You may even request a healing for someone else, but we will need permission from them for me to ethically be able to provide the healing.  If you are unable to ask for, or if the person in need of the healing is unable to communicate their permission for the healing, we can still move forward with the healing.  There are two ways in which this can be done.  I can seek permission on the etheric level.  If I cannot obtain an answer in a clear manner this way, I can send the healing with the clear intent that it be accepted by free will only. I would also add that if the person refuses the energy, it will instead go toward healing the the Earth or to somebody else who needs or wants a healing.  This is win-win for everyone!

There is nothing special you need to do to prepare for the healing.  I would send you an email after the healing has been completed, telling you the date and time of the healing so you could make not of any sensations or feelings you noted during that time, or any changes you noticed afterward. (I would love any feedback that you are willing to share, as well! You can even leave your comment at the bottom of this page if you’d like.)

If you are interested in a healing, or have any questions, please contact me at becki@luminearth.com .

Please note that that I do work and have three children, so it may be a day or so after the request before I can provide the free healing.  I will definitely let you know the date and time it was done, and can communicate beforehand if that helps your situation.

Wishing you an abundance of love, peace and joy,

Becki

P.S. Soon I will be offering training on how others can become attuned to Reiki to help heal themselves and others, so if you are interested in that at a later date, please let me know!

LEARN MORE ABOUT REIKI

Botanical name: aloe bardaenis

Common name:  juice from lilies, desert lilies

Habitat:  Aloe Vera has pointed and fleshy leaves that produce a  gel and juice.  They are natives of  tropical Africa, where they grow in the wilds, but aloes also flourish in the West  Indies and Mediterranean countries on cultivated aloe plantations designed  exclusively for commerce.

Considered an easy plant to grow by most it  requires a sandy, well drained soil and sunny location.  It is not frost resistant so if you live in  colder climates, plants in pots should be brought indoors at the first sign of  cold weather.  It is easiest to start  from leaf cuttings, cut a large fleshy leaf from the mother plant and let it  dry out for several days, until the cut is sealed over and healed.  Place cutting in sandy dry soil, (just sand  will work fine) for several weeks until new roots form; plant in sandy, well  drained soil.

There are more than 200 species of perennial  aloe, but only aloe vera is considered true aloe.  True aloe produces a yellowish juice that  will seep out when a leaf is cut.

The color of aloe juices differ, according to the locations where the plants are grown and the methods used to extract the juice.  Both the gel and the juice come  from the aloe’s leaves.  As a rule, the  gel is not used internally, but the juice has a long history for internal use.

Healthy Info:  Truthfully, every household should have a plant or two  of this around, it is so valuable a medicinal.  It is one of the best herbs for burns and skin infections (except for  staph infections), and is used internally as a laxative and a cleanser.

• Constipation (stubborn) and Digestive Distress.  Aloe  tea is a well-respected digestive aid, particularly for severe or stubborn  cases of constipation.  It relaxes the  bowels, acts as a stomach tonic, and stimulates the large intestine.  It promotes bile flow to help regulate  digestion.  In India, a tonic wine is  made from fermented aloe gel, blended with honey and spices, and used for  anemia, poor digestion and liver disorders.  You can make aloe tea with honey and mint, spiced with cinnamon, to have  your own tonic.
• Moisture.  Aloe gel is an emollient that helps skin retain its moisture.  It has been called Natures Best Moisturizer.  In ancient Egypt, aloe was regarded as a  religious plant, and it is said Cleopatra used its gel to protect her skin from the damaging effects of the hot Egyptian sun.
•  Parasite Purge. Aloe vera is one of the most  effective treatments to expel worms or other parasites from the intestinal  tract.  It is also antifungal.
• Radiation Burns and Skin Surgery.  Aloe is a  healing stimulant that is used topically in the United States to speed healing  after radiation burns and skin surgery.  You can wash burns with cooled aloe tea, or take an aloe bath.
• Uses Through the Ages.  As far back as  the fourth century, aloe was used by Greek physicians to cure everything from constipation to liver problems.
• Caution.  In high doses, aloe can cause intestinal cramps.  For this reason, aloe is often combined  with an herb like peppermint, which eases cramping.   Prudent use would be to take aloe only for  stubborn digestive disorders or an aggressive attach on intestinal bacteria, for a short term only.  Aloe is not  recommended for internal use by children, pregnant women, or the elderly.

*Aloe Sunburn Bath

If you ever get one of those flaming red sunburns,  this recipe will save your skin and let you sleep at night.  Make 2-4 bags of aloe tea and pour the tea  into a cool bath.  Soak in the aloe to  take out the sting, activate healing and prevent moisture loss from your skin

*Properties;  purgative, tonic, wound healer, soothes-tissues, anti-fungal, expels worms and parasites, promotes bile flow

References: 20,000 Secrets of Tea, Victoria Zak pages 73-75

Jyll Renee Master Herbologist (765-644-0312)

Submitted by: Jyll Renee’, Master Herbologist (Click here to learn more about Jyll Renee.)

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

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KELP

Habitat:  Kelp is a seaweed harvested from rocky ocean shores around the world.  Many varieties of kelp grow in different parts of the world. It’s technically a sea vegetable. It can grow up to 30 meters and form kelp forests which rise from the ocean floor up to the surface.

Healthy Info:  Kelp is a member of the brown algae family and there are more than 30 different varieties. Bongo kelp is the most common form used in nutritional supplements.  This form of kelp is rich in iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, among many other minerals.  In fact, 70 minerals and trace elements are found in kelp.   One of the most recognized kelp benefits is thyroid regulation. Kelp is rich in iodine, which is important for thyroid function.  Your thyroid absorbs iodine from your blood in order to make and distribute hormones into the body.  Without iodine, your thyroid isn’t able to function properly.  When your body is deficient in iron, your thyroid doesn’t work correctly and your metabolism slows.  You’ll end up gaining weight and putting your health at risk.

Kelp is a natural diuretic, kelp is good for those troubled by water weight. Diuretics clean out the system and assist in shedding water and toxins in the system.

Many people are avoiding sodium in their diets, and for good reason.  Sodium is associated with heart disease and water weight gain. But when salt first became available for seasoning food at the table, manufacturers added iodine as a health benefit.  For years kelp stayed hidden in the closet while people got their necessary iodine from table salt.  But now that salt is being avoided iodine is not as readily available and so kelp is becoming more and more favored as a healthy source of iodine.

Additional kelp benefits:

• Lowering cholesterol
• Help with digestion
• Appetite control
• Boosted immunity
• Increased energy levels

Properties:  anti-bacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal (medicines that treat infections), antihelmintic (expels worms), antineoplastic (inhibiting or preventing the growth or development of malignant cells)

Reference:

• www.herbs,lovetoknow.com/kelp
• www.herbwisdom.com/kelp

Submitted by: Jyll Renee’, Master Herbologist (Click here to learn more about Jyll Renee.)

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

Vitamin/Mineral Vegetable Powder

• 1 part – Kelp Powder
• 1 part – Toasted Sesame Seeds
• 2 part – Nutritional Yeast
• 1/2 part – Garlic Granules
• 1/8 part – Spirulina

Kelp – Kelp is a seaweed that thrives on sunlight and takes in the host of nutrients and minerals found there.  Kelp is the #1 herb for supplementing iodine.  Kelp has been used for decades for strengthening nails, and supporting hair growth.  Kelp is packed with necessary nutrients such as iron, calcium and potassium.  Kelp is a great replacement for sodium.

Toasted Sesame Seeds – Sesame seeds are high in energy, and also contain many health benefits, nutrients, minerals, anti-oxidants and vitamins.  The seeds are a very good source of dietary  proteins.  Sesame seeds are a very good scours of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, folic acid, thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and riboflavin. Niacin reduces LDL or “bad cholesterol” levels.  These yummy seeds have a ton of rich essential minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, selenium and copper all for healthy bone, tissue, and muscle; it is also wonderful for  kidney health.

Nutritional Yeast – One ounce of nutritional yeast contains 14 grams ofprotein.  It is also high in fiber, which helps eliminate constipation, assist in lowering cholesterol, reduce the risk of colon disease, and protect against high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.  Nutritional yeast has plenty of B vitamins and very low in sodium.

Garlic Granules – Garlic has been considered by many to be an herbal “wonder” with a reputation in folklore for preventing or treating everything from common cold and flu to the plague. There are proven facts that suggest garlic might be able to assist somepeople in the management of blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  Modern science has shown that garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic.  Studies
have shown that garlic –especially aged garlic – can have a powerful anti-oxidant effect.   Anti-oxidants can help protect the body against damaging free radicals or abnormal cells forming in the body.

*side effects – garlic might affect the breath.  Watch out for “imported garlic”

Spirulina – Spirulina is found in many fresh water environments, spirulina is often deemed the most nutritionally complete of all food supplements, containing a rich supply of many important nutrients,
including protein, complex carbohydrates, iron, and vitamin A, K and Bcomplex.  Spirulina is an ideal
anti-aging food; it is easily digested and loaded with anti-oxidants.  Beta carotene is good for healthy eyes and vision, the beta carotene in spirulina is 10 times more concentrated than carrots.  Iron is essential to build a strong system, yet is the most common mineral deficiency.  Spirulina is rich in iron, magnesium and other trace minerals, plus it is much easier to absorb than iron supplements.

Grind or mix all ingredients together and put in spice shaker.  Use as a seasoning at the table!

Yum!

Jyll Renee Master Herbologist

(765-644-0312)

Submitted by: Jyll Renee’, Master Herbologist (Click here to learn more about Jyll Renee.)

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

Thank goodness we have educated doctors to treat us when we have cancer, cataract, and health problems that we can’t take care of alone!

Doctors are good at blood tests, surgery, and prescription medicines.

They aren’t so good at telling you how to avoid getting cancer or cataracts in the first place. And they often don’t take the time to help you improve your arthritis and allergies at home.

You’re wasting your time and money when you go to see your doctor when you don’t need to. You’re wasting your money and your time when your doctor isn’t able to figure out why your head or your back or your stomach hurts all the time.

When you don’t want to be prescribed another pill and you don’t need surgery, count on this book to tell you what your doctor won’t–like how to prevent hearing loss or get a better night’s sleep.

You’ll find out how you may be able to cut your breast cancer risk by changing the way you wear your bra. You’ll discover vitamins to help calm your stress and anxiety and home remedies to get rid of hay-fever sniffles.

You’ll find spicy, natural sinus relievers and tips to get rid of fatigue. You’ll discover how to supercharge your memory, how to cure a headache, and how to treat an ankle sprain or a painful elbow.

And that’s just the beginning….  (-From the Introduction)

The title of this book, “Inner Cleansing Cures”, is a bit deceiving. This book is not merely about cleansing, but covers how to self-heal multitude of different ailments. If the condition is something that should be treated medically by a professional, the book explains this and often several options from which to choose along with tips to help the treatment go smoothly and aid in quick recovery. If the condition is something that cannot be treated or reversed, you will find tips to help make the situation more comfortable.

I really like this book and keep a copy in my personal library, and have also used it for several of the articles written for this website. The information explained in this book agrees with everything I learned about natural health through my studies at Clayton College, and brings forth the information in easy to access and easy to use format. I keep this book for precisely that reason… the alphabetical index of ailments makes it the information so efficiently accessible that this book is one of the first I reach for whenever I have a question about a specific condition. The information is also very user friendly, so that any person wanting to self-treat at home could easily do so.  The book also contains many small changes that can be easily made to cause dramatic improvements to one’s health–things that are often overlooked by medical professionals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acne
Altitude Sickness
Alzheimer’s Disease
Angina
Ankle Sprain
Arthritis
Asthma
Athlete’s Foot
Back Pain
Bad Breath
Bladder Infection
Blisters and Calluses
Blood Clots
Blood Pressure
Body Odor
Breast Cancer
Bunions
Bursitis
Caffeine Dependence
Cancer of the Esophagus
Canker Sores and Fever Blisters
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Wrist Pain
Cataracts
Chapped Lips
Cholesterol
Chronic Pain
Colds
Colon Cancer
Constipation
Coughing
Cuts, Burns and Scrapes
Dandruff
Depression
Diabetes
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Diverticulitis
Dizziness
Drowning
Dry Eyes
Dry Mouth
Dry, Irritated Skin
Earaches and Earwax
Enlarged Prostate
Falling Accidents
Fatigue
Fever
Food Allergies
Food Poisoning
Forgetfulness and Poor Concentration
Frostbite
Gas
Hair Loss
Hangover
Hay Fever
Headaches
Hearing Loss
Heart Disease
Heartburn
Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
Heel Spurs
Hemorrhoids
Hiccups
Hypoglylcemia
Immune System Breakdown
Impotence
Incontinence
Infertility
Ingrown Nails, Fungus Nails, Brittle Nails
Insomnia
Irregular Heartbeat
Knee Pain
Lactose Intolerance
Leg Cramps and Leg Pain
Lice
Loss of Sexual Desire
Lung Cancer
Menopause Symptoms
Migraines
Morning Sickness
Neck Pain
Nosebleeds
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Ovarian and Cervical Cancers
Panic Attacks
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak
Potbelly
Premenstrual Syndrome
Prostate Cancer
Psoriasis
Raynaud’s Syndrome
Shingles
Shinsplints
Shoulder Pain
Sinusitis
Skin Cancer
Smell and Taste Loss
Snakebites
Snoring
Sore Throat
Stomach Cancer
Stomach Upsets
Stress
Stroke
Stuttering
TMJ
Tooth Decay and Knocked-Out Teeth
Ulcers
Vision Loss
Weight Problems
Yeast Infections

Order the book, INNER CLEANSING CURES by The Editors of FC&A:

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

Inner Cleansing Cures by The Editors of FC&A. Fouth Printing, June 1999. ISBN# 1-890957-24-0. Hardcover, 370 Pages.

The book for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a hardcover in excellent condition.  The book comes without a dust jacket.  The book shows negligible wear to the cover or binding, and the inside text is clean and crisp.

• Gather, dry, store and blend 25 common herbs
• Make and use teas, tinctures, oils, salves, syrups and lozenges
• Build your own herbal medicine cabinet

Joyce A. Wardwell has studied herbal medicine and wild edibles for over 20 years.  She is the editor and publisher of Herbal Voices, a member of the American Herbalists Guild, and Northeast Herb Association, and director of 7th Direction, a non-profit, sustainable lifestyle organization.  She lives in Michigan.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I: THE HEART OF HERBALISM: KNOWING THE HERBS

Chapter 1: Getting to Know the Plants
Chapter 2: Selecting Quality Ingredients and Equipment
Chapter 3: Making a Simple Cup of Tea

PART II: THE BODY OF HERBALISM: PREPARING THE HERBS

Chapter 4: Potent Potables: Making Herbal Tinctures
Chapter 5: Practical Pampering: Making Herb Oils and Salves
Chapter 6: Homespun Alchemy: Making Medicinal Wines and Vinegars
Chapter 7: Bittersweets: Making Syrups and Lozenges

PART III: THE MIND OF HERBALISM: USING THE HERBS

Chapter 8: Stocking the Medicine Chest
Chapter 9: Making Herbal Blends
Chapter 10: Symptoms and Remedies: An A-Z Guide

This book was required reading for my “Home Remedies and Simples” course at Clayton College.  It is wonderful reference, and I keep a copy in my personal library.  The book is a very easy read and will quickly have you making your own tinctures, teas, tonics, syrups… and even herbal vinegars and wines!

I used this book as reference for these articles:

Herbal Blends: Why to Take & How to Make

Homemade Herbal Syrup in Six Easy Steps

Heal That Throat With Homemade Herbal Lozenges!

Make Your Own Tinctures in Eight Easy Steps!

How to Dry and Store Herbs – It’s Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive!

Order the book, THE HERBAL HOME REMEDY BOOK: SIMPLE RECIPES FOR TINCTURES, TEAS, SALVES, TONICS AND SYRUPS by Joyce A. Wardwell :

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

THE HERBAL HOME REMEDY BOOK: SIMPLE RECIPES FOR TINCTURES, TEAS, SALVES, TONICS AND SYRUPS by Joyce A. Wardwell . Paperback: 176 pages. Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (January 3, 1998).Language: English. ISBN-10: 1580170161. ISBN-13: 978-1580170161.Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches. List Price $14.95 US.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used paperback in good condition. The cover is moderately worn with some light creasing and edge wear. The binding is tight and the text is clean with no underlining or hilighting of text. The pages are crisp and clean, no bent pages.

(This book is also available on Amazon.com. Click here to view this book on Amazon.com)

In its first edition nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Linda Pages’s book, Healthy Healing, was the only one of its kind. Now updated and expanded, Healthy Healing is still the easiest to use bestselling natural health reference book on the market.

Customize your own personal healing program using natural therapies for more than 300 ailments through diet, while herb supplements, and exercise.

• NEW! Product rating system revealing which products the test group found to be the most beneficial, fastest-acting, and most highly recommended.
• Over 80 NEW pages of the latest research including emerging ailments such as SARS, Syndrome X, and Stress-Related Weight Gain.
• NEW! Specific guidelines for using herbal therapy before and after surgery to ensure maximum healing.
• NEW! Information on Genetically Engineered Foods, and Drug-Herb-Nutrient Interactions.

This book will help you LOOK BETTER, FEEL BETTER AND LIVE LONGER, NATURALLY!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Your Health Care Options Today
-The Pros and Cons of Orthodox and Alternative Medicine
-The Dramatic Rise of Iatrogenic (Doctor-Caused) Disease
-Alternative Healing Systems Today & How to Use Them

Holistic Recovery from Surgery or Illness
-Normalizing after Chemotherapy and Radiation
-Best Healing Results for Minimal Scarring after Cosmetic Surgery
-Herb Interactions with Drugs Used During Surgery

Herbal Healing
-Your Herbal Medicine Choices for Today

Foods for Your Healing Diet
-Food and Diet Choices to Help Your Healing Process
-The Case for Eating Organically Grown Foods
-About Genetically Engineered Foods

A Special Guide to Detoxification and Body Cleansing
-Understanding Detoxification
-Bodywork Techniques for Detoxification

Lifestyle Healing Programs for People with Special Needs
-Having a Healthy Baby and a Healthy Pregnancy
-Alternative Health and Healing Choices for Children
-Anti-Aging: Optimum Health in the Golden Years
-Optimizing Exercise, Sports Performance, and Fitness
-Alternative Medicines and Healing Treatments for Pets

Ailments and Health Conditions: Almost 400 Ailments, Health Conditions, and Healing Programs Considered
-Almost 400 Ailments, Health Conditions, and Healing Programs Considered

Look It Up! in the Alternative Health Care Arsenal
-All You Need to Know About the Help You Need to Get
-Resource Listing
-Bibliography
-Expanded Index and Cross-Referencing

This book was required reading for one of my classes at Clayton College, and I keep a copy in my personal library.  It is full of useful information that is often difficult to find elsewhere.  The section on detox and body cleansing was especially helpful–the book goes into great detail concerning the different systems of the body, explaining symptoms of toxicity and how to detoxify each system.  The book also contains a huge index (spanning almost half of the entire book) that lists over 400 common ailments, their symptoms, possible causes,and what to do to eliminate the problem via diet and lifestyle support therapy & herbal, superfood, and supplement therapy. I often use this index to help myself, family and friends heal naturally.

Order the book, HEALTHY HEALING: A GUIDE TO SELF-HEALING FOR EVERYONE by Linda Page, Ph.D. :

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

HEALTHY HEALING: A GUIDE TO SELF-HEALING FOR EVERYONE by Linda Page, Ph.D. Healthy Healing Inc.; 12th edition (June 2004).10.6 x 8.3 x 1.5 inches.  Paperback; 664 pages. ISBN# 188433492X. List Price $32.95.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used paperback in good condition. The cover is moderately worn with some light creasing. The binding is tight and the text is clean with no underlining or hilighting of text. The pages are crisp and clean, no bent pages.

(This book is also available on Amazon.com. Click here to view this book on Amazon.com)

Hibiscus

Botanical name:  Malvaceae family

Common name:  Roselle,  African mallow, Florida cranberry, red tea, Jamaica sorrel,  rose of Sharon

Habitat:  Hibiscus belongs to a flowering plant  genus of more than 220 species in the family Malvacea.  Native to warm temperate, subtropical and  tropical regions, it is an annual and sometimes perennial herb or woody-based  sub-shrub; growing 6-8 ft tall.  Leaves  are alternate and simple. Trumpet shaped  flowers are white, pink, red, purple or yellow, with a dark red spot at the  base of each petiole.

Info:  Hibiscus sabdariffa, which means delicate beauty in the language of  botany.  Hibiscus pfaffia originated in  the land of India and Malasia and may have been imported from there into Africa.  Seeds are said to have been brought to America  by African slaves. Hibiscus was grown in Brazil  in the 17^th century and in Jamaica by the early 1700’s.

A sugary herbal tea,  for example the ‘aqua dejamaica’ of Mexico, is a readily available sweetened  concentrate of the herb Hibiscus which is then mixed with additional water for  the final brewing beverage popular in and outside of the many sub-tropical and  tropical countries where it is grown.

By 1960, as wide spread alarm concerning coat-tar food dyes (ie: red dye #2) grew, hibiscus became imported for its safe food-coloring properties.

It is cultivated for bast fiber from the stem of the plant.  The fiber is a substitute for jute in making burlap.

Healthy Info:  A recent study revealed that hibiscus tea contains a number of antioxidants that may help to protect against  cell-damaging free radicals.  This tea may help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Hibiscus tea strengthens the  immune system as it is rich in Vitamin C. Hibiscus is a tart, caffeine-free vibrantly colored tea.  This beautiful flowering herb is popular in Europe countries as a heart health tonic.  Hibiscus is a member of the mallow family  with a mellow, sweet taste that is used to enhance flavor and bring harmony to  any tea blend.

Personal Info:  Hibiscus is an ingredient used in our  yummy Christmas and Kandy Kane tea blends (Jyll Renee, Master Herbologist –
jyllrenee@comcast.net and Dr. Deborahe Prock ND – dprock2002@yahoo.com)

Properties:  hypotensive, antispasmodic, anthelmintic  (expels worms) antibacterial, diuretic

References:

• www.herbco.com/p-490-hibiscus-flower
• www.teabenefits.com/hibiscus
• 20,000 Secrets of Tea, Victoria Zac pgs. 146

Submitted by: Jyll Renee’, Master Herbologist (Click here to learn more about Jyll Renee.)

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Names:  Eastern White Pine, Northern Pine, Northern White Pine, Pin Blanc, Pinus strobus, Soft Pine, Weymouth Pine, Weymouths Keifer, Weymouthtall, White Pine

Appearance:  The White Pine (Pinus strobus) is a coniferous evergreen tree.  It’s trunk is tall and stright and the needles are blue-green.  Young trees are conical shaped, but as the trees age they develop wind-swept, horizontal, upturning branches.  This tree is easily identified by counting the needles in the needle-cluster bundles.  The Eastern White Pine is the only pine native to eastern North America that contains five needles per bundle.

Edible:  The Micmac Indians used the bark to make beverage and the Ojibwa used the young staminate catkins (the slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals that kind of resembles a “kitten’s tail”) for food and stewed them in with meat. They reportedly have a sweet flavor and do not taste like pine pitch.

A Russian writer says to use needles from 1 year old pine tree. Use 2 oz of washed needles. Grind them. Steep in 2 or 3 cups of poured boiling water. Let cool and steep in cool place for 2 hours. Strain, add honey and lemon to taste and drink. Loses vitamins if stored. Lots of C. 5X that of lemon juice. (Mama’s Home Remedies by Svetlana Konnikova)

-Cindy Moonrose, Eatable Weed Walks & Plant Classes

White Pine (Pinus strobus) has five needles per cluster.

I personally like to use white pine needles to make tea.  The taste is sweet and a bit piney, and tastes very good sweetened with honey. It is a wonderful way to get vitamins A and C, as well as all of the immune-boosting and detoxifying medicinal benefits as used by the Native American Indians.

Becki’s Recipe for Pine Needle Tea (Decoction)

• 1 gallon filtered or spring water
•  3 cups chopped pine needles
•  honey

In a large pot combine water and pine needles. Boil for 10 minutes, simmer until cool. Strain and sweeten to taste with honey. (This is technically a “decoction” because the needles are boiled.)

For convenience, I gather pine needles, chop, and fill a large ziploc bag full of the chopped needles and store them in the freezer. This makes it very easy to access the needles and to measure for making tea. To obtain the most benefit from the needles, it is best to pick the young needles located at the ends of the branches.

Note:  Always make sure you positively identify the pine tree before making pine needle tea!  Some pines are poisonous, such as Yew, Norfolk Pine, and Ponderosa Pine.

White pine needles are great in a vinegar! Take any size jar (with plastic lid) fill it with pine needles and then pour apple cider vinegar over it to fill bottle. Let sit for six weeks and it will be ready to use. I learned this technique from Susun Weed. Here is a link to her page on how to make vinegars: http://www.wisewomantradition.com/empoweringwomen/2009/03/making-springtime-wild-herbal-vinegars.html

-Cathy Webster

Medicinal:  Native Americans utilized White Pine for many medical ailments.  It has been said that Native Americans treated 80% of their medical ailments using pine.   Pine has been shown to bring relief to conditions such as fatigue, heart ailments, heart disease, kidney ailments, sclerosis, and varicose veins.  It has even been shown to improve eyesight!  Cancer patients drink pine needle tea to ease nausea, boost the immune system, and as a strengthening tonic.

Bark of the White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Bark: Native Americans used a decoction take internally for coughs, a poultice of wetted inner bark applied externally to the chest for strong colds,  a poultice of trunk of a young tree applied esternally to cuts and wounds, a decoction of raw bark was taken internally for rheumatism, steam from a decoction of raw bark inhaled for head colds, decoction of bark used externally for skin eruptions and scabs, and raw bark was taken internally for rheumatism, to prevent typhoid, and relieve stomach cramps.

Needles:  Native Americans used a poultice of needles bound externally to heal broken bones, needles were burned in the fall and the smoke used to fill the house and prevent all sickness, decoction of needles used used internally for coughs, colds and rheumatism, an infusion of young trees was taken internally as a blood tonic, decoction of needles taken internally to prevent scurvy.  Pine needles are very high in vitamin C and vitamin A (beta-carotene).  The needles were used to keep the early settlers alive during the first winter by preventing scurvy.

Scientists area currently exploring the medical uses of pine needles. Research is being done using pine needles as an antioxidant, antidepressant, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory.  Pine is also being studied for boosting the immune system, strengthening the heart, reducing triglycerides, treating Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia. A wonderful writeup on this can be found in The Amazing All-Purpose Pine on the website Dave’s Garden.

Branches of the White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Pitch (Sap, Gum): Native Americans used a poultice of pitch applied externally to felons and other similar inflammations, applied externally to boils to draw out pain and inflammation, used internally for coughs, colds and boils, the pitch was chewed for coughs, and boiled gum taken internally for sore throats.

White Pine (Pinus strobus) was extensively used by many Indians. New England tribes boiled the needles in water or maple syrup and drank this tea to prevent scurvy and to relieve coughs and colds. These needles contain five times more vitamin C than an equal amount of lemons, and they are also a rich source of vitamin A. Just chewing the freshly picked needles is very beneficial. The Obibway Indians used the seeds to flavor their cooking. The Iroquois Indians ate the sweet inner bark.

-Native Harvests: American Indian Wild Foods and Recipes by E. Barrie Kavasch

Sources:

• Kavasch, E. (2005). Native Harvests: American Indian Wild Foods and Recipes. Mineola: Dover Publications.
• Moerman, D. (1998). Native American Ethnobotany. Portland: Timber Press.
• Walker, B. (2011). Pine Needle Tea. Dave’s Garden. Extracted December 4, 2011 from http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3126/

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

The LuminEarth Library

Here is a list of some the books used in our research and experimentation. Enjoy!

• A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America (Peterson Field Guide)
• Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers: When and Where to Find Them by William Hutson
• Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places by “Wildman” Steve Brill
• Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies: Natural Health, Beauty & Home Care Secrets by Jude C. Williams, M.H.
• Ortho’s  All About Herbs by Maggie Oster
• Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
• Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists by Richard Lucas
• Sunset Herbs:  An Illustrated Guide by The Editors of Sunset Magazine
• The Forager’s Harvest:  A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer
• The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D.
• The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics and Syrups by Joyce A. Wardwell
• The Natural Physicians’s Healing Therapies: Proven Remedies Medical Doctors Don’t Know by Mark Stengler, ND
• The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.
• The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D.
• Wildflowers of the Land Between the Lakes Region, Kentucky and Tennessee

Tis the season for giving!  How about giving the “Gift of Health” this year.  We also have the loose Christmas tea and Kandy Kane tea available again this year.

Christmas Tea – $6.00 for 2oz of loose tea

Kandy Kane Tea – $6.00 for 2oz loose tea

Tea Ball – $3.00

Healthy Tea Gift Sets – $25.00

100 tea bags of a variety of healthy yummy teas.

Herbal First Aid Kits – $25.00 Great for the car, traveling and vacations.  Everything
you need for illness, injury or just plain ole headaches!

Goatsmilk soap – $5.00 a bar

Here is a little information on the soaps and the lady that makes them!  I have a variety of soaps here that you can choose from. http://giftsfromgoats.webs.com/

Arnica Cream (with or without fragrance) -$5.50 for 2oz jar

Great for any kind of muscle pain and bruising!

Christmas Gift Certificate for Ionic footbath detox and typed evaluation $35.00 ($5.00 discount for Christmas)

If you would like more information on any of the articles listed here just email me and I will get that to you.  Get your orders in early there is a limited supply.

May your Christmas Holiday bring Blessings to you and yours!

To order any of the products listed above, please contact Jyll Renee’ directly:

jyllrenee@comcast.net
Days Healthy Living
1110 S. Peru Street
Cicero, Indiana 46034

Jyll Renee~
jyllrenee@comcast.net
(Click here to learn more about Jyll Renee.)

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants