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

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies

Discover how cayenne pepper promotes hair growth, why cranberry juice is a good treatment for asthma attacks, how to make a potent juice to flush out fat, how to make your own deodorants and perfumes, what herbs will get fleas off your pet, how to keep cut flowers fresh longer… the remedies go on and on!

Grab this book and a cup of chamomile tea, and discover from a Master Herbalist more than 800 remedies that will help you build a balanced relationship with nature and your inner self.

(From the Back Cover)

Grandmother’s Wisdom Returns

The stress and strain of daily life leaves us all vulnerable to “dis-ease” in any of its many manifestations.  So we run to the pharmacy counter for a quick fix of antacids, antihistamines, laxatives. We reach for the coffee pot to give us energy, for a glass of wine to calm us down. Much of what we consider “healing” only stresses our bodies further in the long run, while adding a strain on our pocketbooks.

Why complicate life more when there are hundreds of simple solutions–natural, time-tested solutions that cost a mere fraction of over-the-counter remedies? What worked for great-grandpa can work for you today. got a stomachache? Try brown sugar or a raw carrot.  A stuffy nose? Try garlic, apple cider vinegar, or pack your feet in ice cubes. Relax with a cup of lettuce tea, relieve menstrual cramps with red raspberry juice, ease sore muscles with buttermilk, banish dandruff with parsley. These home remedies may sound crazy but they work!

Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies gives you more than you could ever imagine.  Along with remedies to make you feel better, you’ll find recipes for quick maple syrup, chickweed pancakes, corn coffee from the Iroquois, and much more.  You’ll find easy home-care hints that include a natural ant repellent that won’t harm pets and an amazing way to clean wallpaper with white bread. There are even intriguing activities for children.  Snowed in? Make homemade finger-paints and keep them occupied for hours.

There is beauty and majesty in natural simplicity, and there are more than 800 ways to simplify your life. Many of the ingredients required already await in your own kitchen cabinet! Others can be found in your supermarket, local health food store, or thorugh mail order companies listed in the back of the book.

This is one book that won’t collect dust on the shelf.  In fact, there’s probably a remedy in here that you’ll want to try right now!

(From Inside Cover)

This Book Can Show You How To:

• Create an herbal love bath
• Get rid of your cold quickly
• Give your skin an herbal rejeuvenation
• Calm your nerves & get rid of headaches
• Make your own flavored coffees
• Treat insect bites and stings
• Bring your blood pressure down naturally
• Make a tonic for your pet
• Use natural insect repellents
• Make your own furniture polish
• Treat arthritis naturally
• And much, much more!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

General Principles of Herbs
Beauty Preparations
Hair Care
Skin Care
Colds and Chest Compounds
Tonics and Digestion
Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat Complaints
Headaches and Sedatives
Diuretics and Bowel Complaints
Blood Disorders, Wounds, and Arthritis
Preparations of Salves, Tinctures, Syrups and Capsules
Pet Care and Garden Tips
Household and Family Tips
Harvesting the Herbs and Preparing Your Own Herbal Medicine Chest
Common and Scientific Names of Herbs
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

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 totally amazed me with the number of home remedies it contained.  Many times were were several different remedies to try for the same ailment!  I also really liked the fact that many of the remedies could be made with items I already had in my pantry.  I must admit, I was a bit skeptical about the “Lettuce Tea” being a natural sedative, but it actually did work!  The book can be listed as by Jude C. Williams or Jude C. Todd, both are the same author.

The following is a list of some of the articles for which I used this book as a reference:

Heal That Throat With Homemade Herbal Lozenges!

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

Make it Fresh! How to Make Dandelion Tea and Cook Dandelion Greens

Self-Healing With Common Household Items

 Order the book, JUDE’S HERBAL HOME REMEDIES: NATURAL HEALTH, BEAUTY & HOME-CARE SECRETS by Jude C. Williams, Master Herbalist:

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

JUDE’S HERBAL HOME REMEDIES: NATURAL HEALTH, BEAUTY & HOME-CARE SECRETS by Jude C. Williams, Master Herbalist. First Edition. Fifth Printing, 1995. ISBN# 087542869X. Paperback, 297 pages. List Price: $12.95 US, $18.50 CAN.

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 hi-lighting of text. The pages are lightly tanned with age, and the outside edges contain a small amount of usage staining.

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

• 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)

From time immemorial man has relied on plants to treat sicknesses and sooth aches and pains. The same herbs, trees, and shrubs employed by ancient peoples have continued to be valued through the ages–by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, by apothecaries an physicians in the Middle Ages and later, by the settlers who came to North America, by the Indians who met them here, and even by our own grandparents. Many of these plants are still used today; nearly half of all medicines currently prescribed are derived from members of the plant kingdom.

Over the ages, many magical and mystical powers were ascribed to such plants. Occasionally these beliefs were mere superstitions; more commonly they were based on keen observation. For although people knew that certain plants had indisputable healing powers, they could not explain how the plants’ medicinal powers worked, and so attributed them to supernatural forces. Today we understand many of the underlying chemical and physical principles that account for the medicinal properties of plants. Yet plants still do possess a magical quality–their beauty and the astonishing variety of their forms. This book is your guide to the wonderful world of magical, medicinal plants. -The Editors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLANTS IN MYTH AND MAGIC

ABC’S OF PLANTS

• Finding Plants in the Wild
• Making Your Own Herbarium
• The Anatomy of Plants
• Nature’s Chemical Industry
• About Plant Names

PLANTS, PEOPLE AND MEDICINE

GALLERY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

POISONOUS PLANTS

GROWING AND USING HERBS

• Growing Herbs
• Cooking With Herbs
• Herb Crafts
• Herbs for Beauty
• Herbs for Health

I love this book–it is a wonderful resource for plant identification and use!  I keep a copy in my personal library.  The “Gallery of Medicinal Plants” contains color photographs and paintings of over 200 American herbs.  The paintings point out the different plant details (stem, root, leaf, etc.) to help you identify the plant in the wild.  There is also a full color photo of each plant in its natural habitat and a description of where it is found, how it grows, and what type of environment it grows in.  The book also tells how the plant was used by the ancients–along with its magic and myths, as well as how it is being used or studied medicinally today.

Order the book, MAGIC AND MEDICINE OF PLANTS by The Editors of Reader’s Digest:

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

MAGIC AND MEDICINE OF PLANTS by The Editors of Reader’s Digest. Hardcover: 464 pages. Publisher: Reader’s Digest; 4th Printing April 1990 edition (1990). ISBN-10: 0895772213. ISBN-13: 978-0895772213. Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used hardcover in excellent condition. The cover shows negligible wear and looks new.

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

This book was created, written, and checked by home gardening experts and includes:

• Growing Guide: Complete Growing Instructions For 155 Herbs
• Garden Design: Tips and Techniques for Designing Herb Gardens
• How to Use Herbs: Projects Using Herbs for Cooking, Health, and Fragrance

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Living With Herbs

• Plant Types
• Plant Parts
• Common Herbs and Their Uses

Growing and Preserving

• Preparing Soil
• Getting Started
• Care
• Pruning
• Propagation
• Growing Herbs Indoors
• Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

Desiging With Herbs

• Formal Gardens
• Informal Gardens
• Theme Gardens
• Container Gardening
• Ornamental Herbs

Using Herbs in the Kitchen

Using Herbs for Health and Beauty

Making Herbal Remedies

• Choosing Herbs for common Ailments
• Facial Care
• Body Care

Using Herbs For Fragrance

• Using Fragrant Herbs

Choosing Herbs

• Herb Selection Guide

I really like this book, and keep a copy in my personal library.  There are many sharp, full color photos and examples on almost every page, and color photos for each herb which really helps with herb identification.  The photos of the garden plans are beautiful, providing inspiration for planting at home.  The book also contains some very cool herbal cooking recipes, such as Italian Herb Blend, Thai Herb Blend, Herb Blend for Soup, and also recipes for Herb Vinegars, Herb Cheeses, Herb Mustards, Herb Jellies, Herb Cordials, and Herb Teas and Drinks.  The medicinal herb section is a great start for the budding herbalist.

Order the book, ORTHO’S ALL ABOUT HERBS by Maggie Oster:

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

ORTHO’S ALL ABOUT HERBS by Maggie Oster. Paperback: 96 pages.Publisher: Ortho; 1st edition (January 15, 1999). Language: English. ISBN-10: 089721420X. ISBN-13: 978-0897214209. Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used paperback in excellent condition. The book looks new, there is negligible wear to the cover and no writing inside. There is a very small marker marking on bottom outside pages of the book.

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

It’s no wonder that herbs have never lost their popularity. For thousands of years, their beauty, fragrance, and flavor have given humankind much pleasure. Moreover, herbs were our first medicines, used to treat problems ranging from sore throats and hypertension to heart disease and battle wounds.

Today, we season our foods with culinary herbs, prepare scents from the aromatic kinds, and, of course, cultivate them for the color and texture they bring to the garden.  Even herbal medicine is experiencing a renaissance as scientific research confirms in the laboratory what our ancestors knew from experience.

On the following pages you’ll encounter herbs from an historical perspective and learn how to grow them.  Illustrated profiles of the most common types explain each herb’s cultivation requirements and uses, and a final chapter describes products you can make fromt he herbs you grow.

• Uncover the fascinating history of herbs and their use through the ages as medicine, food, seasonings, and talismans.
• Create your own herb garden out-of-doors; illustrated garden plans and detailed cultivation instructions show you how.
• Choose your favorite from the more than 60 popular herbs described and pictured in the encyclopedia.
• Enjoy herbs fresh or preserved; learn how to use them in cooking, popourri, and home decoration.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

The Lore & Lure of Herbs: Colorful Histories of Medicine, Magic & Food
Introducing Herbs to the Garden: Herbs in the Landscape: Planning & Design
The Basics of Growing Herbs: Guidelines for Planting & Cultivation
An Encyclopedic Herbal: Detailed Descriptions of More Than 60 Herbs
Using Herbs from the Garden: Recipes & Crafts to Delight the Senses

This book is a wonderful reference and primper on herbs.  I keep a copy in my personal library, and use it often in the articles I write on herbs and wild edible and medicinal plants.

Order the book, HERBS: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE by Philip Edinger:

(sales tax will be added for TN residents)

HERBS: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE by Philip Edinger. Sunset Publishing Corporation (October 1993). 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches. Paperback, 112 pages. ISBN#: 037603324X.

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

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

Appearance: Thistles are easy to spot because the leaves and stems are prickly and hurt when you touch them. There are no poisonous look-alikes to thistles. None of the true thistles are known to be toxic, but the flavor varies from plant to plant.

Visit Our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants

You can distinguish bull thistle from other thistles by rubbing the leaves. Bull thistle leaves. The top of the leaves are prickly and hairy, and the underneath is cottony. Bull thistle leaf tips have stiff pointy spines and the flower heads are purple and spine-tipped.

Edible: The midrib of the leaf is edible after the rest has been carefully stripped off. Don’t try to remove the individual thorns, just peel off the entire leafy portion and the spines will come off also. The midribs are similar in texture to celery and taste a somewhat sweet. These can be eaten raw or cooked.

The stalks of the Bull Thistle are edible from late spring through early summer by removing the leaves, then peeling off the outer layer of the stem. Inside is a vegetable that can be eaten either raw or cooked. To avoid getting pricked it is best to use a long knife and start at the bottom, cutting off the thistle’s stem leaves while the plant is still standing. Then cut the base of the plant and sever the top. After this, peel off the dark green outer layer to get to the edible core.

The taproot of the bull thistle is also edible. These are firm, crisp and light in color. They can be eaten raw or as a cooked vegetable.

Medicinal: Bull thistle roots have can be used as a poultice and sore jaws can be treated with a poultice made from a decoction of the plant. An herbal steam can be made from an infusion of the entire plant and used to treat rheumatic joints. A decoction of the entire plant can be used internally and externally to treat bleeding piles.

Click Here to Visit Our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants

Click Here to Visit Our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Sources:

Brill, S. (1994). Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places. New York: Harper Collins.

Colorado State Parks Best Management Practices Weed Profile. (n.d.) Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore. Extracted October 10, 2010 from http://parks.state.co.us/SiteCollectionImages/parks/Programs/ParksResourceStewardship/Bull%20Thistle.pdf

Montana Plant Life. (n.d.) Bull Thistle – Cirsium vulgare. Extracted October 10, 2010 from http://montana.plant-life.org/species/cirsium_vulga.htm

Thayer, S. (2006). The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants. Ogema, WI: Forager’s Harvest.

The Books We Use:

• 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 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

Herbalists blend herbs to obtain actions that normally are not found in an individual plant.  Herbal blends are an efficient way to develop a treatment targeted to the exact condition being experienced.  Blends provide greater flexibility and increase the range of remedies you can address with the plants available to you.  With blends you can utilize a small number of plants in different combinations.  For example, let’s say you only have four herbs available to you.  If you use these herbs to form blends, you have eleven possible herbal combinations.  This gives the herbalist much more to work with! 

Herbal blends work very well for both chronic and acute illnesses.  Chronic illnesses occur when the body is weakened or debilitated.  Many times several organs or even whole body systems are affected at the same time.  Chronic illnesses are ongoing and may have been developing for many years.  Some examples are arthritis, asthma, diabetes and PMS.  Acute illnesses occur in people who are generally healthy, but have just become ill or traumatized.  Some examples of acute illnesses are colds, constipation, earaches, and headaches.  (If the acute illness begins to occur on a regular basis, or become constant, it should then be treated as a chronic illness.)

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN HERBAL BLEND!

So, now you are ready to begin creating herbal blends!  Herbal blends can be made with fresh herbs, dried herbs, tinctures and extracts. 

It is a good idea to have some good, informative herb books on hand.  I have included a list of my favorite herb books at the end of the article for your convenience.  You can also refer to the Materia Medica on our website.  Always keep in mind “the fewer the better” when creating herbal blends.  This means that the fewer herbs you use, the better.  The reason for this is that when more herbs are used in a formula it becomes more difficult to balance their properties.  Herbs act on their own, according to their individual properties, as well as acting with other herbs.  An herbalist can address many different ailments with simple combinations containing only two herbs.  Each individual herb has several different properties, meaning that it can help to heal in several different ways all at the same time.  (For detailed information please refer to your herb book or our Materia Medica.)  By keeping your formulas simple, they will be more flexible in their use and can be used more often.

Occasions may arise where you will want to create more complex formulas.  When you start creating blends containing more than two herbs, it is important to maintain specific proportions of the various herbs to create a successful formula.  Below are some guidelines for the proportions to use when creating more complex formulas.

1. Focus on the main ailment (50%-75%).  More than half of the blend should attend to the condition that is causing the most problem. In many acute situations, the need is to eliminate or expel excretions such as phlegm, urine, stool, sweat, pus, etc.  This can be done with one herb or several herbs of similar action in combination.  In either case, the final amount used to address the ailment should be between 50 and 70 percent of the formula.
2. Soothe (10%).  A soothing herb should be used for approximately 10 percent of the blend.  This herb should be soothing to the digestive tract, mucilaginous, or calming.  Some good examples of herbs with these properties are plantain, marshmallow, lavender, oats, and catnip.  When using herbs that increase elimination (laxatives, expectorants, and diuretics) it is a good idea to use mucilaginous herbs like plantain or marshmallow to soothe the system.
3. Nurture (10%).  A nurturing or building herb should be used for approximately 10 percent of the blend.  These herbs will supply the extra vitamins and minerals needed for healing.  Some good examples of herbs that nurture and nourish are rose hips, plantain seeds, oat straw, dandelion greens, and alfalfa.
4. Stimulate (5%).  A warming, stimulating herb should be used for approximately 5 percent of the formula.  Some good examples of this type of herb are thyme, peppermint, lavender, ginger and garlic.  These stimulating herbs will hasten the body’s natural healing process as well as boost the action of the herbs chosen to address the main ailment.  For conditions that are somewhat chronic, it is a good idea to use herbs that are strongly nutritive herbs like borage and alfalfa.

Now you know how to create an herbal blend!  

Source:  Wardwell, J. (1998). The Herbal Home Remedy Book. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.

Please feel free to consult our Materica Medica for more information on the various individual herbs.  I have also included a list of my favorite herb books.  Most of these were used for my college courses and were so informative and helpful, I decided to add them to my library and keep them forever!

The Majority of the information in this article was obtained from “The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, and Syrups” by Joyce A. Wardwell.  This book is very user friendly and easy to follow!

 More Information on How to Make Herbal Tinctures from Any Loose Herb

Commonly Used Herbology Terms and Defintions

My Favorite Herb Books:

• Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies: Natural Health, Beauty & Home-Care Secrets (Living With Nature Series) by Jude C. Williams
• 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 Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D.
• The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, and Syrups (Herbal Body)
• 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.

Related Links

Have you been experimenting with growing herbs in your garden or maybe taking a few classes on wildcrafting and gathering herbs? If so, now is the time to take your experience one step further and learn how to store your harvest!

Drying herbs is a very simple and efficient way to store your harvest.  You won’t need to purchase any expensive equipment, and the only space you need is well-ventilated area that is protected from wind and direct sunlight.

The easiest way to dry herbs is to gather the herb bundles that are approximately one inch in diameter.  Secure the bundles with rubber bands or strings to allow the air to flow through the drying plants.  Then hang them in well ventilated, dry, shady place.  Hanging the bundles upside down to draw the essential oils into the leaves.

Another method of drying herbs is to put small amounts of herbs inside paper bags. (This is a great way to dry seeds.) The bags are helpful as they absorb some of the moisture while shielding the herbs from sunlight.  Cut a hole for ventilation in the top of the bag if the plant contains a lot of moisture. The herbs should be stirred or shaken daily until dry.

Screens are another convenient way to dry herbs.  Homemade screens can be made quickly and easily by stapling sheer curtains to a frame.  (You can get sheer curtains very inexpensively at thrift stores or yard sales!)  Spread the herbs in a thin layer on the frame to dry. Screens are a great way to dry leaves and loose blossoms.

When your herbs are completely dry (they should be “crispy”), move them to airtight containers.  You should not store the herbs in containers made of aluminum, tin, and copper as these metals will react with your herbs. Air, heat, sunlight and mosture will destroy your herbs.   Glass jars are an excellent choice, and can easily be decorated for display or gift-giving if you desire.  Dried herbs will store well for approximately one year, and then will begin to lose some of their integrity.  Remember to store your glass jars in a  cupboard or shelf protected from sunlight!

Source:  Wardwell, J. (1998.) The Herbal Home Remedy Book. Remember, store the jars of herbs in the dark.  North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.

More information on “The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, and Syrups” by Joyce A. Wardwell

How to Make Herbal Tinctures from Any Loose Herb

Commonly Used Herbology Terms and Defintions

Recommended Books on Herbs

• Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies: Natural Health, Beauty & Home-Care Secrets (Living With Nature Series) by Jude C. Williams
• 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 Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D.
• The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, and Syrups (Herbal Body)
• 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.

VITEX

by Jyll Renee’, Master Herbologist

Common name: Agnus cactus, chaste tree, chasteberries, monks pepper, hemp tree

Botanical name: Vitex agnus castus

Habitat: Vitex grows in Mediterranean countries, central Asia and southern United States> The chaste tree is a beautiful shrub or large tree with a showy summertime flower display. The foliage is aromatic and the 5-7 fingerlike leaflets also bear a striking resemblance to those of the infamous marijuana or hemp plant which provides yet another common name hemp tree. The dried fruit, which has a pepper-like-aroma and flavor, is used in herbal medicine.

Info: As the name suggests, chaste berries were used in ancient times to suppress libido in temple priestesses. Supposedly in Italy today, the flowers are still spread before the ground of novices as they enter the monastery. The important female herb seems to regulate the menstrual cycle of women. Its special application is for relieving the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and female menopause. Vitex is unique due to its stimulating the pituitary and its ability to increase luteinizing hormone (progesterone). This indirectly increases progesterone production and helps regulate menstrual cycle. Extensive scientific validation establishes that vitex enhances the progesterone cycle in women and is consequently beneficial for the treatment of painful menstruation, the emotional swings associated with pre-menstrual syndrome and problems related to menopause.

What this implies is that vitex is the single herb of choice for helping to maintain emotional balance before and after menstruation.

Of course, other factors need to be examined to arrive at a more comprehensive treatment for PMS, including treating the liver with bitter herbs such as turmeric or Oregon grape root, which among many functions, also regulates hormones, tonifies blood and aids in blood circulation. The liver is responsible for getting rid of excess hormones our body doesn’t need any more.

Properties: Tonic, emmenagogue

*at the time of writing, there were no well known interactions with this supplement

Ref:
www.naturalmedicine.com. Prock, Deborahe N.D. 11-1-2010
The Way of Herbs, Michael Tierra, L.Ae,O.M.D. Pages, 204-205
www.floridata.com/ref/v/vitex 11-1-2010

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

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