Page 134 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

tremors, relaxing the mind, and relieving anxiety and
depression.

Exhaustion and Depression: Skullcap is calm-
ing and allows the body and mind to rest. This is essen-
tial in treating exhaustion and depression. With good
sleep and a calm mind, the body is able to put itself
back in order and heal mentally and physically.

Harvesting: Wait to harvest skullcap until the plant
is in full bloom. Remove stems, leaves, and flowers by
pruning off the top of the plant, leaving approximately
3 to 4 inches (7.5 cm to 10 cm) to regrow. The herb is
most potent when freshly harvested, but can be used
dried.
Warning: Do not take skullcap while pregnant or
breastfeeding. Safety is unknown. Use skullcap spar-
ingly in small doses. Large doses may be harmful or
Own work, Rolf Engstrand, Commons Wikipedia cc. 3.0
could cause liver damage.
Drug Withdrawal, Smoking Withdrawal, Recipes. Skullcap Tea: 1 Tablespoon fresh skull-
Alcohol Withdrawal: Skullcap helps with with- cap leaves or 1 teaspoon dried, 1 cup boiling water, raw
drawal from drugs, especially benzodiazepines like Va- honey or Maple Syrup, if desired. Crush the herbs and
lium and Xanax. It also assists with withdrawal from place them in a tea ball. Pour 1 cup of boiling water
alcohol and smoking by calming the body, relieving over the herbs and steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove
the teaball and sweeten the tea, if desired.

St. John’s Wort,

Hypericum perforatum

St. John’s Wort, also called Klamath Weed, is recog-
nized as an invasive weed in most parts of North Amer-
ica. It gets its name from its uncanny ability to bloom
on June 24, the birthday of St. John the Baptist. It is in
the Hypericaceae (St. John’s Wort) Family.

Identification: St. John’s Wort is an herbaceous
perennial with creeping rhizomes. The stems are erect
and grow up to 3 feet (0.9m) tall. The stems branch in
the upper section and produce narrow, yellow-green
leaves that are less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The leaves
have tiny oil glands that look like small windows when Medicinal Use: The flowers and leaves are used for
the plant is held to the light. Bright yellow flowers, medicine. They are best used fresh if available.
measuring 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, appear on the upper Depression, Anxiety, SAD and OCD: St
branches from late spring to mid-summer. The flowers John’s Wort is most commonly used for treating de-
have five petals with pointed sepals. The sepals have pression, restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia without
noticeable black dots. The large stamens are grouped adverse effects. People with bipolar disorder should
into three bundles and the flower buds have a red resin not take it, as it seems to increase the risk of mania. It
when squeezed. The plant is widespread. It likes dry should also not be taken by people already on an SSRI
soil and sunny locations.
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