Page 82 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

reduces fevers and kills off the underlying infection. It before continuing. Place the garlic into a pot and cover
is also useful for bronchial asthma where the breathing with water. Heat the water gently to a simmer, then
passages have swollen making breathing difficult. turn off the heat. Allow the garlic and water to steep
overnight. Use 2 to 4 ml of this infusion, 3 times a day
Elevated Blood Cholesterol Levels and with meals. Keep the Infusion in the refrigerator for up
Blood Pressure: Garlic effectively lowers blood to three days or in the freezer for up to a month.
cholesterol levels and blood pressure when consumed
regularly. Garlic Tincture: Chop 1 cup of garlic cloves fine
and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the garlic
Corns, Warts, and Acne: For corns, warts, and cloves in a pint (500ml) jar with a tight-fitting lid.
acne, rub a paste made from fresh mashed garlic on the Cover the chopped garlic with apple cider vinegar,
affected spot. Garlic actually softens and soothes the preferably with the mother (live vinegar). Allow the jar
skin and kills the viral or bacterial infection causing the to steep for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking it several times a
problem. week. Take 1 tablespoon of garlic tincture with each
Recipes: Garlic Infusion. Chop or grind garlic meal.
cloves and allow them to rest for 10 to 15 minutes

that are usually toothed. They can also be smooth or
Goldenrod, Solidago spp. hairy.

Goldenrods comprise about 100 species or more that The leaves at the base of the plant are longer, shorten-
grow throughout North America in open areas like ing as they climb the plant, with no leaf stem and 3 dis-
meadows, prairies, and savannas. I primarily use Soli- tinct parallel veins. The shape can vary from species to
dago canadensis, which is the most common golden- species. The stems are unbranched, until the plant
rod in North America. It is in the Aster/Daisy Family flowers. Flower heads are composed of yellow ray flo-
and is also known as goldruthe, woundwort, and soli- rets arranged around disc florets. Each flower head
dago. Goldenrods take the blame for a lot of allergies, may contain a few florets per head or up to 30, depend-
but most of it is undeserved. There are people allergic ing on the species. The flower head is usually 1/2 inch
to goldenrod and they should not use the plant. How- (1.25 cm) or less in diameter, although some varieties
ever, most of the allergies are caused by ragweed and are larger. The inflorescence is usually a raceme or a
other similar flowering plants. Goldenrod are panicle. Plant size varies by species, usually grow-
pollinated by bees and do not release pollen into ing 2 to 5 feet (0.6 meters to 1.5meters)
the air like the ragweeds. tall. Some varieties spread aggressively
Furthermore, Golden- by runners, while others grow in
rod can be used against clumps that expand outward each
allergies caused by rag- year.
weed. Toxic Look-Alikes: Goldenrod
Identification: I often has many look-alikes and some of
find goldenrod in open ar- them are deadly. Groundsel, life root,
eas and along trailsides. I staggerweed, and ragwort are regional
identify it by its unique names for deadly look-alike plants in
aroma, taste, and its visual properties – the Senecio genus. Ragwort and
like its height and its large sprays of yel- groundsels usually have fewer and
low flower clusters. Crushing a goldenrod smaller flower heads and bloom earlier in
leaf releases a salty, balsam-like fragrance. the season.
Any goldenrod species can be used medicinally; how- These are not hard rules, however, so it can be difficult
ever, it is necessary to differentiate the plant from sim- to identify the plants and distinguish them from other
ilar toxic plants, including ragwort and groundsel. If local varieties. You should be very sure of your plant
you are unsure of your identification, use a local field identification before harvesting.
guide. Goldenrod plants have alternate, simple leaves

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