The Fabulous Elderberry

Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis

The American elder (canadensis) , also known as Elderberry, is small tree that grows to 12 feet and is native to North America. The European elder (nigra) grows to 30 feet, is found throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, and has been naturalized in the United States. The tree has been called "the medicine chest of the common people.

The flowers, leaves, berries, bark and roots have all been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries. The fruits have been used to make elderberry wine, and when cooked, can be used in pies and jams. The berries contain more vitamin C than any other herb except rosehips and black currant.


The elder also has a rich background of cultural superstitions. In the Middle Ages legends held that tree was home to witches and that cutting down one would bring on the wrath of those residing in the branches.

The Russians and the English believe that elder trees ward off evil spirits and it was considered good luck to plant a tree near your home. Sicilians think that sticks of elder wood can kill serpents and drive away thieves.

This herb has a long history dating beyond the stone ages. Egyptians discovered that applying its flowers improved the complexion and healed burns. Many early Indian tribes used elderberry, and its variants, in teas and other beverages. In the 17th century the British often drank home made wine and cordials that was thought to prolong life and cure the common cold.

The berries from the elder contain a considerable amount of vitamins A, B and C, as well as flavonoids, sugar, tannins, carotenoids and amino acids. Warm elderberry wine is a remedy for sore throat, influenza and induces perspiration to reverse the effects of a chill. The juice from the berries is an old fashioned cure for colds, and is also said to relieve asthma and bronchitis.



Infusions of the fruit are beneficial for nerve disorders, back pain, and have been used to reduce inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. Raw berries have laxative and diuretic properties, however the seeds are toxic and may induce vomiting and nausea. Elderberries are edible when cooked.

Elder leaves contain the flavonoids rutin and quercertin, alkaloids, vitamin C and sambunigrin, a cyanogenic glucoside. Fresh elder leaves also contain hydrocyanic acid, cane sugar, invertin, betulin, free fatty acids, and a considerable quantity of potassium nitrate. Elder flowers and elder flower water have been used in a variety of ways topically and as a tonic mixture.

Elder flowers are a mild astringent and are used in skin washes to refine the complexion and help relieve eczema, acne and psoriasis. Flower water makes a soothing gargle and when strained makes an excellent eye wash.


The leaves and flowers are a common ingredient in ointments and poultices for burns and scalds, swelling, cuts and scrapes. Infusions and preparations with the blossoms combined with other herbs have also been used to quicken recovery form the common cold and flu.

Parts Used: Bark, leaves, flowers, berries.

Common Use: Topically for infections, inflammations and swelling. As a wash for skin healing and complexion purification. As a tea and cordial to sooth sore throats, speed recovery from cold and flu and relieve respiratory distress. Cooked and used in jams and conserves.

Care: Prefers sandy or loamy soil rich in humus and nitrogen. Full sun or partial shade
Medicinal Uses of Elderberry Plants


Elderberry plants have been used for generations by the native people of the Pacific Northwest as both powerful medicine and vitamin-packed food supplements. The blue elderberry is found primarily on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains, along roadsides running next to rivers and streams. The red elderberry finds the western side of the mountains to be a more hospitable place to reside. You will notice this luscious plant glowing red in forests and along shady roadsides late in the summer.

Nowadays, due to ease of travel, people generally use the blue elderberry for most of their needs, though the red elderberry was a highly useful and important source of food and medicine to the native people of the Northwest coast.

The blue elderberry plant has been a good friend to me. I love to have the dried flowering tops close at hand when I begin to feel the onset of a cold setting in. I grab a handful of the flowers (delicate small white petals with soft fairy-like pollen), place them gently into a tea strainer, and pour boiling water over top and cover for 10 minutes or so. I will usually add peppermint and sometimes yarrow, an old folk remedy for colds, to this concoction and drink it 3 times a day.


Both the blue and red elderberry have edible berries rich in vitamins A & C. The blue tends to have a more pleasant flavor. I collect the fresh purplish blue berries late in the summer and cook up a great batch of blue elderberry pancakes the next morning. I have never tried my hand at wine making, but I have many friends who will make a special trip over the mountains to harvest pounds of the berries just for this purpose. The blue elderberries also make a yummy syrup that can be used on top of pancakes at breakfast or ice cream at dessert.

When preparing berries from the red elderberry be sure to cook them first, as they may cause nausea when raw. Also, the stems, bark, leaves, and roots contain a cyanide-producing glycoside and should be avoided.
I used to make whistles for the kids when they were little from the hollowed stem. Flutes were made from elderberry by the Serrano, as well as by there area tribes. The four-hole flute was made from a piece of elder about 1.5 inches in diameter and 2 feet long, with the soft pith removed and the mouthpiece on the end. Flutes were decorated with incised and painted designs.

According to information published in 1980 by Travis Hudson and Thomas Blackburn in the fourth volume of their monumental 5-volume work, The Material Culture of the Chumash Interaction Sphere, not only the Chumash but also the Gabrielino, Kitanemuk, and other neighboring groups in Southern California used elderberry wood to make several other musical instruments. Among these were the bullroarer, a long slat that was twirled on the end of a long cord to make a low humming sound. Others were the split-stick clapper used to accompany the rattle during dances, and the musical bow or harp.


Yet another use of the elderberry was to make a black dye for basketry materials. Gerald Smith and Ruth Simpson reported in 1964 that if a black color was desired, coiled Juncus splints were "soaked in a solution containing elderberries and stems," echoing an earlier mention in 1900 by David Prescott Barrows. In her 1924 article on the Serrano, Ruth Benedict noted that prepared sumac (Rhus trilobata) fibers also were dyed in this manner, being left in the solution for a month. The black elderberry dye, known as tcupiatium, produced a design material that was "much more highly prized by the Serrano themselves than the various brown shades of Juncus which are extensively used in baskets intended for sale," according to Benedict, who recorded information told to her by Rosa Morongo.

Jam, Jelly and Wine
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Step 1

Make jam easily by combining 2 quarts of elderberries with 6 cups of sugar, 1/4 cup of vinegar and the juice from half a large freshly squeezed lemon. Bring to boil and boil down until thick; this could take 45 minutes. Take a metal spoon and dip it into the boiling juice; lift the spoon out with the bowl of the spoon facing you. If two drips sheet off the metal spoon at the same time, then you are ready to transfer the jam into hot mason jars, cap and process in a water-bath for seven minutes.
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Step 2

Make jelly by boiling up the elderberries in a large pot until they’re soft. Drain elderberries through muslin or cheesecloth without squeezing to make the juice come out faster, and for each cup of juice, add a cup of sugar. Add the juice of two large lemons to the juice and boil until the juice reaches the “gel” stage–two drips sheeting off a metal spoon. Pour into hot sterilized jelly jars and cap. Process filled and capped jars in a water-bath for seven minutes.


Step 3

Make elderberry wine by collecting four pounds of elderberries. Chop a whole lemon and a whole orange. Place elderberries and chopped citrus fruits in a sterile food-grade white pail and pour a gallon of boiling water over them. Cover loosely and leave this “must” until tepid. Add a package of yeast to the must and stir thoroughly. Add four pounds of white sugar and stir until it’s dissolved. Cover pail with a lid fitted with an airlock or cover loosely. Stir every day for a week. Siphon liquid off the fruits and transfer it to a gallon vessel fitted with an airlock. When sediment is visible at the bottom of the vessel, siphon off the liquid into a sterile vessel leaving the sediment behind. Fit with an airlock. Siphon into individual wine bottles after the liquid has finished the fermentation

Mullein

Mullein - Uses and Benefits

Alternative Names:

Adam's flannel, old man's flannel, woolen, rag paper, candlewick plant, wild ice leaf, Jupiter's staff, Jacob's staff, Flannel Plant, Hag's Taper .

Herb Description

Mullein is a easily grown plant & found all over Europe and in temperate Asia in Himalayas, and in North America .There are about 250 distinct species of mullein.It can adapt to various environments & therefore grows on roadsides and on waste ground, more likely on gravel, sand or chalk.It can be found in natural meadows, forest openings, neglected pastures, road cuts, and industrial areas. It blossom during July and August.It will grow with its silver-gray leaves and its sturdy, towering height. Fresh Mullein leaves are also used for the purpose of making a homeopathic tincture .Mullein is commonly recognized by its tall flower spikes, which can be 10 feet tall. It has pretty flowers, but only a few bloom at a time.


The hole plant is covered with fine, downy hairs that give Mullein its features of soft, velvety texture and appearance, and help the plant retain moisture .Mullein is well-known as a medicinal herb which has been used for centuries. The Greek physician, Dioscorides, mentioned the benefits of Mullein for "old coughs."Mullein contains coumarin and rotenone, a natural insecticide and fish poison, which is supposed to be non-toxic to mammals. mullein tea is traditionally an effective treatment for coughs and lung disorders .Flowers and leaves from mullein are used for their strong mucilaginous (sticky and viscous) content against all forms of throat and lung irritation.

Properties.

* Expectorant
* Demulcent
* Anti-viral
* Mild diuretic
* Relaxing Expectorant
* Mild Laxative
* Emollient
* Vulnerary
* Mild Sedative.

Uses and Benefits

It is beneficial to tones the mucous membranes, reducing inflammation and stimulating fluid production, thus facilitating expectoration. Mullein has anti-inflammatory and demulcent properties which give it a useful role in tracheatis and associated conditions.Due to its relaxing feature it act as expectorant for dry, chronic, hard coughs such as in whooping cough,asthma ,bronchitis & tuberculosis.Cure the problems of chronic otitis media and eczema of the ear . Mullein has powerful narcotic properties, but is nontoxic and safe to ingest in large quantities:any one can drink it all day .Mullein is use as a treatment for bladder or urinary tract irritations, including hematuria (bloody urine).


Mullein is used as a following:

* Analgesic.
* Antihistaminic.
* Antiinflammatory.
* Anticancer.
* Antioxidant.
* Antiviral.
* Bacteristat.
* Cardiodepressant.
* Estrogenic.
* Fungicide.
* Hypnotic.
* Pesticide.


Its also use as yellow dye which is made from the flowers by boiling them in water & produce permanent green dye when used with dilute sulfuric acid , this becomes brown with the addition of alkalies. Also use for lightening too.

It is use to covers and protects scraped tissues, Softens and soothes irritated skin, Shrinks tissues, prevents secretion of fluids.It relieve from ease coughs ,sore throats, Soothe minor abrasions and hemorrhoid pain.
Side Effects

Mullein is generally safe to use but there are rare reports of skin irritation.

If following side effects occurs then consult to your doctor.

* Breathing problems.
* Tightness in your throat .
* Tightness in your chest .
* Chest pain .
* Skin hives.
* Rash.
* Itchy .
* Swollen skin .

Other Side Effects:

* Tiredness


Dosage

As a Tea :

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 heaping tablespoon of Mullein flowers. Let steep 10 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey if desired.

As a preventative treatment:

1/2 - 1 oz per day. To help combat cough and reduce throat irritation take 1 - 2 table spoons oz every 2 - 4 h. To help relieve night cough take 1 - 2 fl oz before sleep. Contain 24 -26 % grain alcohol by volume.

In case of ear infection :

Squeeze several drops of room-temperature mullein oil into the ear canal, so long as you are sure that the eardrum isn't punctured. it only relieves the symptoms not to heal an ear infection.
Drug Interactions

There were no well-known drug interactions with mullein ,at the time of writing.

Burdock

To most people, Burdock does not offer a particularly pretty sight, though some might be impressed by its sheer size: burdock can grow more than to 5 foot tall and its huge, expansive, heart-shaped leaves can reach over a foot in length. A distinctive and unmistakable plant, burdock certainly ranks among the tallest and most space consuming herbs, sporting extraordinarily big leaves as well as the stickiest burs. Yet, considering it many values, not the least of which is that it gave the inspiration to the invention of Velcro, it appears to be chronically undervalued. Burdock is rarely welcome in any yard, much less in carefully groomed gardens, though at least the bees and butterflies appreciate it for its generous supply of nectar.


The plant makes its presence known early in the spring, when it begins to sprout a number of large low lying, heart shaped leaves that somewhat resemble those of rhubarb, for which they are sometimes mistaken. The plant is biennial, which means that it does not send up a flowering shoot until the second year. Opinions as to the best times to collect the various parts of Burdock vary according to local traditions. As a rule of thumb it is better to collect the aerial parts while the vital energy is rising - i.e. leaf stalks and leaves are collected before the leaves are fully developed, while the roots should be collected when the vital energy is most concentrated within - i.e. in spring or autumn, preferably during the first year, before they become too old and tough.


Burdock belongs to those special kinds of plants that offer both nutrition and healing benefits, though western cuisine, and for the most part western herbalism has largely ignored this wonderful herb. The Japanese are about the only culture that truly appreciates Burdock as a wholesome, medicinal food - they even produce it commercially and sell it at the market under the name of 'Gobo'. One can sample it at Japanese Restaurants where it can sometimes be found as an ingredient of sushi rolls. The key to its popularity among the Japanese may lie in the well-kept secret of Burdock's lesser known qualities: It is rumoured that Burdock gives strength and endurance, especially with regard to sexual stamina, which has earned it a reputation as an aphrodisiac. Considering its essential character it is easy to understand why:


Burdock's overall mode of action can be described as purifying. It has a stimulating effect on the metabolism and gently, but persistently activates and tones all the organs of elimination, thus inducing a process of inner cleansing. It's energizing quality is hard to describe, but can be likened to putting a good, sustaining log on the fire, such as oak or apple, one that burns slow and steady and develops an intense, but even heat, as opposed to e.g. pine, which burns in a flash. Burdock's ethereal fire fuels all the organic processes, thus improving, cleansing and toning the whole body. However, it must be kept in mind that the fresh herb/root is infinitely more powerful than the dried material.


The leave stems can be peeled and cut and either added raw to salads, or added to various soups, stews or bakes, or even made into a candied sweet. Leaves are rarely used for food as they soon become too bitter and tough to be enjoyable. The roots however, are delectable, although they require some determined effort to collect, as they are long and deeply anchored. They usually need to be dug out. Once brought to the surface they must be thoroughly cleaned and peeled to cut away the tough outer rind. What remains can be prepared as a delicious root vegetable, with a slightly sweet, nutty flavour that some have likened to Jerusalem Artichokes. The roots are excellent when pureed or added to stews and soups. As a healing food, the root is particularly recommended for diabetes sufferers, as it is rich in inulin and helps to even out blood sugar levels.


Medicinally, Burdock root is thought of as a 'liver herb' and it is particularly recommended as blood cleanser for skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions. Both, the fresh, grated root or the mashed fresh leaves can be applied as a poultice to wounds, bruises and badly healing sores. Simultaneously a tea or decoction of the root can be used internally to facilitate inner cleansing and support liver and kidneys. The whole plant has a tendency to draw impurities from the body and aid the healing process. Burdock root and Nettle root extract are said to be helpful as a hair tonic to prevent loss of hair.

Traditionally, Burdock is also considered a powerful anti-tumor herb and various salves and decoctions have been prepared with it as a home treatment for this purpose. One of the better-known preparations that fall into this category is a tea known as 'Essiac' of which Burdock is a key ingredient. German researchers have confirmed anti-tumor activity in all parts of Burdock as long ago as 1964.

The seeds are also considered medicinally active though according to older herbals one should avoid inhaling the tiny hairs surrounding the seeds as these are said to be toxic (Perhaps irritant?). The seeds can also be used as a poultice, though they are more frequently recommended as a tea, especially for kidney complaints. Modern herbal medicine usually only makes use of the roots.
recipes.GIF (1K)


Creamy Burdock leaf stalks

The leaf stalks of the first year's growth make a fine vegetable. Cut off the leaves and chop the stalks into smallish chunks. Steam in a little water with some salt and sugar until tender (no longer than 10 minutes). Make a rue with the cooking water a little butter and some oatmeal. Add some crème fraiche, an egg or a little cheese.
Burdock Bake

The same kind of idea can be modified to make a kind of burdock stalk bake: Prepare some Bulghar wheat and mix with the cooked leaf stalks (take care not to overcook the stalks). Make a 'custard' with 2 eggs, crème fraîche, a little milk and melting cheese, mix with the Bulghar and burdock and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. This recipe can be adjusted to taste: add other vegetables, such as onions, sliced carrots and garlic, and season to taste.
Au Gratin

Similarly, Burdock stalks can be prepared 'au gratin'. Leave out the Bulghar wheat and just layer the pre-cooked stalks. Pour a mixture of seasoned eggs and crème fraîche over the stalks and sprinkle with a fine gouda or similar melting cheese. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.


The leaves are usually a bit bitter and most people don't like them as a vegetable. However, the young leaves are usually palatable, especially when mixed with other, milder greens or when prepared with eggs and cheese. They can also be added to soups.


The roots are hard to dig for, but make an excellent root vegetable, which can be roasted, pan-fried, mashed like mashed potatoes or added to soups.
Dandelion and Burdock Beer
(from 'The New Herbal' by Richard Maybe)

* 1lb young nettles
* 4oz dandelion leaves
* 4oz fresh sliced, or 2 oz dried burdock root
* ½ oz bruised ginger root
* 2 lemons
* 1 gallon water
* 1lb + 4 teaspoons demarara sugar
* 1 oz cream of tartar
* Brewing yeast (use amount according to instructions on the package)

Put the nettles, dandelion leaves, burdock, ginger and thinly pared rinds of the lemons into large pan. Add the water, bring to the boil and simmer for 30 min. Put the lemon juice, 1 lb sugar and the cream of tartar into a large container and strain on the liquid from the pan, pressing down well on the nettles and other ingredients. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Cool to body temperature. Sprinkle in the yeast. Cover the beer and leave to ferment in a warm place for 3 days. Rack off the beer and bottle it adding ½ teaspoon demarara sugar per pint. Leave the bottles undisturbed until the beer is clear - about 1 week.

Wild Wealth (Native Plants)

THE RICHES OF NATIVE PLANTS
Child can you live in a world without native plants? Do you know how much your daily life depends on plants?

Do you take aspirin? Do you play or watch baseball? Do you eat strawberries? Do you need clean air and water? If so, you rely on native plants.
Knot Weed


From the tropical rain forests to your backyard, plants provide us with food, medicines, jobs, and places of beauty and peace. But many of these places--and the plants that grow there--are in danger.



NATIVE LIFE SUPPORT

bird Plants are the foundation for all life. They produce oxygen and filter the air we breathe. They provide all living species with food and shelter. As part of a healthy ecosystem, plants protect water quality by controlling soil erosion and moderating floods and droughts.


Native plants are an integral part of all healthy ecosystems. Each species contributes to a balanced system developed over millions of years, and interacts to keep the ecosystem functioning. Shrubs produce berries; birds feed on the berries; seeds from the berries are deposited by the birds, thus dispersing the shrubs.

Plants drop their leaves, providing organic matter for the earthworms to eat; the earthworms churn up and aerate the soil, which improves plant growth. The intricacy of ecosystems--each with an enormous diversity of plants, animals, insects, bacteria, soil, air, and water--boggles the mind. There is no way to know beforehand how the loss of even one species will affect an ecosystem, and subsequently the many other species, including humans, that rely upon that ecosystem.

Can we afford to lose native plant communities?

The answer is clear: No, we can't! We must treat our native plants as though our lives depend on them--as they do.


NATIVE GROCERIES


Much of the food you eat each day comes from plants that evolved on this continent--native plants. Corn, squash, beans, wild rice, grapes, walnuts, blueberries, sunflowers, maple syrup, and more. Think of how often these foods form a part of your diet.

These dietary staples represent only a small portion of the edible plants growing in this country. Each year, researchers find hundreds of new potential sources of food from wild plants. Wild plants--some still undiscovered--could develop into replacement food sources. In Texas, a rare native species of wild rice shows high agricultural potential--but only if the small remaining population survives.


In the meantime, these natives provide genetic material that strengthens our major food crops. Over thousands of years, humans have bred high-yielding, disease-resistant crops. As a result, the genetic makeup of our main food crops is essentially identical. This lack of genetic diversity can result in disaster. One unmanageable disease or insect pest could wipe out an entire crop species, temporarily or permanently. In 1970, America's corn belt almost came unbuckled when a leaf fungus destroyed 15% of the corn crop. Corn prices shot up 20%. Farmers with ruined crops lost over $2,000,000,000! Primitive corn plants growing in Mexico saved the industry. Genetic material from these wild natives provided the blight resistance our corn crop needed to survive.

Two other economically important food crops would have been lost if not for the genetic resources of native American plants. The root stock of four North American wild grape species saved the European grape industry from a devastating aphid attack in the late 1800s. The natural resistance of these wild grapes continues to protect domesticated varieties through- out the world from insects and diseases. And this country's walnut industry, worth millions, relies on a native walnut species nearly extinct in the wild. These native plants provide disease-resistant root stock for commercial walnut trees.


By conserving wild plant diversity, we ensure the future of our cultivated crops. Unfortunately, wild plant populations are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Native plants and their habitats from Canada to Mexico are daily lost to development, pollution, overuse, over-collection. When the next crisis hits, will the native plant resources we need still be there?


NATIVE MEDICINES

medicine Without plants, most medicines you take would not exist. Over 40% of medicines now prescribed in the United States contain chemicals derived from plants. And most synthetic drugs were ãcopiedà from the plants originally providing the medicine.



Historically, plant medicines were discovered by trial and error. For instance, our ancestors noticed that aches and pains went away when they drank tea made from the bark of a willow tree. Later, scientists found that willow bark contains salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin.

This process continues today. Throughout the world, including the wild places in this country, botanists and chemists search the plant kingdom for new medicines. They sometimes find treasures in other people's trash. In 1975, researchers found a substance in the bark of the native Pacific yew tree, taxol, that reduces the production of cancerous tumors.


For years, the Pacific yew was burned as trash generated by logging operations in old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. Now, the yew is part of the treasure trove of native plants saving thousands of lives each year. Taxol has been used effectively in treating a broad range of cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and leukemia. Like many other medicinal plant discoveries, taxol has not only saved lives but also boosted our economy. Already a multi-million dollar business, by the year 2000 taxol should produce over $1,000,000,000 in revenue and many associated jobs.

A comprehensive search of known plants for medicinal chemicals is an enormous task. Of the estimated 250,000 plant species on earth, only 2% have been thoroughly screened for chemicals with potential medicinal use. Because native plant habitats are destroyed almost daily, many medicinally valuable plants will be gone before scientists can even investigate them. How many medicines have we already lost? How many more remain to be found?



NATIVE PRODUCTS

Jojoba Shampoo. Sunscreen. Paint. Paper. Golf balls and baseball bats. Nylon and vinyl. From necessity to luxury, plants provide us with many consumer goods. Baseball bats are made from the native ash tree. Many paper products come from pulp produced from forests of native trees. Paint, vinyl, sunscreen, and many other goods are made from waxes, fats, oils, and other materials derived from plants.

Industry relies on plant products both as components of consumer goods and to grease the wheels of production. Many of these industrial products come from fairly common plants, but less common and sometimes rare plants provide substances ranging from insect repellent to commercial lubricants. In recent years, industrial interest has turned to the jojoba, a relatively obscure desert plant native to the American southwest. The high-quality, versatile liquid wax of the jojoba is replacing the oil from sperm whales, which are now protected by law. As an industry builds around this renewable resource, jojoba produces not only wax, but jobs, too.



NATIVE BEAUTY

Without our native plants, we would lose many of the places that renew us emotionally and spiritually. We would also lose much of the natural beauty that defines our culture. Many people believe that every species on Earth has a right to exist, and that our world would be a sad and lonely place without its wide variety of life.


Can you imagine a world without our native plants? A world without bluebonnets stretching across Texas or fields of California poppies? Without native plants, no maples or aspens would spread their colors across the mountainsides. No rambling wild roses would adorn the fencelines of the countryside. And no irises would grace the banks of our waters.As the basis of natural habitats, native plants also support our recreation.

The animals we love to watch and photograph--birds, deer, bears--rely on native plants. Some, like the grizzly bear, face extinction themselves because of the loss of their native habitats and foods. Native plants benefit hunters and anglers by providing food and shelter to game animals, from ducks to fish to elk. Gardeners rely on native plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons, roses and orchids, and black-eyed Susans. Only a small percentage of the world's plants have been domesticated for ornamental use. Many more await discovery and cultivation.



A CRISIS IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS

Scientists believe that the current global rate of plant extinction is unprecedented. But these native plants are not just disappearing from the tropical rain forests. They are also disappearing from our own backyards. Since the 1800s, the United States has lost close to 200 plant species. Today, 5,000 plant species are considered vulnerable to extinction, and more than 600 are on the federal threatened and endangered species list. These plants are disappearing because we are destroying their habitats. To protect plants, we must protect their habitats. Concern over the plight of native plants has brought together a variety of people and groups dedicated to preserving native North American plants and their habitats.

Heal Yourself From Your Garden

Your back garden is a treasure trove of healing herbs and flowers which can be used at little expense to make a range of healing products and health remedies. Using your own plants also provides you with the assurance of using fresh, organic and uncontaminated materials. You can never know the history behind herbs and vegetable oils. They could for example have been grown next to a motorway, absorbing potentially harmful toxins. They could also have been stored indefinitely, reducing the potency of the ingredients. In this article we show you how to use your own garden products to make compresses, tinctures and healing oils.

These remedies are tried and tested over history, so why not have a go? It’s amazingly simple and safe to make many of these remedies and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are using your garden not only for food and pleasure but for healing your family. It’s like having your own family health centre in your back garden and you don’t need to rely on drug companies to deal with all of your health problems.


Making Compresses

Compresses are an excellent way to apply a treatment externally to a specific part of the body. This reduces the necessity for internal medication. There are two types of compress, those without heat and those with heat. Compresses without heat are used on wounds, eczema, psoriasis and similar problems where the skin is broken (not inflamed). NB: Never use warming compresses on broken skin.

Compress with heat are used when the skin is not broken, for example with rheumatism, sprains, inflammations, accidents, pains and swellings (but not with shingles). With pain you can also use a heating pillow, outside the hot compress. A hot water bottle would also suffice. Cover the compress with wool or other insulating materials.


When garlic and onion is used, it is important that it does not come into direct contact with the skin, and should therefore be placed on a cotton cloth. Never use hot compresses on wounds as the ingredients will be absorbed into the body. As a rule, compresses should be left on the person overnight, but not for more than 8 – 10 hours at a time. (This doesn’t apply to burns). Don’t put the same compress on two nights in a row. An exception is dry chamomile compress, which you can use for more than one night in a row. You can use this compress with or without heating.

How to Make a Compress

You will need:

A cotton cloth 30 x 50 cm for compress to throat, knee or elbow
Clingfilm, surgical tape or freezer tape (never use tape or Clingfilm directly on the skin)
Elastic Bandage
Woollen cloth


Method:

1: Take a cotton cloth 50 x 30 cm, spread about 200ml of the recommended content evenly in the middle of the cotton cloth. Then cover with clingfilm.

2: Fold each side of the cloth over the content

3: Lastly tape everything so the content is secure.

4: Place the compress on the area to be treated with the cloth side towards the skin. The Clingfilm is facing outside, so the healing content goes into the body/skin. Wrap around with an elastic bandage and secure with tape.

Compresses on a wounded surface can first appear much worse. This is because the compress draws out puss and impurities through the wound. Change the compress often, wash and clean the area with a strong chamomile infusion. You will soon see a big improvement and the wound will heal.

Arnica Compress


Use on sprains, bruises, swollen skin, pains, burns and herpes blisters

50 ml warm water and 1 – 2 teaspoons Arnica tincture


Put a cotton cloth in hot Arnica water, squeeze the cloth and put it over the area to be treated. Put Clingfilm over and then a stretchy bandage. With a hot compress, put the woollen cloth over the Clingfilm and then the stretchy bandage. Using Arnica on burns increases the bleeding through and reduces the scar formation.
Warning: The skin should not be in contact with Arnica for more than 6 hours per day, too long at a time can create skin irritation. Never take arnica tincture internally.

Chamomile Compress


Useful for: sore throats, pain, prostate problems, psoriasis, eczema, earache.


Use about 20 gr. of chamomile flowers on the middle of the compress. Fold and tape. Put the Clingfilm on the top. You can use this chamomile compress up to 30 times if it’s not wet after use. You have to put it in a sealed plastic bag between uses.

Onion Compress


Useful for: throat infections, hoarseness, earache, eye problems, muscle and acute joint inflammations, good for sinusitis. With eye problems, it aches for 1 minute after you put on the compress.

All you need is one onion, finely chopped and placed in a piece of cotton cloth. Use a rolling pin to flatten the package and squeeze out the juices. Cover with clingfilm and then fold into a cotton cloth. Fold and tape together and place cotton side down on the affected area with the clingfilm on the outside. Wrap with a woollen cloth and stretch bandage.

Warning: The first time you use onion compress, use it only for 1 hour to see if you have a positive reaction.

Green Cabbage or Savoy Compress


Useful for: eczema, psoriasis, menstrual cramps, pains, swelling, infections in the skin, joint pain.

Use the green outer leaves from organically grown plants. Cut away the thick stalks and use a rolling pin or bottle to press flat. Place and layer the inside of the leaves (the smooth side) around the entire area of the skin, root side down. Bind to body with cotton or lint free cloth. Then hold together with cling film and cover with a stretch bandage. Leave on overnight. (Cabbage contains a senaps oil that increases the blood circulation. It also includes the wound healing substance U Vitamin).

Potato Compress


Useful for: eczema or swelling under the eyes

Use 3 peeled grated raw organic potatoes. Spread the potatoes on the cotton cloth and fold it together. When used on the eyes, put the grated raw potato in a small piece of gauze. Let it work for 30 minutes with closed eyes.

Compresses for Rheumatism

Night 1: Onion Compress

Night 2 Dry Chamomile Compress

Night 3: Arnica Compress

Compresses Leg Wounds

Night 1: Cabbage Compress

Night 2 Chamomile Herbal Tea Compress

Night 3: Onion Compress

Macerated Vegetable Oils for Skin Healing

Calendula Flowers in Oil



Making your own macerated oil is very easy. Take fresh flowers from your garden, chop up the flower buds and fill up a jar with vegetable oil. (Choose virgin olive oil which does not go rancid.) Pack the flower buds into the jar, seal and sit in the sun for 2 – 3 days then leave it in a dark cupboard for 2 – 3 weeks, shaking it every day. Strain the mixture through muslin and store in a dark jar.

It will keep for around 2 years if stored in a dark cool place.

Make your own Tinctures


Tinctures are alcohol-based solutions which draw out the healing ingredients from herbs and flowers. You can make tinctures using wild flowers or flowers from your garden. Simply use chopped flowers and pack it in a jar half filled with the strongest vodka. Use 100 – 150 gr. fresh flowers or herbs to 150ml alcohol. If you use dried herbs or flowers use only 10 – 15 gr. in 150ml alcohol. Seal the jar and leave it in on a sunny window sill for 2 – 3 days. Then store in a dark place at room temperature for 2 – 3 weeks, shaking it every day. Strain through muslin cloth and store in a dark bottle. The tincture will keep for 2 – 3 years.



For both Macerated oils and tinctures, St John’s Wort and Marigold flowers are excellent for treating sunburn and skin sores. Using Arnica on swollen skin will reduce the swelling overnight. An onion compress for earache will dramatically reduce the pain overnight also.