Page 180 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

chronic diarrhea. Fireweed leaf tea, decoction, or tinc- leaves or use a dehydrator on low. Store in a cool, dark,
ture treats colitis and IBS. and dry place. Harvest roots in the summer and au-
tumn and mash them to make a soothing poultice.
Lung Congestion and Sore Throats: Fireweed
is high in mucilage and has anti-spasmodic properties Recipes: Fireweed Leaf Tea: Add several fire-
that make it useful for treating lung problems, asthma, weed leaves to a cup of boiling water and let it steep for
coughs, and bronchial spasms. The mucilage soothes a about 15 minutes. Remove the leaves and enjoy. Use up
sore throat. to three cups daily.

Anti-inflammatory: Fireweed is an anti-inflam- Fireweed Tincture: You’ll need: 4 ounces (113g)
matory. It is ideal for long term use where inflamma- fresh fireweed leaves and flowers, 8 ounces (250ml) 80
tion is chronic. proof vodka, brandy, or other drinking alcohol and a
clean, sterile glass jar and tight-fitting lid. Chop and
Migraines: Fireweed Tincture is used for migraines. pound the fireweed herb to a pulp and put into a glass
Take as soon as the headache begins and up to 3 times jar. Mix in the alcohol slowly, stirring to spread the
daily as needed. Butterbur and Feverfew also work well herb throughout the alcohol. Cap. Place the jar in a
for migraines, as does magnesium.
cool, dry place for 5 to 6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain
Skin Problems: Both the leaves and flowers are the pulp from the liquid and place the tincture in a
soothing to the skin and are useful in treating inflam- clean jar. Cover tightly, label and date. Store the tinc-
matory skin problems as well as those caused by bac- ture in a cool, dark place for 3 to 5 years.
teria or fungal infections. Use a Fireweed Decoction as Fireweed Decoction: Ingredients: 2 ounces (56g)
a wash or compress on psoriasis, eczema, acne, skin of fireweed leaves, 1-quart (1 Liter) of water. Bring the
rashes, wounds, infections, and burns.
water and leaves to a boil and turn off the heat. Steep
Harvesting: Harvest young shoots in the spring and the decoction for 30 minutes. Strain the mixture and
early summer while the leaves are close to the stem and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Take 2 ounces
point upward. Young leaves can be harvested individ- (60ml) every four to 6 hours or as needed or use the
ually for edible use. Flower buds are edible. If you har- decoction as a wash or in a compress directly on the
vest when the plant is in flower simply pinch off leaves skin.
that are vibrant green and healthy looking. Air dry the

Goldenseal,

Hydrastis canadensis

Goldenseal often seems like a cure-all. It is as an anti-
inflammatory, an anti-microbial, and an immune
booster. Hydrastis canadensis is also known as Or-
angeroot or Yellow Puccoon. Goldenseal is in the But-
tercup family, Ranunculaceae, though its leaves and
fruit somewhat resemble those of the Raspberry and
the Rubus genus. Goldenseal is commonly found in
rich, moist, shady forests, under hardwood trees. Gold-
enseal grows across eastern North America.

Identification: Goldenseal has a thick knotty, yel- but the fruit is not edible. The plant is easily distin-
lowish-brown rhizome that is approximately 2 inches guished from other Ranunculaceae family members
(5 cm) long and ½ inch (1.25 cm) thick with a lot of during the flowering period as it has only 2 deeply al-
rootlets. The plant grows 6 to 12 (15 cm to 30 cm) ternate palmately-lobed leaves on the stem and soli-
inches tall. It has a strong odor and bitter taste. It pro- tary white flowers that have no petals.
duces a fruit similar to the raspberry in appearance,

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