Page 112 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Estrogen-Like Effects: Milk thistle leaves have Recipes. Milk Thistle Tea: Crush or grind 1 tea-
some estrogen-like effects that stimulate menstruation spoon of milk thistle seeds. Add one cup of boiling wa-
and increase the flow of milk in breast-feeding moth- ter and allow the tea to steep until lukewarm.
ers.
Milk Thistle Extract: Take 3/4 cup milk thistle
Cancer Treatment: Milk thistle seeds are some- seeds, 1 cup vodka or other alcohol, 80 proof or higher.
times used as a treatment for prostate, liver, and skin Grind, crush or
cancer, as silymarin has anticarcinogenic effects and blend ¾ cups
protects the liver and kidneys during chemotherapy. of milk thistle
seeds. Place the
Acne: Milk thistle is high in anti-oxidants, anti-in- crushed seeds
flammatories, and flavonoids that reduce the inflam- into a sterile
mation of acne.
pint-sized
Harvesting: Always wear protective clothing and (500ml) jar
heavy gloves when harvesting milk thistle, as it is very with a tight-fit-
irritating to the skin. Cut off young flower heads with ting lid. Pour 1
scissors and young leaves from the stalk. Harvest milk cup of vodka
thistle seeds by cutting off the seed-heads and placing over the seed,
them in a paper bag in a cool, dry spot. After the seeds more if needed
dry, remove them from the seed head, one at a time, to cover the
and brush away the debris. The cleaned seeds store seeds. Stir well to mix the ingredients. Cap the jar
best in a container with a tight lid. tightly and place it in a cool, dark place for 6 to 8 weeks,
shaking the jar daily. Add more alcohol, if needed, to
Warning: Pregnant women should not use milk this- keep the seeds covered with liquid. Strain the mixture
tle. Women with estrogen-related conditions such as and reserve the liquid. Discard the seed. Store your ex-
endometriosis, fibroids, and cancers of the ovaries, tract tightly covered in a cool, dark place.
breast, or uterus should not use milk thistle. Do not use
milk thistle if you are allergic to the Asteraceae/Com- To Use Milk Thistle Extract: This is a highly
positae plant family. concentrated extract. Use three drops of Milk Thistle
Extract up to three times daily. If this dosage is well
tolerated, you can gradually increase the dose.

Mormon Tea,

Ephedra nevadensis

Ephedra nevadensis belongs to the Ephedraceae Fam-
ily. It is also known as Mormon Tea, Brigham Tea, De-
sert Tea and Nevada Ephedra. This herb is said to have
gotten its name, Mormon tea, because of its use as a
caffeine-free beverage by the Mormons. It is native to
dry areas of southwestern North America and Central
Mexico.
Identification: This desert shrub has jointed or Andrey Zharkikh Wikipedia Commons, cc. 2.0
fluted stems and scale-like leaves. Leaf scales of Mor- paired. This plant occurs naturally on flats and slopes
mon tea are in twos, 1 to 2 inches (2.5 cm to 5 cm) long, in all the creosote bush deserts at mostly 1,000 to
with sheathing to about the middle. The inflorescence 4,000 feet (1219 meters) in elevation and sometimes it
of this plant is cone-like. The ovulate spikes of Mormon is found in desert grasslands up to 5,000 feet (1524
tea are distinctly stalked, and the seeds are usually meters). The characteristic species that grow with this
plant are Joshua tree, white bursage, black-brush,
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