Page 136 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Warning: St John’s Wort interacts with a lot of mod- the jar daily and allow it to steep for 4 to 6 weeks.
ern medicines. It should not be taken by people already Strain the herbs out. Cap the jar and keep it in a cool,
on an SSRI medication and may cause sun sensitivity dark cupboard. Take the tincture for a prolonged pe-
to very fair-skinned people. It may interact with War- riod as needed to cure chronic conditions.
farin, Digitoxin, and HIV medications. Do not take for St John’s Wort Infused Oil: Four ounces(112g)
2 weeks prior to surgery. Check with your physician be- of fresh St. John’s Wort flowers and 2 cups organic ol-
fore using.
ive oil. Mix the herbs and olive oil in a double boiler
Recipes. St John’s Wort Tincture: Ingredi- and place them over very low heat.
ents: St John’s Wort flowers and leaves, 80 proof grain Steep the oil and herbs for 2 to 3 hours, keeping the oil
alcohol or vodka, a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. at a low simmer. Strain the oil and remove the herbs.
Loosely pack the flowers and leaves into the glass jar, Store your infused oil in a cool, dark cupboard.
filling it to the top. Add the alcohol to the jar, covering *St John’s wort oil works well on its own, however, it
the flowers and leaves. Cap the jar tightly. Label. Add can be even more healing when mixed with other
more alcohol as needed to replace evaporation. Shake herbs.

people blanch them in water to remove the sting before
Stinging Nettle, cooking and eating. Only eat stinging nettle leaves be-
Urtica dioica fore the flowers appear. Beyond that time, they can
cause internal irritation, especially of the urinary tract.
The seeds are also edible. Dried nettle leaves and flow-
I love stinging nettle, though I know many who don’t ers make a nice herbal tea.
due to its sting. It is nutritious, medicinal, and makes
beautiful fiber. I even have a nettle shirt! Medicinal Use: Nettle can be taken as a tea or tinc-
Dock usually grows near it and can be ture and is my number one go to for allergies.
used to take away the sting. It is in the
Lamiaceae (Mint) Family. Allergies (including Hay Fe-
ver): Stinging nettle tincture is my
Identification: Stinging nettle is a first recommendation for allergies
perennial, growing from 3 to 8 feet as it usually completely alleviates the
(0.9m to 2.4m) tall. It is dioecious problem. I often recommend cou-
and herbaceous, dying back in pling it with local raw honey. It is an
the winter. excellent anti-inflammatory.
The leaves are mostly oval or Arthritis, Gout Pain,
occasionally heart-shaped. The soft, green leaves are and Inflammation: Stinging nettle treats
1 to 4 inches (2.5 cm to 10 cm) long and are arranged arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory conditions. It
oppositely on a square erect stem. The leaves have a suppresses inflammation, flushes toxins from the
serrated margin and cordate base. Both the leaves and body, and helps reduce the pain of these conditions.
stems are very hairy with non-stinging hairs and many
stinging hairs. Numerous flowers appear June to Sep- It is used in Germany as a treatment for Rheumatoid
tember in dense inflorescences. They are greenish or Arthritis and is thought to inhibit the cascade of in-
brownish, growing in branched clusters. Male and fe- flammation. Externally, a compress made by soaking a
male flowers grow on separate plants or branches. cotton pad in nettle tincture and placing it over the
Stinging nettle is widely distributed, especially where painful joint is helpful. Stinging an area can also help
the average annual rainfall is high. I find it in places restore and repair joint injuries and reestablish nerve
with moist soil. communication. I have used it successfully to treat
shoulder injuries.
Edible Use: The leaves are edible. Stinging nettles
have a flavor similar to mild spinach when cooked. I Eczema and Skin Inflammations: Both the in-
eat them raw by folding over the leaves but most ternal tincture and infusion of stinging nettle are use-
ful for treating eczema and other skin inflammations.
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