Page 67 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Place the dried leaves and chopped root pieces into a beeswax). Test the consistency of the oil by dipping a
pint (500ml) jar. Add 1 cup of olive oil and place the small amount onto waxed paper or aluminum foil and
open jar in the oven. Allow the oil to warm and infuse place in the freezer for five minutes. If the oil is thick
for 90 minutes. Remove the jar from the oven and enough, pour the mixture into a jar or wide mouth con-
cover with a cloth to cool. When cool, place the lid on tainer. If not add a little more beeswax and test again.
the jar and allow it to steep for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool, Continue until desired consistency is reached. If the
dark place. Strain the oil, removing the leaves and mixture is too thick you can warm it again and stir in a
roots.
little more oil. Note: use an old non-aluminum pot to
Combine the oil and the beeswax in a pot and warm heat the oil and wax. It is difficult to clean. I have a
gently until the beeswax is melted (4:1 ratio of oil to small pot that I use only for this purpose.

from its base. Flax fruit is a round, dry, 5-lobed capsule
Common Flax, that is 1/4 -1/2 (0.75 cm to 1.25 cm) inch in diameter.

Linum usitatissimum Edible Use: The sprouts and seeds can be eaten raw
or cooked. Careful eating the sprouts raw as they can
Also known as Linseed, this is a useful plant for making stop up the bowel. Chew seeds well to access their nu-
medicine, oil, and fabric. Many people take it as a nu- trition, as they don’t digest well whole.
tritional supplement. It is in the Linaceae (Flax) Fam-
ily. Medicinal Use. As a Nutritional Supple-
ment: Flax seed is rich in dietary fiber, protein,
Identification: Common Flax is an annual. While omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients. I grind flax
rarely found growing wild, it is usually easy to find a and chia seeds fresh and eat them daily for health. I
cultivated crop or to grow yourself. The mature plant find that the fresh seeds are better as oil goes rancid
is 3 to 4 feet (0.9m to 1.2m) tall. A loose cluster of blue- quite quickly.
purple stalked flowers grows at the tips of the branch-
ing stems. Each ¾ to 1 inch (2 cm to 2.5 cm) wide Cholesterol Control: Ingesting crushed flaxseeds
flower has 5 ovate petals surrounded by 5 erect, blue- on a daily basis is a good way to lower your cholesterol
tipped stamens with a green ovary. The 5 sepals have a and LDL.
lance-shape. Flax has simple, alternate, erect green Autoimmune Issues: Flax seeds are high in
leaves that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches (1.25 cm to 3.75 cm) omega 3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and
long and very narrow. They are stalkless and have lignans. These compounds help regulate immune re-
smooth margins. Its stems are mostly unbranched and sponse, suppress inflammation, have neuroprotective
erect, and has multiple round, smooth stems growing effects, act as antioxidants, and modulate hormonal in-
fluences in autoimmune conditions.

Respiratory Problems: Flax seed oil helps with
respiratory problems, including ARDS (acute respira-
tory distress syndrome). Its anti-inflammatory effects
help coughs, sore throat, and congestion.
Constipation: For constipation, try two teaspoons
of ground flax seed every morning, taken with a full
glass of water.
Skin, Boils, Abscesses, Herpes, Acne,
Burns: A warm poultice of flax seed oil on a cotton
ball or applied directly helps heal these common skin
problems. Flax is an excellent anti-inflammatory both
internally and externally. For boils, add Lobelia inflata

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