Page 78 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Gather the leaves and stem "bark" when the flowering seeds until the oil is released, this may take some time.
stems have grown up. Strip the “bark” of evening prim- Place the seed paste into a seed bag or use a coffee filter
rose and dry for later use; the leaves are also harvested and tighten it to release even more oil into the bowl.
and dried at that time. Dig the roots in the second year When you have gathered as much oil as possible, filter
when they are larger and more potent. it through a fresh filter to remove any remaining seed
remnants. The standard dosage for internal use is 1
Recipes. How to Make Cold-Pressed Even- gram of oil daily, broken into 2 to 3 doses.
ing Primrose Seed Oil: Grind fresh seeds. You
can use a flourmill, sausage grinder, auger type juicer, Strong Evening Primrose Tea. (1-ounce bark
coffee grinder, or blender to grind the seeds into a and leaves, crushed or chopped into small pieces, 1-
paste. It may take several passes through the grinder pint (500 ml) of water). Bring the water and herbs to a
to get a fine grind. Add a tiny amount of water only if boil and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Simmer the
necessary, to facilitate grinding. Roll the ground seeds herbs for 10 minutes. Allow the tea to cool and strain
into a ball and knead them by hand to release the oil, out the herbs. Keep the tea refrigerated until needed
catching it in a small bowl. Knead and squeeze the and use within three days.

Fennel,

Foeniculum vulgare

Fennel is a commonly used vegetable in the
Apiaceae /Umbelliferae (Celery/Carrot/Parsley) Fam-
ily. It has a licorice flavor and is very fragrant. It is
found across the United States and Canada. I grow it in
my garden, but am also able to find it along roadsides,
riverbanks, and pasture lands.

cm) in diameter. The umbels are terminal and com-
pound, with each section containing 20 to 50 tiny yel-
low flowers. The fruit is a small seed, approximately
1/5 to 1/3 inch-long (0.6 cm to 0.9 cm) with grooves
along its length.
Edible Use: The stems, leaves, and seeds are edible.
I prefer to roast the bulbs and use the seeds for season-
ing.
Medicinal Use: The seeds and root are used to pre-
pare remedies, but eating the plant is also healthy.

Identification: Fennel is a flowering perennial herb Digestive Problems: An infusion made from the
with yellow flowers. It looks a lot like dill, except for seeds is effective in the treatment of digestive prob-
the bulb. The leaves are feathery, and finer than dill lems. Take it after meals for the treatment of indiges-
leaves. The stems are erect, smooth and green and tion, heartburn, and flatulence.
grow to a height of eight feet (2.4m). It is also effective for constipation and stomach pains.
The leaves are finely dissected with threadlike seg- In addition to using the infusion, if you have digestive
ments. Most, but not all varieties form a stem-bulb that problems add fennel seeds to your cooking.
sits on the ground or is lifted by a segment of stem. Leaf Nursing Mothers and Colic: For the treatment
branches fan out from the stem, forming the bulb. of colic, have the mother drink Fennel Infusion. It not
Flowers appear on umbels, 2 to 6 inches (5 cm to 15
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