Uncommon Uses for Common Plants

from Ozark Herbs

People’s Medicine

90% of world’s health care providers are women in their homesVitalism vs. AllopathyFood vs. drugsInfusion vs. capsules

Wildcrafting

Avoid areas sprayed with chemicals, no closer that 50ft from roads,100 ft from nature trails in national parks

Leave the mother plants, know when and how to harvest, help propagate

Harvest only from abundant patches and only what you can immediately process

Gratitude and attitude make a difference

Becoming educated

“Natural” isn’t necessarily “safe”

Learn contraindications

Keep it simple

Learn poisonous plants and parts of plants

Local is better

Stellaria media Chickweed

Extreme itchiness of skin

Detoxification

Eliminate fat cells

Nutritive food

Wound dressing

Dissolve cysts and benign tumors

When we consume chickweed its saponins increase our ability to absorb nutrients, especially minerals.

Chickweed salve for chronic itching and severe rash

One to a half cup of the coarsely cut fresh chickweed herb. Add two cups of pure grade virgin olive oil and six tbsp. of beeswax. The preparation can begin by warming in a pan on top of the stove which is on medium heat - the oil and add the beeswax gradually. Following the warming of the oil and the beeswax, mix all the ingredients in a heavy cast iron skillet or a small heavy roast pan. Place in an oven set to “warm” for about two hours to allow blending of the ingredients. Then strain using a fine wire strainer, this straining must be carried out even if the mixture is still hot, once the straining is completed the prepared remedy can be pour into air tight small clean jars and stored for use whenever needed. This topical cream is also used as an herbal ointment to draw out various insect stings or any splinters in the skin. The herbal remedy is also used as a topical treatment for burns and scalds of all sorts.

Capsella bursa-pastoris ; Shepherd’s Purse

Here's one for your natural emergency kit: Include some shepherd's purse, because it's outstanding for stopping all forms of bleeding very quickly. If a persistent nosebleed fails to respond to other conventional treatments, then soak some cotton balls with a little bit of the tea, squeeze out the excess liquid, and insert them into the nostrils to quell further hemorrhaging.For internal use, drink one-half cup of the tea every hour on the hour, as necessary, but do so on an empty stomach for greatest effects. Externally, the cold tea may be applied to any wound with saturated cloth compresses or by holding wet cotton balls firmly against the wound until the bleeding eventually ceases. Scratches, skin ulcers and bites are similarly treated.This is also one of the very best teas for a woman to drink following hemorrhaging after childbirth. The tea should be taken cold and several cups at a time. Shepherd's purse is also marvelous for bloody urine and stool as well as bleeding from the lungs.

Shepherd’s Purse Tea

Bring a pint of water to a boil. Add two tablespoons dried shepherd's purse. Cover, remove from heat, and steep for 45 minutes. Strain and refrigerate. Best used when cold.

Wild Rose – Rosa spp.

Antidepressant properties, uplifting, emotional modulator

The tincture for mosquito bites, burns, sore throats

Liniment for nerve pain, muscle inflammation

Infused vinegar for sunburn, salad dressing, headache, sore muscles

Rose Vinegar

Fill quart jar ½ way with dried petals and leaves…or all the way with fresh material

Fill to the top with high quality apple cider vinegar. Cap (plastic under metal cap) and let sit for 2-6 weeks. Shake daily. Strain.

Cloth soaked in 1 pt vinegar/7 pts water applied on forehead for heat related headaches, as a wash for insect bites, a wash for sunburn, wrap around sprained ankle

Aster novae-angliaeNew England Aster

Leaves/flowers burned in sweat lodge to treat unconsciousness, mental illness, headaches, smudge, congestion

Dried blossoms were also snuffed for similar purposes

Strong decoction for poison ivy

Eating fresh blossoms as sedative

Flower tincture relaxes lungs (asthma)

Ambrosia artemisiifoliaCommon Ragweed

Used internally for lessening acute secondary allergic responses to pollen. In 15 minutes can relieve burning itchy eyes and eustachion tubes, discharge from eyes and nose.1-3 squirts tincture 3x day 2 weeks before allergy season startsTribal, rub leaves on insect bites, hives

Rudbeckia hirtaBlack Eyed Susan

Roots used much like Echinacea purpurea. Research: has more potent immune system stimulators than EchinaceaWarm infusion of root used as astringent wash for sores and swellingsThe Ojibwa used it as a poultice for snakebitesJuice from roots for earache

Taraxacum officinale Dandelion

Tribal: boiling dandelion flowers in water till the water turns yellow, allowing it to cool overnight and drinking the same next morning for a period of 30 days or one month to help provide relief from heart conditions

Grind dandelion leaves into a fine paste and applying it to fractures and wrapping the area with cloth and fresh dandelion leaves to help fix the bones together

Viola spp.Violets

Cherokee soaked corn in root tea to prevent insect damage during germination

Nutritive (leaf) gently altering function of nerves, lungs, immune system, reproductive system.

Anti-cancer properties, esp. skin, reproductive, breast cancer. Pain relief.

Hangover

Oenothera biennisEvening Primrose

Flower tincture,5-10 drops, for insomnia and anxietyHot flower infusion as compress for facial neuralgiaOintment from flowers for sunburn & other skin disordersDecoction of root for chronic bronchitis & as compress for rheumatic joints

Betula spp.Birch

Infusion of leaf bud to dredge lymph system

Hair loss

General toxemia with arthritis, rheumatism, gout…detoxifier

Earliest spring leaf as salad green

Diospyros virginianaAmerican Persimmon

Roasted seed used as coffee substitute

Oil can be extracted from seed, tastes like peanut oil

Infusion from dried leaf, high in vitamin C

Decoction from unripe fruit for bloody stools

Decoction of inner bark as wash for warts and cancers & gargle for thrush & sore throat

Podophyllum peltatumMayapple

Infusion of leaves sprayed on potato plants to protect from insects

Ripe fruit is edible

The root ooze used to treat corn seed to keep crows and insects from eating it prior to germination

Verbascum thapsusMullein

Rolled dry leaf makes a candle wickDry leaf under feet in shoes for winter warmthYellow flowers to color hair blondeInfused oil of flowers for earache, hemorrhoidsChronic asthma & chronic bronchitisLeaf, anti-inflammatory, flower anti-viralRoot for back problems caused by or resulting in misalignment

Pinus spp.Pine tree

Pine pitch salve for drawing splinters & glass , wound dressing

Pine vinegar, salad dressing, rich in flavonoids, vitamins (esp. C), minerals…strengthens immune system & lungs

Pine needle tea for C

Bark from saplings in place of a cast

Pine Vinegar

Fill a wide mouthed jar with pine needles and pour room temperature pasteurized cider vinegar over it. Cap with a plastic or non-metal lid and leave for 6 weeks. Label with date of preparation. This preserves the vitamin C. Tastes like balsamic vinegar.

Smilax rotundifoliaGreenbrier, Catbrier

Wilted leaves poulticed on boils

Root tea to help expel afterbirth

Leaf and stem infusion for rheumatism and stomach troubles

Root tea is anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, cholesterol-lowering and anti-stress

Edible tips

Root makes a gel, like jello

Oxalis spp.Wood Sorrel

Chewing leaf to quench thirst, for nausea, mouth sores, sore throatFresh leaf poulticed on cancers, old sores, ulcersLeaf tea for fever, scurvy, urinary infectionSmall amounts in salads (large amounts may cause oxalate poisoning)

Yucca spp.Yucca

Leaf makes a soap

Leaf for fiber & a sewing needle

Flowers edible

Poulticed root on inflammations

Root brewed as hair wash for dandruff and baldness

Stalk makes the best fire drill

Plantago majorBroad leafed Plantain

Healer of wounds, injuries and remedy for most poisonsPounded with salt for snake bite poulticeCalms muscle contractions in conditions like asthma, colic, stomach acheHayfeverSeed infusion at night for constipation

Revitalizing Green Juice

3 cups (180 g) fresh plantain leaves 1 cups (250 ml) pure liquid honey 1 opaque glass bottle Crush the leaves in a food processor, drain and squeeze in cheesecloth. Combine 1 cup (250 ml) of the green juice with the honey and simmer for 10 minutes at low heat, stirring regularly. Let cool and pour into the opaque bottle.Take this nectar 1 spoonful at a time like a syrup to treat a cough; also use it to treat a sore throat, anemia, fatigue and eczema: 1 T (15 ml), 3 times daily.

Plantago lanceolataNarrow-leafed Plantain

Bronchodilator for asthma and bronchial spasms due to colds

Inflamed mucous membranes of mouth and throat

Mucilage from any plantain seed may lower cholesterol

Leaves applied to blisters

Narcissus pseudo-narcissusDaffodil

Crushed bulb mixed with barley flour applied topically to dissolve hard swellings and draw splinters

Bulbs boiled in oil, applied topically for discoloration of skin, chafed heels, burns, stiff or painful joints

Juniperus virginianaJuniper (Cedar)

Berry relieves incontinence, gives urine the smell of violets

Berries held in mouth as protective barrier against infection

Strong decoction of needle, twig, and or berry used for disinfecting wash – used to sanitize surfaces for brewing

Berry used as spice, esp. sauerkraut

Cucumis sativusCucumber

Get rid of grubs & slugs in garden, put slices in pie tin where neededRub a cucumber slice along a mirror to get rid of fog & give spa scentRub slices on skin a few minutes to temporarily get rid of cellulite & wrinklesAvoid hangover, eat cucumber before going to bedEat for afternoon “pick me up”Contains most of the necessary daily vitaminsSeeds yield an oil similar to olive oil

Solanum tuberosumPotato

Lower blood pressure; research shows they contain kukoaminesSkins contain 60 phytochemicals that protect from cardiovascular diseaseCompress for eczema or swelling under eyesInca used raw potato on broken bones to promote healingRaw potato poulticed on gum abscess

Phytolacca americanaPokeweed

Dried root powder as dusting for eczema, scabies, fungal infections

Root poulticed for joint inflammation

Berry used for making ink

Properly made root tincture for severe lymph congestion

Earliest growth for edible greens (until it starts to show red color)

Trifolium pratenseRed Clover

Freeze blossoms in ice cubes to add to lemonade or teaCrush fresh flowers for poultice on insect bites, relieves pain and speeds healingFlower tincture for psoriasis and eczemaCompress of infusion for goutSyrup for persistent dry coughs

Rumex crispusYellow Dock

Gentle laxative, even for children (root)

Young leaf as potherb or in salads

Seeds for flour or sprouting

Safe iron supplement

Root decoction as wash for itching

Root syrup for emphysema, asthma, bronchitis

Dock Laxative Decoction

Boil one qt of water, reduce the heat and add one cup of sliced fresh or dehydrated root of the herb. Cover the container and simmer for around 12 minutes. Next, remove the cover and allow the chopped roots to steep in the liquid for another one to one-and-a-half hours. Sieve the liquid, sweeten it with honey and drink as many as four cups of it daily, 

Dock Syrup

Boil ½ lb root in 1 pt distilled (or rain) water down to 1 cup. Sieve & throw material in compost. To liquid add ½ cup dark honey, ½ cup molasses, 1 tsp maple syrup. Blend. Also good for tickling or scratching in throat and lungs.

Part Two

Insect Repellents

Catnip Nepeta cataria

At the world’s largest scientific society, the American Chemical Society, Iowa State University presented findings that the essential oil of catnip is 10x stronger than Deet in repelling all kinds of mosquitoes.

Essential oil effective at 5% dilution. (20 drops to 20 ml. carrier oil)

Or use strong smelling quality catnip for your own products, try a hydrosol

Deet

A neurotoxin that causes neurons to die in the brain including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning.Heavy exposure: fatigue, memory loss, eye irritation, headache, weakness, tremors, shortness of breath. Can show up months or years after use.Sunscreen & medications react with it.CarcinogenicHinders immune function

Essential Oils

CitronellaLemongrass oilPeppermint oil: research in India, it repels adult mosquitoes and kills larvaeVanillin LavenderPatchouliEucalyptusSandalwood

Insect repelling tips

Take thiamine (B1)Eat a couple of raw onions a day during summer or lots of garlic.Dress in subdued colors, khaki or white are best. Don’t wear perfumes.Vapor rub; you can make your own using eucalyptus oilCalendula creamAvoid rapid, jerky movements around insect hives or nests. Rubbing for chiggers

If you get bites

Mosquitoes and chiggers, rub tea tree oilFor other bites, peppermint oil or witch hazel extractLemon juice, relieves itching by working against bug salivaBaking soda and cider vinegar work similarly (use separately)Plantain -chew well and put on bitePoultice of clay, or finely ground grain like rice or oatmeal, mallow root, grated potato, arrowroot powder

Upcoming classes

“Herb a Month Club” seriesFamily herbalism series; Herbal Preparation; making your own medicineBotany 101Herbal Home First AideNatural Skin CareHerbs for the Nervous SystemHerbs for DigestionHerbs for Women’s HealthHerbs for Men’s HealthImportant Herbs for Health & HealingSafety Issues concerning the use of herbsIntensive plant ID walks & forest inventory

Contact Info for classes

D’Coda

dcoda@ozarkseedexchange.com

www.ozarkherbs.wordpress.com

877-466-2011 before 6pm