Page 73 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

be eaten raw (old ones can too but they don’t taste as Liver, Gall Bladder and Detox: Curly dock root
good). Leaves contain varying amounts of oxalic acid is a bitter tonic for the gall bladder and liver. It in-
and tannin. The seeds can be pounded into a flour. The creases bile production, which helps the body with de-
root is generally not eaten but it is used for medicine. toxification. It is helpful for any condition that can
benefit from purifying and cleansing the body from
Medicinal Use: Curly dock is a purifying and
cleansing herb. All parts of the plant can be used, but toxins. It is often combined with Greater Burdock to
the roots have the strongest healing properties. create a stronger detoxifying effect.

I often crush dock leaves to put on stinging nettle Harvesting: Harvest the root early in autumn and
stings. My grandmother showed me this trick when I dry it for later use. Dig up the entire plant and root if
was a child visiting her in England and I’ve been using possible and wash the root lightly. Cut before drying.
it ever since. They tend to grow near each other, which Harvest leaves from spring through summer as
is very useful. needed. Look for leaves that are fresh and curled.
Avoid leaves that are brown or full of bug holes. Also
Constipation and Diarrhea: Curly dock is a gen- avoid areas that are near highways or that have been
tle and safe laxative for the treatment of mild constipa- sprayed with pesticides.
tion. It can also cause or relieve diarrhea, depending
on the dosage and other factors such as harvest time Recipes. Curly Dock Tincture: You need fresh
and soil conditions. curly dock root, grated, 80-proof vodka or other drink-
ing alcohol and a glass jar with tight-fitting lid. Place
Skin Problems: Curly dock weed is useful exter- the grated root in a clean glass jar. Fill the jar, covering
nally to treat a wide variety of skin problems due to its the root completely, with 80-proof alcohol.
cleansing properties.
Allow the tincture to steep for 6 to 8 weeks, shaking
Taken internally, it is a tonic. Its dried or pounded root gently every day. Strain out the root pieces and place
can be used as a poultice, salve, or powder applied to the tincture in a clean glass jar. Store in a cool, dark
sores, wounds, or other skin problems. place for up to 7 years.

widespread and easy to cultivate in the garden. Echina-
Echinacea angustifolia cea grows wild in open rocky prairies and plains.

and E. purpurea, Purple Identification: Purple coneflower is a perennial

Coneflower herb that is 6 to 24 inches (15 cm to 60 cm) tall with a
woody, often branching taproot. This plant has one to
several rough-hairy stems that are mostly unbranched.

The leaves are alternate, simple, and narrowly lance-
shaped. The stem leaves are widely spaced and at-
tached alternately to the lower half of the stem. Edges
of leaves are toothless and have three distinct veins
along its length. Stem and leaves are rough and hairy
to touch. Its stems may be purple or green tinged.
Echinacea Flowers look like lavender sunflowers. Its
flowerheads are 1 ½ to 3 inches (3.75 cm to 7.5 cm)
wide and are at the ends of long stalks. They bloom in
summer. The disk flowers are 5-lobed, brownish-pur-
ple in color, and are situated among stiff bracts with
Close up of flower disc, Photo by Bernie, CC by SA 3.0 yellow pollen. Its fruits are small, dark, 4- angled
Echinacea is commonly called Purple Coneflower. It is achenes.
a pretty, purple sunflower-like flowering plant that has Medicinal Use: This herb has a modulating effect
strong medicine. It is native to North America and be- on the body’s natural immune system, encouraging it
longs to the Asteraceae (Daisy) Family. It is

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