingers -- aaahhh, what relief! For the next three days, I continued to thickly coat the burns with the aloe gel then cover them with gauze bandages (until I could leave it off without pain). In less than a week, those burns were completely healed. This anecdote best demonstrates several of Aloe's therapeutic properties. Aloe gel is very skin healing. It can moisturize dry skin, help heal burns, cuts, and scrapes. Its emollience can help soothe conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It's cooling, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties can reduce swelling and take the pain out of hot conditions like hemorrhoids while its antimicrobial benefits may help prevent infection in open sores and minor burns. Aloe contains saponins - it can be used as soap to cleanse the skin! I'll admit, I haven't used Aloe internally - no desire to try it yet. However, I do know several people who buy Aloe Juice at the store. It can help with calming the stomach, moistening dry mucous membranes, and ulcers. It may get rid of worms or internal parasites and protect against certain types of tumors. And it's known to support the immune system with its content of Vitamins A, B 12, C, and E and well as several minerals. Because of its laxative properties, ingestion should be short term only. When harvesting your own Aloe gel (without using a preservative), store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days -- it'll start to spoil after that. Alternately, you can make and store Aloe ice cubes that will last for months. Infusing Aloe leaves in fixed oil is another option for longer-term storage and use. Calming, soothing, peaceful
For me, the thought of Lavender immediately evokes mental images of relaxing in a field of gently waving flowers. Lavender is perhaps one of the most popular and versatile herbs worldwide. It is best known for its ability to calm the mind and lift up the spirits, but it has many more therapeutic properties that are just as important. Lavender is analgesic and anti-inflammatory. As a tea, it can be ingested and used in a compress to help the body heal acute injuries (like sprains or mild burns). Studies have shown that inhaling the aroma after surgery can reduce the amount of pain medication needed. Its antispasmodic properties can diminish muscle spasms which accompany injury and/or surgery. Lavender is antimicrobial and may be used to treat bites, scrapes, wounds, and several types of infections like yeast and staph. During cold and flu season, try making a tea blend that includes lavender to relieve symptoms like headache and help reduce congestion. Its antiviral properties may shorten the duration of the illness. You can infuse lavender into vinegar for a disinfecting, multi-surface cleaner to use around the house. Some of the ways I've used lavender for myself and my family members: * in an herb pillow to help me fall asleep more easily; * in a post-op tea for pain reduction; * in a relaxing bath; * as part of a foot soak to heal athlete's foot and toe-nail fungus; * in facial and body soaps; * in salves for skin irritations; * in antiseptic washes for wounds; * in headache blends. I have to admit that when I first started learning about the healing properties of plants, I ignored Lavender because I was more interested in the 'exotic' sounding herbs. That was a mistake on my part. Fortunately, I know better now and Lavender is a staple in my house. To learn more about Lavender, look it up on the membership portion of this website! Arnica is a member of the Sunflower (Asteraceae) Plant Family. This beautiful plant is so popular, it's being over-harvested and is on the protected plant list in many places. What makes this herb so valuable?
The value of Arnica montana lies in its ability to help soothe and heal injuries and to help reduce inflammation and pain in chronic conditions like arthritis. A cream, oil, or salve made with infused Arnica can be used topically on injuries (i.e. bruises or sprains) to improve circulation to the affected area which helps the body heal the injury more quickly. An infusion in water can be used for soaking sore feet, or as a hair rinse to encourage hair growth. A cream or salve can be used to assuage dry skin, and skin conditions like eczema and acne. Arnica should be used topically only as it is toxic if ingested. (My sources all say 'do not ingest except in homeopathic remedies'. I would caution that such remedies should be used only in the care of highly trained herbal/medical professionals.) It should not be used by women who are pregnant. My herbal PDR also states that Arnica should not be used on mucous membranes or if the person is taking blood-thinners. You can learn more about this marvelous herb in my herbal datasheets. Comfrey is one of those plants I like to keep in stock at all times, but especially in the summer, because of its powerful healing properties. We'll briefly investigate these properties and the usage cautions for this phenomenal herb in today's blog.
First the cautions (and this part has some controversy): Comfrey has a constituent called Pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA). This alkaloid is known to be toxic to the liver when taken internally. In the leaves of Symphytum officinale, the PA content is 0.2% - 0.18%. In the roots, its 0.25% - 0.29%. For many hundreds of years, people traditionally used Comfrey both internally (in tea and salads) and externally (as salves and poultices). In more recent years, the discovery of the PA content has brought recommended cautions to avoid internal use and for women who are pregnant or nursing to avoid using it. At this time, I prefer to err on the side of caution and will focus on using Comfrey topically only, and avoid using it if pregnant or breastfeeding. The other caution I would give is to not use it on a puncture or infected wound until you are sure the infection is gone or the puncture is totally cleaned out. The leaves and/or root of the plant can be made into poultices or infused into teas or salves for topical use to help with burns, scrapes, scratches, minor cuts, bites, stings, bruising, skin irritations, broken bones, backaches, arthritis, varicose veins, hernias, and soft tissue injuries like sprains and strained ligaments. It does this by knitting tissue together through granulation. I have made several salves using Comfrey and can tell you that it heals wounds very quickly. When my grandson got a large scratch on his arm last year, I put a homemade salve containing Comfrey on it (after cleaning it.) Less than 24 hours later, the skin had completely sealed! (This is why it's best to not use it if there's an infection - you don't want to seal in the infection.) My favorite way to use Comfrey is to infuse dried Comfrey in a fixed oil like Castor or Jojoba (for improved absorption and shelf life). Once infused, I can then add the oil to a variety of products like salves, essential oil blends, and soaps. This is an herb well worth researching. Check out its datasheet in the membership portion of this website! A person with a hot, dry constitution might just love Mullein! This cooling, demulcent (moistening) herb is especially beneficial for the lungs. Let's explore its benefits.
I mentioned above Mullein's affinity for the lungs. Your lungs may feel irritated, dry, and tight when air quality is poor or when you have a cold with a dry cough that makes your chest sore. Mullein can help reduce the inflammation that's causing the soreness and relax and moisten the lungs. Paired with reducing the irritation, Mullein can be used to help you quit smoking. Other benefits of Mullein include: relieving an earache, helping reduce back and muscle pain, helping calm cold sores, reducing hemorrhoids, and making the bladder muscles stronger. To learn more about this delicious herb, check out its datasheet in the membership section. It's hard to imagine that a plant that can be so irritating to our skin would make a delicious and nutritious tea! Stinging Nettle has a slightly salty taste and is a cooling, drying, adaptogenic herb. The aerial part of the plant is most commonly used, but the roots and seeds also have benefits. Today's blog will focus on the therapeutic properties of Nettle leaves.
In Texas, I see a lot of folks dealing with seasonal allergies right now. Nettle Leaf contains histamine in the stingers of the fresh leaf. Combine that with it's anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, and you have a combination that may help reduce those allergy tendencies and symptoms. Nettle can also help with reducing swelling and pain from arthritis by lowering certain inflammatory markers. Interestingly, using fresh leaves to sting the arthritic joint(s) has been proven to work in this area. If you're loathe to deliberately sting yourself with the plant, you can consume it as a vegetable, tea, powdered capsule, or tincture. As a nutritive herb, Nettle contains significant levels of fiber, Vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and K, calcium, Flavonoids, Tannins, Magnesium, Histamine, Serotonin, Carotenoids, Quercetin, Potassium, Manganese, Iron, Phosphorus, and even 2% protein. These, and many more, nutrients may help provide energy, improve metabolism, and strengthen bones, teeth, nails, and hair. Nettle is also used to help with Type 2 Diabetes, to protect/restore health to the kidneys, the urinary tract, and adrenals It has diuretic properties that can help eliminate excess fluids. Nettle can be used as food, tea, tincture, or infusion in vinegar or vegetable oil. To prepare Nettle as a food, you need to blanch the leaves before cooking to stop the sting. You can then drink the tea made from blanching the herb. An oil infusion can be used topically to calm minor skin irritations. For more detailed information on Stinging Nettle, watch for the membership section of this site to open up. |
DisclaimerThe information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Archives
March 2021
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