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 Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:53 pm
If anyone needs remidies for a specific ailment, I can certainly look through all my references to see what I find 3nodding
Sickness is usually the main thing people look to nature or science to for help. Some of these might be extremely dangerous to people who are allergic, and illness isn't always a strictly physical thing, but this is a directory to help a body out.
Note: So it's easier to find what you need, I've put a idea beside the paragraph explaining the medicinal purposes of each herb ^^
Got suggestions or additions? Post them and I (or hopefully one of the moderators if I can't be here) will add them to the list! whee
On that note, not all items on the list are tested and proved by me.
On another note, this isn't an encouragement to for-go professional medical treatment if you have a serious problem.
Any of these plants may cause an allergic reaction, so check with your doctor if you're unsure whether you're allergic to them or not. If they are to be applied to your skin, you should apply a small amount to a small patch of skin to test for irritation.
Trying to stay healthy? You're in the right place! These are the herbs and plants recommended to preserve your health.
Citrus fruits: During the wintry seasons cold and flu are quite commonplace. Citrus fruits like oranges, limes, and lemons are chock full of vitamin C, idea a good defense against most colds and some flu viruses. Plus, it adds acid to your saliva for a short time, to help kill any germs on food. And it's usually good for your skin, too!
Dandelion (Taraxacum laevigatum, Taraxacum officinale): Yes, those pretty yellow "weeds" that turn into fluffy balls are actually a useful herb! Here is an interesting web site detailing their uses (It also has a cute little article on that page addressing the toil most people go through to free their lawn of "weeds"), but to sum it up:
idea Dandelion is great for your liver, skin, and digestive system. The only way I've really tried it is as a tea, which is pretty tasty if a moderate amount of sugar is put in it. I suppose you could also put some fresh leaves in your salad or homemade salsa.
Aloe Vera (Aloe vera L., Aloe barbadensis): This succulent can grow under almost any conditions. It has spear-shaped leaves that alternate on top of one another. (See Pictures.) It has small spikes prodtruding up and down the sides of each leaf.
When growing aloe, be very careful not to water it too often, and its pot should only be half the breadth of its longest leaves, to prevent root rot. (This is in my area--Northeastern Texas in the United States; different areas or weather conditions may call for different growing procedures). It does well both in or outside.
idea Aloe is a useful agent in moisturizing dry skin, or helping prevent pimples and dandruff.
To use, break or cut off a leaf from the plant (you won't need much, depending on how healthy the plant is). Get a knife and gently cut off the edges of the leaf, removing the spikes. Slice the leaf in half, and you can either rub the inside of the leaf directly onto skin, or scrape the insides of the leaf off to make a gel. I've heard a few success stories of people boiling aloe gel and canning it to preserve it, but I've never tried it. (If you try it, tell me how it goes!)
Rose (Rosa multiflora): Rose petals and hips (the little bulb that the petals sit on/the ovary) have various medicinal and magical properties that are often overlooked because of their popularity with romantic holidays. The best roses to cultivate are those you've grown yourself, or those that you pick from bushed in the wild (I prefer to use only fallen petals, that way I don't have to hurt the plant itself).
idea Rose water is a valuable for its mild astringent properties (very useful to those with sensitive skin), as an aphrodesiac, for adding a unique flavor to culinary dishes, a fragrant and pleasing perfume for relaxation, and as a magical aid to promote healing, positive energy flow, and luck. (Find out how to make rose water on Page 2)
Rose petals can be used for culinary usage, a pleasant incense, and for all the magical properties as Rose Water.
Rose hips are supposedly the most potent part of the plant, but I haven't researched them much.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a good anticoagulant that prevents clogged arteries and high blood pressure. It protects against the effects of aging, infection and inflammation, lowers the risk of heart disease, and has anticancer properties. Garlic is also high in antioxidants. It also retains these properties when dried or cooked. Garlic contains at least four times more sulfur than other high sulfur vegetables-onion, broccoli and cauliflower.
Already sick? These might alleviate your symptoms and get your body back on the right track! (A lot of these are on the first list, but with different descriptions for different needs!)
Citrus fruits: Although more effective if eaten before you get sick, these fruits are still loaded with Vitamin C, which exclaim helps kick-start your immune system to help it fight that bug! Plus, it adds acid to your saliva for a short time, to help kill any germs on food. And it's usually good for your skin, too!
Dandelion(Taraxacum laevigatum, Taraxacum officinale): Also more effective if consumed prior to illness, but it can still help! See the website in the description in the list above for details.
exclaim When eaten, dandelion leaves (and possibly roots and blossoms, but I've only tried leaves) can help digestion, ease constipation and pain from kidney stones, help menstrual pain, detoxify your blood and body, and apparently much more!
Turmeric: A kitchen spice found in most grocery stores and supermarkets,
exclaim I've found turmeric to be quite handy in drying up phlegm from the flu, colds, and various sinus problems. It's especially effective, for me anyway, when put in something like ramen noodles or chicken noodle soup, because the heat from the soup opens up your nasal passages also.
Willow bark can be used for:
exclaim minor aches and pains, to moderate to severe head aches.
Gather ONLY the outer bark of a willow tree, no branches or leaves. Make sure there is no moss growing on the bark, for that could have bad side effects. Place the bark in a cup or two of boiling water, and let it boil until it turns an almost amberish yellow color. If you let it boil too long and it becomes too dark, add more water to dilute it. Strain the bark out and drink.
Usually it is good to flavor the tea with mint or somthing similar becase the willow bark has a very bitter taste.
Asprin is NOT recomended for young children... bla bla bla... be careful, if you use the branches or the leaves it is posible to have an asprin overdose... not a good thing. (Thanks Shinys!)
Aloe Vera (Aloe vera L., Aloe barbadensis): This succulent can grow under almost any conditions. It has spear-shaped leaves that alternate on top of one another. (See Pictures.) It has small spikes prodtruding up and down the sides of each leaf.
When growing aloe, be very careful not to water it too often, and its pot should only be half the breadth of its longest leaves, to prevent root rot. (This is in my area--Northeastern Texas in the United States; different areas or weather conditions may call for different growing procedures). It does well both in or outside.
exclaim Aloe is a useful agent in taking the heat from sunburns or other first-degree burns (I got a second-degree burn on my leg and it worked wonders! I should've gone to the hospital though and it's highly recommended that you seek professional help for anything over a first-degree burn! ) It can also be useful in treating acne, blemishes, bug bites, or dandruff. Aloe gel has also been taken internally to relieve stomach disorders, but you should be advised to use quite small amounts, as it's mildly toxic. Dried aloe latex (which is derived from the leaf) has also been used as a very strong laxative.
To use, break or cut off a leaf from the plant (you won't need much, depending on how healthy the plant is). Get a knife and gently cut off the edges of the leaf, removing the spikes. Slice the leaf in half, and you can either rub the inside of the leaf directly onto skin, or scrape the insides of the leaf off to make a gel. I've heard a few success stories of people boiling aloe gel and canning it to preserve it, but I've never tried it. (If you try it, tell me how it goes!)
Non-Herbal or Plant-like Substances That Are Still Worth Mentioning:
Honey (See Below)
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:25 am
Willow bark can be used for minor aches and pains, to moderate to severe head aches.
Gather ONLY the outer bark of a willow tree, no branches or leaves. Make sure there is no moss growing on the bark, for that could have bad side effects. Place the bark in a cup or two of boiling water, and let it boil until it turns an almost amberish yellow color. If you let it boil too long and it becomes too dark, add more water to dilute it. Strain the bark out and drink.
Usualy it is good to flavor the tea with mint or somthing similar becase the willow bark has a very bitter taste.
Asprin is NOT recomended for young children... bla bla bla... be careful, if you use the branches or the leaves it is posible to have an asprin overdose... not a good thing.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:30 am
Yay ^.^ I'd completely forgotten that willow had asprin in it xd
eek No wonder I was such an unhealthy kid; my mom has given me Advil or Tylenol almost once a week since I was four....
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:38 pm
Tylenol is not actualy asprin it is acedominiphin (sp?) I beleive Advil is too, but I'm not sure...
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:31 pm
Actually, Tylenol in acetomenephin and Advil is ibuprofen (or Motrin).
(sorry, it's the nurse in me!)
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:08 pm
Hehe then maybe I'm okay xd
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:36 pm
Ok, so it was somthing like that... sweatdrop I knew one of them was... heh...
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:59 am
Although it's not a a herb or plant, I would like to introduce the wonderful healthy properties of...
Honey!
Uses of honey include
1. Antiseptic/Antibacterial agent - honey has high acidity and a low water content which makes it unsuitable for bacterial growth. There is also hydrogen peroxide present in honey which is activated by dilution (usually with body fluids in a wound). This acts as an antiseptic, and it is released much slower than medical hydrogen peroxide so causes no damage to surrounding tissues
2. Sore throat relief - mixing honey with citrus and swallowing allows the antiseptic properties to work on the back of the throat to relieve a sore throat
3. Dressing wounds - as I have already said honey possesses antibacterial properties, but it also reduces odours, swelling, scarring and prevents the wound dressings from sticking to the wound
4. Long term health - honey contains substances which act as antioxidants that reduce damage to colon in colitis. I also helps increase populations of probiotic bacteria in the gut which improve the immune system, lower cholesterol, improve digestion and prevent colon cancer
5. Conjunctivitus - apparantly a drop of honey in the eye can help treat mild conjunctivitus (although I personally would no try this, because I don't want some gloopy syrup splodged on my eyeball)
Non-medicinal usage includes:
6. Retarding staleness - honey draws moisture from the air which allows it to prevent a pastry from becoming stale
7. Mead - honey, water and yeast make the alchoholic drink mead, which is popular amongst Celtic and Germanic pagans
8. Embalming the dead - Ancient Egyptians and Middle Easterns would embalm their dead in honey (though only the rich could afford this as honey was so valuable). Scythians and Central Asian Nomadic Peoples would carry their deceased ruler in a casket of honey, touring the country for many months with the body well preserved
Although not a herb honey has been used for over 2700 years for its medicinal purposes
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:56 pm
Oh yes yes yes.... Honey also can be used as a very good facial scrub, helps with acne 3nodding
Not to mention it's good in teas and as a peanut butter and honey sandwich ^_^
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 4:56 am
my family swears by a mug of hot lemonade mixed with honey when you have a sore throat 3nodding It is sooooo tasty, and it does help to soothe the throat too. Haha, it kinda makes it worth being ill, yummy!!!
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:04 am
Caerwiden Although it's not a a herb or plant, I would like to introduce the wonderful healthy properties of... Honey!Uses of honey include 1. Antiseptic/Antibacterial agent - honey has high acidity and a low water content which makes it unsuitable for bacterial growth. There is also hydrogen peroxide present in honey which is activated by dilution (usually with body fluids in a wound). This acts as an antiseptic, and it is released much slower than medical hydrogen peroxide so causes no damage to surrounding tissues Another wonderful property of honey is that it contains healthy bacteria. This is similar to the concept of the beneficial bacteria in yogurt. These bacteria are naturally formed through the honey-making process and extended exposure to these bacteria can boost the immune system. It takes a bit of hunting to actually get these healthy bacteria however because most honey is heated to kill these bacteria before being packaged in factories. Also through the heating/filtering process all of the residual pollen is removed. This pollen can also be beneficial by building up your immunity to it if you are an allergy sufferer (similar to the concept of allergy shots...exposure to small amounts of the allergen over time can build immunity) If you know a local beekeeper, buy your honey directly from them, look for Farmer's Markets, check Co-Ops, Organic Food Stores, or the Health Food section of larger Grocery Stores. Infants under the age of one should not be exposed to raw or unproccessed honey until thier immune system naturally develops a bit. Of course if you get this lovely bacterial honey only to put it directly into your cup of piping hot tea, you probably just killed all of those bacteria, but if you like it spread on zucchini bread or something you're all set! smile Oh and also honey is a long-time fertility symbol and has been used in fertility worship for ages. I think I'll end my really long post now and get into that another time though. mrgreen
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 9:08 pm
Huh... I wonder what would happen if you had a cavity and you kept honey all around and in it... would it stop it from getting bigger? O.o
I think I'll stick to the more conventional one on this one and keep brushing my teeth thrice a day... but it's an interesting thought. sweatdrop
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:06 pm
Caerwiden Although it's not a a herb or plant, I would like to introduce the wonderful healthy properties of... Honey!.... Although not a herb honey has been used for over 2700 years for its medicinal purposes
However, I wouldn't encourage trying to get it yourself at home, unless you've had special training xd Or else you might really need it... And some aloe vera and maybe a hospital... stressed
*gathp!* I forgot about aloe vera!
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:24 pm
*nods* Honey is best gotten from the store.. or a famer's market... *nods*
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:31 pm
i'm surprised cayenne pepper isnt there.
Cayenne pepper can prevent heart diseases, and can also soothe the throat and stomach during colds and flu. someone should look up the solution to be made for that. i usually just mix it in with some water and gargle it, but that's a very temporary effect.
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