Page 56 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Add the remaining salt and the caraway seeds. Pack the overnight and check it the next day to make sure that
cabbage into a large glass jar or crock and add the all the cabbage is submerged in liquid and skim off any
juices. Cover the top of the shredded cabbage with the scum that forms.
whole cabbage leaves. Add a weight to the top of the Continue checking the sauerkraut every other day for
cabbage to keep it beneath the liquid.
4 weeks. Transfer the sauerkraut to the refrigerator
Fermenting crocks use fermenting weights, but a clean and use within 6 months. Sauerkraut can be canned for
plate or another dish can be used. Cover the container longer storage. However, I believe this destroys some
with its lid. Place the container in a cool spot on a tray of the beneficial enzymes as well as the live culture. I
or plate to catch any spills. Leave the cabbage recommend using the sauerkraut with live culture.

Calendula,

Calendula officinalis

Calendula or Pot Marigold is a perennial plant in the
Aster/Daisy family that is often grown as an annual. It
is not originally native to North America but is widely
cultivated in flower gardens, self-seeds, and is easy to
grow.

Identification: Calendula usually grows 12 to 24
inches (30 cm to 60 cm) tall with branched sprawling Calendula, Betty Cai, CC by SA 4.0
or erect stems. The leaves are oblong and lance-like, Place the bruised leaves directly on the skin. The leaves
approximately 2 to 7 inches (5 cm to 18 cm) long, and soothe inflamed skin and help it heal. I use the flowers
hairy on both sides. The margins can be smooth, wavy, to make a healing salve for skin irritations. The leaves
or even weakly toothed.
and flowers have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mi-
The flowers are yellow or orange with a 2 to 3-inch (5 crobial, and anti-viral effects as well being an im-
cm to 7.5 cm) flower head with two rows of hairy munostimulant. To treat skin infections, including
bracts. Flowers appear year-round in warmer climates. ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and cra-
Some flowers have multiple rows of ray florets while dle cap, I use Calendula Oil or Salve applied to the af-
others have only one. High resin varieties and multi- fected area several times a day. Note that Calendula is
row flowers are said to be better for medicine. The fruit a tonic anti-fungal, weaker than many. I prefer to use
is a small curved achene. a stronger anti-fungal such as black walnut hull pow-
der, Oregano Oil, or Usnea to treat the primary infec-
Edible Use: Calendula flowers are edible raw in sal- tion and save calendula as a preventative or for chronic
ads or dried and used as a seasoning. They can be used situations.
as a saffron substitute for color but not taste. Tea is
made from the petals. The leaves are edible, but are bit- Anti-aging and Collagen Production: Calen-
ter and unpalatable. dula stimulates the immune system, induces collagen
production and inhibits collagen degradation. I make
Medicinal Use: Calendula can be used as a tea, in-
fused oil, salve, compress, or poultice. an anti-aging blend with Calendula and Cottonwood
Buds infused in organic almond oil and use it on my
Skin Diseases, Cuts, Rashes, Wounds, face and neck every day in place of a commercial face
Burns, Cold Sores, Herpes, Chicken Pox, cream.
and Irritations: Calendula leaves and flowers are Soothes Muscle Spasms: Calendula relaxes
soothing to the skin, and I use them to treat all kinds muscles and can prevent spasms. Calendula tea treats
of skin problems like acne, sunburn, and rashes, in- abdominal cramping caused by constipation and men-
cluding diaper rash. The leaves make a healing poultice strual cramping.
for minor cuts, scratches, bites, and skin irritations.
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