Page 65 - Lost Book Remedies
P. 65

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

        medicinal herb. Chives are also a mild stimulant, and
        have antiseptic and diuretic properties.

        Digestion: Chives contain sulfide compounds, anti-
        bacterial compounds, and antifungal compounds that
        are effective in easing digestion and an upset stomach.
        They also stimulate the appetite.
        Lowers  Blood  Pressure,  Cholesterol,  and
        Promotes Heart Health: Like other plants in the
        onion family, chives contain allicin, which helps reduce
        the levels of bad cholesterol in the body and improves
        the circulatory system and heart health. Regular con-
        sumption  of  chives  reduces  arterial  plaques,  relaxes
        the blood vessels, lowers high blood pressure, and de-  Anti-inflammatory:  Chives  have  mild  anti-in-
        creases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
                                                                flammatory properties and are a good addition to the
                                                                diet  for people with diseases  that  involve inflamma-
                                                                tion, such as arthritis, autoimmune conditions, and in-
                                                                flammatory skin conditions.

                                                                Boosts the Immune System: Chives contain a
                                                                wide range of vitamins and minerals, including vita-
                                                                min  C,  which  helps  boost  the  immune  system  and
                                                                stimulates the production of white blood cells.
                                                                Harvesting: Chives can be harvested as soon as they
                                                                are big enough to clip and use. Snip off the leaves at the
                                                                base. The plant will continue to grow and can be har-
                                                                vested 3 to 4 times a year when young (the first year)
                                                                and even monthly as they mature. Store them fresh in
        Detoxing the Body and Diuretic: The mild di-            the refrigerator or dry them for future use.
        uretic properties of chives help flush toxins from the
        body and encourage urination.



        Comfrey,

        Symphytum officinale


        Comfrey, is a member of the borage family. The herb is
        easily  grown  in  your  home  garden  and  grows  like  a
        weed  in many areas.  It is also known as knit bone,
        boneset and slippery root.
        Identification:  Comfrey  is  a  vigorous  perennial
        herb with long lance-like leaves, each 12 to 18 inches
        (30 cm to 45 cm) long. The hairy leaves grow from a
        central crown on the ends of short stems. The plant     they age. The thick, tuberous roots have a thin black
        reaches 2 to 5 feet (0.6m to 1.5m) in height and spreads   skin.
        to over 3 feet (0.9m) in diameter. It can be propagated   Edible Use: Comfrey leaves and roots are not edible
        from cuttings but is not invasive once planted. Comfrey   because  they  contain  small  amounts  of  toxins  that
        flowers begin as a blue to purple bell, fading to pink as

                                                            64
   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70